the Scottish independence issue
#1833
Lost in BE Cyberspace
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 41,518
Re: the Scottish independence issue
'No' vote just means Scotland will remain in the union but want more things to be free.
#1834
Re: the Scottish independence issue
So no land border controls? Are they just leaving the land border open because they assume that anyone coming in that way is either an England/Wales resident, or has passed through other UK border controls? Are they planning anything for sea or air access, or is everything going to be totally open access...?
#1835
Re: the Scottish independence issue
Sea and air are already in place..they can just use the existing system, but they are going to be pretty ineffective if there is a totally porous, uncontrolled land border to the south.
#1836
Re: the Scottish independence issue
.... Ps - if it is "no" next week, the first thing Westminster should do is add a Scottish Referendum increment (5% sound good?) on income tax for Scottish residents to fund the next effort
The second thing they should ALL do is sit down and plan how any future separation would work, because if it is a Yes next week, its going to be the messiest, most acrimonious divorce ever seen, especially if Salmond keeps pushing his new "let them invade us" line re shouldering Scotlands share of the National Debt...................
The second thing they should ALL do is sit down and plan how any future separation would work, because if it is a Yes next week, its going to be the messiest, most acrimonious divorce ever seen, especially if Salmond keeps pushing his new "let them invade us" line re shouldering Scotlands share of the National Debt...................
#1837
Re: the Scottish independence issue
Mostly I agree, with all the analytical stuff certainly, BUT, win OR lose, the FIRST thing that the government should to is realign the constituency boundries so that an average Scottish constituency has the same population as the average English constituency. The SECOND thing they should do is prohibit Scottish (and Welsh) MPs from voting on anything in England that has been devolved to the regional assemblies.
Ps - Analytical? <snigger> He said analytical more like off the cuff late night ramble....
#1838
Forum Regular
Joined: Feb 2005
Location: Orange County, CA
Posts: 198
Re: the Scottish independence issue
Mostly I agree, with all the analytical stuff certainly, BUT, win OR lose, the FIRST thing that the government should to is realign the constituency boundries so that an average Scottish constituency has the same population as the average English constituency. The SECOND thing they should do is prohibit Scottish (and Welsh) MPs from voting on anything in England that has been devolved to the regional assemblies.
Frankly I'm surprised that there hasn't been more vocal support for an English legislation as part of this whole debate. The (lack of ) the UK constitution means the system in place now is wholly unsuitable for the current times IMO.
#1839
Heading for Poppyland
Joined: Jul 2007
Location: North Norfolk and northern New York State
Posts: 14,431
Re: the Scottish independence issue
Yes, and why was this allowed to happen so asymmetrically in 1999? (Was that when the devolved assemblies came about?) I wasn't living in the UK and didn't pay attention at the time, but it seems crazy that they didn't take the opportunity to create parallel assemblies for England, Scotland, Wales and NI at that time with the same devolved powers for each.
#1840
Re: the Scottish independence issue
Ejecting Scottish and Welsh MPs from the chamber when discussing matters otherwise devolved to Scotland and Wales would achieve the same thing without the need for additional bureaucracy or even reorganization.
Last edited by Pulaski; Sep 12th 2014 at 3:43 pm.
#1841
Re: the Scottish independence issue
Disagree. If there is a No vote the first thing they should do is figure out how to establish a legislative body that deals with English affairs. The UK parliament should only be for issues that are impactful on the UK and not be some hybrid UK/English parliament.
Frankly I'm surprised that there hasn't been more vocal support for an English legislation as part of this whole debate. The (lack of ) the UK constitution means the system in place now is wholly unsuitable for the current times IMO.
Frankly I'm surprised that there hasn't been more vocal support for an English legislation as part of this whole debate. The (lack of ) the UK constitution means the system in place now is wholly unsuitable for the current times IMO.
Last edited by sir_eccles; Sep 12th 2014 at 3:46 pm.
#1842
Lost in BE Cyberspace
Joined: Jan 2006
Location: San Francisco
Posts: 12,839
Re: the Scottish independence issue
Yes, and why was this allowed to happen so asymmetrically in 1999? (Was that when the devolved assemblies came about?) I wasn't living in the UK and didn't pay attention at the time, but it seems crazy that they didn't take the opportunity to create parallel assemblies for England, Scotland, Wales and NI at that time with the same devolved powers for each.
Here's some background on "regional assemblies" for England. They never really got off the ground and were scrapped:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Regional_assembly_(England)
Maybe London should be carved out as a "capital territory" that's not part of England?
Last edited by Giantaxe; Sep 12th 2014 at 3:40 pm.