While Scotland is not currently independent, an election being held in the region today may lead, if pollsters are accurate, to the Scottish National Party (SNP) controlling the parliament. If that happens, leaders of the SNP want Scots to vote in a referendum which could lead to independence in 2010. Obviously, Tony Blair is not supportive of the plan. If that happens, I'll have to delete my Scotland is Not a Country article! There's more news about this current event online.
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It baffles me why Scotland is still not independent in a world were every geographical area seeks independence.
I believe it is high time Scotland takes decision for its people and by its people.Colonial Monarchy shouldn’t prevent the people from governing themselves except the desire so sincerely.
Scotland should be free now!
The 21st century is about to end and we still have a country in Europe under colony?
It is high time Scotland took decision for its people by its people for the interest of its people.
If George Bush and Tony Blair are fighting for other states in the Middle East what more of its neighbour.
Colonial monarchy should end in Scotland and other areas!
Ah yes, but where soes it all srop, independence for West Yorkshire?
Idaho? Alaska? Quebec? Martha’s Vinyard?
At the other extreme we may end up with a United States of America?
It’s time Scotland got its independence back.
If the people of Scotland decide they want full independence, then their people have spoken, and Blair will just have to accept it. In Iraq, the “coalition” advocates a democracy- Scotland deserves just as much.
Long live Scotland the Brave.
The voice of Robert the Bruce still lives I see, kind of wish us Canadians didn’t go independent. Long live the queen!!!
Long Live Scotland, free forever!!
Long Live Scotland, free forever!!
It’s the stupid comments such as,
‘West Yorkshire’, Martha’s Vineyard’ etc that make me want independence for Scotland even more.
I don’t know about Scotland being independant. I think it should be England. After all did’t James vi of Scotland take the English throne and become James I of England in the early 1600′s.
A few years ago while working in a mail room I came across a number of letters addressed to cities in the “UNTIED Kingdom.” As many know, one of the most ardent champions of Scottish independence is 007 himself, Sean Connery. But I often wonder how Scotland would fare economically if it had to compete with the rest of Britain (and everyone else) for its daily bread given the often-depressed conditions in the north. It appears we may soon have the answer!
I have to say, if in Bruce’s time he could defeat a 100,000 English soldiers, Scotland probably should be independent!
Some people will just never get it (alas, time and time again, it is mostly our friendly neighbours, the English of course)..comparisons with West Yorkshire (i ask you…); reference to the ‘north’ .. the north of where ..? It really does get sooo boring – do you mean the north of your own country, or the north of Britain ..yawn, yawn .. enough said. Roll on independence.
Let Scotland have independence now! as an English tax payer I am fed up supporting their education system and their welfare departments give England to the English and drop the parasites that hang on to it
Scotland is held back by britain, Norway, Ireland, Sweden, Finland, New zealand, Holland, Belgium, Iceland, have you noticed there all small like scotland but independant, and they have more money than scotland, they don’t even have oil which scotland is full off (1 of the five richest countries in oil I believe).
And if anyone is wondering why the media is trying to kill the S.N.P (not literally) it’s because britain has a lot to loose, it’s time to ditch britain and its bad reputation that pollutes us and take care of ourselves.
Why are the Scottish allowed to go to English Parliament when the English aren’t allowed to go to Scottish Parliament?
The people in Yorkshire and Lincolnshire have to pay taxes in order to keep the Scottish and Welsh in a higher standard of living than we have ourselves.
The latest figures show that annual Government spending per head works out at:
£9835 in Northern Ireland
£8623 in Scotland
£8139 in Wales
…and only £7121 in England
Is this fair?
Some polls show that a higher percentage of English people want independance of Scotland than the Scots do.
If the Scots do get independance, they won’t have the standard of living they want because they won’t have the English taxpayers giving money to them.
The above comment is (unsurprisingly) made without proper context.
The numbers quoted are about government spend per head.
If the commentator above had also included the English only figures he would have seen some other apparent disparities.
