You don't believe we'd survive as an independent country? Why? Are we too small? Too stupid? Do we not have any natural resources? Do we have nothing to export? No tourism? Why? Why would we not survive when, if we take oil and gas into account, Scotland is one of the wealthiest European countries?

The main problem with the union is that Scotland as a population has a far more socialist mindset than the UK as a whole. For example - Scotland has never voted for a conservative government. Not ever. And yet Scottish citizens, services and infrastructure have suffered at the hands of several Tory governments who are firmly focussed on London and The South of England. That is a problem, in my eyes... It's a country of several million being ruled 50% of the time by a government that they did not vote for by a country mile. Tory governments docnot represent the interests and political standpoints of Scottish people. This is not democracy.

HOWEVER, both countries benefit immensely from the easy trade between countries within the Union and shared resources... This is fairly clear.

Personally I think Scottish people would be best served by an "ultimate devolution" - preserving the Union but allowing the Scottish government larger control over the spending of taxes raised north of the border, and full control over social policies such as welfare, especially housing. Although that would of course open up a can of worms re: benefits "tourism" from south of the border, but then again, the "three years residence" policy that applies to student university funding (Scottish students don't pay fees, English do, English people must have been resident in Scotland for 3 years to qualify for this) works perfectly well and so could apply in the same way to out-of-work benefits fairly easily? With in-work benefits being unaffected.

I am interested but can't watch you tube on this mobile :(
I have heard he is a great motivator, but as good a showman as he is splintering the UK is risky.

Just to clarify, would we be asking to join the Commonwealth as well as the EU?

Edit:

I tell you this if Scotland votes for independence I am boycotting Lorne Square sausages and Tunnocks tea cakes, so that's £3.89 a month less into the Scottish economy. With those kind of losses you guys are gonna have to make a Braveheart II or something to plug the gap.

Not Irn Bru though?

You'd probably not be able to buy them anyway, London would put a prohibitive import duty on them!

I'm sorry irn bru is just too good I can't boycott that. It's shame we don't get them in the glass bottles down here that you guys get, that was always my highlight of seeing my family up in Livingston as a kid!

Then Yorkshire will demand a referendum too! Those poncy Tory boys and their jellied eels have meddled with our affairs for too long!

I haven't seen a glass bottle of Irn Bru since it was forced to rename from Iron Brew!!

Edit: ....and who forced the name change?

Really? My Grandad has loads Of empty bottles in his cellars, he told me you could get a bit of your money back by handing the bottles back in.

That was back when Kay Starr was topping the charts!

Haha that's a shame for him, he would probably be a rich man now if he could :joker:

At 3 Old Pence a bottle he'd need a cellar the size of Edinburgh castle!

:joker:

You still get money for taking your glass bottles back!! It's 30p now though! :amazed:

Do they not sell them anymore though Lee?

That's 6 shillings in REAL money!

I love that you can still do that.

I really hope you still sell them, If you do I'll have to pop into the centre next time I'm in livi and relive old times.

Yeah the chippy sells glass bottles. I always get barrs red cola

http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_bT8TXbnBAy...a_750ml_FS.jpg

Never tried that, what's it taste like?


Reminds me of Tizer looking at it.

As an independent country, this presupposes that this NEW country will need a new currency even if they decide to call it the "Pound". ALL Countries have their own currency, don't they?

I can't really describe what it tastes like.. Like a little bit of heaven maybe? Especially with a smoked sausage supper :love:

Yeah, sounds like "Tizer, the appetizer".