Scottish Independence 2016?

[The Huskar Social Union]

No, no, no. Scotland should join their Celtic cousins in the Republic of Ireland. The primary benefits of this would be remaining within the EU, and trolling people with RL border gore.

I could get behind this.

Ditto.

[Marcurix]

http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-scotland-37181486

An article on the recent release of the annual GERS report, interesting in that it does highlight some of the issues that were present in the independence white paper and the difficulty in using some of the figures that has been thrown around.

[Thermodolia]

Scotland should be given their independence and should become a republic. I'd like to see a United Ireland, an independent Scotland, and the rest of the UK a republic in the near future.

[Vassenor]

Scotland should be given their independence and should become a republic. I'd like to see a United Ireland, an independent Scotland, and the rest of the UK a republic in the near future.

The nationalists want to keep the monarchy though.

[FelrikTheDeleted]

Scotland should be given their independence and should become a republic. I'd like to see a United Ireland, an independent Scotland, and the rest of the UK a republic in the near future.

The nationalists want to keep the monarchy though.

But the British monarchy is cool.

[FelrikTheDeleted]

Scotland should be given their independence and should become a republic. I'd like to see a United Ireland, an independent Scotland, and the rest of the UK a republic in the near future.

The nationalists want to keep the monarchy though.

Also I wouldn't say that nationalists are the only ones that want the monarchy in England.

[Vassenor]

The nationalists want to keep the monarchy though.

Also I wouldn't say that nationalists are the only ones that want the monarchy in England.

I was talking about the Scots, but yeah.

[FelrikTheDeleted]

Also I wouldn't say that nationalists are the only ones that want the monarchy in England.

I was talking about the Scots, but yeah.

Oh, my apologies, my mistake.

[Socialist Tera]

Yes, but it will be ignored or suppressed by the government.

[The Intergalactic Universe Corporation]

In recent months, since the UK voted in favour of Brexit, there has been a lot of talk of Scotland having a second referendum, because Scotland voted to remain 62% to 38%. The First Minister, Nicola Sturgeon, said that "the UK we voted for in 2014 doesn't exist anymore". This comes after many Scottish voters voted to stay in the UK because of an assurance that the UK would remain in the EU during the campaign in the Scottish referendum.

After seeing the results of the EU referendum, I am curious as to how Scotland now feels about Scottish Independence. I think that I would rather have Scotland remain in the UK, but if it was the wish for the majority of Scottish people to gain independence, I would respect and accept the result. I would also rather see a federal United Kingdom, with England, Wales and Scotland each having maximum devolution and try to work something out for Northern Ireland separately.

Scotland should remain in the UK, because an independent Scotland will not have as large a voice on the world stage as the UK collectively, and if they leave, they will be forced to either create a new currency or join the euro, because it is unlikely that the British will approve of their continued usage of the Pound, and this will burden their government tremendously

[Old Tyrannia]

There is no such thing as a "Scottish citizen."

Scotland had a vote on independence two years ago, and the Scottish people chose to remain in the United Kingdom. They should not be allowed to have anther vote on the matter every time the UK as a whole takes an action that the Scots do not like. I don't doubt that Scotland has the capability to survive as a country outside of the UK, however, Scottish Nationalists are deluding themselves if they believe that Scotland wouldn't be poorer for leaving. I'm going to refrain from expressing my views on people who have suddenly started supporting Scottish independence out of spite following the Brexit result, especially those from outside Scotland, on the grounds that it would almost certainly result in the intervention of the moderator team.

Send in the Jacobites, we need to get Scotland wrecked.

tbh the Jacobites will fix Scotland. The Rìoghachd na h-Alba must be brought back!

Do you actually want a Catholic absolute monarchy under King Francis II or are you just one of those people who invoke the Jacobites' name without knowing or caring what they actually stood for?

All this talk of Scottish independence is making Edward I's grave stir.

I will feel sorry for Mel Gibson when he finally dies and meets the real William Wallace in the afterlife.

