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Scotland forever!

(95 Posts)
whitewave Thu 20-Feb-14 12:42:09

Just read an article in the Guardian this morning about the English saying sorry to the Scots for everything we have ever done - thought it amusing. But do wonder what the GN'ers think. I am British/English but feel totally ambivalent about whether Scotland leaves the union, although pushed I would say "stay with us"

Aka Fri 21-Feb-14 11:36:18

That's not the case Joelsnan. To liken the case for Scottish Independence to a childish squabble over a chocolate bar (or even a battered Mars bar) is no way to argue your point.

There is a lot of truth in Felice's point about the threats coming from Westminster and these smack of desperation.

GillT57 Fri 21-Feb-14 11:36:57

The majority of my family, either resident in Scotland or elsewhere, are NO voters and see Alex Salmond as being anti-English rather than pro-Scottish. I am proud to be Scottish, but also proud to be British and (rather more controversially) proud to be European. I cannot imagine what the implications are going to be for the thousands of us living outside Scotland, I don't suppose Salmond has addressed this. When he is challenged with anything, he just says 'Yes we can!'.......However, I have to say that everytime Cameron and the other southern Tory toffs open their mouths it must get a few more waverers deciding to vote YES.

rosesarered Fri 21-Feb-14 11:49:50

I am not sure if the government is 'threatening' or not [to a degree I guess] but Scottish voters do need to know all the financial [and other] implications before they vote.I imagine it will be a fairly resounding NO vote from Scotland, but we will have to wait and see.

Marelli Fri 21-Feb-14 11:52:28

That's one of the problems, I think, GillT57! hmm The alternative of a continued Tory government doesn't appeal....! I will also be voting 'No' though.

Galen Fri 21-Feb-14 12:01:11

I don't think they are threats. Just statements of fact.
Incidentally when I visited Edinburough in December (GN meetup) I spoke to several taxi drivers and the staff in the airport lounge (and my brother who lives there) none of them wanted independence.

Aka Fri 21-Feb-14 12:06:02

The Labour party have done themselves huge damage by associating with the Conservatives and in particular George Osborne. The reaction of the Scottish people to being told, instructed from on high, that the currency we jointly built up, is not to be shared has narrowed the gap between the YES and NO vote from 20 points to only 9 in the latest survey.

So, yes, I think it was seen as a threat.

rosesarered Fri 21-Feb-14 12:18:52

Polls and surveys are notoriously unreliable though, and it's still a way off until the vote.

Joelsnan Fri 21-Feb-14 12:24:21

Aka thanks, however you should note that my statement was not an argument of point, just a personal observation smile
If there was no oil would this situation be on the agenda?

Joelsnan Fri 21-Feb-14 12:29:21

I think the thing with the £ is that for Scotland to retain it, they would have to forego much of the independence that they are fighting for because of the interdependence retaining the £ creates.

JessM Fri 21-Feb-14 12:33:13

Yes quite joelsnan I know there are a minority of Welsh people who dream of independence but...
Re the currency I will concede that politicians might be blustering. But the governor of the bank of England is a Canadian and he raised the issue first.
I think the Westminster government have been very reticent about the consequences to date.

Nonny Fri 21-Feb-14 18:55:16

I am English and have lived in Scotland for 31 year- half my life. I think that a yes vote will be a disaster for jobs, prices in supermarkets and a lot more things. Would the English government be buying Scottish built ships? I feel very concerned and have been looking at the price of houses in Berwick!!
I have had many anti English coments made to me over the years and feel that I have to appologise for being English.
My children- one born here and the other considers herself Scottish- are settled here so I don't want to live far away from them.
I hope it is a NO vote but fear that some will vote yes as they see it as a mark of patriatism without fully understanding the consiquences.

thatbags Fri 21-Feb-14 19:18:53

My impression has also been that Westminster has tried to keep out of the "campaign". Responses have been made to cloud cuckoo things Salmond has stated without having the full facts. That seems to be all. I wouldn't define that sort of response as a threat.

thatbags Fri 21-Feb-14 19:19:48

Whereas i actually find Salmond's attitude rather threatening.

whitewave Fri 21-Feb-14 19:21:41

The trouble is for the Scots no-one seems to prepared to come up with an alternative to the £, EU etc and if it carries on like that they will be voting for what ????? who knows!!!

Nonny Fri 21-Feb-14 19:22:27

OOps -that should be apologise, patriotism and consequences!! you can tell I didn't have a good Scottish education. The education system in Scotland is good.

rosesarered Fri 21-Feb-14 19:31:56

'You tak' the high road, an' I'll tak' the low road an' I'll be in Berwick afore ye!' A new song for you nonny smile

rosesarered Fri 21-Feb-14 19:34:02

Thinking of what money [other than the pound] Scotland could create, I like 'Thistles' as in 'That'll be twenty thistles please, Madam'. It's very pleasing.

Galen Fri 21-Feb-14 19:55:05

The curl?

whitewave Fri 21-Feb-14 19:56:51

or The Ling!

thatbags Fri 21-Feb-14 19:57:30

The Midge can be one of the small coins.

felice Sat 22-Feb-14 17:28:50

Thought some of you might fine this funny,,,,,, a friend was watching the Scotland 6 Nations match today with friends in a pub here, when Scotland won, just, one of the Englishmen in the group pointed out quite pompously, we get a lot of pompousity here,,,, that did the Scots realise they would not qualify for the 6 Nations if they voted yes, after a short silence everyone else started laughing and passed the comment around, when he asked what was funny, it was pointed out to him, loudly that it was THE 6 NATIONS, or had France and Italy suddenly become part of the UK.
This is just the type of ignorant comment that makes No voters like me think again.
Then again the way Scotland play at times,,,,aaarrgghh.

felice Sat 22-Feb-14 17:30:13

Sorry about the spelling, 2 nice Belgian beers tend to go straight to the fingers.

annodomini Sat 22-Feb-14 18:37:42

Perhaps the said Englishman had also consumed a few Belgian beers?

felice Sat 22-Feb-14 18:41:39

I am quite sure he had, but these are the type of puerile comments which the Scots are having to frequently put up with.

annodomini Sat 22-Feb-14 19:08:57

As it ever was and probably ever shall be....!