Yes or no. Scottish residents only please

[ianboydsnr]

The more the No campaign desperately peddle their scare stories, the more people discover that we can’t believe a word they say.

I am sorry, but I suspect that statement is to placate the workers, if it's in RBS's interest then there will be cuts, just don't expect them to say so right up until the time,

when has any big business not put it's interests at the forefront?

to rely on such statements from either side, means your the kind of fool they are trawling for!

all the statements are about damage limitation and can be seen as nothing other, as is the moving south on a technicality, means absolutely nothing either way!

 

[Posh Pete]

It seems a lot of the ill-feeling in Scotland seems to be due to Salmond stirring up a dislike of Westminster.

This is despite having Scotland having its own devolved assembly. As does Northern Ireland. As does Wales.

How do you think the English feel, though? We don't even have a devolved assembly.

Westminster is all we have, but whenever there's decisions to be made that only affect England, everybody and their mother gets to stick their nose in. This was particularly galling when Gordon Brown was in charge. I am lost to understand why Scottish, Irish and Welsh MPs should have a say in—for example—the plans for London airport? If anything this should be a decision for just London MPs, or even better, left to the London Assembly and good old Boris.

Given that Scotland represents less than 9% of the population of the UK it has done extremely well in the number of Scottish Prime Ministers leading Westminster—Balfour, Campbell-Bannerman, Ramsey McDonald, Tony Blair, Gordon Brown and David Cameron.

(Oh yes, Donald Cameron of Locheil, head of the Cameron clan, says he's proud to claim David Cameron as a member of the clan. )

AS does not need to stir up feeling against Westminster. There's plenty left over from declarations of war despite huge popular opposition, the expenses scandal, etc. Added to that is the fact that there is only one Tory MP in the country and eleven Lib Dems and yet we have to take ALL the non devolved policies of the coalition such as the bedroom tax etc.

England has no devolved Assembly? You were offered devolved regional assemblies by the last Labour government. Did anyone want them? No. I suspect some may be changing their minds about that now. If you want to change that , stop whining about Scotland, get off your arses and DO something about it!!!!!

Scottish UK MPs voting for so called English legislation? Not a problem. That will stop just as soon as Scotland becomes independent and our UK MPs become redundant. Until then, grin and bear it. Scotland had to put up with it for 300 years.

Scottish PMs? FFS are you suggesting some secret Scottish conspiracy now? The Protocols of Caledonia? (Google same of Zion for the reference.). I can't remember any complaints from up here when Lloyd George, Baldwin, Chamberlain, Churchill, Attlee, Wilson, Maudling, Thatcher and Major were in power. That's because we've tended to look at the policies they put forward rather than worry about what f@cking country they were born in!

And that just about sums it up. Trust me: the movement for independence has very little to do with nationalism or we'd have had independence in the 1960s when The White Heather Club and DR Feckin Finlay's Casebook ruled the TV schedules up here and the Corries singing nationalist songs etc etc. And it's not because we don't love you. It's because we want to elect governments and make them accountable to US and ONLY US for what they do!

 

[Posh Pete]

It's a point that bears repeating ...

 

[Blue Sweeper]

The population of Scotland represents just 8.3% of the whole of the UK and 82.8% of that population are eligible to vote in this referendum. This means about 6.9% of the entire population of the UK are able to vote, so it only needs 3.5% of the entire UK population to destroy the union that has held well for the last 300 years if there is independence. What a tragedy!

 

[ianboydsnr]

AS does not need to stir up feeling against Westminster. There's plenty left over from declarations of war despite huge popular opposition, the expenses scandal, etc. Added to that is the fact that there is only one Tory MP in the country and eleven Lib Dems and yet we have to take ALL the non devolved policies of the coalition such as the bedroom tax etc.

England has no devolved Assembly? You were offered devolved regional assemblies by the last Labour government. Did anyone want them? No. I suspect some may be changing their minds about that now. If you want to change that , stop whining about Scotland, get off your arses and DO something about it!!!!!

We rejected it because it's just another layer of gravy, we don't need yet another layer, I can't understand why you think we would change our minds, or fall for it in the first place!

 

[Deleted account 190920001]

The population of Scotland represents just 8.3% of the whole of the UK and 82.8% of that population are eligible to vote in this referendum. This means about 6.9% of the entire population of the UK are able to vote, so it only needs 3.5% of the entire UK population to destroy the union that has held well for the last 300 years if there is independence. What a tragedy!

