Scottish Independence

[rich47]

What unbelievable scaremongering by that numpty Ed Milliband today when he suggested that if Scotland were independent a Scottish woman who becomes ill in Liverpool would not be treated because she was a foreigner. Would a French woman be treated, or a German woman or an English woman becoming ill in Glasgow? This is absolutely the deepest of the depths to which political spin can plumb. Which right thinking citizen could possibly be swayed by such arrant nonsense?

[EDDIE51]

I have not heard this do you have a link?

[Hopkirk]

Oh dear, did he really say that?

He'll be torn to shreds in the next few days.

[TheNovice]

it was the most cringe worthy thing I've seen, made worse by the he tried to introduce the women to the massed throng of nodding dogs!!! Awful... but not unexpected!! Then to praise the Welsh 1st minister when Wales is absolutely skint!!!!!

[rich47]

I am disappointed to say that he really said that.
Watch the reports of the labore conference

[Hopkirk]

If you get independance, can we deport Tony Blair and Gordon Brown to you please?

[Wharton]

^Nae chance pal :-)

[TheNovice]

think your stuck with Brown, as for Blair he's busy solving the Middle East problem and earning a fortune. The fortune is not linked to his success in the Middle East by the way.

[LazyGun]

Using a hyperbolic extension of an argument to focus minds is an old rhetorical tactic, used by politicians of all party affiliations. This is no worse than any other suggested outcomes I have seen.

Fact is, Milliband is expressing the same sentiments as most of the Tory Party and the Lib Dems, come to that. All the major parties are against a break-up of the Union and an independent Scotland.

[TheNovice]

Correct LazyGun, but the delivery of the point was totally awful.

[LazyGun]

In your opinion, Novice, but I suspect you are biased/partisan and so predisposed to find fault with anything Milliband says :)

[Wharton]

All the major parties outwith Scotland, of course :-)

[LazyGun]

@Wharton, Yes, of course - I should have elaborated that :)

[TheNovice]

It wasn't what he said (the sentiment was fine albeit incorrect and scaremongering) it was the awful delivery. It was dire, so much so the BBC has hardly mentioned it.

[EDDIE51]

Can anyone actually explain what will happen if Scotland does vote for independence?
I saw a program on it last week and even the Scottish nationalist party spokeswoman could not explain what would happen. The view I got was that they would want to win the vote first and only then decide what to do.

[Wharton]

We'll go our own way in a dignified manner.^

[TheNovice]

Wharton - is that from and English or Scottish perspective?

[New Judge]

You may be disappointed, rich, but you should not be surprised.

Since 1964 Scotland has returned at least 40 Labour MPs. The current total is 41 out of 59 seats. If Scotland were to become independent the Westminster Parliament would be reduced to 591 MPs of which 305 would be Tories - a clear majority. This situation would have prevailed in all General Elections since 1964 at least and would probably be repeated for the foreseeable future so it should come as no surprise that the Labour leader would use dubious tactics to persuade the Scots to remain in the Union.

[TheNovice]

And I thought Alistair Darling was being sincere!!

[Igor61]

Doesn't need to use "dubious" tactics to persuade Scots to stay in the union, polls suggest that majority of Scots want to remain in the union.

[Wharton]

TheNovice - There will be no English perspective, only Scottish :-)