Scottish Independence? What do you think?

Hello everyone. With the Scottish National Party nudging ever closer to voting for independence I did some research on the subject. I found this article on the British Broadcasting Corporation's website http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/magazine/7129382.stm . It shows the reality of what it would mean for The United Kingdom. I personally am against the idea. I am Scottish and in the British Army and would hate for the Union to break up. We are stronger together than we are apart. Also, if independence does come about, I don't think the UK government would split the British Army up so lightly, I would certainly be staying with my colleagues at York barracks. To me, it is the SNP trying to act like it is the 'big boy' and exchanging the Union with England, wales and northern Ireland for the European Union. The majority of Scots still want the Union and i am one of them, I don't want to become one of those little insignificant countries that means nothing. We have political clout on the world stage as the UK, we wouldn't as Scotland alone. Anyway, thats what I think, what do you think???

PS: Wales aare happy as they are. I don't think my fellow scots understand what it actually means for us to be independent. We would be without the money we get from the rest of the UK. We would also be without a military or still be under the British Army's protection, therefore, we wouldn't be independent which is why I want us to stay together. We rule as the UK! Oh and I enlisted in the British Army to defend ALL it's borders. Not to see it break up. Besides Scotland couldn't fund itself on its own. Not with all the economic turbulence, which was proved when The rest of the UK paid £37 billion pounds (about $80 billion) to save scottish banks, article here: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1077678/Salmonds-crusade-independent-Scotland-dealt-fatal-blow-economic-crisis.html

PPS: Contrary to popular belief, the UK wouldn't lose it's place on the Security Council, it is still united: England with wales and northern Ireland. Also, the UK Government wouldn't give the New Scotland any British Army Equipment since things like the Challenger 2 tanks armor is cl.assified etc.

I'm English, and I really hope that will never happen.

I'm English, and I really hope that will never happen.

swizz-the-gamer

I'm English, and I really hope that will never happen.

I'd say they should go for it however I'm not from the UK so my opinion doesn't really matter. The thing is Scotland is already insignificant as it is. When people think of the UK they think England. Heck I'd say half the people I know don't know that Scotland is part of the UK.artichoke

United Celtic Kingdom imo.

Leave the Brits out.

United Celtic Kingdom imo.

Leave the Brits out.

peeviness

I'm also Scottish and opposed to "independence". What do we have to be independent from? It's not like we are under tyrannical rule from the English.

There is the problem of the economy. If Scotland was independent then we would lose out on the money that is given to us by Westminster and taxes would rise. SNP argues that the North Sea oil would provide the backbone of the economy as if independent Scotland would have rights to about 95% of the UK's share as the majority of it would be in Scottish waters. That will eventually run out.

About the army thing though, Scotland's army would become a small, defensive force. Which basically means they would never see action which is sort of a good thing but also bad as having an army that is really only ceremonial is a big drain on public funds.

There is also the matter of how the problem of Scotland's horrendous health. We have the highest level of heart disease in Europe and one of the lowest life expectancies.

I am though one of those Scots who has no problem with the English so I'm not sure how many other Scots would agree.

I'm also Scottish and opposed to "independence". What do we have to be independent from? It's not like we are under tyrannical rule from the English.

There is the problem of the economy. If Scotland was independent then we would lose out on the money that is given to us by Westminster and taxes would rise. SNP argues that the North Sea oil would provide the backbone of the economy as if independent Scotland would have rights to about 95% of the UK's share as the majority of it would be in Scottish waters. That will eventually run out.

About the army thing though, Scotland's army would become a small, defensive force. Which basically means they would never see action which is sort of a good thing but also bad as having an army that is really only ceremonial is a big drain on public funds.

There is also the matter of how the problem of Scotland's horrendous health. We have the highest level of heart disease in Europe and one of the lowest life expectancies.

I am though one of those Scots who has no problem with the English so I'm not sure how many other Scots would agree.

Well, I don't really follow british crisises or politics, but I think it's a bit silly. It's just because the scots hate the brits..and the rest of the UK...Deihjan

The only discernable reason for independence is a great sense of Scottish nationalism, which probably arises from too many nights watching Braveheart.MetalGear_Ninty

The only discernable reason for independence is a great sense of Scottish nationalism, which probably arises from too many nights watching Braveheart.MetalGear_Ninty

[QUOTE="Deihjan"]Well, I don't really follow british crisises or politics, but I think it's a bit silly. It's just because the scots hate the brits..and the rest of the UK...loco145

You know not all Scottish people have exactly the same mindsets and ideas...AnObscureName

[QUOTE="AnObscureName"]You know not all Scottish people have exactly the same mindsets and ideas...Antaeus1991

[QUOTE="Antaeus1991"][QUOTE="AnObscureName"]You know not all Scottish people have exactly the same mindsets and ideas...Lairdo91

I don't see the point. My main concern is that if the nationalists in Scotland win then the nationalists here in Wales would also give it a try. Currently there are lots of patriotic people here in Wales, but no real nationalists. Pushing independence for any part of the United Kingdom simply due to national pride and history is, in my opinion, arrogant, selfish and even childish. From what I gather this is mostly what the SNP are about, and I'm also told that a good number of people are seeing through them. EJ902

[QUOTE="Lairdo91"][QUOTE="Antaeus1991"] AgreedDeihjan

[QUOTE="Deihjan"][QUOTE="Lairdo91"] Seconded, the generalisations and ignorance of some people is pathetic.loco145

Sounds kind of like Quebec and Canada.RushMetallica

[QUOTE="RushMetallica"]Sounds kind of like Quebec and Canada.Antaeus1991

Scotland would fail on their own. But as for United Celtic Kingdom, they should call it:

Free United Celtic Kingdom. With a name and abbreviation like that, they'll make a name for themselves very easily.

FREEDOOOOOOOM!

Scotland would fail on their own. But as for United Celtic Kingdom, they should call it:

Free United Celtic Kingdom. With a name and abbreviation like that, they'll make a name for themselves very easily.

Murj

well obviously the English just colonized Scotland a long time ago, but it's just history I guess. It won't ever happen anyway.quiglythegreat

[QUOTE="quiglythegreat"]well obviously the English just colonized Scotland a long time ago, but it's just history I guess. It won't ever happen anyway.AnObscureName

[QUOTE="AnObscureName"][QUOTE="quiglythegreat"]well obviously the English just colonized Scotland a long time ago, but it's just history I guess. It won't ever happen anyway.Lairdo91

well obviously the English just colonized Scotland a long time ago, but it's just history I guess. It won't ever happen anyway.quiglythegreat

like with India, right?quiglythegreat

Again... no. The two are absolutely nothing alike whatsoever. One is a country which was once a colony wanting independence from a government which took far too long to grant it, and tried far too hard to stop it happening. The other is a neighbouring country part of a political union with its own government separate from England and Wales.

To call scotland an english colony is absolutely ridiculous.

[QUOTE="artichoke"]I'd say they should go for it however I'm not from the UK so my opinion doesn't really matter. The thing is Scotland is already insignificant as it is. When people think of the UK they think England. Heck I'd say half the people I know don't know that Scotland is part of the UK.swizz-the-gamer