So your saying that not only are we not allowed to have a say of who our primary government is since by your figures we only have a 6.9% say in anything, we can't even decide for ourselves if we want to be independent?
Would you care. To actually reflect on what your saying there and perhaps realise why some would want independence. While you are at it you might like to quote the % of people who voted for the union in the first place.

 

[Blue Sweeper]

So your saying that not only are we not allowed to have a say of who our primary government is since by your figures we only have a 6.9% say in anything, we can't even decide for ourselves if we want to be independent?

A typical response, no doubt from the blinkered YES campaign, twisting what was said and the facts of the matter. You are perfectly at liberty to vote as you wish, I'm just pointing out that it only needs 3.5% of the entire UK population in order to gain Scottish independence. Is that fair, as an independent Scotland effects us all regardless of what happened 300 years ago?

 

[MasterDabber]

I've noticed in the numerous interviews with Scottish voters that even the "NO" supporters only seem interested in what the financial implications will be to them if the YES vote is successful. There seems to be little wish to keep the union for any other reason.

 

[Steptoe]

The population of Scotland represents just 8.3% of the whole of the UK

Scottish population 8.3%
Scottish share of UK expenditure 9.6%

 

[Blue Sweeper]

Scottish share of UK expenditure 9.6%

£54 Billion is a lot of money.

 

[Wreford Miles]

The population of Scotland represents just 8.3% of the whole of the UK and 82.8% of that population are eligible to vote in this referendum. This means about 6.9% of the entire population of the UK are able to vote, so it only needs 3.5% of the entire UK population to destroy the union that has held well for the last 300 years if there is independence. What a tragedy!

It is indeed...

 

[FatAl]

I've noticed in the numerous interviews with Scottish voters that even the "NO" supporters only seem interested in what the financial implications will be to them if the YES vote is successful. There seems to be little wish to keep the union for any other reason.

I agree, they do seem to be a mercenary lot. Very little seems to be mentioned about family, social, historical and cultural connections, 300 years of a shared heritage washed away.
I was once a fervent believer in the UK, but after the anti English bile that has been spouted by some of the YES supporters (a minority of them I suppose) I now hope the YES vote gets in, I'm fed up of hearing the bleating and whinging from the Nationalists, it's as if every time a puppy dies in Scotland it's the fault of the English and in particular the Tories.
If the split comes I feel sorry for my Scots family and friends up there. I hope the social rifts caused by this event are minimal.

 

[busy builder]

I agree, they do seem to be a mercenary lot. Very little seems to be mentioned about family, social, historical and cultural connections, 300 years of a shared heritage washed away.
I was once a fervent believer in the UK, but after the anti English bile that has been spouted by some of the YES supporters (a minority of them I suppose) I now hope the YES vote gets in, I'm fed up of hearing the bleating and whinging from the Nationalists, it's as if every time a puppy dies in Scotland it's the fault of the English and in particular the Tories.
If the split comes I feel sorry for my Scots family and friends up there. I hope the social rifts caused by this event are minimal.

it is

 

[Deleted account 190920002]

Well busy b just spoken this morning to my cousins kids from Edinburgh asked what they thought of the debate last night. Well they always said! they would vote no, cause mum and dad are. But after watching Sturgeon last night both boys are definitely voting no.

 

[busy builder]

