The Student Room Group

Scotland's so-called independence...

I have been listening to the debates on independence and thought I'd offer my views as a non-partisan Englishman who's about to go to Scotland on Holiday. For TL DR, read the prediction


Economics

Scotland want independence from Britain yet want to join the EU? So instead if being controlled by Westminster you will be controlled by Brussels, especially since you will be a small nation with much less political clout than Britain.

But you won't be able to join the EU, at least not initially, because you need to be in charge of your own currency. This is a formal requirement of joining the EU.

If you adopt our currency you will have no control and, as we have seen in the most recent financial crisis with failed states like Greece not getting the bailouts and low interest rates they need, this is a recipe for disaster.

If you go it alone and take your own currency, then your business with Britain will be somewhat hampered by exchange rate costs. 70% of ur business is with England and you will be turning one of your biggest customers into your biggest competitors.

Salmond wants to implement a whole load of socialist policies: increasing benefits , health care etc. But by leaving the union you will be leaving the British subsidies behind. What are you going to do? you will have an ultra high tax economy like those in Scandinavia? Who wants tax at 50/60%?

£17 bn pounds worth of business are already thinking of relocating south of the boarder. You can say goodbye to your healthy finance industry and asset management firms such as RBS, who will be relocating their headquarters to where the majority of their business is.


The 600 000 Scottish students in higher education in Britain can enjoy paying their own tuition fees at international rates. Atm you can study anywhere int he UK for free, subsidised by the British tax payer. When you leave, you will be funding your own education.

You will find it much more difficult to fund all of the offices in state because of reduced economies of scale. It's not easy funding a health service, judiciary, armed forces, revenue and customs office. While you are in Britain you can use shared resources and save on costs.
Politics


If you vote for independence you'll get Salmond as your prime minister. If you stay, you'll get even more political powers through the devo max thing. However, I can understand that the main benefit of independence is being masters at the helm.

If you have Tory sympathies, this will be a bad thing for you as it's more likely that you will get a very socialist, high-tax government elected.


We have been a political union for 300 hundred years, one of the most successful political unions in history. The Brits and the Scots are much more alike than they are dissimilar. You already have much say in the governing of your own affairs. So, I urge you to ask yourselves what you are really getting from a little bit more political autonomy? Does it outweigh the economic advantages?


Prediction
TL;DR
In the next ten years Scottish people would become a fair deal poorer. 1000s of people will lose jobs in the financial services. Education will become more expensive for students but you'll probably pick yourself up in the long-run. Tax will be a heavier burden on most families.

But I'm a Tory so if you leave it's a win win as labour will not be able to form a majority at the next general election.
(edited 9 years ago)
Reply 1
inb4 "ye f**in tory basterds ye!!!!!"

Yeah I agree, most of the Scots are in this Braveheart stance, they don't even have a currency sorted and they still want independence.

Yeah fair enough it's their country and Westminster controls everything and they hate London etc, and want more power, which can be done.

I wonder, did Alex Salmond really wanted independence in the first place or more powers?

I think the no vote will win. Funny thing is they're letting 16yo's vote for the independence, who are oblivious to the actual facts, and will obviously vote yes!
(edited 9 years ago)
Reply 2
Original post by i360
inb4 "ye f**in tory basterds ye!!!!!"

Yeah I agree, most of the Scots are in this Braveheart stance, they don't even have a currency sorted and they still want independence.

Yeah fair enough it's their country and Westminster controls everything and they hate London etc, and want more power, which can be done.

I wonder, did Alex Salmond really wanted independence in the first place or more powers?

I think the no vote will win. Funny thing is they're letting 16yo's vote for the independence, who are oblivious to the actual facts, and will obviously vote yes!


I may be a Tory but I still dislike Margaret Thatcher, if that counts for anything.
As with all politicians he wants more power, but he probably thinks independence would be a good thing.

Alex Salmond has divided a nation and for what? It's not exactly like Scotland was having a hard time.
Reply 3
Original post by Blutooth
I may be a Tory but I still dislike Margaret Thatcher, if that counts for anything.
As with all politicians he wants more power, but he probably thinks independence would be a good thing.

Alex Salmond has divided a nation and for what? It's not exactly like Scotland was having a hard time.


He wants power basically.

Scotland, Republic of Alex Salmond?
Reply 4
The problem is Scotland has never known life under Brussels, they assume all policies and regulations are passed by Westminster. They fail to see Westminster is merely a middle man and Brussels controls majority of our laws that are passed. They need to first eliminate Westminster from the equation and then once they join the EU they will learn that independence in their case is not the same as that in Norway and Switzerland.

Salmond constantly compares their potential to that of Norway and Switzerland yet these countries are not in the European Union. So many voters have been mis lead on this issue. They will not achieve independence if they join the EU, simples.
Can we please stop with the whole "Scotland is dependent on subsides from the rest of Britain" rubbish? Scotland has its own economy and budget, Scottish people pay tax as well which is then given out by central government to different regions. They pay for things like free prescriptions and university education by managing their own budget to do so.

I'm not Scottish but even I get a bit sick of people portraying Scotland as subsidy junkies.
Reply 6
Original post by RFowler
Can we please stop with the whole "Scotland is dependent on subsides from the rest of Britain" rubbish? Scotland has its own economy and budget, Scottish people pay tax as well which is then given out by central government to different regions. They pay for things like free prescriptions and university education by managing their own budget to do so.

I'm not Scottish but even I get a bit sick of people portraying Scotland as subsidy junkies.


Obviously that is true, but decisions are made on the margins- things that will change. I have not anywhere in my post stated that Scotland is dependent on the Uk, all I have said is the things that will change in Scotland.

Come on man, engage with what is being said!

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