[Gales]

I can't believe we have to put up with two more years of this silly debate, it's already getting on my wick.

[Cmca1]

(Original post by cl_steele)
isnt it in camerons interest to see the scottish get independance though? labour have a fair number of seats up there and loosing them certainly wouldnt help labour at the polls whilst the tories havent really had a presence up there since thatcher
dont get me wrong itd be a serious shame to loose scotland but please do correct me if im wrong in the way im looking at this..

I agree, Cameron is in a tough position:

He could be the prime minister who presides over the collapse of the Union, does he want to be remembered for that?

But, the Conservative Party (his main interest) will be pretty much guaranteed electoral success for years to come if Scotland goes its own way.

[ukip72]

(Original post by cl_steele)
isnt it in camerons interest to see the scottish get independance though? labour have a fair number of seats up there and loosing them certainly wouldnt help labour at the polls whilst the tories havent really had a presence up there since thatcher
dont get me wrong itd be a serious shame to loose scotland but please do correct me if im wrong in the way im looking at this..

Your absolutely right. Independence would be a massive boost for the Tories. However I hope Cameron puts his unionist principles ahead of petty politics, there is a theory Cameron secretly is trying to encourage the Indys

[ukip72]

(Original post by Cmca1)
They could well be yeah...but so could successive Labour or Conservative governments at Westminster...as could the current coaltion.

Labour incompetence I have no argument about. Thatcher was great though, shame about Cameron

[Cmca1]

(Original post by Gales)
I can't believe we have to put up with two more years of this silly debate, it's already getting on my wick.

What impact do you think it could have for Wales? The Welsh Assembly currently has the weakest powers of all the devolved assemblies but even Labour in Wales argue that Cardiff could/should get more powers

[Gales]

(Original post by Cmca1)
What impact do you think it could have for Wales? The Welsh Assembly currently has the weakest powers of all the devolved assemblies but even Labour in Wales argue that Cardiff could/should get more powers

I'm all in favour of more decentralisation, but definitely oppose independence. I am proud of both my British and Welsh identities. Not particularly bothered about what Scotland do though, prefer to see them in the union but it's their decision. Just pretty annoyed that this debate will go on for another 2 years, it's already dragged on quite a bit in my opinion

[Cmca1]

(Original post by Gales)
I'm all in favour of more decentralisation, but definitely oppose independence. I am proud of both my British and Welsh identities. Not particularly bothered about what Scotland do though, prefer to see them in the union but it's their decision. Just pretty annoyed that this debate will go on for another 2 years, it's already dragged on quite a bit in my opinion

Yeah decentralisation is required I think too, irrespective of the referendum outcome And true, it's the decision of Scotland.

If you think 2 years is a dragged out period of time, imagine how things are in Ireland, Nationalists want a United Ireland, Unionists want the Union...a debate lasting over a hundred years!

[Gales]

(Original post by Cmca1)
Yeah decentralisation is required I think too, irrespective of the referendum outcome And true, it's the decision of Scotland.

If you think 2 years is a dragged out period of time, imagine how things are in Ireland, Nationalists want a United Ireland, Unionists want the Union...a debate lasting over a hundred years!

I definitely don't think Scotland will separate though, despite what polls may show right now. I think at the time of the referendum people will start thinking much more seriously about the future and how sustainable Scotland's future would be and ultimately vote against.

[Cmca1]

(Original post by Gales)
I definitely don't think Scotland will separate though, despite what polls may show right now. I think at the time of the referendum people will start thinking much more seriously about the future and how sustainable Scotland's future would be and ultimately vote against.

Well you never know, what have they got to lose? I know everyone says they won't survive economically etc but they have a strong university base (for research, innovation and to encourage foreign direct investment), a strong political base, oil, renewable energy, tourism and the potential to compete for business with England who may well have higher corporation tax etc...so who knows, it's hard to say how sustainable they'll be until they become independent.

But that shouldn't deter voters, if they vote no, they'll always get what they've always had, more of the same Labour/Tory Westminster rule with a half effective Scottish Parliament.

[Gales]

(Original post by Cmca1)
Well you never know, what have they got to lose? I know everyone says they won't survive economically etc but they have a strong university base (for research, innovation and to encourage foreign direct investment), a strong political base, oil, renewable energy, tourism and the potential to compete for business with England who may well have higher corporation tax etc...so who knows, it's hard to say how sustainable they'll be until they become independent.

But that shouldn't deter voters, if they vote no, they'll always get what they've always had, more of the same Labour/Tory Westminster rule with a half effective Scottish Parliament.

We'll see, either way, I'm still indifferent. I'd still support a United Kingdom without Scotland anyway. There is very little interest in independence at all in Wales, so I think our place is secure

[Cannotbelieveit]

Well as my signature points out, I am firmly against Scottish independence, and will do my own little local campaign in the run up to it.

The United Kingdom is truly a great thing, we should not break it up.

[Cmca1]

(Original post by Cannotbelieveit)
Well as my signature points out, I am firmly against Scottish independence, and will do my own little local campaign in the run up to it.

