Will Scotland vote for independence?

If you're so pro-EU, then isn't it hypocritical to suggest:

" I don't believe we have to rely on England and allow the other UK countries and UK parliament to drag us down. If we become independent we can make our own decisions on what we want not what the rest of the UK want."

Literally, change England/rest of the UK to Europe.

Why don't we have independence for your local council area? Surely you don't want to have to rely on Holyrood and other Scottish councils? If your council becomes independent they can make important decisions on what they want, besides from bin collections.

VAT is partly devolved.

Other than that, what substantial changes would you make? The SNP haven't made great swathes of changes with their new powers.

You seriously underestimate the strength of British diplomacy.

VAT has not been devolved at all, unless I've been asleep and it's April 2020 and it's happened.

Well should Bojo go ahead with his plan to raise the upper earnings threshold of NI it might be wise for Scotland not to bother. I'm not really advocating doing anything with them, the people should decide that.

When do we get the oil tanker back?

As an ex-FCO staffer I merely estimate it.

Come on now, you know VAT is in the process of being devolved

Why does everything need to be devolved, by default? Surely you agree that union-wide fiscal policy on issues like corporation tax makes sense for economic stability?

Name any other nation on the globe that would get their oil tanker back from Iran through diplomatic means. I fear you're scrutinising the UK on an issue when you really should be looking at the actions of the Iranian government/IRG.

Fair enough, I can't disagree with that - I don't think a final year school student can really comment when you've seen it first hand. In a non-sarcastic way, thank you for serving the country.

I suspect Russia would.

Without the threat of military action/violence of some description, as subtle or discrete as it may be?

Those threats are also part of UK diplomacy.

Russia can hit them economically too. Saudi would be another example.

Not really, which is why Bojo has had the idea of free trade zones.

How would having multiple corporation tax rates destabilise the economy? Someone should let him know.

Why can't the UK hit them economically?

What use is staying in the UK to us:

- Free movement and no hard border between Scotland and England (External Schengen border if we opt to rejoin the EU)
- Pension security (UK legislation secures pensions)
- Currency security (GBP backed by 32,000,000 taxpayers)
- Job security to the tune of 528,707 jobs (2013 study by Fraser of Allander institute)
- Banking protections (UK legislation protects all savings up to £85,000 if a bank goes under; something increasingly on the rise)
- Trade (Internal trade within the UK worth 4x more than trade to the EU)
- Social protection (No passport/Visa checks required for travel)
- United defence policy
- Existing infrastructure of the state
- Strong international relations and world standing

Would you like to substantiate your claim as to why "we're better off leaving regardless of Brexit?"

They'll vote for it when oil prices are high - and frankly good riddance
Having their own NHS budget and state subsidised education is frankly a damn joke in this 'United Kingdom' and having the gall to whine about unfair treatment
If we had a vote as to whether England, Wales and N.I. wished for them to stay the result would have been very different to their referendum I assure you.

And Scotland is, of course, not a sovereign nation. It is part of a sovereign state, the United Kingdom.

If you really think Nigel Farage, a passing politician, is an excuse to break up a 300 year old union, I suppose you should similarly hold the view that the personal flaws of Alex Salmond equally make the case to abolish devolution. Both are ridiculous propositions.

QUOTE]



But the central Brexit' agenda was to be 'free' from EU 'red tape' which for Farage and right-winger leave voters means laws and policies which may protect ordinary folk but which cost businesses and tax-payers money. It's pretty naive to think that post-Brexit all that cut and paste EU legislation will be safe, it won't, it will be altered, weakened and abolished to suit the Farage agenda.

You are so inaccurate if you believe all Brexit voters are right wing

Sorry why are our devolved powers a joke?