Here are a few more facts. Scotland has only 8.3% of the UK's population. 8.3%! Remember this important figure... 8.3%
But we DO have...
32% of the land area.
61% of the sea area.
90% of the fresh water.
65% of the natural gas production.
96.5% of the crude oil production.
47% of the open cast coal production
81% of the untapped coal reserves
62% of the timber production
46% of the total forest area
92% of the hydro electric production
40% of the wind wave and solar energy production
60% of the fish landings
30% of the beef herd
20% of the sheep herd
9% of the dairy herd
10% of the pig herd
15% if the cereal holdings
20% of the potato holdings
...obviously 100% of the Scotch Whisky industry.
We have a...
17 billion pound construction industry
13 billion food and drink industry
10 billion business services industry
9.3 billion chemical services industry
A 9.3 billion tourism industry
7 billion financial services industry
5 billion aeroservice industry
4.5 billion pound whisky exports industry
3.1 billion pound life sciences industry
Scotland still has 350 million pounds worth of textile exports
We have 25% of Europes wave and wind energy potential.
And finally we are blessed to have 1.5 trillion pound worth of oil and gas reserves.
All of this, yet only 8.3% of The UK's population.
FACTS:
Fact: Scotland has an oil boom waiting to happen on the West Coast, but Michael Hesaltine signed a cessation of any form of oil exploration in the entire area in the 80's to make way for nuclear submarines which Scotland doesn't want!
Fact: Scotland has shown its revulsion time and time again to nuclear weapons but they place them here against our countries wishes. A recent contingency report was carried out a out the feasibility of relocating them in Portsmouth. The report stated that it was unfeasible because the detrimental risk to the area of an incident was too high. (Ok for the Clyde though)
Fact: Scotland, with only 1 Tory MP, was forced to take the shocking attack on the poor & disabled called The Bedroom Tax, even though as our nations government, Holyrood voted to utterly reject this awful tax on the poor. Westminster gave us it anyway!
Fact: We are led to believe that the oil in our waters is finished and its a dying industry. Yet 13.5 billion has been invested by oil companies in the last 2 years alone!
Fact: Scotland gives more to Westminster than it gets back. Do you really think they'd be so keen to keep us if we were being subsidised like they'd have you believe?
Fact: Westminster has amassed over £1.3 trillion debt and still growing at nearly £6000 a second.
Fact: Of the 178 countries that have gained their own independence across this planet, not one single one of them has ever asked to reverse this independence, and very few of them have the assets we have.

 

[gerarddwatts]

And yet you are prepared to throw all this down the drain and sacrifice it at the alter of ecks non-independence vanity project? Astonishing.

 

[FatAl]

Here are a few more facts. Scotland has only 8.3% of the UK's population. 8.3%! Remember this important figure... 8.3%
But we DO have...
32% of the land area.
61% of the sea area.
90% of the fresh water.
65% of the natural gas production.
96.5% of the crude oil production.
47% of the open cast coal production
81% of the untapped coal reserves
62% of the timber production
46% of the total forest area
92% of the hydro electric production
40% of the wind wave and solar energy production
60% of the fish landings
30% of the beef herd
20% of the sheep herd
9% of the dairy herd
10% of the pig herd
15% if the cereal holdings
20% of the potato holdings
...obviously 100% of the Scotch Whisky industry.
We have a...
17 billion pound construction industry
13 billion food and drink industry
10 billion business services industry
9.3 billion chemical services industry
A 9.3 billion tourism industry
7 billion financial services industry
5 billion aeroservice industry
4.5 billion pound whisky exports industry
3.1 billion pound life sciences industry
Scotland still has 350 million pounds worth of textile exports
We have 25% of Europes wave and wind energy potential.
And finally we are blessed to have 1.5 trillion pound worth of oil and gas reserves.
All of this, yet only 8.3% of The UK's population.
FACTS:
Fact: Scotland has an oil boom waiting to happen on the West Coast, but Michael Hesaltine signed a cessation of any form of oil exploration in the entire area in the 80's to make way for nuclear submarines which Scotland doesn't want!
Fact: Scotland has shown its revulsion time and time again to nuclear weapons but they place them here against our countries wishes. A recent contingency report was carried out a out the feasibility of relocating them in Portsmouth. The report stated that it was unfeasible because the detrimental risk to the area of an incident was too high. (Ok for the Clyde though)
Fact: Scotland, with only 1 Tory MP, was forced to take the shocking attack on the poor & disabled called The Bedroom Tax, even though as our nations government, Holyrood voted to utterly reject this awful tax on the poor. Westminster gave us it anyway!
Fact: We are led to believe that the oil in our waters is finished and its a dying industry. Yet 13.5 billion has been invested by oil companies in the last 2 years alone!
Fact: Scotland gives more to Westminster than it gets back. Do you really think they'd be so keen to keep us if we were being subsidised like they'd have you believe?
Fact: Westminster has amassed over £1.3 trillion debt and still growing at nearly £6000 a second.
Fact: Of the 178 countries that have gained their own independence across this planet, not one single one of them has ever asked to reverse this independence, and very few of them have the assets we have.

Plus the largest population in Britain with a chip on it's collective shoulder, as well as the largest number of whingers.

