Scottish Independence

[Paradoxum]

Hi,

How do you feel about the SNP pushing for Scottish Independence from the UK? Personally it feels like bit of a betrayal to me. Breaking up our country, and for what? To be absorbed into the EU eventually anyway. I understand that the Scottish are proud of their Scottish-ness, but why can't the be proud while being in the UK? I have no problem being English, British and European.

Anyway, here's a news article about Scotland moving closer politically to Scandinavia: Bye, bye England? SNP plans closer Scandinavian ties after independence - UK Politics - UK - The Independent

Have a nice day

 

[Nabobalis]

Hi,

How do you feel about the SNP pushing for Scottish Independence from the UK? Personally it feels like bit of a betrayal to me. Breaking up our country, and for what? To be absorbed into the EU eventually anyway. I understand that the Scottish are proud of their Scottish-ness, but why can't the be proud while being in the UK? I have no problem being English, British and European.

Anyway, here's a news article about Scotland moving closer politically to Scandinavia: Bye, bye England? SNP plans closer Scandinavian ties after independence - UK Politics - UK - The Independent

Have a nice day

If the Scottish people want to leave, I won't stop them but I feel that this current push is just for Alex Salmond ego and wanting to be called President/Prime Minister. I think people should be able to call them selves, Scottish, English, welsh etc and British, just like Americans. I think it is a shame that people won't do that.

In those negotiations, Alex Salmond will demand 9 per cent (roughly Scotland's share of the UK population) of all UK assets, including defence hardware.

If they do leave, I think we should give them nothing, no military hardware of any kind, everything that belongs to the RAF, Navy and Army should be moved out of Scotland and they can start from scratch. I admit, it is extreme. But hey, I'm not breaking up the Union.

 

[someguy14]

Thanks for the read.

 

[Cromulent]

I'd support them, if that's what the Scottish people want (and they should be entitled to ~9% of military hardware. After all, they've paid for it with their taxes!)

I think there's a point to be made that the UK is dominated by England, and many Scottish people don't like the fact that people south of the border can have such a huge effect on Scottish affairs. For example, there's only one Tory MP from all of Scotland, and yet as a part of the UK the Scots are ruled by a Tory-led government. I know that really rankled with many Scots.

 

[Hexa]

Let them have it if they want it. Hope it puts an end to Celtic and Rangers playing in England too.

 

[Paradoxum]

If the Scottish people want to leave, I won't stop them but I feel that this current push is just for Alex Salmond ego and wanting to be called President/Prime Minister. I think people should be able to call them selves, Scottish, English, welsh etc and British, just like Americans. I think it is a shame that people won't do that.

If they do leave, I think we should give them nothing, no military hardware of any kind, everything that belongs to the RAF, Navy and Army should be moved out of Scotland and they can start from scratch. I admit, it is extreme. But hey, I'm not breaking up the Union.

That does seem a bit harsh, but I wouldn't have a big problem with it either. As you say, they are the ones breaking the Union.

I'd support them, if that's what the Scottish people want (and they should be entitled to ~9% of military hardware. After all, they've paid for it with their taxes!)

Which is a fair point.

I think there's a point to be made that the UK is dominated by England, and many Scottish people don't like the fact that people south of the border can have such a huge effect on Scottish affairs. For example, there's only one Tory MP from all of Scotland, and yet as a part of the UK the Scots are ruled by a Tory-led government. I know that really rankled with many Scots.

I live in an area which mostly votes Lib Dem and I don't like it that my area is controlled by Tory policies, but we can't break the union because we don't live in a geographical location that allows that. Everyone round the border of my constituency massively affects my life.

 

[Nabobalis]

That does seem a bit harsh, but I wouldn't have a big problem with it either. As you say, they are the ones breaking the Union.

Worryingly, having moved up "north", the people that come from up North tend to feel more Scottish than English/British.

 

[Nabobalis]

Let them have it if they want it. Hope it puts an end to Celtic and Rangers playing in England too.

Let me just say, I find your gif signature highly offensive.

 

[Judy02]

^ Where abouts in the north have you moved to if you don't mind my asking? I've heard that about people who live in the North East, i.e. Sunderland and Newcastle area.

If you are talking about the Liverpool or Manchester area when you are referring to the north, when you say people feel more "Scottish" than "English" I'd have to strongly disagree withg you, having lived very near both cities (my definition of feeling "English" for the record, simply just means, a resident of the country England, that is all).

 

[Nabobalis]

^ Where abouts in the north have you moved to if you don't mind my asking? I've heard that about people who live in the North East, i.e. Sunderland and Newcastle area.

If you are talking about the Liverpool or Manchester area when you are referring to the north, when you say people feel more "Scottish" than "English" I'd have to strongly disagree withg you, having lived very near both cities (my definition of feeling "English" for the record, simply just means, a resident of the country England, that is all).

Yeah, I mean't up North(true north). I just really wind them up by referring to Sheffield as the North - it is a force of habit and it works really well

However, it is North of my home so it is all relative .

 

[seeking_perfection]

Looking at the proposal realistically, it is a shockingly bad idea for Scottish people. Except for some kind of initial rush of adrenaline at being independent, I don't see any of the benefits. Small population (smaller than London!) with a much reduced ability to spend, provide services, compete on a world stage politically or economically, sustain a military defence. The union is good for all members, despite the usual anti-English nonsense.

