Scotland's Referendum 2014

[Strawberry patch]

I am undecided...but can I ask why SP?

For me there are still too many unanswered questions like the pound,pensions,health service and education..After watching the tv debate tonite i feel we will be a stronger union together

[Jay22]

I must admit I'm finding the whole thing difficult. As you say too many unanswered questions. It's a huge responsibility we have for the people coming after us...hope whatever is decided is best for the people of Scotland.

[Strawberry patch]

I would like to thank you all for your thoughts on scotlands referendum..Much appreciated peeps

[Aberdeenplotter]

Everyone is entitled to their opinion on this but what cannot be disputed is that Scotland belongs to all the Scottish People and all Scottish People should be able to vote. As for people who live and work here,
in our area there is a huge foreign population working here temporarily because of the oil industry. These are mobile financial mercenaries who will move on to greener pastures when the oil runs out. It's absolutely ridiculous that these people can vote on the future of our country when they are only here for a short time.

[veggiechicken]

Whatever is decided in Scotland will impact on us in Wales. We will be watching with interest

[Alison]

My daughter and son-in-law both moved down to England just before they married several years ago. I don't see why they should vote on what happens in a country they don't even live in!

But it does actually effect everybody in the union, not just those in Scotland so there is an argument that those in England, Wales etc should be able to vote too.

Re the vote as it stands, the strongest proponents for yes seem to be saying it'll let them do as they want. If it does come to pass then they'll be sadly disappointed that you can never do exactly as you want as there are always limitations, usually financial. Can see though why it must be extremely frustrating that everything seems so England biased, in fact it's more London-centric which is irritating to most of us south of the border too

[Potstubsdustbins]

IMHO history tells us all we are stronger together. Before the union the separate countries were divided and disjointed we fought each other, other nation's could bully us individually etc. After the union we became one of the greatest influences in the world to date. As individual countries we could not have achieved what we did, we the home nation's together made Britain great.

Yes I am English and very proud to be so, as I should hope my Scots, Welsh and Irish brothers equally proud of their individual heritage. But together we are British and the whole is far greater than the sum of the parts. As nations go we are the Carlsberg of the world... probably the finest in the world.

I am sure there are some people on the continent right now rubbing their hand with glee at the thought of a yes vote. I don't see Scotland if they gain membership or a smaller GB having any kind of influence at all in the EU.

[Vince G]

I don't see how anyone can possibly vote YES - there are too many uncertainties. You can't just break away and then wing it and see what happens. The prime example being about the EU:

"Hello Mr Juncker, we're a newly independent nation, but used to be part of the UK who are in the EU, so it's OK if we join the EU immediately isn't it?" "Sorry Scotland, by leaving the UK you are now outside the EU and must apply like everyone else". "Oh, but when we voted for independence from the UK, we thought it would probably be OK, maybe we should have checked with you first".

On the pound:

Scotland has their own banknotes issued by the Bank of Scotland (does Clydesdale still issue them too?) So could there not be a Scottish pound? Or are BOS/Clydesdale still somehow under the auspices of the Bank of England. Genuine question, as I don't know how it works.

On TV:

Would Scotland still get BBC programmes? The UK government sets the licence fee and effectively owns the BBC so surely only the remnants of the UK would be entitled to watch it. We could sell programmes to Scotland or they could maybe set up an SBC funded by the people of Scotland through their own licence fee....? I don't recall this issue ever being mentioned.

The most annoying thing about it is that those of us in the rest of the UK don't get a say. I know Scots point out that the current government is not representative of Scotland as there is only 1 Tory MP in Dumfries, and they get policies thrust upon them by a Tory government that hardly anyone north of the border voted for, but if they complain about that, surely it's also wrong to have a vote only in Scotland about something that will affect all of the UK.

I also read somewhere that if Scotland's MPs in Westminster were removed, the Conservatives would have won a majority of about 30 at the last election. Food for thought.

I just have this feeling that it's all a bit too soon and is being rushed through on a wing and a prayer by Alex Salmond whilst he's in "power".

[Vince G]

Whatever is decided in Scotland will impact on us in Wales. We will be watching with interest

So what about "annibyniaeth i Gymru". Any Welsh members got any thoughts on that ?

[veggiechicken]

I have my own thoughts on Independence for Wales - and I shall keep them my own

[Bill HH]

Well if you're all going then I vote for an independent Devon and we will all become cream barons.

The key to prosperity is closer co-operation with each other independence seems a very backward step. As part of Britain Scotland has some punch in the world and in the EU, alone and they will be just another insignificant small country.

[Alison]

The most amazing thing about this thread is that it's stayed open . Am impressed, the trolls must have stayed under the bridge which is always good news

[Kirk]

Difficult, but unless Scotland votes Yes people will carry on with this over and over again. What there is of the UK has enough petty bickering and personally I would like to see an end to a lot of it.

Why does Salmond not adopt the Euro instead of the Pound? Might make the EU reconsider automatic exclusion.

[marchogaeth]

So what about "annibyniaeth i Gymru". Any Welsh members got any thoughts on that ?

I have my own thoughts on Independence for Wales - and I shall keep them my own

Dw i'n cytuno gyda VC. Mae'n well i ddweud ddim byd yma. Mae hwn yn fforwm garddio. Mae gormod o gwestiynau heb eu hateb. https://translate.google.com/

The most amazing thing about this thread is that it's stayed open . Am impressed, the trolls must have stayed under the bridge which is always good news

Yes I only checked it out because I saw the title and couldn't believe it was still open! Yeah for moderation (that's a sort of pun!).

[Thelma Sanders]

I know people in Scotland and Wales can't be entirely happy with government from Westminster, but at least you get to set some of your own policies locally.

Think of it from the English perspective.........all policy for England is voted on by all the mps - we (the English) don't get to decide on anything for ourselves
do we need N.Ireland, Wales and Scotland all to vote to leave the Union before we get a chance of that *wry smile*