The United Kingdom is truly a great thing, we should not break it up.

Fair enough, good luck!

I'm a strong advocate of self-determination and I hope Scotland picks independence. I don't think we'd lose anything if Scotland became independent, the countries of the UK would still remain extremely close and would have strong relations with each other. But overall I think decisions should be made close to home

[Cmca1]

http://caledonianmercury.com/2012/05...ndence/0033436 Myths about the Independence Debate

http://newsnetscotland.com/index.php...us-nationalist Not just a Nationalist-Unionist debate

[Simon_92]

What I want to know is, what happens to debt of the UK - do Scotland inherit some of that?
Can the Scottish government afford to fund things such as free prescriptions and free university if they are out of the union? Surely they cannot rely on north sea oil?! Dont England pump some of their citizens cash into funding the devolved nations anyway? If that's true doesn't that mean Scotland can't even afford it now?!?

Personally It doesn't bother me what Scotland do as long as they get on with it so we can just all move on. In Wales however independence is not on the cards - thank god!


This was posted from The Student Room's iPhone/iPad App

[Cmca1]

(Original post by Simon_92)
What I want to know is, what happens to debt of the UK - do Scotland inherit some of that?
Can the Scottish government afford to fund things such as free prescriptions and free university if they are out of the union? Surely they cannot rely on north sea oil?! Dont England pump some of their citizens cash into funding the devolved nations anyway? If that's true doesn't that mean Scotland can't even afford it now?!?

Personally It doesn't bother me what Scotland do as long as they get on with it so we can just all move on. In Wales however independence is not on the cards - thank god!


This was posted from The Student Room's iPhone/iPad App

Scotland will inherit their share of the debt yes, so nothing changes.

Secondly, when North Sea Oil Revenues were taken into account, Scotland put more into the UK than it recieved. So if Scotland can afford these things now without control of oil revenues, think what it could do with them.

And no, England doesn't pump money into the other nations, maybe NI and Wales, but not Scotland.

[Ape Gone Insane]

I wish they would hurry up and do it already. It's dragged on for far too long and this is quite possibly the worst time to be contemplating independence. Hoping most people have the sense to vote against independence though.

(Original post by ukip72)
Salmond's whole career has been about achieving independence, I doubt he has a plan for what to do if his dream is realised.

This is basically the impression I have of his entire party, it's a single issue party bent on achieving independence. My worry is how sustainable Scotland would be if it achieved independence and what direction the country would go in under the SNP.

[Good bloke]

(Original post by Simon_92)
What I want to know is, what happens to debt of the UK - do Scotland inherit some of that?

Of course.

Can the Scottish government afford to fund things such as free prescriptions and free university if they are out of the union?

Probably not. English students would become entitled to free university places, just like other EU citizens, after independence and this would encourage more to make the relatively easy journey up there.

Surely they cannot rely on north sea oil?!

That sounds like the SNP's plan.

[Cmca1]

(Original post by Ape Gone Insane)
I wish they would hurry up and do it already. It's dragged on for far too long and this is quite possibly the worst time to be contemplating independence. Hoping most people have the sense to vote against independence though.



This is basically the impression I have of his entire party, it's a single issue party bent on achieving independence. My worry is how sustainable Scotland would be if it achieved independence and what direction the country would go in under the SNP.

Who knows what direction Scotland will go when independence? The SNP might not even be in government!

The fact remains, as stated above, Scotland is not subsidised by the Union and when oil revenues are considered, it puts more in than it recieves. So economically, it can survive. Furthermore, with strong educational base, excellent potential for renewable energy and exports, as well as tourism, Scotland within the union or outside the union has massive potential, so it can survive independently, and it will maintain strong links with the UK nations!

The process of creating a referendum does have to be carefully thought out however. They need to consult and they need to create an image and idea of what Scotland will look like independent and then put that idea to the Scottish people, that will take time.

[Cmca1]

(Original post by Good bloke)

That sounds like the SNP's plan.

As far as I'm aware, the vast majority of oil fields in the North Sea lie in Scottish Waters, so who is relying on who right now?
http://www.google.co.uk/imgres?q=nor...AOg7KUD&zoom=1

The SNP do not plan to make oil the driving force of their economy. They have a strong export and tourism market, as well as having excellent universities and colleges to train and educate young people to encourage foreign direct investment and innovation within Scottish enterprise.

However, Scotland currently has no control of oil revenues as these go to Westminster. When taken into account, Scotland puts more into the UK than it receives.

[Snagprophet]

In all fairness, 50% of eligible voters even care about devolved issues in Scotland, despite the SNP supposedly being 'a true alternative to LibLabCon. Even in the 'landslide victory' the SNP only got 45% of the vote. That means less than a quarter of eligible voters in Scotland voted for the SNP. It would be interesting to see what the vote would be if an extra voting option was given 'none of the above' or 'not interested in devolution'.

Now unless most eligible Scottish voters are too lazy to vote for their constitutional status, the SNP cannot win this referendum.