Is tripartisanship over the SNP's bid to retain the £ bullying?

[Flosshilde]

You have pound banknotes?

Not any more, but they were replaced by coins a lot later than they were in the rest of the UK.

Does that mean Canada, Australia, New Zealand, etc. are part of the UK?

I don't think Scotland would be part of the UK - any more than the Isle of Man and the Channel Islands are. It might be a British Crown Dependency ...

As I explained (perhhaps not very well) the Untied Kingdom came into existence when the king of Scotland became also the king of England, Wales & Ireland, thus uniting the two kingdoms. At that point they were still two seperate states, with their own Parliaments etc. Which is what they will be after independence. As far as I know Canada, Australia, New Zealand etc weren't part of the Kingdom of Scotland nor of EWI.

[french frank]

But the United Kingdom is a sovereign state, of which Scotland is one of the four constituent countries. Is the idea that Scotland will be an independent country within the UK, which remains the sovereign state. Or that Scotland withdraws from the UK and becomes an independent sovereign state, do you think? It can't be a sovereign state inside another sovereign state.

[Flosshilde]

Depends what you mean by 'kingdom' & 'sovereign state'. Scotland & England/Wales only became a single sovereign state with the Act of Union in 1707, a hundred years after the union of the crowns in 1603. For that period I would say that they were two kingdoms under a single monarch.

[french frank]

Depends what you mean by 'kingdom' & 'sovereign state'. Scotland & England/Wales only became a single sovereign state with the Act of Union in 1707, a hundred years after the union of the crowns in 1603. For that period I would say that they were two kingdoms under a single monarch.

Yes, but by 'sovereign state' I mean the legal definition which includes one single government. When Scotland stops sending elected representatives to Westminster it surely secedes from the 'sovereign state of the UK'. That is quite separate from sharing a head of state, even if that is a monarch.

[ahinton]

Yes, but by 'sovereign state' I mean the legal definition which includes one single government. When Scotland stops sending elected representatives to Westminster it surely secedes from the 'sovereign state of the UK'. That is quite separate from sharing a head of state, even if that is a monarch.

Indeed - viz. Eine Alpensinfonie's quasi-rhetorical question in #192 re Canada, &c.; Canada shares the monarch with UK but isn't "part" of it. This, however, does leave room for confusion as to the extent to which those favouring Scottish independence see an independent Scotland as being "independent", its currency issue and the membership of EU being vital factors here.

[teamsaint]

Indeed - viz. Eine Alpensinfonie's quasi-rhetorical question in #192 re Canada, &c.; Canada shares the monarch with UK but isn't "part" of it. This, however, does leave room for confusion as to the extent to which those favouring Scottish independence see an independent Scotland as being "independent", its currency issue and the membership of EU being vital factors here.

These are important issues.
But one could always ask questions about how far any country can be independent, in any number of ways. We do live in a highly interconnected world. American dominance of business and culture might be on of many such examples.

I would have thought it likely that those Scots who seek independence are probably mostly accepting of a level of interconnectedness, while valuing the chance for their country to make more of its individuality.

[ahinton]

These are important issues.
But one could always ask questions about how far any country can be independent, in any number of ways. We do live in a highly interconnected world. American dominance of business and culture might be on of many such examples.

I would have thought it likely that those Scots who seek independence are probably mostly accepting of a level of interconnectedness, while valuing the chance for their country to make more of its individuality.

Sure - although what's being considered here is not "interconnectedness" per se but which particular "interconnectednesses"; for example, does a Scotland independent of the UK still wish to be an EU member? - and does it want to retain a currency operated through Bank of England (sterling) or adopt the Euro or establish its own currency independent of either? Does it want to retain the monarch (while UK still has a monarchy) as head of state or sever those connections?

[french frank]

Citizenship is an interesting point. The number of Scots may increase as all British people resident in Scotland at the time of independence will be considered Scottish. All those who might be considered, in some sense 'of Scottish birth/parentage but not living there' will be allowed to register as Scottish if they can furnish the necessary documentation. I might be considered for naturalisation as Scottish as having lived there, 'at some time', for at least ten years.

Dual nationality (Scottish/UK) will be allowed by the Scottish government and probably by the UK government. Otherwise Scots will cease to be British.

[Serial_Apologist]

After watching Darling's narrow-focussed near-hysterical confrontation with the puffed up Salmond in last night's part 2, (surely he could have had a tot beforehand to steady his nerves?), there's no knowing where the result will go in the referendum.

What a farce!

[P. G. Tipps]

After watching Darling's narrow-focussed near-hysterical confrontation with the puffed up Salmond in last night's part 2, (surely he could have had a tot beforehand to steady his nerves?), there's no knowing where the result will go in the referendum.

What a farce!

The result will be a 'NO' vote unless there is a quite amazing last-minute swing but there hasn't been an appreciable swing of any kind for years and Scots are well-used to noisy hysterical-sounding politicians. The annoying thing is that the very thing a big majority of Scots have always really wanted is not on the ballot-paper ... Devo-Max.

Salmond blatantly played to traditional Labour voters claiming Darling 'is in bed with the Tories' (how absurd!) whilst Darling had an almost impossible task trying to defend the nonsense coming from Westminster. Everybody knows there will have to be some sort of negotiated settlement in the unlikely event of a 'YES' vote whatever London politicians say. Salmond has always been on solid ground there.

Fortunately, most Scots are well aware of the issues already, whichever way they vote, and more hot air for both the 'YES' and 'NO' campaigns is unlikely to make much of a difference. These debates are really just media events and are more for TV entertainment value than remotely educational.

To make matters worse I see Cameron is now issuing statements from No 10 as if Scots are likely to pay the slightest intention.

Can't this guy, PM or not, ever realise there are times when it is best not to pretend he has any real power and influence in matters far removed from his control?

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

If Scotland does vote for independence and what's left of the UK withdraws from the EU, I think I might move to Scotland. The thought of being governed by Little Englanders is just too much to take.

[MrGongGong]

If Scotland does vote for independence and what's left of the UK withdraws from the EU, I think I might move to Scotland. The thought of being governed by Little Englanders is just too much to take.

Is that assuming that Scotland is allowed to join the EU ?

[Flosshilde]

There's no reason why an independant Scotland shouldn't be 'allowed' to join the EU; the question is would it automatically be a member, as Alex Salmond seems to assume, or would it have to go through the same application & harmonisation process as other countries?

If the former, Scotland might be able to keep the pound (if AS's asumption that the RUK would agree is correct); if the latter then I would have thought that it would have to adopt the Euro.

[MrGongGong]

There's no reason why an independant Scotland shouldn't be 'allowed' to join the EU; the question is would it automatically be a member, as Alex Salmond seems to assume, or would it have to go through the same application & harmonisation process as other countries?

If the former, Scotland might be able to keep the pound (if AS's asumption that the RUK would agree is correct); if the latter then I would have thought that it would have to adopt the Euro.

I'm sure they would be allowed BUT given the situation in other parts of Europe (Catalonia ?) i'm not sure that it's as simple as Salmond makes out.

Won't they have to ask the Bank of England if it's ok as well ?
How "independent" is that ?

What's wrong with real independence ?
Get rid of the lot, the Queen, the pound, the EU , the whole thing ..... ?

[amateur51]

I'm sure they would be allowed BUT given the situation in other parts of Europe (Catalonia ?) i'm not sure that it's as simple as Salmond makes out.

Won't they have to ask the Bank of England if it's ok as well ?
How "independent" is that ?

What's wrong with real independence ?
Get rid of the lot, the Queen, the pound, the EU , the whole thing ..... ?

Don't forget the established church too MrGG