Alex Salmond's comments regarding a currency union

[tbtc]

The Westminster government is corrupt and tyrannical

the orthodox neoliberal totalitarian parties

...all fun and games until someone starts spouting conspiracy theories...

Is the SNP not a "neoliberal" party, btw? One of their main policies seems to be reducing business taxes, to compete for a "race to the bottom" with Ireland, Luxembourg etc in terms of who can attract the most corporate HQs with a low corporation tax? Hardly very Socialist...

I wonder if it would have been prudent to draw up the terms of the seperation before the refterendum, so that the Scottish people could make an informed choice. Instead of something based upon Alex Salmond's wish list.

Lets face it, in the case of independence, it could result in a great deal for the scots, or a truly awful one.

Agreed - we need to be certain what we are voting on. As a Scot (living in England, but with plenty of family north of the border) I think that we should iron out the details first, before people vote on the basis of something unrealistic (e.g. EU membership, retaining the pound, kicking out Trident).

If they want more power why have they not used the existing ability they have to vary the rate of income tax in Scotland ?

This is a very good point - I voted "YES, YES" in '97, because I thought that if Scotland had a Parliament then it needed to have some "teeth". Since there's been no attempt to use that 3% income tax powers since then, it makes a feeble case for Why Scotland Needs Even More Powers.

 

[meridian2]

No, the cowards were the Better Together activists I met at Helensburgh Central station this morning, handing out leaflets which had an outright lie printed on them. Demonstrating their usual tactic of fear and doom-mongering to try to tap into people's uncertainty. They are cowards; Yes Scotland campaigners are not.

In your opinion it's an 'outright lie', but how is what you are saying here any different than the Better Together activists you accuse of doom-mongering? Birds of a feather spring to mind.

 

[ainsworth74]

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

Ah yes sorry I was thinking about RNAS Prestwick (HMS Gannet).

 

[SWTH]

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

It certainly was.

 

[transmanche]

I've never even watched Braveheart

It's on Film 4 tonight at 9pm.

 

[Oswyntail]

It's on Film 4 tonight at 9pm.

And not worth watching - no redeeming features.:roll:

 

[TheKnightWho]

And not worth watching - no redeeming features.:roll:

I dunno - Mel Gibson's "Scottish" accent is a sight to behold.

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

I dunno - Mel Gibson's "Scottish" accent is a sight to behold.

....but it cannot be worse than Dick van Dyke's so-called "cockney()" accent in Mary Poppins.

 

[cjp]

Currency is only one factor that is up in the air.

From the little I have read (from a Law Library) it is now (since
2009) a requirement of all new countries joining the EU eg "New
Scotland" to adopt the Euro and to sign up to the Schengen Borders
Code.
Now as the UK (and Ireland) have both not adopted the code there is free
travel between the two with border control for all others but between
them and Scotland there would be border controls (incoming to us at
least)
No more through trains to London with checks at say Berwick, Dunbar or
Carlise for passports (and Visas) since under Schengen "New Scotland"
would have to have open borders with the other EU countries.

Or the UK does away with its border controls
and perhaps also the Pound????

 

[yorksrob]

Or the UK does away with its border controls
and perhaps also the Pound????

I doubt it very much. The rump UK would make an agreement with the Scots of some sort, regardless of the EU.

 

[transmanche]

From the little I have read (from a Law Library) it is now (since 2009) a requirement of all new countries joining the EU eg "New
Scotland" to adopt the Euro and to sign up to the Schengen Borders
Code.

See posts 19-24 in this thread.

 

[DownSouth]

It is a requirement of the Schengen Treaty that a state acceding to the treaty (as Scotland would if they seceded from the UK and then joined the EU) must enact border controls for people entering/exiting the Schengen zone via one of their borders via land, sea or air transport.

Border controls on the UK side would be an internal matter for the UK government to decide for themselves, as it is currently.

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

It is a requirement of the Schengen Treaty that a state acceding to the treaty (as Scotland would if they seceded from the UK and then joined the EU) must enact border controls for people entering/exiting the Schengen zone via one of their borders via land, sea or air transport.

That information should prove a check on the ambitions of those forum members who want to see their aspirational Borders Railway extension to Carlisle.

 

[transmanche]

Border controls on the UK side would be an internal matter for the UK government to decide for themselves, as it is currently.

Which, a future rUK government, would have to impose to placate the xenophobic-lobby - otherwise it just be creating a new 'Lille Gap'.

But the whole question of whether Scotland would join the EU as a new state or as a 'successor state' to the existing UK, is not one that has been conclusively answered.

 

[yorksrob]

Would have to impose to placate the xenophobic-lobby - otherwise it just be creating a new 'Lille Gap.

Otherwise known as those who would like to live in a normal country with a normal level of control over its borders, which many countries around the world such as Australia manage to have, whilst still being a modern forward looking country. Yet because we happen to be off the coast of France, such a situation is apparently impossible here without us turning into North Korea.

 

[DownSouth]

But the whole question of whether Scotland would join the EU as a new state or as a 'successor state' to the existing UK, is not one that has been conclusively answered.

Secessionists are gettting waaaaaaaay ahead of themselves if they are talking about successor states, let alone the absurd possibility of Scotland 'winning' any debate over which of the UK or Scotland would be the successor state of the UK.

The government of the UK will have no problem making it abundantly clear that the secession of Scotland will have no effect on the continued sovereignty of the UK even if anyone seriously thinks it will be up for debate. This could be achieved by numerous means such as continuing to occupy their seat at the United Nations, not changing their name or flag, asserting command over UK armed forces around the world and so on.

In any case, wouldn't the secessionists trying to make decisions about the UK's status in foreign relations be a heinous case of double standards when their case for seceding is all about not letting the English make decisions for Scotland? How could they continue sleep at night if they abandoned their principles in such a manner?