Scotland's independence.

[Deo_Machina]

A recent poll shows that Scottish independence is gaining popularity.
Or so it says here.

What do you think? Should it become a seperate country thing?
You have my permission to elaborate on your views.

I'm undecided. I don't know what will change, will it affect the economy?  

[Foetus In Fetu]

It is a seperate country.

If you're asking me if Scotland, as a political entity, should be completely seperate from England, Wales and Northern Ireland then I don't know how to comment. I don't really know enough about the United Kingdom politically.  

[Deo_Machina]

Whoops, I'll edit..  

[and_solo_said]

No, it wouldn't last five minutes. Its too remote to attract business without major government...bribery, effectively.  

[Deo_Machina]

Bribery?  

[dreaming_mouse]

How is it too remote?  

[and_solo_said]

Deo_Machina

Bribery?

Its how you get companies to move to an undesirable area. You give them money and tax benefits. Its how the regenerated Sheffield.  

[and_solo_said]

dreaming_mouse

How is it too remote?

Manufacturing companies like to be close to the market. Its better to locate somewhere like Eastern Europe than it would be to locate in Scotland or Southern Italy because you can ship goods all over Europe more cheaply.

Failing that, they could just locate in some LEDC and make up the cost of shipping in low wages.  

[dreaming_mouse]

So if Scotland became independent it'd fall to pieces because they're a few more miles north than England...  

[Invictus_88]

dreaming_mouse

So if Scotland became independent it'd fall to pieces because they're a few more miles north than England...

They also have a sparse population and an overreliance on agriculture. Their industrial centres are few and they have none of the business-attracting conurbations like Manchester, Liverpool and Tyneside.

It is a hopeless cause, and I could never support it. For their good and ours.

However, I'm aware that if they pulled themselves away from the Union then the slump in industry and resultant poverty might draw tham back into the UK fold with a greatly beneficial zeal.

The north is, essentially, subsidised by the south. Wales is too.


Their calls for independence are more than just political issues for me though, I can't help but feel a little downhearted too. It shows that they don't think the union is good enough for them anymore, and if that's the case then we've failed rather. There's too little élan in our actions nowadays, it's all so grey.  

[Deo_Machina]

Does this have the potential to recreate a Northern Ireland/Republic of Ireland thing?

I doubt it but..  

[ficklefiend]

No, no,no,no, no, no, NO!!

I don't even see how anyone could think it would work...it's just an unstructured badly thought out idea based on silly romanticism and fading psuedo-patriotism.

The SNP would be a great party for me if they just dropped all this Socttish independance stuff, it seems obvious to me that they want to but they can't wqite bring themselves to cut out what they made the core of the party when it was founded.

If the folks of Scotland in 1707 who didn't want a union but felt they were swayed by greed time-travelled and spent one day here I think they would see that going for the cash was a good move.

What exactly is it that people think we have lost anyway?

Of course, I have no problem with getting our own parliament and a chance to make politics a bit more local, also a spot for a Scottish representitive on the European council wouldn't go amiss, get the fishing sorted and all that.  

[ficklefiend]

Equally, may I just say;

"A majority of English voters think Scottish MPs should be barred from becoming the UK's prime minister, according to a BBC survey."

Bollocks.  

[and_solo_said]

A number of people in England feel bitter about having to share parliament with the rest of the union.  

[Invictus_88]

and_solo_said

A number of people in England feel bitter about having to share parliament with the rest of the union.

A number of people favour withdrawal from Europe, and reestablishment of the British Empire.

That doesn't imbue their ideas with any merit though..

It's a British Parliament - does what it says on the tin.