 

[Wreford Miles]

Here are a few more facts. Scotland has only 8.3% of the UK's population. 8.3%! Remember this important figure... 8.3%
But we DO have...
32% of the land area.
61% of the sea area.
90% of the fresh water.
65% of the natural gas production.
96.5% of the crude oil production.
47% of the open cast coal production
81% of the untapped coal reserves
62% of the timber production
46% of the total forest area
92% of the hydro electric production
40% of the wind wave and solar energy production
60% of the fish landings
30% of the beef herd
20% of the sheep herd
9% of the dairy herd
10% of the pig herd
15% if the cereal holdings
20% of the potato holdings
...obviously 100% of the Scotch Whisky industry.
We have a...
17 billion pound construction industry
13 billion food and drink industry
10 billion business services industry
9.3 billion chemical services industry
A 9.3 billion tourism industry
7 billion financial services industry
5 billion aeroservice industry
4.5 billion pound whisky exports industry
3.1 billion pound life sciences industry
Scotland still has 350 million pounds worth of textile exports
We have 25% of Europes wave and wind energy potential.
And finally we are blessed to have 1.5 trillion pound worth of oil and gas reserves.
All of this, yet only 8.3% of The UK's population.
FACTS:
Fact: Scotland has an oil boom waiting to happen on the West Coast, but Michael Hesaltine signed a cessation of any form of oil exploration in the entire area in the 80's to make way for nuclear submarines which Scotland doesn't want!
Fact: Scotland has shown its revulsion time and time again to nuclear weapons but they place them here against our countries wishes. A recent contingency report was carried out a out the feasibility of relocating them in Portsmouth. The report stated that it was unfeasible because the detrimental risk to the area of an incident was too high. (Ok for the Clyde though)
Fact: Scotland, with only 1 Tory MP, was forced to take the shocking attack on the poor & disabled called The Bedroom Tax, even though as our nations government, Holyrood voted to utterly reject this awful tax on the poor. Westminster gave us it anyway!
Fact: We are led to believe that the oil in our waters is finished and its a dying industry. Yet 13.5 billion has been invested by oil companies in the last 2 years alone!
Fact: Scotland gives more to Westminster than it gets back. Do you really think they'd be so keen to keep us if we were being subsidised like they'd have you believe?
Fact: Westminster has amassed over £1.3 trillion debt and still growing at nearly £6000 a second.
Fact: Of the 178 countries that have gained their own independence across this planet, not one single one of them has ever asked to reverse this independence, and very few of them have the assets we have.

It's all about me me me...

Scotland joined a union, we are in it together.... Maybe in unions 300 years is the mid life crisis!

I'm earning a few bob, the wife's sagging a bit and I reckon my chances with that fit Norwegian bird.

....and another thing, if you've got all these assets how comes you want to divide up the family home and take a share?

The rest of the union is left supporting all who have committed to it maybe a stance is to say sorry it works both way... If you want independence fine that's your decision but if you want to talk about dividing the assest what's mine is yours and what's yours is mine - thanks for making a start on filling in the Form E!

 

[Ronno]

I had to laugh at this which was posted the day that David came to town

 

[gerarddwatts]

Speaking on the campaign trail in Edinburgh's Wester Hailes area from his Margo Mobile, named in memory of his late wife, Margo MacDonald MSP, Mr Sillars said oil giant BP would face nationalisation in an independent Scotland.

He said: "This referendum is about power, and when we get a 'Yes' majority we will use that power for a day of reckoning with BP and the banks.

"The heads of these companies are rich men, in cahoots with a rich English Tory Prime Minister, to keep Scotland's poor poorer through lies and distortions. The power they have now to subvert our democracy will come to an end with a 'Yes'.

"BP, in an independent Scotland, will need to learn the meaning of nationalisation, in part or in whole, as it has in other countries who have not been as soft as we have been forced to be.

"As for the bankers: your casino days, rescued by socialisation of your liabilities while you waltz off with the profits, will be over."

Mr Sillars added: "What kind of people do these companies think we are? They will find out."

Oh marvellous. Thats really going to encourage the vital investment an independent Scotland will need isn't it?

The whole project is marked by its economic and financial illiteracy, built on a foundation of fantasy and delusion, with a hefty dose of extreme left wing aspirations and nastiness thrown into the mix.