Scottish Referendum

[jimmymac]

I love a good referendum debate! Dcf, did you hear about the Scottish renewables act in the house of lords?

 

[jaypp]

Wasn't that something Salmon did?

Sounds fishy to me.!!

Think I've said this in a previous thread, Scotland are predicted to be Europe's biggest supplier of electricity from wind farms. Not long ago, on the net, looked at land for sale there and existing/granted windmill sites on behalf of someone else (never went further). Land seemed to be snapped up quickly despite economic climate (I understand people with ££ will buy in these times knowing it will pick up giving better return than banks etc.). I'm with Murdoch in that there is more to it than joe public is aware of, and think if 'YES' vote, Scotland will be the place to be, with its lucrative resources.

 

[jimmymac]

Especially if your a wind turbine electrical technician ;-)

 

[Dcf]

Indeed jimmy yet more dirty tactics.
tidal power would be the way forward .
my brother does rov work in the oil game and says there is a 15 knot tidal current that runs constantly in the North Sea somewhere
plop a few turbines down there and you have it cracked.
the referendum has wider implications for the likes of Spain with the Catalans watching it with interest.

 

[jimmymac]

I don't think anyone can argue that renewable energy is the future and it's only a matter of time before it takes over the oil & gas industry, maybe not in our lifetime but it will. I believe there are tidal barrage's already in place around the Highlands. I think that's where Scotland's future lies, no disrespect to the rest of the UK but I think Scotland has the brightest future of the lot

 

[jaypp]

Indeed jimmy yet more dirty tactics.
tidal power would be the way forward .
my brother does rov work in the oil game and says there is a 15 knot tidal current that runs constantly in the North Sea somewhere
plop a few turbines down there and you have it cracked.
the referendum has wider implications for the likes of Spain with the Catalans watching it with interest.

What amazes me is the fact displacement of water will drive a turbine and yet a simple construction to utilise four per day is still (correct me if wrong) being 'developed'. Might check to see how many patents have been bought by energy companies!

 

[jaypp]

RE Scottish people hating English, never experienced it other than banter much like many other town to town, footy club to footy club etc. anywhere else. Am part Scot and spent summer holidays with grandparents near Dunoon as a kid. Did a spell doing electric bed installs there (rough areas too) and have holidayed as an adult a number of times, and am again this August near Fort William.

 

[Adam W]

A very good question - after all we may want to get rid of them!!

I reckon that's the answer - the point of the referendum is to allow the Scotch to vote for what they think is best for Scotland, whereas everyone else would be expected to vote on what they think would be best for everyone, themselves included, which might be seen as selfish.
The Scotch voting themselves out could be seen as voting for a fresh start, a new beginning, which can be made to sound a lot more positive than everyone else voting to boot them out.

 

[Adam W]

As for Scotland being better off, socialism doesn't seem to have worked for anyone else, but I'm sure the Scotch will be able to make it work.

 

[PEM]

I can understand Scotland wanting to be independent especially with the two public school idiots running this country!! To save millions and ensure all parts of the UK stand a chance simply get a government that merits appointment through honesty, hard work, and being in tune with the people.
On second thoughts hell no change of that happening so run Scotland run whilst you have the chance!!

 

[sparkdog]

Who do you think you are Mr Salmond,Bonnie Prince Charlie?

 

[Besoeker]

I hope it's a "NO" vote.

 

[ian.settle1]

If the Scots did vote for independence does that means we can deport all the Scots living in England and Wales back to Scotland?

 

[Dcf]

Aggressive alky tramps have been one of our finest exports for years you can keep them

 

[Guest77]

Who is going to pay our dole if we separate?
Who is going to pay for future projects like the new Forth crossing?
Who is going to pay for all the Scottish Water upgrades and ongoing costs?
Who is going to pay my pension in 10 years time?
Oh yes, of course, the Scottish tax payer!

Boydy

How, What industry have you got apart from Salmon farming and whisky distilling? and who are you going to do business with? the EU will not be allowed to inport your stuff if you make anything due to EU rules, anyhow Joking aside, I wish you well, you will always be british, family and part of us in my eyes.

