Scottish Independence

The Scottish National Party has announced that it would hold a referendum on Scottish Independence in the Autumn (Fall) of 2014 http://www.nytimes.com/2012/01/26/w...-for-vote-on-independence.html?pagewanted=all The article says that only Westminster has the legal power to approve such a plebiscite. However 7 Scottish academics have suggested otherwise http://www.heraldscotland.com/polit...rood-has-authority-over-referendum.1328929454
There is a long campaign ahead but hopefully it will end with the formation of a new sovereign state.

 

An Independent Scotland will also join the EU. It is not a matter of countries giving up all sovereignty. Individual countries are still responsible for their own defence, foreign affairs, taxation, welfare policies etc. This link shows the powers of the EU http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/European_Union#Competences

 

It is not that controversial in Scotland. What you have been hearing is from England, stirred up by a rabid right wing press (especially the tabloids) Although we do get the English papers, they don't sell well (apart from the Sun) so we are not really faced with the anti EU rhetoric to the same extent. We do of course hear the moaning and complaining on the TV but it just doesn't seem to bother many of us.

 

Does not Scotland have their own national soccer team that plays international games and trys to make the World Cup every four years? If this is so, then would have not the Brits already given up an all rights that their truly was an United Kingdom since the English also have their own national team.

 

Yes we have our national team for football (soccer). However, for other major sporting events such as the Olympics our athletes etc. compete as part of Team GB (Great Britain). This has caused particular ire in football ranks because it is felt it could lead to one GB team competing in the World Cup. For this reason the Scottish Football Association has come out strongly against a united GB team for the Olympic soccer event and has advised Scottish players not to participate. Personally, I hope anyone who disregards this advice will never represent Scotland in the future.
Politically, despite various issues being run in Edinburgh, the London government retains power over many matters such as defence, foreign affairs, taxation
Scotland is not Independent yet so the United Kingdom still exists. On Independence, the Scottish National Party's policy is to retain the monarchy until the Scots say otherwise in a referendum: so, you could say the UK will remain in existence

 

Scotland and their football team are usually grounds for mirth in England as they are usually very poor against anyone except England.
Still, I am going to the EUFA finals later this year and do not really think England will get far past the group stages.
As for the Olympics, I think the GB team will be all English apart from Gareth Bale (Welsh)

 

Our teams try their best, sometimes. Last time we qualified for any major Finals was the World Cup in 1998. Still, we are a country of just over 5 million people.
I'll faithfully be wearing my ABE (Anyone But England) t-shirt
I believe the Welsh FA has allied itself with the SFA in the 'don't play for team GB' message. It'll be interesting to see if any player ignores it - some Scots have said they'd play if asked but, like you, I can't see that happening.

 

Though the struggle for Scotish independence has been fought for centuries, the outcome has always favored the much stronger England.

England and Scotland will always have close ties... whether or not independence is ever won, and it's not an impossibility, but IMO, it's highly unlikely that Scotland will ever become a sovereign country, and though I personally believe it should have the right to decide that, economically Scotland would probably be better off as a part of the UK.

From a Scotish-pov, I know national pride, and the right to self-govern, is of extreme importance ...but with that independence comes liabilities that have been ignored, or minimized; national defence and economic stability being two. Both however, can be overcome relatively easily considering the close ties with England and the European Union.

However...

The biggest obstacle always comes down to money. Scotland, as a part of the UK, is valuable... and England wouldn't want to lose that value. I read somewhere that Edinburgh is Europe's fifth largest financial center... if true, the loss of that alone would be a blow England isn't prepared to take.

 

Scotland was an Independent country up to 1707 when it united with England.

This is very true.

This is what the referendum will decide. At present the polls put support for Independence at around the mid 30%s, so there is a lot of work to do. However, there are a lot of people still to make up their minds so, it's all to play for.

In 2009/10 Scotland took in from taxation 9.38% of the UKs total take http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2011/06/21144516/6 This from a country with 8.4% of the population. The Expenditure in Scotland was 9.26% of the total UK expenditure http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2011/06/21144516/8 So, with these figures Scotland did relatively better than the UK.

