Jobs boost at RAF Lossiemouth

I think much of the negativity coming from south of the border is driven directly of the negativity and vitriol directed at England by the SNP. The SNP take credit for everything and the blame for nothing. If anything negative happens in Scotland they blame the Westminster boogyman.

The Scottish Government already has control of healthcare, education, justice, transport, the environment, policing, rural affairs,housing, income tax (ability to vary +/- 3% in either direction), Scottish local and national elections, some elements of social security and the Crown estate of Scotland.

Through the Barnet formula Scotland gets £2000 per person per year more to spend on public services yet under the Scottish government educational attainment, healthcare, conviction rates etc have all gotten worse.

Through the Union you get a significantly better defence spend that you would on your own.

Just what is it you think will be better with independence?

You’ve just listed domestic matters. What about fp, trade policy, eu…..I’m not a supporter of indyref but just saying

Ah daily mail facts again, this is one reason why a growing number of us Scots want independence. It is a fact that in the UK the NHS in scotland is doing much better, with perhaps the exception of Wales. The continued attacks to withdraw powers from Edinbrugh, as well as challenges to incorporating into Scottish law the rights of children. Yes any vote may be tight, however the continued refussal to “ALLOW” a referendum highlights to many a case for independence. This is sen as arrogance ans misrule, Us scots have elected independence representatives into both parliaments. Why do you think this is? Purely down tomarketing?

The UK is the English voice in all but name. Pulling the Union apart is likely, I just hope we stop and take a rational approach before shattering something irreplaceable.

Many Western democracies operate some form of devolved state governments. Some of them quite hostile. What issues they control can vary greatly and can be very divisive.

Take Australia for example. There is no unified approach to land transport. Rail gauges are different between key states and even matters of heavy goods vehicle standards, regulations and licensing requirements varies between the states. The covid crisis has accentuated differences with individual states frequently closing / controlling movements across state borders while the federal govt controls the international borders.

Canada, Germany, Italy and even Spain with its 17 devolved autonimous communities are examples operating under variations of a theme.

I agree with you maurice10. Being “English” is for football only!

Not at all, being English is a proud heritage, and why should my heritage, be limited, in your view, to a football game?

Sadly, the UK will do what it’s told on issues pertaining to our nuclear weapons. The theory they are independent is pure fiction. On the issue of US weapons in other countries has no bearing on this issue. The US expects us to be in sole charge of what are their missile systems and that includes where and how the UK base them. Even though we buy the missiles from the US, the protocols are very tight and go back to the Kennedy – Mc Millan agreement. I predict the Faslane issue could be the SNP’s biggest thorn in their sides as time progresses?

I mean I’m pretty sure the US doesn’t really give a shit, sure the missiles might be US but the warheads themselves are sovereign and made in the the UK. Even if the US stopped supplying them we could have our own system up and running very quickly, I’m sure just about every defence contractor outside of the US would jump at that opportunity. And failing that we could just go to Russia and ask them for some in exchange for information. Though things would never get to that point.

I doubt your observation would hold water. The US does take nuclear weapons very seriously.

Hi John I have heard all htese scaremongering stories, continually pushed at the Scottish people. If all was as you seem to allude why would a public spirited benefactor as England so obviously is! Want to retain Scotland tthat is such a burden on English Tax payers. I tthink posts such as this end up with independence minded supporters trying to combat some fallicies putt about by ill informed (in general) individuals that actually do not live and work in Scotland. I can appreciate the rights of English people to assert there wishes via ballot box as they have done with Brexit vote but as far as a lot of people in Scotland are concerned this highlights significant differences in our cultures to such an extent that we need to explore the independence question. I am at a loss that this causes so much stushie south of the border as it should be a matter for the Scottish people to decide. We will see whether Scotland can manage her own affairs as a sovereign independent nation that is not like some junkie dependent on our bigger neighbour England to keep us safe. I look forwards in hope to that day. I also hope that as neighbours we will be good friends and strong allies.

We’ve going down a well beaten path here William…

The stark facts are that the projected Scottish GDP is well below where it needs to be to maintain public spending at its current levels.

So, options:

Severe austerity and tax rises across the board for many years to come as Scotland lives within its budget.

Joining the EU ….. Becoming a small nation swallowed whole by a greedy Federal Empire … What independence???

EU membership would also mean cutting yourself off from Union in practical terms, as the rest of us go in a different direction.

I would love to hear how you think it can be made to work William?

Moving on the the referendum itself….

You had one, a referendum that had precise wording agreed by all sides, overseen by the electrical commission, with all parties agreeing to abide by the result…

That result was totally democratic, beyond reproach and was firmly remain.

A forthcoming National referendum on membership of the EU was already on the cards and an electoral promise of the Tories, when the Scottish referendum was held.

A referendum of this sort is a once in a generation thing, so 25 years at least..

If you win another leave vote, will the remainers get to vote in a ‘Rejoin the Union’ referendum every 7 years, until they get the results they want too??

It only seems fair William.

Let’s call it the hokey cokey referendum, in, out, in, out shake it all about 🤣

It’s the assumption that Scotland would somehow be incapable of managing without being in the uk that annoys people. If u say to a Scottish person you can’t do that because ur not good enough, guess what. They will go to great lengths to prove you wrong, even if it does hurt them a little. It’s human nature

I’m happy being in the uk as a Scottish person

It’s much the same everywhere in the Great Britain MS ….

Us Brits don’t care for being talked down too, Labour found that out to its cost as it support crumbled away nationally, first in Scotland (big warning sign they ignored) and finally a collapse of their vote in England too, mainly because of their London centric, anti BREXIT stance.

They are now a rather sad hollowed out shell of a party, that can’t decide what they stand for….

What fills there place will be interesting

Indeed it will, there’s a power vacuum waiting for a new force, unfortunately no one has ever made a real impression to break our two party race.

As we all know, the party that takes and holds the centre ground, tends to get into power and stay for a good long while…

Labour don’t stand a chance for the foreseeable future, the hard Left are still there and will keep the party as eternal runners up, until they separate and go in different directions.