SNP election victory - Scottish independence ahead?

[energy-village]

An independent Scotland has all sorts of implications. Control of North Sea oil and gas being just one. A very low corporate tax rate in Scotland would be another. It might also condemn England to a likely permanent centre-right government.

There's no majority for independence now, but Alex Salmond is very capable; I'm sure he has a few more tricks up his sleeve.

Stunning SNP election victory throws spotlight on Scottish independence

Alex Salmond wins overall majority at Holyrood and promises to hold referendum on break from United Kingdom

http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/2011 ... dependence

[2 As and a B]

Scotland couldn't be truly independent whilst communications to England, and England's communications to London, are so good. Wealth and talent would just continue to drain to London and be returned in part as subsidies, but from the EU alone rather than from the EU and the UK.

[biffvernon]

Wealth and talent would just continue to drain to London

Really? It could go in exactly the opposite direction. An independent Scotland could be very attractive. Large area, low population, abundant energy - even when the oil runs out they are supremely placed regarding wind, wave and tidal. Vibrant culture, great landscape, global warming resilience, what's not to like.

Oh...the midgies...yeah, there's no hope for Scotland.

[ziggy12345]

I have worked all over the world and Scotland is the most racist place I have ever been.

[2 As and a B]

Wealth and talent would just continue to drain to London

Really? It could go in exactly the opposite direction. An independent Scotland could be very attractive.

No, money goes to money, and the people follow. Is it a coincidence that the poorest regions are those most remote from London - or from Lotharingia if we're talking about Europe?

Of course, if communications weren't so good, an independent Scotland would be a much more attractive proposition as an economic entity.

[UndercoverElephant]

The result in Scotland was not really about a massive surge in support for the SNP. It was about the total collapse of the libdem vote.

If the SNP hold a referendum on independence then they will lose it.

[DominicJ]

As UE says, its unclear how much of the SNP gains are merely protest votes switching protest parties, and how much is genuine support for the SNP.

As for an Independant Scotland, well, it could go anyway.
Having resources doesnt mean a damned thing, just look at Russia, if the SNP move to the right, they could easily challenge Londons dominance, simply by having much less of a subsidy state to drag along with them.
If they move left, they could easily end up like any other bankrupt EU state shouting for subsidy.

Money really iusnt attracted to money, if that were the case, the UK would have never lost its dominance, nor attained it in the first place.

[UndercoverElephant]

As UE says, its unclear how much of the SNP gains are merely protest votes switching protest parties, and how much is genuine support for the SNP.

Anyone who thinks this is a massive sea-change in Scottish politics needs to ask themselves why the libdems have just been exterminated from every council in northern England.

Let Alex Salmond enjoy his victory. He's not so stupid as to think he's now one step away from Scottish independence. He knows the score, and so does Nick Clegg.

[Totally_Baffled]

Just suppose for a moment Scotland did get independence, there seems to be endless list of issues if this happened, any ideas how they would be resolved? It would be like a very messy divorce on a huge scale.

For example:

Central Bank?
Currency?
Goverment Debt
North Sea tax revenues (how can they all go to Scotland if the oil was developed using mainly British companies when it was a British resource)
Armed Services (would you have an English and scots army - who gets the tanks and who gets the planes etc lol?)
Pension and healthcare liabilities and other benefits, with so many Scots in England and visa versa - who gets what?
Scottish MP's in Westminster (there are one or two!)
Scottish Ministers in Westminster - do they come or go.
Infrastructure - water/energy etc.
Taxation - for example corp tax goes to the British government to be spent inclusive of Scotland, which ones would pay to Scotland/England?

The list seems endless. The beaucracy alone would bankrupt both countries! (and the lawyers fees no doubt!)

[stumuzz]

Let Alex Salmond enjoy his victory. He's not so stupid as to think he's now one step away from Scottish independence. He knows the score, and so does Nick Clegg.

That is a logical conclusion.

However, the nationalists are far more subtle than that. I have a few Welsh nationalist friends who desperately want independence, but know the majority of the welsh people do not.

Their plan is to piss off the English to such an extent that the English want independence! Think about it. The English pay 9k tuition fees, prescription charges, social care, public transport for pensioners etc.

My eldest daughter was a Welsh student who attended a welsh University so only paid a quarter of the tuition fees her English colleagues paid for the same Law degree when they studied in Wales.

My youngest Daughter will attend a Russell Group English University this October and will pay less than 20% of the 9K that the English students will pay. The assembly will pick up the tab.

This is the plan to get independence. Clever eh?

[Lord Beria3]

The Tories are planning to cut the subsidies to the Welsh and Scots, hopefully putting to an end these schemes of discrimination - assuming Cameron is a proper Tory and has some balls.

[revdode]

I have worked all over the world and Scotland is the most racist place I have ever been.

Come to Hungary.

[UndercoverElephant]

Let Alex Salmond enjoy his victory. He's not so stupid as to think he's now one step away from Scottish independence. He knows the score, and so does Nick Clegg.

That is a logical conclusion.

However, the nationalists are far more subtle than that. I have a few Welsh nationalist friends who desperately want independence, but know the majority of the welsh people do not.

Their plan is to piss off the English to such an extent that the English want independence! Think about it. The English pay 9k tuition fees, prescription charges, social care, public transport for pensioners etc.
aughter was a Welsh student who attended a welsh University so only paid a quarter of the tuition fees her English colleagues paid for the same Law degree when they studied in Wales.

My youngest Daughter will attend a Russell Group English University this October and will pay less than 20% of the 9K that the English students will pay. The assembly will pick up the tab.

This is the plan to get independence. Clever eh?

Somehow I don't think this is going to work....

[AndySir]

I have worked all over the world and Scotland is the most racist place I have ever been.

Well thanks for that, but my quick tally of race riots in the last ten years shows England 2, France 1, Scotland 0.

As for our economic situation the old line was that we could be independent within Europe in much the same way that Ireland and Iceland were prospering at the time. That path seems unlikely now.

As for TB's list most of those things would be negotiated with Westminster if we asked for independence with the exception of Scottish MP's and ministers - I'm pretty sure we wouldn't be eligible to vote in England after the break up of the UK. RBS has been cozy with the SNP for quite a while, probably having seen the writing on the wall, so there's your central bank.

It looks inevitable now, if not from our own vote from the resentment of the Lord Beria's of little England.

[Lord Beria3]

It looks inevitable now, if not from our own vote from the resentment of the Lord Beria's of little England.

+1