Sturgeon would not need to ask anyone as she would have ful control over taxation. I don't really get your point there.
Khan just gave a very measured interview about needing to work together. Far cry from Truss boasting about taking people on.
The act of union is 300 years old, not 400, but let's not be too picky here, - it's been a very long time either way and the divorce would be more than difficult, as there are populists on both sides, arguments and disagreements are to be expected. In my lifetime, it's only the Czechs and the Slovaks who managed this rather civilized, but both had basically nothing, were neither in NATO nor in the EU....
The thing is, when Liz Truss assumed office today, it was oddly Nicola Sturgeon to ask and remind her of the importance of help for families during the cost of living crisis. Whom would Nicola Sturgeon ask, if Scotland was independent?
Scotland was forced to leave the EU on a vote that flimsy so why not.
It is stuck with English PMs on less than 50%
Doesnt Ireland and Scotland have some kind of ongoing dispute over a bunch of rocks in the sea somewhere, I seem to remember the Scots sabre rattling about it a couple of years back. Well heres our opportunity to get our rocks back, they will be the price of EU accession 😂
Plot twist no.2, Liz Truss introduces her legislation to say that any referendum cant be held until opinion polls are consistently showing a 60% Yes vote. Soon thereafter and with the British economy in the tank opinion polls in the UK show a 60% Yes vote to rejoin the EU. Truss is left in a fluster as calls come in for her to apply her own legislation to having an EU referendum again. She refuses because in the Tory party rules are for thee and not for me. This emboldens the Scottish Indy movement further and they get their 60% in the opinion polls and the Torys then have no way out of holding it the referendum.
Scotland's interests, as an independent nation would closely align with Ireland's interests, particularly if they were members of the EU.
Obviously we would be competitive with them in some areas but on the whole we would have common interests in agriculture, fish, industry, and they would align with our approach on many issues that are currently outside their competence as they are solely the remit of a hostile Westminster Gov.
Ha, breaking a 400 year old relationship - we broke a 700 year old relationship that was more like a tyranny. I am sure that many seeking independence for Scotland would see their current relationship with the Westminster Tory Gov, as currently formed, as a tyranny.
If Ireland's financial and economic success hinges upon the fate of Scotland's existence as an independent nation - we are truly a house of straw. Nor do I see how an Independent Scotland somehow destabilises Northern Ireland; that harm is being adequately fulfilled by the DUP.
This segue has been discussed before and would only repeat my own point of view: Scotland in the EU would suddenly add another English Speaking, North-Western voice and perspective. One that very realistically could or would want to ally with Ireland on common causes. I'd be so bold as to say Scotland and Ireland would be more often partners in things than rivals (or worse).
It is possible to believe that Brexit is a clusterf**k and at the same time not be a fan of Scottish independence.
Brexit was the breakup of a 40 year relationship, Scottish independence would be the breaking of a 400 year relationship.
Unpacking that so that everyone is happy with the outcome will not be easy.
I don't like the idea from a purely Irish perspective, and that's all I really care about, how it affects me and my country.
An independent Scotland would be a direct competitor to Ireland as a English speaking well educated county (possibly as a member of the EU) which also happens to have a land border to the very big UK market.
Plus an independent Scotland would have a destabilizing affect on NI. And I personally would prefer no to remain stable.
I've hope Scotland get their chance for indyfref2 soon and reject it again and put the issue to bed for a long time to come.
No independence manifesto is going to be that detailing that it'll go down to the level of drivers licenses. As has been said already, the Irish experience is relevant here 100% and it's not exactly a stretch or infeasible that a Scottish CTA would be established to maintain a soft border between Scotland and England. It'd be madness not to.
And yet Irish people can still work in GCHQ. The CTA allows reciprocal rights. The Tories are planning to fire 90,000 civil servants so a lot of people won't have to worry which country they'll be working in. They are also trimming down the armed forces despite the claims to pump money into it, it's not for wages.
Drivers licences ? Are you suggesting that England will be that petty ?
Also what happened when Ireland became independent ?
If you ask the question this way the choice between the Brexiteer Tories and the SNP is a choice between pancreatic cancer or bowel cancer.
What the Brexiteer Tories are concerned, now they can't blame Bruxelles anymore for their own misery.
