Alex Salmond's comments regarding a currency union

[richw]

Yes. Let alone the maintaining of HMNB Clyde, Rosyth Dockyard, RNAS Culdrose, RAF Leuchars, RAF Lossiemouth and Gordon/Kinloss/Redford/Cameron/Dreghorn/Glencorse/Walcheren Barracks and having all the people involved in them living in Scotland spending money in Scotland.

RNAS Culdrose is near Helston in Cornwall, about as far away from Scotland as is possible in the UK

 

[SWTH]

4) Alex Salmond has never said "we will cherry pick the best bits of EU membership to suit ourselves". That's David Cameron and UKIP's job (you know, the ones that want us to have an in/out referendum in 2017, which if Scotland is still part of the UK, we'll just have to accept yet again what the English decide for us regardless of our own views).

So are you claiming that only residents of England will be allowed to vote on Europe?

All the pro-independence stuff I've read makes it sound like Scotland has no say at all in how it is run - presumably all the Scottish MP's in Westminster (now, who voted to have them put there? The middle England toffs? ) sit there gagged and bound while the evil Englishmen (and presumably the Welsh, as they're not also demanding independence nor have they forged an alliance with Scotland) scheme to rape Scotland of all her treasures whilst leaving Rob Roy, William Wallace etc to suffer a life of hardship.

We ALL know that isn't the state of affairs, yet many of the more swivel-eyed supporters of independence (I don't mean you personally Robinson) would have us all believe that it is.

The union will be considerably poorer in more than just financial matters if Scotland declares independence, but I fear Scotland will be the one to feel the loss deepest of all.

 

[SkinnyDave]

So are you claiming that only residents of England will be allowed to vote on Europe?

All the pro-independence stuff I've read makes it sound like Scotland has no say at all in how it is run - presumably all the Scottish MP's in Westminster (now, who voted to have them put there? The middle England toffs? ) sit there gagged and bound while the evil Englishmen (and presumably the Welsh, as they're not also demanding independence nor have they forged an alliance with Scotland) scheme to rape Scotland of all her treasures whilst leaving Rob Roy, William Wallace etc to suffer a life of hardship.

We ALL know that isn't the state of affairs, yet many of the more swivel-eyed supporters of independence (I don't mean you personally Robinson) would have us all believe that it is.

The union will be considerably poorer in more than just financial matters if Scotland declares independence, but I fear Scotland will be the one to feel the loss deepest of all.

Let's put it another way, if majority of Scots vote to stay in EU but Farage and big proportion of Tories get there way and boot us out of EU as a result of referendum, that doesn't reflect the political will of Scotland..
I don't think the Union will be poorer I think it will be an opportunity for the rest of the UK outside London to re-establish itself.

 

[SWTH]

I suppose there's no reason why the Scots couldn't have a 'Scottish Pound' that would be tied to Sterling but wouldn't be legal tender south of Gretna Green - and very possibly nothing the English government could do to stop them.

A small technical point; current Scottish notes (contrary to popular belief) are not legal tender south of the border. According to the Bank of England they are acceptable by mutual consent, however there is no legal requirement to accept Scottish notes as payment.

I haven't got the link to hand, but a search should find the relevant page on the BoE website.

 

[richw]

A small technical point; current Scottish notes (contrary to popular belief) are not legal tender south of the border. According to the Bank of England they are acceptable by mutual consent, however there is no legal requirement to accept Scottish notes as payment.

I haven't got the link to hand, but a search should find the relevant page on the BoE website.

Scottish notes I understand are not legal tender in Scotland neither from previous threads here on the subject.

 

[transmanche]

A small technical point; current Scottish notes (contrary to popular belief) are not legal tender south of the border. According to the Bank of England they are acceptable by mutual consent, however there is no legal requirement to accept Scottish notes as payment.

They're not even legal tender within Scotland. But then 'legal tender' has a narrow technical definition, which is not what most people think it is.

In Scotland (as elsewhere), Scottish notes are accepted by mutual consent.

 

[SWTH]

Let's put it another way, if majority of Scots vote to stay in EU but Farage and big proportion of Tories get there way and boot us out of EU as a result of referendum, that doesn't reflect the political will of Scotland..
I don't think the Union will be poorer I think it will be an opportunity for the rest of the UK outside London to re-establish itself.

It reflects the political will of the UK as a whole. If 49% of the voters back staying in the EU and 51% say leave, that's democracy. It's not perfect, but its what we have. If, say, one particular county in England all vote yes, is it fair that they do not get what they want? Should they break away and form a new state?

How about the people in Scotland who don't want independence? Should they have it forced on them because 51% said yes?
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Thanks for the clarification on Scottish notes - being primarily concerned with their use south of the border, I hadn't considered that they may also be 'mutual consent' north of the border.

