Scotland leaving the Union

They probably think that they will claim the oil of their coasts

Gaddafi also thought that oil from Libyan territory belongs to Libya.

It seems that those things are a bit more complicated ...

If you'd done just a little bit of homework before trying to stir things up you'd have known it will go to a referendum. Alex Salmond knows that at the moment there's limited appetite in Scotland for full independence and it suits him that the other parties would block any proposals for a referendum. He's biding his time. Meanwhile it looks like the SNP is about to win the upcoming election with an increased majority so things are obviously moving in his favour.

Maybe we shouldn't expect a "Scot" who calls Hong Kong home, went to school in England, lived in Australia and now resides in England, to know much about Scotland.

Dear Tom,

I would suggest that you are correct on that. I have not lived in Edinburgh since about May 1977.

Most of my family have moved south and there is no member of my family in Scotland to my knowledge. So we are now all Southern Jessies.

As you are no doubt aware more Scots live in England than Scotland, same for the Welsh and Irish i believe too. No wonder, the Scots and Irish made up many of the early migrants for the New Worlds.

My problem is, is how are these new nations going to fund themselves out of their own taxes??

Does it mean poor old England will have to. 

I also wonder if England will ever get any independence similar to that offered to Scotland, Wales ans Northern Ireland. An English Parliament has a nice ring to it. Mind you if the EU gets its way part of France and UK will become a merged area!!!!!

Ho Hum

David

ps to add to the above i was born in Nairobi Kenya, my dad was in civil avaition.

Poor old England has done awfully well from Scottish oil revenues for quite a number of years now.

I understood that it was the United Kingdom as a whole that benefited from the oil revenues.

These revenues were then apportioned to the Union.

David

So it's fine to talk about Scotland being subsidised by England, i.e. that more money is spent here than is raised in taxes, but not ok to point out that the vast majority of oil revenue comes from oil fields within Scottish waters? Revenues that would have been Scotland's if we hadn't been part of the UK. Or is this something else not taught in Hong Kong, Australia and the various parts of England where you've lived?

We are all part of the UK. This also includes Cornwall and Yorkshire. We currently share riches and opportunities.

We are reasonably civilised. If Scotland wants to go its own way, call a referendum, just to be sure it is a (reasonable?) majority and not just Alex Salmond.

There will need to be some sorting out of various assets (eg minerals, infrastructure, manpower), but not beyond the wit of man. If the USSR can do it, i'm sure we could.

However, it would be difficult (and it won't happen) to retrospectively ask England to repay Scotland for its oil, or ask Scotland to repay England for its tax donations - or whatever. How far back do we go ? Culloden, James VI of Scotland, failed Roman invasion of Scotland (and Northumberland).

I don't know whether England subsidises Scotland, Wales or Ireland or vice-versa and personally, I don't really care, any more that whether Middlesex subsidises Cornwall, Durham or Sussex. I happen to think (I have absolutely no evidence at all) that the UK is better off as a union that any of the members would be on their own.

Perhaps any referendum should be put to the whole of the UK, not just Scotland?

Cheers

Don

Don

A fair post......but I have disagree with the last part

"Perhaps any referendum should be put to the whole of the UK, not just Scotland?"

Scotland is a sovereign nation that decided (oops a small group of people decided) to form a union with England and we should have the right to determine whether we want secession or not.  Having said that I am really torn on how I would vote should a referendum take place.

Jim

Dear Tom,

The point i was trying to make is that Scotland as a wholly independent nation is probably non viable.

So it would have to raise taxation to its population to cover free education including university. Universal health care for all including prescriptions and dental and the other things that are no longer provided in england from taxation.

I would like to think travel broadens the mind.

David

A totally selfish attitude you have there.

If Scotland have a referendum on breaking the union with England then England should have a referendum on breaking the union with Scotland.

I'm not convinced that that is the only criteria for separation. Is it entirely Scotland's decision to both form and then break Unions. And then decide to re-form the Union if things don't work out as hoped for?

I am not impressed by Alex Salmond's personal feud and thinly disguised hatred of the English.

Cheers

Don

Jim,

I seem to recall watching a tv programme, in which he, himself made these views known. Along with his scheme for picking the right moment for a referendum. "You" might think you have a free choice in his referendum...............................

Perhaps his feelings lie somewhere between hate and dislike, but picking the precise word isn't my strong point. I don't think he actually likes the English my a wide mark.

Cheers

Don

What a load of patronising tosh. Why on earth is "Scotland as a wholly independent nation probably non viable"? And how on earth would you know? May I suggest you stop getting your economics from the Daily Mail. May I also suggest you stop calling yourself a Scot and stop playing the "I'm a Scot but..." card. You're about as Scottish as the tartan tat sold on the Royal Mile.That's the thoroughfare leading up to the castle in case you've forgotten.

I agree that travel broadens the mind. After working in California for several years I chose to return to my homeland where I've been working and paying taxes for the past couple of decades.

And why would the English people want to try to stop us leaving the union when we are, as so many of you seem to think a drain on the exchequer? Why have successive PMs including Thatcher been so determined we should not leave? Because they just love handing us your money? I think not.

consideration is being given to fixed-term government to  remove this manipulation technique.

Cheers

Don

I'd be utterly astonished if that had ever happened and would like to see some hard evidence before giving it another thought.

I will say he's one of the most astute politicians of his or any other generation and there's no way he'd offend our nearest neighbours by saying silly stuff like this. It's not what he's about.

And I think there's more than a grain of truth in Jim's comment. There's definite insecurity there.

Politicians are devious. Alex Salmond made it clear he will only move for a referendum when it suits his purpose. Same applied to Gordon Brown and others in general elections. Fixed term parliaments remove this manipulative technique. Its under discussion. Salmond could have called for a referendum three or four years ago and been done with it - Scotland might have been independent by now. He's being manipulative.

Sorry Tom, you are simply wrong about the insecurity, if that remark was directed towards me.

Cheers

Don