If Scotland goes independent, they can't blame London anymore, and at the same time Bruxelles won't provide them with money to fund their NHS, free universities, free prescription medicine or free menstrual products.
I also don't think that Liz Truss would change the course of Boris and allow a 2nd referendum, she will most likely steer the same course.
Also, it isn't wise of the SNP to constantly be against the submarines, especially as long as the Ruskies are on the warpath.
The case of the 2nd referendum is also the EU membership, but the EU isn't without flaws either. The biggest economic market of Scotland is still the UK or rest of the UK, not mainland Europe.
You're against Brexit and the broken Brexit promises, yet you want the Scots to be stuck under the rule of those that pushed for the policy, and ignored Scotland's strong opposition to it?
What's your answer to a Scot that says, 'I'm unhappy with the English continually voting in the Tories. I want my country to be in the EU'? What should that Scottish person do, bearing in mind Starmer's Labour have indicated there will be no attempt to rejoin the EU under his watch?
That's another thing as well. There will be many other things as well, minor things, even down to driver's licenses, and exchange agreements with other countries say in the case of a career move..... Political populists certainly won't focus on that, they will avoid to answer straight questions.
Something major would be career choices, business in Scotland trading with England, for instance, or professional careers in the Royal Navy, the Royal Air Force, etc... I also recall that certain financial institutions based in Scotland indicated, relocating their business to England, in the event of a Yes vote in the first referendum. The debate will be similar if there was a 2nd referendum.
Scottish independence will most certainly affect each and every Scot in a different way, both economically and personally, and it's certainly not a question about fear and uncertainty.
A couple of things are already certain to me: Scottish independence won't come cheap for the people of Scotland, and it will certainly not unify the society of Scotland, if the split is 50 - 50, or 49 - 51. The results and sentiments will be similar to Brexit and same as Brexit the promises by the SNP won't come true.
How much did the Brexiteers state they would save by leaving the EU, and re-invest in the NHS? I don't think I need to explain more here.
The answer to most FUD (Fear Uncertainty Doubt) questions about Scottish independence can be answered by asking what happened when Ireland became independent.
Ireland pegged the currency to the UK pound whether they liked it or not. Also FFS how many times do I have to explain that the Scottish pound by law is 100% backed up by an equal amount of English Sterling. So ridiculously safe.
Euro is a red herring unless and until the Eurozone is their main trading partner.
Without England setting trading rules and trade deals that favour export of English services and imports of food, Scotland could do a lot better with the opposite of rules. Scotland sends a lot of tax to London.
So Im guessing an independent Scotland would mean a pretty large upheaval of current logistics routes into Scotland. Like if Tesco and all the other big supermarkets import to England now and then move goods by road up to Scotland that option will be shut off due to customs and checks on meat. Would also be messy the other way with Scottish farmers finding problems getting product to the market in England. Mind you they might not mind if they have 400m people in the EU to sell to.
But still the existance of an EU border in northern England is likely to make the situation in NI look like a tea party, at least they're in both the EU and UK markets whereas Scotland wont be in both, only one or the other.
Why shouldn't they make their own decisions?
Maybe because they've enjoyed raping and pillaging countries like Ireland as a leading figure within the British Empire?
The idea that the Scots would ever be allies of ours is laughable.
Funnily enough, Scotland is probably easier to manage than Northern Ireland, the border roads are fairly well defined and are generally North/South, as anyone who's had the pain of going laterally through the borders will attest to (+ if independence went though, they'd likely just get on with it rather than continually trying to change the rules, they could easily look to the EU and make hay while England and Wales flounder around).
The Scotland-England border is shorter than that in Ireland and much of it is sparsely populated. There is less interchange generally as a conseqence. As Scotland had its own NHS and its own income tax then I expect that there is data on the number of people commuting. It requires attention, but probably is is not the hardest issue to address.
I don't know how many cross from England to Scotland every day, regarding place to live and place to work. However, I would suggest, a lot do, and statistics are probably limited, as it's still one country. Between the ROI and NI you have at least an international border, thus it's easier to measure.
What is a lot more, is many Scotts live in England as well, and many more in and around London. Denying them a possible vote in a 2nd referendum is something I already criticised in the 1st referendum, - but they allowed EU citizens to vote back then.
I see her similarly responsible as Ian Paisley back in the days in NI. Pouring oil into the fire, for self centered aim.