 

[richw]

It reflects the political will of the UK as a whole. If 49% of the voters back staying in the EU and 51% say leave, that's democracy. It's not perfect, but its what we have. If, say, one particular county in England all vote yes, is it fair that they do not get what they want? Should they break away and form a new state?

Haven't we a deluded party trying to do this in Cornwall? Cornwall getting independence is the most ridiculous thing ever thought up.

(I'm Cornish born and bred)
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Thanks for the clarification on Scottish notes - being primarily concerned with their use south of the border, I hadn't considered that they may also be 'mutual consent' north of the border.

When I was working in cash handling down Penzance area, about 95% of forged notes we saw were Scottish. Nobody knew the security features to check so the forgers cottoned on down here and we're using a lot of Scottish notes

 

[transmanche]

When I was working in cash handling down Penzance area, about 95% of forged notes we saw were Scottish. Nobody knew the security features to check so the forgers cottoned on down here and we're using a lot of Scottish notes

Many moons ago when I worked as a bank cashier, we had a bank raid. They got about £1,500 from my till, all of it of 'dirties'; which were the ripped/damaged notes being returned to BoE plus all the Scottish/NI/CI/IoM notes being returned to their respective banks. It made a bad day seem much more pleasant.

 

[SkinnyDave]

It reflects the political will of the UK as a whole. If 49% of the voters back staying in the EU and 51% say leave, that's democracy. It's not perfect, but its what we have. If, say, one particular county in England all vote yes, is it fair that they do not get what they want? Should they break away and form a new state?

How about the people in Scotland who don't want independence? Should they have it forced on them because 51% said yes?

I agree with those points entirely, I'd rather have democracy than some of the alternatives but Scotland's political attitudes differ considerably to those say in the South East etc we have our own parliament already the other parts of England don't..yet.
Scotland has one Conservative MP but Conservative and Lib Dem policies get imposed on electorate same as North of England that's why I think the Union as it stands just now does not represent the best solution for the electorate as it stands..
Yes Scotland has 59 MPs at Westminster but very rarely do they have an effect especially in opposition.

 

[tbtc]

How about the people in Scotland who don't want independence? Should they have it forced on them because 51% said yes?

Funnily enough, two the most anti-Independence areas are the areas with the biggest share of the oil fields (Orkney, Shetland) - they've never voted SNP but they've been ruled by an SNP administration.

 

[Butts]

Funnily enough, two the most anti-Independence areas are the areas with the biggest share of the oil fields (Orkney, Shetland) - they've never voted SNP but they've been ruled by an SNP administration.

Orkney and Shetland don't want to be ruled from Edinburgh any more than London - Oslo would probably be the preferred choice

 

[SkinnyDave]

I witnessed a pro-independence leafleting campaign on Waverley station back in September, which featured probably 50-60 people dressed up as Braveheart, so I'm assuming to some percentage of their supporters it is an influence or a symbol of what they do.

I suspect I'll get destroyed for saying this but I must be honest - for a very long time now I have thought that a lot of the independence campaign, especially from Mr Salmond, is based to some degree on nothing but pure and utter resentment for England and the English. Quite sad really.

1st point I'd agree there will be an element just Like there is with everything in Politics, I don't agree with that neither do most people I speak to voting yes

Second point I can't do anything but disagree with that statement
He has a resentment towards Westminster as do I not English
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It will be interesting to see what the turnout will be like with so much at stake - I bet it will be less than 70%

I'll take that bet and go for higher

 

[tbtc]

No they voted in the worst Scottish secretary in history.

That was their decision though.

Just as you said that "Scotland has one Conservative MP but Conservative and Lib Dem policies get imposed on electorate", you could argue that Orkney and Shetland have never had SNP constituency MSPs but SNP policies get imposed on electorate.

But its okay for these people to be subjected to the will of the majority in Scotland (though not okay for people in Scotland to be subjected to the will of the majority in the UK)?

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

Any sources because £2bn doesn't buy you very much in the defence world and there's an awful lot of defence in Scotland...

I should imagine that you would get a good selection of claymores for that amount of cash...

Anyway, back to purposes of comparison much nearer to the current debate. It was only in 1905 that Norway became a separate nation from Sweden, so let us see how that Independence fared in just over of century of Independence, noting a strong Norwegian historical link to areas now part of Scotland.

 

[SWTH]

Haven't we a deluded party trying to do this in Cornwall? Cornwall getting independence is the most ridiculous thing ever thought up.

(I'm Cornish born and bred)

Mebyon Kernow. An MK councillor was writing in the West Briton a few weeks ago that Scottish Independence was proof that Cornwall needed a similar solution to its many issues.

Personally, I think it would bring the county to its knees.

 

[Johnuk123]

Let's put it another way, if majority of Scots vote to stay in EU but Farage and big proportion of Tories get there way and boot us out of EU as a result of referendum, that doesn't reflect the political will of Scotland..
I don't think the Union will be poorer I think it will be an opportunity for the rest of the UK outside London to re-establish itself.

