Is Scottish independence a 'good or bad' thing?

Today it's a comparison with Norway, the other day it was a comparison to Ireland.

Exactly. It was once Iceland, too.

Norway, however, is a good comparison in many ways. It has a similar percentage of its workforce employed in the public sector, hence its high taxes. How the SNP can begin to claim it will lower taxes baffles me - it's fairly basic arithmetic they are failing to understand.

I would like for our country to be controlled by Holyrood rather than Westminster which is hundreds of miles away and doesn't have a clue what is happening up here. Also we would have total control over immigration and finances and issues to do with Europe so we could do the best thing for Scotland to make it a fairer, economical and prosperous country.

Fixed that for you (in other words twisted your post as I do with posts that don't agree with my views):

I would like for our country to be controlled by Brussels rather than Westminster & Holyrood which is hundreds of miles away and doesn't have a clue what is happening up here and is focused around the Franco German area of Europe. Also Brussels would have total control over immigration and finances and issues to do with Foreign policy, the Economy, Immigration as well as many other things so we could do a dangerous thing for Scotland to make it an unfair, less economical and less prosperous country.

I'm really not clear what the pro-independence stance on that story is. Is it the UK's financial problems are deeper than we thought, let's get out quick? Because, if so, they'd better have a good plan for being able to dig an independent Scotland out of the same hole alone, which doesn't include spending cuts and more taxes (given that is what they argue against). Unless they want a taste of Ireland's medicine, of course. After all, they will have their own share of the debt at the time of independence to pay off.

What if Scotland refused to accept that they are liable for this debt?

They won't gain independence.

You are assuming we need an act of Parliament from Westminster. Say we didn't want to join the EU straight away, had our own currency and had nothing to do with the IMF or Worldbank. How would they impose this debt on us?

You are assuming we need an act of Parliament from Westminster. Say we didn't want to join the EU straight away, had our own currency and had nothing to do with the IMF or Worldbank. How would they impose this debt on us?

You do understand that at any time an Act of Parliament (UK government) can remove the Scottish parliament right? Also you should remember constitution powers is not devolved so legally the only way Scotland can gain independence is through an Act of parliament.

How would Scotland break away without the sanction of the UK? No other country would recognise it, and membership of international bodies could never happen. You wouldn't have an viable tradeable currency. This is just the sort of scenario that the Spanish, for instance, would fear being repeated in Catalonia. To start life as a pariah is not a good beginning for any country, never mind one that espouses adherence to law.

Why wouldn't we have a viable tradeable currency? Plenty of countries smaller than us have viable currencies.

It isn't to do with size. Who wants to hold a currency run by an illegal regime? There would be a lot to lose for anyone who did. Anyway, the UK and the other EU countries are Scotland's biggest trading partners and all that trade would be lost, in the event of UDI. Instantly.

It is a precedent under international law that when countries split up, unless it is an equal split, then the successor state is the state that carries the debt burden. The UK Government has quite categorically stated that it shall be the successor state. If this is the case then the UK will remain in the EU and UN etc but will also be accountable for the debt.

The only way Westminster can avoid this is if the split would be deemed to form 2 co-equal successor states. This would then mean that Scotland would be automatically accepted as a member of the EU, UN and all other organisations that the UK is in.

Quite frankly I'd rather start without the debt burden and then re-apply to whatever IGO's an Independent Scotland wished to. To say we would be an illegal regime is a little far fetched.

You demonstrate an extremely naïve and ill-informed understanding of the reality. You have obviously been reading what Dr Qvortup has said. The UK simply won't be granting Scotland the right to secede on the basis that it doesn't pick up its share of the debt. It brought debt to the UK, and it must take its share with it.

If the UK won't negotiate independence unless the debt is shared, and Scotland declares UDI, then an independent Scotland must be an illegal regime - by definition.

Yes. They can **** off. They don't know how lucky they are to have us. Hope to god they vote yes because I would place my house on them being bankrupt and in the **** a year later.