The Nationalists have made statements on defence eg not to join NATO while it remains a nuclear organisation; all nuclear weopons to be moved out of the country; a defence force on similar lines to Norways etc. Economically, the icing on the cake, so to speak, is oil and with it I think our economy will be rather stable.

The decision will be down to those living in Scotland. Scotland was bribed into the Union, we will leave through the democratic will of the electorate.

 

I'm for Scotish independance, and believe it's possible... just unlikely. The status-quo is a powerful thing, and the loss of the value to the UK is a very, very huge obstacle.

As for oil, I looked a bit into it and have come to the conclusion that in the short-term the oil is an economic boost, but it's temporary. That said, the eventual loss of oil-money alone is no reason to believe that Scotland can't stand on it's own as a country... it can.

I believe that if a significant majority (sayyyy 65% or so) of Scotland wishes to become independent then so be it, but that's only my opinion.

 

The Quebec 1995 referendum almost produced a Yes vote, and the pro sovereignty campaign started from a worse position than that in Scotland.

The Unionists will try everything in their power to prevent Scottish secession but the interference, for example, of UK Prime Minister, David Cameron, resulted in a massive boost for Independence, with the SNP reporting about 800 people joining the party in the 5 days following his intervention http://www.snp.org/media-centre/news/2012/jan/snp-membership-soars-800-join-5-days So hopefully the attempts of the UK establishment to try and control the referendum will continue its positive effect for a Yes outcome.

New oil fields are being found http://www.guardian.co.uk/business/2011/oct/13/bp-north-sea-oil-field-shetland-islands and the oil is set to last for decades. We have been lied to since the 70s about the amount of oil there is - and they're still at it.

 

I dont want the break up of the UK (I am Welsh) but if Scotland vote for it then more power to them, If on the other hand they remain part of the UK then I do believe it is time to devolve more powers from the central gov to the regions
At the moment England is somewhat at a loss as Scottish and Welsh MP's can vote on matters regarding England only but it dont work the other way England should have it's own body such as the Welsh and Scottish have with a joint representation for defence etc

 

There is talk of a 3rd option being added - devolution max. This would transfer everything bar defence & foreign policy to Edinburgh. None of the parties have come out in favour but the SNP has said the people should be given the choice. When asked in opinion polls, devo max invariably comes out on top.
Do you think the Wesh want this level of devolution?
As for England, I don't know if one parliament is the answer or if a regional solution would be better. Obviously that will be for them to sort out.
I'm with you on voting on English matters. I know the SNP MPs don't do this and I believe the Plaid Cymru ones follow suit.
I think a Federal solution could be viable but, I'm afraid that will not satisfy the Nationalists.

 

If a majority of Scots decide in favor of Independance and vote for it, would that vote be honored by the British government? Would it be legal? I've read somewhat on it and there seems to be debate on the legality of it.

*I should add that I meant to say I'd be in favor of Scotland becoming independent... if the majority of Scots demanded it. Otherwise my opinion remains that there are advantages to being a part of the UK that out-weigh independence.

 

It is a debatable point. The UK government says only it has the legal power over a referendum. However in a recent article in the 'Herald' newspaper 7 constitutional experts suggest otherwise http://www.heraldscotland.com/polit...rood-has-authority-over-referendum.1328929454
As to the outcome, the Brit government will have no option but to carry out the wishes of the Scottish people. It could not do otherwise having recognised the Independence of the former Soviet Republics and those of the former Yugoslavia following referendums. {admittedly these were won with huge majorities)

 

Yes I think the Welsh would go for it, but one point missed by many is that no one has botherf to ask the English people if they might like Independence from the rest! Not as silly as some might believe there is a degree of support for such a idea allready.
A number of English people would be only to happy to cast of Scotland/Wales/NI and go it alone they would look at it as a massive benifit to themselfs (be this true or not it is how many percieve it)

 

If the referendum leads to a no vote will the SNP accept it or keep demanding a referendum every year until they get the answer they want?

 

They have said they will respect the will of the people