[HMS Vanguard]

The Brexit vote hasn't shifted opinion in Scotland on independence, which is still against the idea by a modest margin.

[The Archregimancy]

How, precisely, is the poll defining 'Scottish citizen'?

Does it refer to:

A) People who define themselves as ethnically Scottish regardless of where they live?

B) People who live in Scotland, regardless of their ethnicity?

C) People with the right to vote in Scotland, regardless of their ethnicity?

D) People who would be eligible for a Scottish passport should Scotland achieve independence, regardless of residency or ethnicity?

E) Other.

Regardless, the OP's grasp of the term 'Scottish citizen' seems curiously ill-defined.

[Almonaster Nuevo]

In recent months, since the UK voted in favour of Brexit, there has been a lot of talk of Scotland having a second referendum, because Scotland voted to remain 62% to 38%. The First Minister, Nicola Sturgeon, said that "the UK we voted for in 2014 doesn't exist anymore". This comes after many Scottish voters voted to stay in the UK because of an assurance that the UK would remain in the EU during the campaign in the Scottish referendum.

After seeing the results of the EU referendum, I am curious as to how Scotland now feels about Scottish Independence. I think that I would rather have Scotland remain in the UK, but if it was the wish for the majority of Scottish people to gain independence, I would respect and accept the result. I would also rather see a federal United Kingdom, with England, Wales and Scotland each having maximum devolution and try to work something out for Northern Ireland separately.

Scotland should remain in the UK, because an independent Scotland will not have as large a voice on the world stage as the UK collectively, and if they leave, they will be forced to either create a new currency or join the euro, because it is unlikely that the British will approve of their continued usage of the Pound, and this will burden their government tremendously

1) Why should we want a large voice on the world stage?

2) Many small nations have their own currency without it burdening them tremendously.

3) England couldn't stop us using the pound if we wanted to. All they could do would be deny us the services of the Bank of England (aptly named). Many countries use the US dollar for example as their primary currency without the US having anything to do with it.

[The Intergalactic Universe Corporation]

Scotland should remain in the UK, because an independent Scotland will not have as large a voice on the world stage as the UK collectively, and if they leave, they will be forced to either create a new currency or join the euro, because it is unlikely that the British will approve of their continued usage of the Pound, and this will burden their government tremendously

1) Why should we want a large voice on the world stage?

2) Many small nations have their own currency without it burdening them tremendously.

3) England couldn't stop us using the pound if we wanted to. All they could do would be deny us the services of the Bank of England (aptly named). Many countries use the US dollar for example as their primary currency without the US having anything to do with it.

Every nation will want to have a say on global issues that affect them, and without that influence, Scotland is a nobody on the world stage, disliked by the UK for leaving it and unknown and fresh faced to the world, and this will be damaging to Scotland.

To start a new currency, one must first have that financial resources to back it up and manage it or it will become a worthless currency that is not trusted. And now, the Scottish government does not have the resources and finances to do this. Scotland is now almost £15 billion in the red and its deficit is almost twice as large as the UK as a whole, according to newly-published official figures. The statistics showed that for the first time in 35 years, Scotland generated less tax per head than the rest of the UK. Although the difference is only slight, the reversal is significant because the former SNP leader Alex Salmond repeatedly used Scotland’s historically higher tax receipts to support the case for independence during 2014’s referendum campaign, and these facts can only state one thing: Scotland will not be able to create a new currency and maintain its value due to its poor finances, and if the government is run by the SNP, scottish government debt is going to climb due to their belief in welfarist policies, and this will damage scotland's economy in the long term.

Also, currently, the Royal Navy shipyards in Scotland hire a lot of people, and generate a lot of money for their local governments. If Scotland wants independence, the Royal Navy will move the shipyards elsewhere and Scotland will see increased unemployment and a weakened economy.