 

[gutterball]

everybody thinks short term. i don't like salmond, but if we get independence he will only have 4 of 5 years then we can vote for another party.

 

[ian.settle1]

everybody thinks short term. i don't like salmond, but if we get independence he will only have 4 of 5 years then we can vote for another party.

And then ask to reapply to rejoin the UK

 

[UNG]

A pretty major thing for the whole UK though, and yet 5 million people out of 64 million and some are 16 years old get to decide our future, another tory blunder

When did wee eck defect to the tories I missed that one

I certainly wasn't taught at school to hate the English.

It's well known that Scottish schools history lessons are heavily biased towards how the English have done them wrong over the years

Don't know where the idea that we get everything for free came from but that's not the case.
if you are a jakey dosser using every social service known to man then maybe.
if you have a bob or two then no you will pay.
if we are such a burden on English finances why the dirty trick campaign to keep us in the union?
If the best the better together campaign can come up with is negative scare stories then they have lost already.
one of the latest was that the cost of electricity was going to triple as it would be spread over 5m customers rather than 60m.fair enough.
the only fly in the ointment was that Scotland has been a net exporter of electricity for years!
so when I read all the daily scare stories I take them all with a pinch of salt.
i am no Scottish nationalist but would we be any worse off?
I don't think so

You get a lot of things for free that come at a cost south of the border not sure what we get free that costs you in the north


Having been up in Scotland recently it is quite interesting how divisive the independence issue is to the extent some workplaces have a ban on talking about it and it is even dividing families. The whole thing is about a vote where nothing tangible has been put on the table by the pro independence lobby except a mandate to demand independence on wee eck's terms with no negotiation

The big question is who is picking up the tab if the divorce goes ahead as there will be a sizeable bill to relocate UK government offices, military hardware etc to south of the border couples with that there is also the question of government debt and the bailout of the Scottish banks and how that is addressed

And given that wee eck is looking to use UK government infrastructure (DVSA and passport office to name two) for a fee and keep the pound how independent is Scotland going to be if they vote for it or is that the insurance policy if it goes pear shaped

If I had a vote I couldn't make my mind up on which way to vote given the current lack of information from both sides as to what is best Scottish independence or not it is a difficult one to call as it would totally change the political landscape both north and the south of the border in Westminster there would be a loss of 59 MP's including 40 from Labour so would certainly make an impact on goverment, economically while the numbers seem to stack up for Scotland there seems to be something that's too rosy in their accountancy

 

[jimmymac]

Even if the YES campaign wins and we do go independent, it won't happen over night. I think it would be around 10 years before Scotland was truly independent. With regards to keeping the pound, Scotland has every right to do so, it's as much Scotland's pound as it is the rest of the UK....which leads me onto my next point.......it does seem that the general mind set in England is that anything which is British actually belongs to England and that Scotland is just like a tumour which England are willing to tolerate because we are useless without England and your doing us such a massive favour by allowing us to remain in the UK. This attitude angers a lot of Scottish people, we just want to know that we can hold our own and that we are ruled by the government which we vote for, not much to ask is it?

 

[UNG]

Even if the YES campaign wins and we do go independent, it won't happen over night. I think it would be around 10 years before Scotland was truly independent.

I believe it's march 2016 not 10 years just 18 months to sort out the divorce

With regards to keeping the pound, Scotland has every right to do so, it's as much Scotland's pound as it is the rest of the UK....

You have I agree it's not a problem you want independence and your interest rates will be set by........ The Bank of England or Scotland may choose to have the wee eck pound and set it's own interest rates

which leads me onto my next point.......it does seem that the general mind set in England is that anything which is British actually belongs to England and that Scotland is just like a tumour which England are willing to tolerate because we are useless without England and your doing us such a massive favour by allowing us to remain in the UK. This attitude angers a lot of Scottish people, we just want to know that we can hold our own and that we are ruled by the government which we vote for, not much to ask is it?

