British Comedy Guide

The SNP and Independence

Unfortunately this debate is currently being dominated by Alex Salmond and the Tartan BNP's anti-English agenda.

Scotland are England's main partner in the formation of this Union, therefore it is our unique bed and we Scots and them English can either lie on it or continue to argue over who is hogging the duvet.

Personally I don't think such mind-numbing trivia should be grounds for divorce.

Ayatollah Alex is free to disagree, but unfortunately for him there has been no economic, political, or even cultural argument, that would persuade not only the majority of Scots, but also the rest of the UK, why we would be all better served by splitting the UK Family rather than continuing the status quo of learning how to live with each other.

I am in full agreement with you Allan. I think the debate has more to do with Alex Salmond's delusional lust for power and historical significance - a la 'Braveheart' - then the actual needs and wants of the Scottish electorate. Tax payers are having to cough up millions of pounds to fund one man's ego trip.

What the SNP aren't telling the voters is that it won't be a case of Scotland becoming independent one day and then joining the EU the next. The EU has strict rules about regions of established countries seceding and it's generally discouraged. Scotland would have to reapply to be an EU member nation and that could take years.

The other EU countries with similarly 'rebellious' regions - such as Spain - would be the first to veto down any moves to accept Scotland as an independent EU nation.

Oh and of course, there is the small matter that most Scottish people would like to stay part of the Union.

Not much of an opinion on this

But if the likes of Cameron tell the Scottish people to vote against it - they will surely do the opposite?

Quote: Allan OB @ February 4 2012, 1:46 PM GMT

Unfortunately this debate is currently being dominated by Alex Salmond and the Tartan BNP's anti-English agenda.

Scotland is England's main partner in the formation of this Union, therefore it is our unique bed and we Scots and them English can either lie on it or continue to argue over who is hogging the duvet.

Personally I don't think such mind-numbing trivia should be grounds for divorce.

Ayatollah Alex is free to disagree, but unfortunately for him there has been no economic, political, or even cultural argument, that would persuade not only the majority of Scots, but also the rest of the UK, why we would be all better served by splitting the UK Family rather than continuing the status quo of learning how to live with each other.

Do you think it really is a majority of Scots against independence? I hope you're right, but it's terribly tricky to gauge.

The people who must be really crapping themselves are the Labour party. If the Scots do vote yes then they will lose all those seats.

Interesting that the opinion polls say that there is a greater percentage of people in England in favour of it than in Scotland.

Quote: bigfella @ February 4 2012, 4:11 PM GMT

Interesting that the opinion polls say that there is a greater percentage of people in England in favour of it than in Scotland.

Can you vote to throw them out of the UK? :D

No, but there have been calls for such a referendum.

Quote: Aaron @ February 4 2012, 2:37 PM GMT

Do you think it really is a majority of Scots against independence? I hope you're right, but it's terribly tricky to gauge.

It's actually not a matter of which side the majority appears to support - it'll be about who is bothered enough to turn out to vote. Ask as many people as you like what they prefer, but unless they turn out on voting day, their opinion won't matter a whit.

Well, naturally. But having a gauge of opinion in the meantime doesn't hurt. As I implied, it's terribly difficult to tell down here in England.

It's difficult to tell here, too, and since the referendum is so far away, anything could happen either way. One thing I'm sure of is that things are going to get very nasty between the parties.

Nah - let them go. Who needs them?

Quote: Chappers @ February 4 2012, 9:19 PM GMT

Nah - let them go. Who needs them?

Anyone that wants this pack of sh*t out of government !

Angry

Quote: Oldrocker @ February 4 2012, 9:27 PM GMT

Anyone that wants this pack of sh*t out of government !

Angry

He says it like he think the other lot aren't worse. You're a comic yourself, Oldrocker! :P

Quote: Aaron @ February 4 2012, 10:44 PM GMT

He says it like he think the other lot aren't worse.

Don't tell everybody ! It's a secret 'till we get rid of Ed.

Quote: Renegade Carpark @ February 4 2012, 2:05 PM GMT

I am in full agreement with you Allan. I think the debate has more to do with Alex Salmond's delusional lust for power and historical significance - a la 'Braveheart' - then the actual needs and wants of the Scottish electorate. Tax payers are having to cough up millions of pounds to fund one man's ego trip.

"Braveheart should be compulsory education in all Scottish schools." -Alex Salmond.

How does one begin to argue against the twisted logic that suggests that Scottish schoolkids should be indoctrinated by Hollywood fiction?

Quote: Renegade Carpark @ February 4 2012, 2:05 PM GMT

What the SNP aren't telling the voters is that it won't be a case of Scotland becoming independent one day and then joining the EU the next. The EU has strict rules about regions of established countries seceding and it's generally discouraged. Scotland would have to reapply to be an EU member nation and that could take years.

Indeedy. Also, as Scotland is currently a semi-independant nation within a free and voluntarily partnership with the other UK states it is going to be hard to define what the Scots position would be as regards membership of the Commonwealth would be too.

Quote: Renegade Carpark @ February 4 2012, 2:05 PM GMT

The other EU countries with similarly 'rebellious' regions - such as Spain - would be the first to veto down any moves to accept Scotland as an independent EU nation.

The EU could possibly argue that both Scotland and the remainder of the UK would have to apply seperately for EU membership. But it's more likely that the UK would be allowed to stay on and the Scots would have to prove their suitability to the EU as a new member.

Quote: Renegade Carpark @ February 4 2012, 2:05 PM GMT

Oh and of course, there is the small matter that most Scottish people would like to stay part of the Union.

With the case for Independence rarely acheiving over 1/3rd of the polls there is the larger, and more serious matter, of SNP and blatant vote-rigging.

SNP argued that they would stick in another question in the referendum that has nothing to do with the Independence issue, this would of course dilute any direct opposition to independence.

The SNP are demanding that EU nationals living in Scotland can vote, but insist that Scots expats may not vote. Thus a German or Spaniard living in Scotland can take part in the vote, but none of almost one million Scots living and working in England may vote.

The SNP want 16 year old schoolkids to be able to vote on this issue. Therefore those who are more easily influenced by romantic rhetoric rather than logic or experience may be allowed to vote for the first time in their lives, but under UK law this cannot be ratified.

The SNP say they can ignore UK law and go ahead as they see fit even though subsequent results may be declared illegal.

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