How strong is the Scottish independence movement?
There’s a difference between Scottish patriotic feelings and the independence movement.The patriotic movement is alive and kicking and long may it do so. Pride in Scotland and all things Scottish.The independence movement is less so. The majority of Scots realise they are better off in the UK and the UK is better with them in it. There’s been some moaning about the referendum being before the EU referendum but it’s what the SNP pushed for. David Cameron thought a Remain vote was a foregone conclusion. Sometimes things don’t go as expected
Why are English people against Scottish independence?
I am English and hope the Scottish do not vote to break up the UK. It wouldn’t be quite right to say “I am against Scottish independence” as I have no say in the matter – it is up to the Scottish people. But I am against it for a number of reasons:Because I don’t want to lose my country. I feel as much British as I do English and, like most English people, I have Scottish and Welsh ancestry.It would mean the end of this island as military power. Right now, with our highly professional armed forces and nuclear deterrent, we have a certain amount of power and influence. We don’t always do the right thing, but we are basically a decent, civilized nation and a force for good in the world. The Scottish have always been at the heart of the British armed forces – especially the elite regiments like the SAS. That would all end, and I guess we would have to resign our place on the security council.We do not know what the future will bring. Imagine if this was 1910 and you tried to explain to an optimistic liberal the horrors about to engulf Europe: two world wars, Hitler threatening us with invasion, Stalin the psychopath taking over Russia, the Holocaust, Mussolini, the Depression, the Spanish civil war etc. He would have thought you were insane. Politically divided, this island will be much weaker and probably unable to defend itself. Who knows what will happen 10 or 15 years from now. Maybe the EU will implode? Maybe there will be an enemy army poised to invade southern England? Seems unlikely, but you should never rule anything out.Economically we will be weaker. I don’t care about the statistics. Each side can throw all sorts of numbers back and forth. The simple fact is that as a united island we are all richer. The EU proves that you need political union for economic prosperity.The “UK” is culturally a more interesting place than any of its individual members. English, Scottish, Welsh and Northern Irish identities all seem a bit parochial in comparison. I always say I am from the UK when people ask.
How much would Scottish independence weaken the UK?
Scotland currently makes up about 8% of the population of the UK. I understand that the UK population is projected to increase by 10 million in 25 years (although this was before Brexit) so it seems likely the UK will recover to its pre-independence level in the period before that.There is the argument that Scotland received more than it pays in taxes. There is the counter argument that North Sea Oil has, at least in the past, meant that Scotland has paid more than its fair share over the years.It seems likely that an independent Scotland will require the UK to remove the Trident nuclear deterrant from the west coast. That will be expensive for the UK, and it is possible the UK might reconsider remaining a nuclear power. That would diminish the UK from a military perspective.I understand that the GIUK gap represents a strategic military advantage to the UK. The UK would lose this in the event of independence, which would additionally diminish the UK from an international perspective.More generally, I think that the UK will not be much affected in the long term by Scottish Independence. Brexit will likely have a greater impact, and no one knows whether this will have a positive or a negative effect.Sources:UK population expected to rise by almost 10 million in 25 yearsGIUK gap - Wikipedia
What is the rationale for Scottish independence? Why do some people in Scotland want to be independent?
I'm a Scot, living in Scotland and I'm pro independence. Why?Well there are a number of reasons but no. 1 for me is the fact that in fewer than fifty percent of the general elections held in the past 68 years has a majority of Scots voted for the party who have won the election. That means that for around six out of every ten years since 1945 we have been governed by a party we have rejected at the polls. I believe that as a country we have the right to determine by ourselves who governs us.Public spending per capita in Scotland is around £1200 pa higher than in the rest of the UK. However we contribute around £1700 more per person than the rest of the UK. The fact that we contribute more than we get in subsidies means we are actually subsidising rUK .We also subsidise the UKs national debt. For example in 2011/12 the UK budget deficit was some £126 billion making our share per capita around £10.6 billion. That year however, Scotlands budget deficit was only £7.6 billion. This means that in one year alone we were forced to take on £3 billion worth of extra debt repayments that we didn't spend! Around £5 billion of that years deficit for Scotland was actually payments on the UKs national debt.I could go on, but I'll leave it here by saying that I'm in no way anti English and very few people I know are either, but I'm fed up with what I see as years of mis-management by Governments who have a South East centric viewpoint and who only care about Scotland as a cash cow to be milked in order to subsidise the rUK.EDIT.Now nearly two years after writing the original answer I’m even more thoroughly pro independence. Why? What were we told by project fear in the weeks running up to the referendum? “If you vote YES you’ll not be allowed to join the EU. The only way to stay in the EU is to vote NO.” Some estimates say that as many as 8% of the electorate voted NO because of this. We like the EU up here, we want to be part of it. If that 8% had voted YES then we’d be an independent country now.So what happened? They had an in/out EU referendum and despite 62% of Scots voting remain - we’re out.Every single promise broken, every lie told to us shown for what it is.Doesn’t everyone get it yet? The UK has been mismanaged for years - now it really could be going down the pan and I for one want no more part in that.
NATO - arguments for and against keeping NATO?
I'm doing a report for Modern Studies and I need to know the arugments for and against keeping NATO.. I've tried everywhere but can't seem to get a clear answer?
Do you support Scottish independence? Why or why not?
Oh my God YES!!! And have done just about all my life, I most certainly do support Scottish Independence!As Michael, so rightly points out, we have been governed by the right wing conservatives way too much over the decades and they don't give a S*** about us up here in Scotland. They only like us for the amount of money our oil has given them to squander on things that don't benefit us up here. And that is the only thing they care about with regards to Scotland!So why shouldn't we be able to govern ourselves and make our own decisions? That really is the fundamental question.I see a lot of people saying that we’d be worse off and it wouldn't work. But it would be UP TO US to make it work! I have enormous faith in the Scottish people to do that. Succeed or fail, it would be OUR choice and that makes a difference. Knowing that it is your OWN decisions that create your world, is a very important part of life and I don't see why we shouldn't be allowed to make our own decisions and find out what is best for us!The SNP have made a lot of changes already that benefit us greatly. Like not having to pay for prescriptions. It has to be pointed out that the NHS - a wonderful, egalitarian institution - in Scotland is doing a lot better that its English counterpart. We don't pay tuition fees for further education because we realise how important education is to allow young folk to realise their potential.Scotland is essentially a pretty left wing thinking nation, because we care about other people and want to help EVERYONE in Scotland achieve the best for themselves, and their country. It totally goes against the attitude of the conservatives who are, it would seem, only out for themselves and how they can line their own pockets.So, really, why shouldn't we govern ourselves and make our own decisions? We have an awful lot to offer and the ability to achieve. And we are able to do that quite happily and well on our own!The answer is YES YES YES!!!