Besides, Scotland does not have a credible defence force and by leaving the UK, it will be diving into the deep end in a crisis-filled world because they do not have a significant military, and the UK would pull back all its equipment stationed in Scotland, leaving it to face the world alone without national security.

Also, the UK can stop Scotland from using the pound because the pound is regulated and their face value protected by the Bank of England, and if Scotland wants to continue using it, and the BOE says no, it cannot use it, it is that simple, because if not, Scotland has to prepare to surrender tax reports, spending plans and must be subject to rigourous oversight by Westminster. This will not be beneficial for Scotland because it has its spending needing to be approved by Westminster and this could damage its economy if Westminster stalls and rejects Scotland's spending plans, by leading the economy into uncertainty.

[Pacificora]

There is no such thing as a "Scottish citizen."

Scotland had a vote on independence two years ago, and the Scottish people chose to remain in the United Kingdom. They should not be allowed to have anther vote on the matter every time the UK as a whole takes an action that the Scots do not like. I don't doubt that Scotland has the capability to survive as a country outside of the UK, however, Scottish Nationalists are deluding themselves if they believe that Scotland wouldn't be poorer for leaving. I'm going to refrain from expressing my views on people who have suddenly started supporting Scottish independence out of spite following the Brexit result, especially those from outside Scotland, on the grounds that it would almost certainly result in the intervention of the moderator team.

tbh the Jacobites will fix Scotland. The Rìoghachd na h-Alba must be brought back!

Do you actually want a Catholic absolute monarchy under King Francis II or are you just one of those people who invoke the Jacobites' name without knowing or caring what they actually stood for?

I will feel sorry for Mel Gibson when he finally dies and meets the real William Wallace in the afterlife.

Wait, but isn't this the same argument about Brexit? You know, UKIP leaders are also delusional that they think Britain won't be poorer without the EU. Also, the reason another vote is needed is because a large portion of the Scottish population voted to stay part of the U.K. Because they were in the EU, and would stop any actions taken by said independent Scotland to join. This worry is no longer relevant, that's why many opinion polls show most Scottish people pro-independence.

Yes an independent Scotland would likely be poorer than if it stayed in the UK, but a non-eu UK would be poorer than if it stayed in the EU. If you believe in democracy, why is it a bad thing if Scotland were to be independent? If the Scottish people want it, are you going to deny a majority?

[The Intergalactic Universe Corporation]

There is no such thing as a "Scottish citizen."

Scotland had a vote on independence two years ago, and the Scottish people chose to remain in the United Kingdom. They should not be allowed to have anther vote on the matter every time the UK as a whole takes an action that the Scots do not like. I don't doubt that Scotland has the capability to survive as a country outside of the UK, however, Scottish Nationalists are deluding themselves if they believe that Scotland wouldn't be poorer for leaving. I'm going to refrain from expressing my views on people who have suddenly started supporting Scottish independence out of spite following the Brexit result, especially those from outside Scotland, on the grounds that it would almost certainly result in the intervention of the moderator team.

Do you actually want a Catholic absolute monarchy under King Francis II or are you just one of those people who invoke the Jacobites' name without knowing or caring what they actually stood for?

I will feel sorry for Mel Gibson when he finally dies and meets the real William Wallace in the afterlife.

Wait, but isn't this the same argument about Brexit? You know, UKIP leaders are also delusional that they think Britain won't be poorer without the EU. Also, the reason another vote is needed is because a large portion of the Scottish population voted to stay part of the U.K. Because they were in the EU, and would stop any actions taken by said independent Scotland to join. This worry is no longer relevant, that's why many opinion polls show most Scottish people pro-independence.

Yes an independent Scotland would likely be poorer than if it stayed in the UK, but a non-eu UK would be poorer than if it stayed in the EU. If you believe in democracy, why is it a bad thing if Scotland were to be independent? If the Scottish people want it, are you going to deny a majority?

