Did Salmond Actually Think It Through?

[youngmafbog]

So what was Salmond smoking when he thought he could automatically keep the pound and stay in the EU? for many of us it was the immediate question but he seems to have assumed from the start a status quo.

I still dont see how Scotland can have full independance with the pound and I also can't see the point of fighting for independance only to sign up to the EU Masters to become a slave of Germany.

I like this quote:
However, the Chancellor will have to wake up to the fact that he cannot lay claim to assets to which Scotland has a share - such as the Bank of England

Err - Back of England Salmond - the clue is in the name, it is not the Bank of Britain!

And if the assets are shared then surely the vote in/out should be for the whole of the UK since they are directly affected?

And from Jose Manuel Barroso, president of the EU's ruling body, the European Commission: "Scottish membership would be extremely difficult, if not impossible". With the likes of Spain struggling with separatists is id highly unlikely Scotland would get an easy ride.

I'm still backing Salmond for a Yes vote though.

[Gromit]

The pound and EU membership are both distractions to encourage a No vote.

If in the unlikely event they do become independent, you can be sire that Scotland will retain the pound because it would be good for sterling to have them. Ireland got full independence in 1922 and retained the pound for 50 years.

And the EU are plotting against Scottish Independence because Scotland is already a member of the EU. Really they don't want to lose them. Again, if in the inlikely event that Scotland do become Independent, you can bet the EU will have a rapid change of heart and beg them to join. Scotland will be a small nation, but Malta is much smaller and has EU membership.

[Quizmonster]

For pity's sake, the clue is not in the name, as regards the Bank of England. (In fact, it was basically 'created' by a Scotsman!) It is a UK facility, not a solely English one.

[emmie]

both the Governor of the Bank of England and the Chancellor George Osborne have said the same thing, one would hope that Mark Carney has a fair idea of what is possible, as he outlined to Alex Salmond a few weeks ago. that if the Scots wish to keep the pound that some of their sovereign rights would likely have to go, now i may be no financial expert, or on matters of state but assume both Carney and Osborne know what they are about.

[KARL]

It is interesting to recall that lots of English people say "England" and "English" when they actually mean "Britain" and "British", yet it is also interesting to recall that things manufactured in Scotland used to bear the statement "Made in Britain" whereas things made in England said "Made in England". That is not to mention national/English media labels on people who achieved something: English were/are "English" whereas Scottish achievers were/are "British" - notoriety however often/usually was/is ascribed to "Scottish" and "British".

So what's in a name ? Obvious desire to pick and choose, that's what.

More or less from the outset there has been a clear intent from those against independence to try and appeal to the fear of change in a very substantial part of the Scottish populous. If there were a solid argument for Scotland not being capable of surviving perfectly well as an independent country then frightening people into choosing the status quo would not be necessary. The amusing thing is that there are plenty of examples of how countries the size of Scotland and smaller are actually more successful than this supposedly worthwhile entity of the UK. The No heavyweights (Scots/politicians with UK dependent positions in England) are people who personally have a lot to lose to independence whereas the vast majority of people in Scotland have the prospect of actual improvement - albeit dependent on future government policy in Scotland.

The tendency to refer to aspirations toward independence in condescending/derogatory terms as "Salmond's plan" does the No camp no favours. The No camp is not described as "Cameron's fighters", nor are they any more than those who support independence are Salmond's - they simply want to get out of the straitjacket of never ever getting the government and policies they voted for. Drawing a line under the history of mislabelling (and being mistaken abroad as being part of England) will simply be a welcome bonus. I am convinced that once the voting is over, north-south relations will actually improve - provided, of course, that independence is the result. The two will co-operate very closely, England will get over the perceived snub and get on with its own much needed reforms - otherwise things will at best carry on sinking as the whole of the UK gets into a progressively worse administrative mess.

[emmie]

Devised by
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charles_Montagu,_1st_Earl_of_Halifax

[emmie]

and i usually say Britain, not England,

[emmie]

find me a label on goods now that says Made in England, rare as hens teeth, much of what was Made in Britain, is not now, not for a long time,
even M&S a stalwart, cheats by using cloth made here, and getting the garments produced, put together in the far east. I looked at a lovely man's coat, no reason just that it was rather well put together, unlike much of their stuff, and it said Made in England, until you looked inside the little label, naughty naughty M&S

[jomifl]

http://www.theanswerbank.co.uk/News/Politics/
similar thread

[KARL]

It is entirely possible to continue using the pound - to suggest otherwise is disingenuous. It is pretty unthinkable that the EU would reject a Scottish application to join (if an application is indeed necessary) because the implications would go totally opposite to EU philosophy and policy to date (increased membership, unification of Europe). However, interestingly, Euro-sceptics (mostly south of the border) point to the likes of Iceland and Norway and urge UK leaders to leave the EU to achieve the sort of social and economic success that such countries enjoy in Europe but outside the EU.

[jomifl]

Scotland won't be admitted to the EU if it leaves the union, see the above link.

[emmie]

how do you know most of the sceptics are south of the border, that is assuming that many Scots would be happy to continue on with the EU,
but what if Barrosa is correct, it would be difficult if they split, this still leaves a lot of answered questions. I just think that Salmond wants to split but have all the benefits, cake and eat it comes to mind

[jomifl]

Of course Scotland can use the pound, but not the sterling one. UK won't want a monetary union because it's financial hands will be tied by Scotland. Scotland won't want a Scottish pound tied to Sterling as their financial policies will be dictated by the UK.

[emmie]

which i think has been outlined any number of times, to Mr Salmond

[jomifl]

Emmie, he doesn't appear to be listening..

[mikey4444]

The YES campaign are getting steadily more desperate as times goes on. They have to keep the topic in the news somehow. Here is a recent Poll result from You Gov ::

http://yougov.co.uk/news/2014/02/16/opposition-currency-union-rises-sharply-england-an/

[emmie]

no he won't, because like all egotists, they know best,

[jomifl]

Salmond is being either disingenuous or naive. He seems to think that Scotland will be able to do whatever it wants if it leaves the union, however he has forgotten that an independant Scotland won't be protected by the financial and political power of the UK. The influence of Spain in denying Scotland EU membership is the first demonstration of how Scotland will become a pawn of the bigger players.

[emmie]

which makes me laugh, get rid of one big brother standing over your shoulder, so they think, but get an even bigger one, who will bat you around the noggin at every opportunity.

[heathfield]

The Governor of the Bank of England has not ruled out Scotland keeping the pound.
"In his [Edinburgh] speech, Mr Carney stressed arrangements for a currency union in the event of independence would be a matter for the Scottish and UK parliaments.
He added: "If such deliberations ever were to happen, they would need to consider carefully what the economics of currency unions suggest are the necessary foundations for a durable union, particularly given the clear risks if these foundations are not in place." (BBC report).
The recent Treasury report on the subject says Scotland can't keep the pound. Excuse me? It's not up to the Treasury to decide this. It's up to the Bank of England.

[sir.prize]

As jomifl says - Scotland are welcome to use their own pound but not the sterling pound.