 

[Cromulent]

Looking at the proposal realistically, it is a shockingly bad idea for Scottish people. Except for some kind of initial rush of adrenaline at being independent, I don't see any of the benefits. Small population (smaller than London!) with a much reduced ability to spend, provide services, compete on a world stage politically or economically, sustain a military defence. The union is good for all members, despite the usual anti-English nonsense.

Scotland has a bigger population than Norway, and they do alright. You don't really need a large military defence when you're Scotland, who exactly is going to invade?!

When you spend any significant amount of time in Scotland, you do realise that as a people, thay are quite different to the English. I think that makes them enough of a distinct group as to have the right to determine their own future, as opposed to three houses in Swindon who decide they're seceding from the union because they hate the Lib Dems being in coalition!

 

[Paradoxum]

Scotland has a bigger population than Norway, and they do alright. You don't really need a large military defence when you're Scotland, who exactly is going to invade?!

When you spend any significant amount of time in Scotland, you do realise that as a people, thay are quite different to the English. I think that makes them enough of a distinct group as to have the right to determine their own future, as opposed to three houses in Swindon who decide they're seceding from the union because they hate the Lib Dems being in coalition!

If Scotland got invaded it would expect the UK to bail it out anyway.

As a person I am different from the Tories, but I still have to live under their rule. If all Liberal Democrats moved to one area of England could we secede the Union? I'm sure many people would have problem with that.

 

[Judy02]

Yeah, I mean't up North(true north). I just really wind them up by referring to Sheffield as the North - it is a force of habit and it works really well

However, it is North of my home so it is all relative .

Haha I hear ya.

Do people in Sheffield get offended by people saying they are from the north though? For years when I was younger, I used to think it was in the midlands, and someone laughed and said people from there would find people referring to them as midlanders really offensive. Looking at a map, Sheffield does look like it is in the northern part of of the country though, and it's still part of Yorkshire after all - definetely known as a northern county.

But yeah, Sheffield is in the north but not "proper north" as you say

And actually there is quite a few similarities between the Geordie and Scottish dialect and slang, and words used in those local areas, so I definetely hear what you're saying. My parents originally came from Sunderland, and have said they often thought that part of England had more in common with Scotland. Whether Scottish people would be happy to adopt them as part of their own country though I don't know!

 

[Genersis]

I really don't know how i feel about it really.
I don't see too much of a point other than wanting to be independent for national pride reasons.
Unless Scotland thinks they will be able to govern themselves better independently than as part of the UK.
Which is hard to say really.

 

[Nabobalis]

Haha I hear ya.

Do people in Sheffield get offended by people saying they are from the north though? For years when I was younger, I used to think it was in the midlands, and someone laughed and said people from there would find people referring to them as midlanders really offensive. Looking at a map, Sheffield does look like it is in the northern part of of the country though, and it's still part of Yorkshire after all - definetely known as a northern county.

But yeah, Sheffield is in the north but not "proper north" as you say

And actually there is quite a few similarities between the Geordie and Scottish dialect and slang, and words used in those local areas, so I definetely hear what you're saying. My parents originally came from Sunderland, and have said they often thought that part of England had more in common with Scotland. Whether Scottish people would be happy to adopt them as part of their own country though I don't know!

They can get offended either way, some hate it being called the North and some hate it being called the Middle. But people from the "True" North do hate having Sheffield as classified as the North, they demand that anything above the Tyne is the North. I think that Sheffield is the end of the Midlands and the North is roughly Leeds and above, but I try to base that on geography.

 

[Judy02]

^ Yeah I guess it depends on whether people mean "northern Britain" or just "northern England" as well, as there's quite a big difference.

 

[savedbygrace05]

Mr Salmond is making a huge mistake in thinking that he knows the mind of the Scottish people. The current financial situation in Europe and the world is conspiring against his ill thought out little scheme. Let us hope that he wakes up and smells the coffee before;

a. He wastes precious tax payers money on a referndum.
b. He is embarressed by the outcome of the referendum, should it go ahead.
c. He explodes with pride.

 

[Hexa]

They can get offended either way, some hate it being called the North and some hate it being called the Middle. But people from the "True" North do hate having Sheffield as classified as the North, they demand that anything above the Tyne is the North. I think that Sheffield is the end of the Midlands and the North is roughly Leeds and above, but I try to base that on geography.

Leeds is quite a far bit northern on a map compared to Manchester and Liverpool so going by your theory Manchester and Liverpool are both inthe midlands, which I can deal with.

My friend used to always argue how ever that Sheffield was more of a northen town then Leeds because there are more wife beaters in Sheffield (not 100% politicaly correct I'm sure). Bu then theres the whole Cornwall thing too, that Cornwall is so far away from London and the rest of England that it may as well be northen.

 

[Paradoxum]

Mr Salmond is making a huge mistake in thinking that he knows the mind of the Scottish people. The current financial situation in Europe and the world is conspiring against his ill thought out little scheme. Let us hope that he wakes up and smells the coffee before;

a. He wastes precious tax payers money on a referndum.
b. He is embarressed by the outcome of the referendum, should it go ahead.
c. He explodes with pride.

You think it would go badly and that the Scottish people aren't that for it? Whys that?