Tories, Labour and Liberal are absolutely pro-Europe at any cost despite what you might hear.
We have the prospect of a Lab/Lib govt. (God help us) if anything they would get into Europe even more deeply.Forget the referendum pledge by the Tories if it does happen which is extremely unlikely it's not binding in anyway.
No main party will take this country out of Europe on any out vote however big or small.

 

[Clip]

Let's put it another way, if majority of Scots vote to stay in EU but Farage and big proportion of Tories get there way and boot us out of EU as a result of referendum, that doesn't reflect the political will of Scotland..
I don't think the Union will be poorer I think it will be an opportunity for the rest of the UK outside London to re-establish itself.

You are aware that the results of any referendum on our membership of the EU will be decided by the nation itself and not just the government.

Do we live in a democracy or not? If so then let the people have their say no?

 

[starrymarkb]

Surely independence is a matter for the Scots. I'm not fussed as to which way they vote as long as I can still visit!

 

[Robinson]

You are aware that the results of any referendum on our membership of the EU will be decided by the nation itself and not just the government.

Do we live in a democracy or not? If so then let the people have their say no?

The UK is not a proper democracy. The unelected House of Lords and the unelected monarch being the first giveaways of that. Although the current Yes Scotland stance on the monarchy is neutral, the House of Lords would no longer be our problem in the event of independence.

Anyway, it looks like the BBC are now catching onto reality (although their pro-Union bias still manages to shine through)...

 

[VauxhallandI]

At last, this is what I have been thinking about all through this thread.

Im undecided on the matter as there is no independent advice. However as I live in England I dont vote. That said the more I read on here the more I think go for it and leave the English to be so great on their own.

What is your problem?

Is the Pound not as mjch Scottish is it is English?

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

Mebyon Kernow. An MK councillor was writing in the West Briton a few weeks ago that Scottish Independence was proof that Cornwall needed a similar solution to its many issues. Personally, I think it would bring the county to its knees.

What language did he use in that article...was it in English ?

 

[Robinson]

At last, this is what I have been thinking about all through this thread.

Im undecided on the matter as there is no independent advice. However as I live in England I dont vote. That said the more I read on here the more I think go for it and leave the English to be so great on their own.

What is your problem?

Is the Pound not as mjch Scottish is it is English?

It is a freely tradeable currency that can be used by any nation on the planet if it wants, without requiring permission. The proposed currency union is merely a convenient arrangement, at least in the interim period, which would suit both parties unless and until Scotland's economic policies become so divergent from the rUK's that a currency breakaway becomes inevitable. There is debate among the Yes camp as to how quickly that would happen - the Scottish Greens being somewhat more ambitious in their proposals than the pragmatic approach of the SNP...
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Surely independence is a matter for the Scots. I'm not fussed as to which way they vote as long as I can still visit!

Rest assured, Scotland places a high value on her tourist industry!

 

[Johnuk123]

So you should as it's virtually the only one of any substance you've got.

 

[Clip]

The UK is not a proper democracy. The unelected House of Lords and the unelected monarch being the first giveaways of that. Although the current Yes Scotland stance on the monarchy is neutral, the House of Lords would no longer be our problem in the event of independence.

Anyway, it looks like the BBC are now catching onto reality (although their pro-Union bias still manages to shine through)...

I am aware of the state of our country thankyou but I was pointing out to your claim of the Tories getting their way which is blatantly isnt given the referendum gives us all a vote on whether to stay in the EU or not.

The people will speak and be heard, hopefulyl for once. Something that both the Libs and Labs do not want us to have.

 

[Johnuk123]

I am aware of the state of our country thankyou but I was pointing out to your claim of the Tories getting their way which is blatantly isnt given the referendum gives us all a vote on whether to stay in the EU or not.

The people will speak and be heard, hopefulyl for once. Something that both the Libs and Labs do not want us to have.

Don't you know the result is non-binding as I have said no major party will take us out of the E.U. no matter what the result.

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

The UK is not a proper democracy. The unelected House of Lords and the unelected monarch being the first giveaways of that. Although the current Yes Scotland stance on the monarchy is neutral, the House of Lords would no longer be our problem in the event of independence.

A conundrum of history. What do James VI of Scotland and James I of England have in common ?

 

[Clip]

Don't you know the result is non-binding as I have said no major party will take us out of the E.U. no matter what the result.

Is it non binding? I have seen nothing to say that it is or it isnt if I am honest.


There would be proper uproar if it was non binding given any result

 

[Johnuk123]

Is it non binding? I have seen nothing to say that it is or it isnt if I am honest.


There would be proper uproar if it was non binding given any result

You will find no referendums are legally binding so are irrelevant, don't you think that's why they have promised one.

 

[starrymarkb]

Is it non binding? I have seen nothing to say that it is or it isnt if I am honest.


There would be proper uproar if it was non binding given any result

Wonder what would happen with UKIP if the public voted to stay in the EU?