I’m inclined to agree with you Shandy. Brexit was the best possible news for the independence movement, but just as the utter stupidity of the Brexit debacle begins to dawn on even its most ardent supporters, so would the grim reality of independence pall after a very few years. I have a lot of sympathy for the truths of the SNP’s message, especially the one that the 2014 referendum was based on the lie that we would always be a member of the EU. No one can argue that the result would probably have been very different if the Scots had known in advance what the result of the 2016 referendum was going to be. But it comes down to an essential, fundamental, truth about humanity. We are all better off when we work together, united rather than divided. It’s hard work sometimes, but it’s worth putting a lot of collective energy into remaining united, because the benefits outweigh the disadvantages overwhelmingly. Europe had not seen a major war for nearly 80 years, the Balkan conflict aside, until Putin’s invasion, because of the existence of the EU. There has been peace in Northern Ireland for 25 years because of the existence of the EU, but now there is a very real possibility of that conflict being reignited because of a border issue. The SNP want to turn the clock back hundreds of years to reinstate a hard border from the Solway Firth to Berwick. Surely only conflict in one form or another is the inevitable outcome if that happens? The ultimate alternative to unity is that we all end up sat on our own little hill throwing rocks at each other. Call me an idealist, but if only we could find a way to rejoin the EU, which itself could in time include all the former Soviet republics in Europe including Russia, that would be a far better future for everyone.
That is a bit of a paradox, however. Which represents greater unity among nations, for Scotland: being part of the United Kingdom, or being part of the EU?
As Chilcs said, ideally both. Unfortunately Scotland would have to make big economic and social sacrifices to rejoin the EU on its own too, so it isn’t like simply rejoining as part of the U.K. The geographic, social and economic reality suggests that unity with the rest of the U.K. is more important first and foremost, however badly Scotland feels done by over Brexit (understandably). Tbh practically I think the chances of an independent Scotland joining the EU on its own, or the U.K. rejoining together over the next 20-30 years are probably fairly equal.
Sure. But ultimately that's a decision they have almost no input into, and one that neither of the political parties that could reasonably have a chance to effectuate it are pushing. If you're in their position, how long do you wait to see if England gets its **** together? A few years? A decade? A generation?
Scotland should be part of the EU with the associated benefits to trade, defence, security, freedom of movement etc. Now we are an isolated part of a dysfunctional country with reducing influence in the world.
I would like the U.K. as a whole to return to the EU and I don’t think that the timescale for that given Brexit demographics is much different than the time it would take Scotland to break away and then apply in its own right. I particularly don’t see how defence and security interests aren’t best met from within the U.K. I don’t see logically how being out of the U.K. and in the EU would be an improvement in this particular regard? Is it proven that Scotland would do better in terms of trade within the EU but cutting the rest of the U.K. off? The U.K. would do far better in terms of trade rejoining the single market, but in this example most of Scotlands trade is focused internally within the U.K.? Again like Brexit, the argument seems emotional rather than logical to me. The problems Brexit creates are significant but not irreversible, most of the upcoming generation in England and Wales are deeply opposed to Brexit and before too long will be the majority portion of the population. Another reason why Brexit is such an idiotic folly, the next generation are not on board and those behind the movement have made no effort to bring them on board, rather choosing to be deliberately antagonistic instead (we won, you lost mentality) so logically they will just try and reverse it as soon as they have the power.
Just a reminder for anyone who thinks Ukraine should negotiate with or give up land to the Russians...
It looks like the Tory plan to stop people from voting at elections is working, as it is predicted” that only 3% of those eligible for the council photo ID certificates will have obtained one by May local elections. Voting is a right and in a true democracy, it should be made as simple as possible. Yet for the first time in May’s local elections, voters will need photo ID such as passports or driving licences to get a ballot paper and if they do not have them, produce authority certificates obtained from local councils. Today, we reveal the prediction that only 3% of those eligible will have signed up by theApril 25 deadline. The Tories say voter ID is necessary to counter electoral fraud. Yet of the 30 million votes cast in 2019, police probed just 595 allegations which led to only four convictions and two cautions. Not enough to justify all the trouble and expense. Nor the chaos in polling stations with disputes over paperwork and covered faces having to be uncovered in private. The Tories are not too worried about that because few of their voters will be affected.
An interesting video regarding the immigration issue and the belief that the Tories are deliberately mismanaging it to create a culture war ahead of the next election. 30p Lee has already stated that this IS the party aim.
Has he said the aim is for a culture war in general? I thought he mainly spoke about trying to push the trans issues. I note many on the right are claiming Sturgeon was sunk over the gender bill
Their strategy is all about appealing to people’s prejudices, whatever those may be. The Tories know they aren’t going to gain a single vote from ordinary working people, by appealing to their economic interests. They’ve collectively stuffed almost all middle and working class people, only the super rich are flourishing.
An interesting and very revealing letter to the BBC in regards to the conscious or unconscious right wing bias of Question Time. I stopped watching it about 2 years ago because of what I could see was happening in regards to what appeared to be clear right wing bias. https://yorkshirebylines.co.uk/poli...DLkYFUNyQeRIBg4dX_dRArJFEEx3L_PMxR_9e70f1ZU0o
I agree with him but felt he undermined himself by starting with one example of amount of time spent talking about immigration. It isn’t a great sample size and is easily batted away. The right wing guests and ridiculously right wing audiences are far stronger arguments…
Petitions from the ERS https://www.electoral-reform.org.uk/campaigns/elected-house-of-lords/ and https://www.electoral-reform.org.uk/campaigns/voter-id/#action-cta-anchor The accompanying article shows the process up for the disenfranchiesment exercise that it is. I don't think ID will affect me as an overseas voter who, by the way, was promised by Dodgy Dave the fifteen year limit would be removed. It's not difficult to guess the outcome of that.
Leaked plans show that Russia expects to incorporate Belarus by 2030. https://news.yahoo.com/russia-belarus-strategy-document-230035184.html Doubtless the usual suspects will be along to tell us it's the USA's (or specifically Joe Biden's) fault. Or that, because Russia has nuclear arms, they should be allowed to do what they want. Or something. Vin
Almost exactly 60 years ago, Russia and America came close to blowing us all to kingdom come, over the issue of Russian missiles bound for Cuba. It was Russia that blinked first on that occasion, btw, and thank God they did. Now we have American weapons pouring into territories of the former Soviet Union, and a US President visiting Kiev and Warsaw, to do a bit of tub thumping for the benefit of the Western media. Excuse me if I do not find all this jingoistic posturing to be particularly constructive. It’s the 21st century and one would hope that humanity might by now have found a more effective means of conflict resolution, but no; apparently not. By claiming that all fault lies on one side, and all virtue on the other, we make a complex situation simple; the enemy must be crushed, and the whole world with him if that’s what it takes. Freedom. Or something.