May be it's because all you ever hear from north of the border is how hard done to you are.
Found it strange that when the Orkney's and Shetlands suggested a vote on independence from Scotland the Scottish government told them they would have no territorial waters if they went independent and therefore the oil revenue would remain Scotland's strange how attitude changes when a couple of islands want independence and it effects Scotland's economic viability

TBH if independence happens I just hope it works for you in the north as I don't know what happens if it goes pear shaped

 

[telectrix]

take the M25 and all that's within it. let them remain in the EU, bung it all onto the isle of wight, then the rest of the mainland can join with scotland to create a true britain. ( wales inluded).

 

[guest119]

How, What industry have you got apart from Salmon farming and whisky distilling? and who are you going to do business with? the EU will not be allowed to inport your stuff if you make anything due to EU rules, anyhow Joking aside, I wish you well, you will always be british, family and part of us in my eyes.

I think you have miss read Mike, as did the 2 yes voters who gave me likes (which they are welcome to remove).

The exclamation mark should maybe have been a question mark but I was being my usual sarky self.

I will be voting no and hope Salmond goes down in history as a wee wretch that cost us a fortune with all this nonsense.

My passport says British on it.

Boydy

 

[Octopus]

Even if the YES campaign wins and we do go independent, it won't happen over night. I think it would be around 10 years before Scotland was truly independent. With regards to keeping the pound, Scotland has every right to do so, it's as much Scotland's pound as it is the rest of the UK....which leads me onto my next point.......it does seem that the general mind set in England is that anything which is British actually belongs to England and that Scotland is just like a tumour which England are willing to tolerate because we are useless without England and your doing us such a massive favour by allowing us to remain in the UK. This attitude angers a lot of Scottish people, we just want to know that we can hold our own and that we are ruled by the government which we vote for, not much to ask is it?

So how are 2 countries, operating different fiscal rules and interest rates going to exist in financial harmony then? It simply CAN'T work IMHO

Just glance over to Europe and they can't make it work even with the same interest rates!

 

[Silly Sausage]

It's all pie in the sky.
That infamous white paper book they published contains nothing about how all the glorious future will be paid for.
Plus, he's got to be one of the most odious creatures I've ever seen, then there's his Mrs!!!
Sounds like I'm bullying now, so I'll stop.

If they vote Yes, good luck to them, I doubt very much it'll have the slightest impact on my life in the next 20 or 30 years.

 

[Octopus]

Alec Salmon is a bit like Nigel Farage - lacking in detail where it matters, but they both sound good to clueless voters.

 

[Silly Sausage]

This is what I fear about if we have an In/Out EU referendum.
The vast majority of the voters will just go on one or two topics (I REFUSE to use the word issue!), like immigration.
I want to see the whole picture, the overall pros and cons of in or out, before I'd cast my vote.
Fantasy land, I know!

 

[UNG]

So how are 2 countries, operating different fiscal rules and interest rates going to exist in financial harmony then? It simply CAN'T work IMHO

Just glance over to Europe and they can't make it work even with the same interest rates!

If they keep GBP then BoE interest rates apply they can't set their own but I'm sure wee eck will sort that

Alec Salmon is a bit like Nigel Farage - lacking in detail where it matters, but they both sound good to clueless voters.

And both riding a nationalist vote

 

[Guest77]

Scotland can call it's currency what it likes, whether the rest of what is left of the union accepts tender from Scotland in our shops is another matter, and whether the Bank of England allows the Scottish currency to be linked to ours will depend on the fall out from the yes vote results should it go that way. I expect a backlash from the Welsh and English should Scotland go it alone, all businesses which are not Scottish will close up there and move south, the supermarket chains, the military and the oil field companies. The new rigs will be built off the coast of Newcastle and the drills will be longer still draining oil from the same place as before LOL, The Scotland as you know it will cease to exist without the other 3 countries in the union and the 28 countries in the EU supporting it, Salmond is a complete nutter, don't let him ruin your economy, it is bad enough now under this Government it will be worse without it, Vote no and stick around guys.

 

[Octopus]

I do wonder what Alec Salmon would be saying if Labour were in charge? especially as they have about 50 scottish MP's

 

[Guest77]

I do wonder what Alec Salmon would be saying if Labour were in charge? especially as they have about 50 scottish MP's

A very good point, there is no doubt Labour will be hit very hard if Scotland say yes. In fact it will cost them the next election for sure, that I strongly believe.