Scottish Independence

[Coldicote]

I read on the news (26.05.11) that Scotland is to have a referendum on independence. An economic adviser to Alex Salmond has warned that Scotland would 'gain little' and, although 'economically viable', increased financial power within the union was more likely. I am not for or against - just trying to understand. In what way is that a warning and what would it mean in practice?

[Quizmonster]

Scottish electors were probably brought to their senses by the likes of Fairbairn, who was a pretty good example of extreme right-wing buffoonery. There are still some of his ilk around today...no names, no pack-drill!
Mind you, I did like his joke about Edwina Currie at the time of the salmonella/egg stramash. He pointed out that she herself had once been an egg and that it might have been better if it had never been fertilised.

[venator]

I'm not clear what "full independence" means.

Would Scotland not elect MPs to Westminster?

If so, I'm all for it - we'd not have had Blair or Brown for a start...

[anotheoldgit]

All criticism apart, one has to hand it to the Scots, Scotland is primely Scottish and proud of it, and hasn't been wrecked by multi-cultural experiments such as England has.

If only England could have an English National Party, but wait a minute wouldn't that be classed as a Far Right, racist, Fascist and neo-Nazi party by some?

[jackthehat]

True to form......up pops AOG to taint a question about 'domestic' issues with his tired old arguments about multi-culturalism and race.....

I can understand the Scottish point if view, but do not think that Scotland is sufficiently self-sufficient for true Independence to be a reality.

[Gromit]

// Scotland is primely Scottish and proud of it, and hasn't been wrecked by multi-cultural experiments //

Tell that to the 70,000 Pakistanis who lIve there. A few names to conjure with...

Aneela Rahman
Ali Abbasi
Farah Noor Adams
Bashir Ahmad
Aamer Anwar
Majid Haq
Omer Hussain
Nasim Marie Jafry
Hardeep Singh Kohli
Sanjeev Kohli
Bashir Maan
Vishal Marwaha
Aasmah Mir
Shereen Nanjiani
Robina Qureshi
Misbah Rana
Mohammed Sarwar

[mike11111]

Fairbairn was virulently anti-homosexual, and once asked in a debate in the Commons, "Why should a man want to stick his p!ss-pipe up another man's sh!t-chute?" Such a charming turn of phrase!

[Coldicote]

Oh dear, I seem to have started more than I expected here, but it's an interesting discussion and thank you everyone. I'm signing off now but do keep going.