Folks from England and Scotland

Yes, to the haggis; although it wouldn't be my dish of choice; prefer the whiskey myself!

As for independance; the vote is in September. There has been a truce through the Commonwealth Games; so the arguements should start again next week; the trouble is, no-one knows any definitive results, so speculation is used on both sides...

Scotland has a lot of devolution already; education, health service, water as a start. Do we want passports, a different currency, membership of NATO, EEC, and what about taxation?

Noit long to find out....my parents can vote as they live in Scotland, although English; Scots in England can't vote....and then what happens to the Scottish MPs in Westminster.

Let battle recommence!
 
The vote is inevitable, Ina; the outcome very uncertain; and either way could make large changes to this little island....
 
As an Australian I am watching with interest.
I think the concept of Britain is something that I would not like to see disappear.
I have trouble distinguishing between the United Kingdom and Britain, both of which I see as valuable.

Vivjen, could you explain how each would be affected if the Scots decide to go for independence?
 
First of all, The British isles consists of Great Britain, Ireland, numerous smaller islands and three self governing dependancies. The UK consists of England, Scotland, Wales & N.Ireland. Great Britain is the largest island consisting of England, Scotland & Wales. There are also smaller island states eg Isle of Man and the Baliwicks of Guernsey and Jersey in the Channel Islands which are self governing Crown Dependancies outwith the European Union. Phew....

Currently Scotland has its own parliament, its own legal system, education system, health service etc... so has a large degree of autonomy today. What it does not have is financial or defence independance. The Scottish National Party have a vision of a neutral, nuclear free land with it's own tax raising powers and full control of its own finances, pensions etc..

How would it affect GB or the UK ? Perhaps most serious for England, it would lose the use of its northerly submarine and airforce bases and thus weaken its defences. Scotland has a lot of natural resources - from oil to tourism and could potentially be a nett exporter of energy. In that respect, the rest of the UK would have to trade with Scotland in the same way as any other country. There is no guarantee that there would be monitary union, so you would have a Scottish / British exchange rate. There are other things too - the union flag would have to change to reflect the smaller UK. Scottish internet domains would probably .SCO instead of .UK.

Personally, I don't think it will happen and as a consolation, Scotland will be given even more powers, which ironically, is what a lot of people really want.

As for me, I don't care for haggis, but I love a dram of whisky.
 
I agree with all of that, Capt. Lightning, and you can vote!
i don't know what the intent is for a head of State...there are a lot of unanswered questions....

The Scottish National Party say that they will stay in EEC; the EEC says renegotiation is necessary; maybe the same with NATO; especially as the SNP want to remove Faslane, the British nuclear submarine base.

The politicians are, of course, ageing mainly about economics, and taxation.
does England subsidise Scotland at the moment?
will Income tax have to rise, in either country?
will England have a permanent Conservative government?

I could go on....but I won't.

We are commemorating the 100th anniversary of UK entering WW1 today; so I suspect battle will recommence tomorrow..
 
Thanks Capt Lightning.
My husband is a Robertson, Clan Donnachaidh,



but we don't identify as anything but Australian.

We did visit Blair Athol but met no dead ancestors in the church yard. We didn't expect to.
His ancestor was one of two brothers sent to New Zealand as boys, apparently unaccompanied by family.

We think they came from Glasgow. One later came to Australia, the other stayed in NZ.
 
A recent opinion poll found 40% would vote Yes and 46% would vote No and 14% were undecided.
When undecided voters are removed, the survey put support for staying in the UK at 53%, with 47% backing independence.

At present it's a bit close to call. One MP recently suggested that the Westminster parliament should be embracing Scotland instead of saying how poor it would be
if it left the UK. This very negative style of campaigning doesn't go down well north of the border.
 

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