A dis-united Kingdom?

Waste of time. Performative attempt to distract from their poor record.

☹️☹️

I can understand I think. Perfectly understandable that they might want to self-govern, but can they self-finance?

And aren’t we ‘stronger together’?

The next thing will be passports to cross the borders. Hadrian’s wall could have a new life.
If they want independence, go for it. It will distract from all the other problems we’re faced with.
What I want to know is why England isn’t there campaigning too.

Exactly. Putin must be rubbing his hands at the thought of this.

Note that those who wanted to leave the EU didn’t hear the “stronger together”message.

Independence will only ever happen if the voters of the three non English nations want it to happen, and vote for it to happen.

I don’t see why they should not have the right to hold referendums. I do think though that referendums should be clearly time limited, so not more frequent than once every 10 years.

Looking how badly both governments have done since their partial independence - and used English money to be so. I would think complete independence was cutting your nose off to spite your face.

I also don’t see why they shouldn’t hold referenda. A big but though, I believe all future referenda should be treated as effective with more than a simple majority. No 52/48% winning as in Brexit. I also think that people should be required to vote but on the ballot paper there should be an abstention box. I don’t think it’s unreasonable for such huge decisions to be taken by a whole population.
I understand that in Australia people are expected to vote or pay a penalty so it certainly has been done in a democratic society.
I’d also like to see a proper Proportional Representation introduced for the UK.

As Plaid have only been in power in Wales since May 2026 that’s a tad premature M0nica.

I guess your perspective is quite different when you live in a poor ex mining area, for example, of a country which has historically not done well by an English-centric government to how you feel if you’re living in middle England.

For what it’s worth, Wales would not vote for independence currently, I don’t know about Scotland. What is objected to though is English people saying we are not allowed to vote to determine our own destiny - it’s a b….y cheek in fact.

The Scottish Independence Referendum cost nearly £16 million in 2014. Goodness knows how much it would cost now.

In the Scottish General Election in May 2026 there was a turnout of 53%. The SNP lost 6 seats, yet Swinney insists the result of that election gives him a mandate for a referendum.

The turnout for the refendum last time was much higher though OldFrill, wasn’t it? Perhaps a referendum is a good place to introduce mandatory voting?

Hadrian's Wall is NOT the border between Scotland and England. Not even in jest 😆

Can't see any particular reason why Scotland shouldn't become independent, I think it would be fine.

Not sure about Wales though; what resources does it have which would sustain its economy?

I'd be happy to see the island of Ireland reunited...

I'm not sure about Scotland needing English subsidy, MOnica. There are some pretty odd allocations of revenue at times.

MaizieD Scotland would be in dire straits without the Barnett formula. Also our dire Scottish 'government' is already a disaster and they've had 20 years to improve.

Casdon

The turnout for the refendum last time was much higher though OldFrill, wasn’t it? Perhaps a referendum is a good place to introduce mandatory voting?

A higher turnout and a firm negative.

If a government can't incentivise it's electorate to vote l see no reason they should be forced to do so.

There will forever be dissension if there is a low turnout, whatever the outcome. I do think for such a critical vote, it should be compulsory, or at minimum a percentage of voters should be pre-agreed as part of the terms, eg the vote would not be validated if the turnout is less than 80% or whatever level.

I am absolutely certain there would be no danger of a low turn out in a Scottish Independence Referendum.

ayse

I also don’t see why they shouldn’t hold referenda. A big but though, I believe all future referenda should be treated as effective with more than a simple majority. No 52/48% winning as in Brexit. I also think that people should be required to vote but on the ballot paper there should be an abstention box. I don’t think it’s unreasonable for such huge decisions to be taken by a whole population.
I understand that in Australia people are expected to vote or pay a penalty so it certainly has been done in a democratic society.
I’d also like to see a proper Proportional Representation introduced for the UK.

I really agree ayse.

Eligible voters should be required to vote but have the option to abstain. It's a huge decision, as we've been one country through 319 years of massive change. (Mainland Britain).

But why would it be one rule for Scotland and one for others, surely if there are to be parameters,, it should cover all eventualities?

@ayse well said couldn’t have put it better myself 👏