The British government has to do what it can to prevent such things from happening. I personally dislike the SNP, because they are rabble rousers and just enjoy putting the state of the UK in jeopardy to gain support from Scottish voters. But in the end, I think the will of the people must be accepted and Scotland must be let go if they choose to become independent. But, they should keep the Queen as their Head of State and remain part of the Commonwealth of Nations.

[Slakonian]

Well we can't really blame them can't we?

[The Intergalactic Universe Corporation]

Well we can't really blame them can't we?

Can't blame who?

[Lamadia III]

Nicola Sturgeon is a joke.
Awful, awful woman; irritating voice, irritating look, irritating politics.
She really needs to get a grip of herself- Scotland voted with a majority just two years ago to remain in the United Kingdom. And on rolled the billions & billions of pounds into Edinburgh, into the Scottish Parliament, soaked up from the rest of the UK and given to Sturgeon's SNP henchmen http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/general ... miles.html ,and into projects designed to enlarge the phoney Scottish nationalist state throughout this particular part of the UK.
I dislike the SNP & their hideous Anglophobia; I dislike any calls to undermine democracy by calling for referendum after referendum; I positively despise how the SNP tries to justify their claim to independence by accusing Whitehall as an unscrupulous master as billions are pushed over Hadrian's Wall into an increasingly devolved state.
Shame on them.

[Wolfmanne2]

Nicola Sturgeon is a joke.
Awful, awful woman; irritating voice, irritating look, irritating politics.
She really needs to get a grip of herself- Scotland voted with a majority just two years ago to remain in the United Kingdom. And on rolled the billions & billions of pounds into Edinburgh, into the Scottish Parliament, soaked up from the rest of the UK and given to Sturgeon's SNP henchmen http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/general ... miles.html ,and into projects designed to enlarge the phoney Scottish nationalist state throughout this particular part of the UK.
I dislike the SNP & their hideous Anglophobia; I dislike any calls to undermine democracy by calling for referendum after referendum; I positively despise how the SNP tries to justify their claim to independence by accusing Whitehall as an unscrupulous master as billions are pushed over Hadrian's Wall into an increasingly devolved state.
Shame on them.

Well, the Conservative government's austerity policies haven't been helpful.

[Slakonian]

Well we can't really blame them can't we?

Can't blame who?

Should have elaborated, the Scottish citizens who voted on the referendum last time. I mean, they decided to stay the first time but alot of them also voted on staying in the EU; the Brexit outcome caused qite the disatisfaction mostly from voters of the NO.

[The Intergalactic Universe Corporation]

Nicola Sturgeon is a joke.
Awful, awful woman; irritating voice, irritating look, irritating politics.
She really needs to get a grip of herself- Scotland voted with a majority just two years ago to remain in the United Kingdom. And on rolled the billions & billions of pounds into Edinburgh, into the Scottish Parliament, soaked up from the rest of the UK and given to Sturgeon's SNP henchmen http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/general ... miles.html ,and into projects designed to enlarge the phoney Scottish nationalist state throughout this particular part of the UK.
I dislike the SNP & their hideous Anglophobia; I dislike any calls to undermine democracy by calling for referendum after referendum; I positively despise how the SNP tries to justify their claim to independence by accusing Whitehall as an unscrupulous master as billions are pushed over Hadrian's Wall into an increasingly devolved state.
Shame on them.

Well, the Conservative government's austerity policies haven't been helpful.

Blame Gordon Brown, who racked up so much debt in its last year.

[Wolfmanne2]

Well, the Conservative government's austerity policies haven't been helpful.

Blame Gordon Brown, who racked up so much debt in its last year.

If I continue this discussion someone somewhere will bring up the gold.

[The Intergalactic Universe Corporation]

Blame Gordon Brown, who racked up so much debt in its last year.

If I continue this discussion someone somewhere will bring up the gold.

Yes indeed. I know Cameron's govt. did rack up a lot of debt to cure the deficit, but still, they had a tough job. I still think a Thatcherite fiscal policy is the most ideal.