Bink

No, just that his being English is somewhat irrelevant given that he's been in Scotland for 34 years IMO.

scrubbedexpat099

If I end up being in the US for 34 years I will be what I guess to be his age.

If the question related to the US, I think my past would definitely influence my comments compared to someone who was born and lived here.

neilcumming

He said," But it looks increasingly as if staying in the UK means we shall leave the European Union – the world’s biggest political achievement in centuries."
Near the end says,"If this is the way the UK is really heading, I would rather get out, whatever the hazards of independence."So to me he is saying he wants Scotland to leave UK so it will still be a member of EU.

I found it a very interesting article ,pretty much what I having banging on about but the prof said it so much better .He pointed out the bleak future for Scotland staying in the union.Better together? You are having a laugh,better for the south of England more like it.
"We seem likely to be living in a country that continues to impose increasingly punitive and humiliating sanctions on its poorest citizens who have to live on social security benefits"
No comments on how the union has failed these social problems in Scotland or how its going to fix it?
Someone ,obviously a glaswegian left a comment on the profs article.
"There are parts of Glasgow that have a male life expectancy of 51, and are beaten only by parts of Silesia. There is no place in France, Spain, Italy or Greece with such a record. Indeed, even places like Mumbi or Chennai, what we once complacently called the Third World, have better survival rates. Two years ago, aid workers from Malaysia came to Glasgow to see urban poverty and it's effects. We have the highest rates of drug abuse in the EU, by far. You are 80 times more likely to be a heroin addict if born Glasgow than if born in Paris. We are the only region of the EU where murder is the greatest cause of death among 15-25 year old men."
"More of the same? I can't imagine why you would."

scrubbedexpat099

That is why I was wondering if he has a full set of marbles.

There is of course a possibility that UK will leave EU, but there is a certainty that if Scotland leaves the UK it leaves the EU.

One wonders what the SNP are going to be able to do which they are doing now, and why are they not doing it now.

Mr Weeze

http://www.scotcen.org.uk/media/2656...-half-time.pdf

It seems as though it's very much as you were then.

scrubbedexpat099

The 500 quid question, I remember that being mentioned before.

Pulaski

So more than 3:2 against, and significantly more than 2:1 against if you include the no devolution/no parliament group. Oh, and perhaps the most insurmountable problem (for the pro-independence crowd), is that the figures are fairly steady after 14 years of polling. On that basis, that document isn't "the score at half time", these are the dying minutes of the game! ..... Who's going to grab Neil by the scruff of the neck and pull his head out of the sand?

SultanOfSwing

Are they hoping to steal a win in Fergie time, or something? Since he is Scottish and all that.

Steerpike

Is this the same country that (allegedly) has entire generations growing up 'on the dole', and which sports TV shows with names such as 'benefits street' ... ? This country is too stingy for Scotland?

scrubbedexpat099

The concern is that the good times are coming to an end.

With Government debt at 5x GDP all it would take is a small increase in borrowing costs for the whole edifice to crumble.

The more interesting question is how Scotland would fare by itself.

Are they relying on getting on the EU gravy train? Does not seem possible on a short term basis.

neilcumming

Yes very interesting reading.It looks at half-time we are losing but Im keeping faith in my team and believe Alex (Salmond) and his coaching staff will rally the team ,pull back the deficit and win the game.A game of 2 halves you might say

Yes,not much change in the polls but I was interested in table 5.
"As many as 88% of those who are most optimistic about the economic consequences of independence now support the idea, while just 5% of those who are most pessimistic do so. Meanwhile, the figures for how people will or are likely to vote in the referendum are much the same"
500 pounds better off ,lets just say 10 quid a week,thats a lot of money for a lot of people in Scotland,could swing it for the SNP

Pulaski

In other words, there is virtually no upside for the pro-independence camp because almost nine out of ten people who think that is, financially, a good idea are already in the"pro" camp!

neilcumming

It could swing the "dont knows" into the YES vote.10 quid a week extra could stop that humiliating trip to the food bank but then again vote NO and er ?

scrubbedexpat099

Nobody is saying that they would be better off. That is how much it would cost to buy the vote.

Either way.

Which is sad.

neilcumming

It is sad how a tenner a week could make so many peoples lifes a little better.