However Paisley believed a lot more his actions. Regarding Sturgeon, I believe she's also a bit like David Cameron on Brexit, - he knows it doesn't work, but the party hardliners demand it and she's basically doing like Cameron did.....
It would presumably be very similar to the ROI-GB border i.e. the one we have at our ports and airports. Probably a very similar 'common travel area' to our one, but customs checks for goods and livestock etc.
You would imagine there would have to be border posts and the need to bring photo ID with you, so definitely messy alright.
What would happen the border in the event of an independent Scotland? Im guessing if they rejoin the EU it would basically be a hard border with full customs checks. Do a lot of people cross that border daily to work on one or other side of it like happens in NI? Could be very messy if so. Its strange in all the articles written about Indyref Ive never seen one explain the border situation post independence.
Impossible indeed.
Similar rules applied to the Scottish Devolution referendum in 1979 - it was stipulated that more than 40% of the registered electorate was required for the vote to pass. In the end, 51 of a 64% turnout voted in favour, so just 32% of electorate.
That of course included dead people, those registered at multiple addresses and non-voters. Would at least make a good case for mandatory voting, as in Australia.
The SNP already made the first mistake: A referendum is a referendum, but not a never-endum. Now they argue that Brexit gives them another mandate, if the 2nd referendum doesn't go their way, I am sure, there is a third case for a referendum.
The whole story is a bit of a reminder to Quebec in the early 90ies. And I don't think Quebec could ever be independent, for similar reasons like Scotland.
I didn't say everyone admired her. There's room for everyone.
How are you holding her solely responsible for the Scottish independence movement?
They can't, that referendum is fixed at 50%+1 in international legislation already.
The thing is that they can just keep insisting that its not clear that it could pass and simply never have it.
I only see downsides to Scottish independence and very few upsides.
But again, opinions will differ very much on this but this is only natural and bound to be controversial. Sadly, it's also a 50% - 50% decision, or nearly ( I think currently it's 48 for yes, 52 for no ) , and sadly one can toss a coin on this. One part of the population will decide over the other.
Part of the problem is the SNP, - in their attitude everything bad goes to England, everything good goes, or better stays, in Scotland.
Would the Royal Navy stay? the Royal Air Force? The SNP much hated submarines? How would Scotland compensate? Shipbuilding takes massive orders from London as well.
I also wouldn't listen too much on what the SNP says on currency, in the end, this subject will be up to economists and international rating agencies. Of course they are all wrong in the eyes of the SNP....
Those Scots who want an independent Scotland should better get used to an NHS which is on the level of the HSE in Ireland, or supermarket prices like in Ireland, if they are on the Euro same as chronically underfunded military like in Ireland. Would an Air Force of an independent Scotland afford fighter jets? Would university stay free? I doubt that massively.
I don't admire her at all.
Even if Scotland would go independent, she won't be in politics for very long, not there to pick up the mess she created.
It'll be just very similar to Brexit. Leave a mess and a chaos, but go, before you get blamed. It's the overarching situation with British politics.
I'd argue that their continued membership of the UK has effectively rendered them a failed state reliant on a few industries and smaller growth, in comparison to somewhere like Ireland.
The Bank of Scotland can peg itself to sterling and make a decision later on about the Euro or not, or tie to a basket of currencies. Scotland itself will be able to set itself up for growth independent of what England decides (and set it's own sustainable tax policies to pay for it). They can also pretty quickly join EFTA and get all the benefits the NI is currently enjoying but without crazy westminster politicians wanting to tear it down.
There is very few downsides to independence and a lot of upsides, most of the downsides (sterling, pensions) end up being scaremongering and factually untrue.
The English public does not "hate" Nicola Sturgeon.
Some of them do. But some of them "hate" everyone.
Fact is, a lot of English people admire her.
That's presumably the point! It's so transparently anti-democratic but as someone said, at this stage maybe the Tories are trying to push the Scots out without wanting to seem to be pushing the Scots out. It'd suddenly give these manoeuvres the patina of strategy. 75%, jaysus. Struggling to think of any ref that got that level of support.
The UK has had its day, and lasted longer than most institutions. The cracks have spidered since 1999 and since 2016 the best outcome has been for England to simply become its own entity rather than continue this obviously dysfunctional "family". Let England adopt the Sovereignty it wants.
they could try this same thing if referendum in northern ireland too...
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