Autonomy

What are your thoughts on Scottish Independence? Yes, no or undecided?

Whether Scottish or not a Yes decision could make a huge difference to your home country, Scotland, England, Wales or Ireland.

Interested to see what the current views are of us expats who will not have a vote in this decision.

What will it mean to Scotland and the UK in general?

It seems that the Yes campaign is heading towards a stance of it's more about having a once in a generation (or even lifetime) chance at self determination and a government that more accurately represents the views and votes of the the Scottish people. Factors like the economy are important and appear to be healthy but it's more about the ideal. Glass half full thinking.

http://www.theguardian.com/commentis...ance-secession

The No campaign is much more aligned to the negatives. The economics don't add up. There will be no direct entry to the EU or NATO. Sterling may not be the currency automatically. Glass half empty thinking.

http://www.theguardian.com/politics/...lex-salmond-eu

Scottish or not - what do you think on this vote?

PS - For the record I am Scottish and am currently in the undecided category with a bias towards the Yes vote.

flares

No. Not Scottish.

scrubbedexpat141

No. Half Scottish.

Kix

Yes, not at all scottish, it'll mean that England can be great again, BUT, no bail outs, no scottish mps in England (or Welsh for that matter), remove the pound from them, remove Faslane and put it somewhere else - Portsmouth or even North Shilelds or Barrow in Furness (where they're made). Build a bloody big fence between the two countries, insist on full passports to go from one to another.

Basically cut off all ties and let them sink like Greece or Spain.

bring it on.

Oh and while we're at it can we kick Wales out and leave the EC too - let NI merge with Eire, so what.

weasel decentral

No thanks mate. We don't want the North.

Bahtatboy

So that's a No, then, because none of the above will happen.

It's also a No from me, because it's unworkable and I don't believe that the majority want it.

Millhouse

Once we have fracking sorted we may as well let them go. We only tolerate jockroaches for the oil.

Kix

No, it's very much a YES if the above criteria is met. They want it? Let them have it, but only as a totally separate state.

mikelincs

WGAF

Bahtatboy

Once fracking gets underway on a large scale, we might all have to move to Scotland.

Millhouse

Good point. We may as well hang on to it then - they have clean mountain water. Or we could just invade them when we need the water.

Ethos83

I think you tried to be objective with your questions but an inherit bias is pretty visible.

I won't vote because I'm told I have no input so what's the point?

That said I'd be tempted to vote yes just to see all hell break lose. Whatever Salmond says the transition won't be easy and the EU seems firmly opposed to the notion of Scottish independence thanks to Spain who will surely wield her veto for as long as she can. A successful independence movement would shake up complacency in not just Scotland but also in England and it'd be really, really, really interesting to see the aftermath.

An independent Scotland would also make Westminster politics a bit more equitable because by removing Scottish MPs the Tories have a much better shot at winning outright majorities. It doesn't mean it will always happen but the English vote would be more accurately represented in Westminster.

Still, what I don't understand is the SNP whinging about Scotland not being fairly represented when it's Scotland who's foisted the last two PMs on us. Scores of Scots have served as PM and MPs and in the cabinet, not to mention lead the armed forces and the proportion of leading writers, artists, actors and academics in Britain who are Scottish is much higher than the Scottish share of the population. Then you have Salmond whinging about things like the poor health and eduction problems facing deprived Scottish children, when the Scots have complete control over their educational and health systems.

All in all, there's something about the spoilt-child-threatening-to-run-away-from-home-because-mummy-and-daddy-don't-understand-me syndrome about the separatist movement.

Kix

The Scottish national party have said that If Scotland gets independence it will want the following.

To keep the Pound
To keep the monarchy
To keep BBC programmes.

That's like divorcing the wife but telling her you'll be home for tea at night and still expect sex.

scot47

The Cathtilian guy hath thaid that Thcotland can't get into EU. There are other voices in Europe !

Bahtatboy

Sorry...WTF has it got to do with Spain? They have a right of veto? Of the proposed split, or something deeper, rooted in EU interference?

BTW (if it is EU-related, which I'm guessing it must be), was bored the other night and ended up watching Farage on YouTube till about 1am. Sent me to bed in a real good humour!