London £8,404
North East £8,177
North West £7,798
Yorkshire and Humberside £7,188
West Midlands £7,065
East Midlands £6,491
Eastern £6,144
South East £6,304
South West £6,677
Is this “fair” or should the East Midlands be demanding parity with London?
And to finish off – to infer that the additional spending per head is what keeps Scotland afloat is of course abject nonsense from the ill informed.
Without the revenues from Scotch Whisky (and its associated source duties, i.e. ) and revenue from Scottish Oil the rest of the UK would find a rather large hole in its budget.
Whisky exports contributed 2.5 billion pounds to the balance of UK trade in 2006, which represents nearly 25 percent of UK food and drink exports.
Scotland on the other hand could easily become self sufficient if allowed to manage its own finances.
Just so I can moan about a little problem with the comment above, if we didn’t have Scotland, then we wouldn’t have that “hole” in the budget to pay for.
If Scotland wants its independence, fine, have it, we don’t care, have your welfare ridden slums in Glasgow and your sheep in the highlands, but you have to pay back all the money which has gone towards you from the UK budget (with interest). I’d like to see how long you last off whiskey duty, and a depleting oil supply. Wonder how long it would take before you are the Zimbabwe of Europe. Oh, maybe something you forgot, but didn’t you sign a treaty to be part of the UK?
I can see Scotland becoming an EU experiment, with the whole public sector being run by Europe, with Euro police etc.
Plus the last time I checked, the UK isn’t a monarchy, its a country where we can vote on who we want to run the country (a democracy). Not that it makes much difference, with liberals running the country.
United states of Europe, here we come.
And I laughed at the comment about independence for West Yorkshire, but if you look, there is currently a campaign running for independence for Yorkshire, and Cornwall I think.
If Scotland gets independence, just wait for Rhodri Morgan to get his fat arse into Welsh independence “Independence for the vallies!!!” When will they see sense. There is no money in Wales, and little in Scotland.
Money = Power
Power = Freedom
No money with batty leaders with strange accents = Economic mess
Economic mess = Zimbabwe
Unfortunately I don’t have time today to explain my full opinions, but to keep it short: all you need to do is skim through these comments to be able to see what an ignorant and arrogant mindset the English have. No wonder nobody likes them.
The reason more is spent per head on Scotland is because it has been neglected by the UK for so long in the past that something had to be done about it.
Scotland does clearly have money (see above, whisky and oil), and your assertation that you have to pay for Scotland from the budget with Scotland’s money being a bad thing doesn’t even make sense! If we are bringing so much money in and you are spending a little money on us (remember the population is very small so the per head spending still works out as pennies) then obviously the rest of the UK is benefitting from it.
Bring on independence, so we don’t have to put up with you anymore and you can finally realise how much money Scotland actually was bringing in to the rest of the UK.
To “An educated Scot” i would first of like to say that i quote “…ignorant and arrogant mindset the English have. No wonder nobody likes them.” is utter nonsense. it may be your opinion but not everyone’s. furthermore i agree with what your saying about the money Scotland brings to the UK but its by no means enough for Scotland to survive and grow independantly. generally i have come to discover that most people wish indepence due to the unlike of the English but this is the wrong reason to make Scotland independant. the UK works as a unit and without each other neither would cease to exist.
Right, where to start? It’s a mad idea! I’m Welsh, so i dislike England to a extent, but no Welsh man HATE’s them. their not all “ignorant and arrogant” every one has those type of people.
And if every in the U.K. goes inderpendant we will all be poor country’s, we are strong together, weak alone.
We use to be Great Britain, 4 nations working as one across the world, spreading our language and heritage. Now we all want to be seperate. NOT ON! It wouldn’t work.
If we were all independent countries we would be poor, or at the least very low down the the wolrd’s GDP. We need to pull our sevles together!
And for those Scott’s who say “Get our independence back” what you talking about, it was your King ( james VI ) that united all the countries of Britain!!!! HE WAS SCOTISH!
