I am at a loss with the Scots' (or some of them anyway) desire for independence. I appreciate in the short term there could be major upheaval in that nation due to Alex Salmond's vanity project. In the longer term there may actually be some value to it. How will the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland continue as one of the kingdoms will have left the union? Will the HMRC bring its "offshore" call centres back into the UK frm East Kilbride? Will the MoD stop using Scottish military bases and re-site them in the remainder of the UK? If, as is claimed, the Queen will still be head of state for Scotland - what is the point of independence? How will Scotland finance itself, it surely cannot believe it can still ahve money from Westminster? I could continue with what might be considered fatuous questions, or be accused of bullying for asking for an explaination, but I won't. This process does offer good sound-bites for the SNP and again the "No" campaign are left with difficulties getting their ideas and opinions over. There can be no cherry-picked best bits for independence, it's all or nothing. If it were up to me I'd let them go (if that is really what they want) and withdraw all the British government's Scottish based activities, I'm sure Northern Ireland, Wales and parts of England would enjoy the benefits from that. It would then be up to individual companies to decide if their business were better served by remaining outside Britain.
1 Northern Ireland and Wales are not and never have been "kingdoms" so if Scotland leave, England will be the only Kingdom - so UK is not the correct name going forward - perhaps Greater England 2 Even the Scots cannot think non Scottish government institutions would remain in Scotland. 3 That would be for negotiation - the Scots could "lease" the bases to "Greater England" if they could do a deal. They have suggested they would not allow in Nuclear vessels 4 The Queen is head of many independent Commonwealth countries. Independence is about Parliament not monarchy 5 Scotland would set its own taxes to get revenue from its people and companies operating there - they would also have north sea oil revenue Agree with you about cherry picking - that is what the SNP want - it suits them to retain the Pound but that is unlikely to be granted them.
I know this is the most minor question on this thread, but where would a yes vote leave Berwick Rangers?
Interesting point but my guess is that it will not affect it - after all they are already an English club playing in the Scottish league so unless the Scottish league had any reason to do so it could remain "as is". After all Swansea and Cardiff are Welsh clubs that play in the English league
More to the point, what will happen to the Shetlands and Orkneys? When Scottish independence was mooted in the 70s they said that they did not want to be part of it. They preferred to go alone.
Well tongue in cheek I would welcome Scotland going (they would be mad imo) as London would not be subsidising them anymore. Also, if they make any decisions we don't like we will just invade them and surround Edinburgh Airport till they agree to do what we say (democraticly of course! )
Not sure if this should be on the Friday Afternoon - or here Alex Salmond's colleagues decided it would be a worthy gesture to name a railway locomotive after him. So an official went to the National Railway Museum at York, to investigate the possibilities. "There are a number of locomotives at the NRM without names," a consultant told the official, but they are mostly freight locomotives." "Oh dear, a freight locomotive is not very fitting for a party leader," said Sir Humphrey. "How about that big green one, over there?" he said, pointing to the 'Flying Scotsman'. "That one has already got a name" said the consultant. "It's called 'Flying Scotsman'." "Oh well. Couldn't we rename it?" asked the official. "I suppose for Alex Salmond it might be considered," said the consultant. "That's excellent", said the official, "So that's settled then...let's look at re-naming the 'Flying Scotsman'. How much will it cost? Remember we can't spend too much, given the expenses scandal!" "Well", said the consultant, "Why don't we just paint out the 'F'."
Totally agree Aberdeen, as my job is dependant on the Norwegian side of North sea oil. Another point of note here is that Norway has re-invested a high percentage of oil revenue into alternate energy industries and thus are still in a good position for when the oil runs out .I doubt an independant Scotland would have the resources to do likewise ,ironically they can point to the gross wastage and mismanagement of this resource at Westminster.
[video=youtube;sAz_UvnUeuU]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sAz_UvnUeuU[/video] Then there is the language problem......... (This is very funny)