I think if they do go independent, it will be their biggest mistake ever, not only will they destroy them selves but the rest of the U.K.’s wealth with them.
NO! It would never work! IT’S CRAZY! the U.K. is rich because its all one! that is the reason! Its will be a big mistake, they will have no money, they will take down the rest of the U.K’s wealth! I’m welsh, so i can’t be said to be called “ignorant and arrogant” but we work well as one, and we would be weak alone.
We are the 5th richest country in the world, if they went independent, think… Scotland would be almost poor! and so will Wale’s, England, and ireland.
*Not to forget the man who UNITED the U.K. was James VI AND HE WAS SCOTISH!!!!!!!!!!!
I am all for Scottish independence. You must remember that Scotland was bribed into the union initially and on the most part, has been against it from beginning to end. So I disagree with Jake when he says that people shouldn’t talk about “getting independence back” – I understand what they are saying completely as it feels like it was taken from them and they have been fighting for it ever since.
As far as “ignorant and arrogant” goes – well, admittedly, I can’t think of any country in Europe who actually likes England, so although it doesn’t cover everyone, it is unfortunately basically true. (Sorry)
If you wish to discuss the pro´s and con´s of Scottish Independence than so be it. Discuss the economic improvments or vice versa, state facts and figures, even offer personal opinion on the matter. However, racist comments about either nation are not required and do not help the discussion. They show that you are not looking at the situation in an objective manner and projects the appearance that you may be seeking independence for the wrong reasons.
As for comments that not one country likes the English that is highly inaccurate. As an Englishman currently working in Spain I can confirm that the majority of the Spanish people I have met have a great fondness for the English – along with the other UK countries. I have also found when I have holidayed in various European countries and those further a field that there are many countries where English people are warmly welcomed and liked.
why? If i may ask, hmm why? what is the point… there is none. Scotland already has independance, it has its own Parliment, and Gordon Brown the Prime minister isn’y english, but is SCOTISH!
I think its about time some scot’s woke up and smell the coffee!
This is all to do with you lot hating the
English more than any thing (I’m welsh by the way) which is sad! because of a bloody histroy, well geuss what!!
BRITON ISN’T RULED BY THE ENGLISH! IT’S RAN BY ALL 4 COUNTRIES! so why ask for something you already have?
Its pointless and illogical, and I do think in the end, that Scotland would find its self in a bit of a pickle, since you don’t have a great source of income.
And thats true, nor does wales, or ireland, or England. But all United as one, we collect alot of money.
plus like the one guy said, its a scotish king who united scotland and england and wales and ireland.
What has made you guys want to break away from the only nation in the world that has 4 countries united under one democracy!
P.S. I think some scots are just digging them selves a deep hole in which they won’t be able to get out of, in money wise i’m talking about
What the hell is up with you dip sticks! SCOTLAND CAN VOTE, IT ALREADY HAS DEMOCRACY!
I’m Scotish, and i think many of us hold a silly little grudge
so britain is ruled by 4 countries is it..england has over 500 mps scotland as 50 and going down..so hardly ruled by all countries..as for the comment scotland can’t afford to be independent..sorry just plain wrong..we wouldnt be paying billions for trident, and aircraft carriers to project power..we dont need or want the power. Saor Alba
I AM ENGLISH. I THINK SCOTLAND AND WALES SHOULD BE ON THERE OWN. IF MONEY IS A PROBLEM,? THEY SHOULD JOIN THE EU. NOT GIVING INDEPEDENCE TO SCO OR WALES IS STILL HOLDING ON TO THE BRITISH EMPIRE, AND THATS WRONG. THE EMPIRE IS DEAD. THIS IS THE 21ST CENTERY, WAKE UP AND SMELL THE TEA. IF SOMEONE WANTS TO KNOW WHERE IM FROM, I SAY ENGLAND NOT GB, AND IM ENGLISH NOT BRITISH.