Re: Can Salmond net it? : Fri Jan 13, 2012 12:16 pm  

ROBINSON wrote:

Well, yes obviously.
Hence why I said there's no reason for Scotland to fail if they went it alone. Europe, after all, is great for protecting small nations at the expense of the bigger ones.

Aye, that'll be why those economic minnows, France and Germany are so keen on it.

ROBINSON wrote:

Scotland costs England money now, and will continue to do so after they leave us and start sh&gging Europe.
Less devolution, more divorce, with Scotland being the bored housewife who wants to leave her Executive husband and shack up with her Greek waiter boyfriend and his mates.

Sorry, can't keep up with this sort of analysis, far too technical for the likes of me.

Re: Can Salmond net it? : Fri Jan 13, 2012 12:29 pm  

Wnidyone2012 wrote:

It is a question for the people of Scotland. If this time around the concensus is to stay in the union by a large margin then what next for the SNP? If the people vote for independance then I am sure the English, Welsh, and Northern Irish will say fond goodbye.

it should be a vote for the people of the whole Union IMO, not just the Jocko's.

Re: Can Salmond net it? : Fri Jan 13, 2012 12:43 pm  

El Barbudo wrote:

Of course, if they were fully independent, they'd then have to either issue their own currency, continue to tag along using the pound (but with no say in it), or join the Euro.

As an independent nation, if they wanted to join the EU they would have to be prepared to accept the Euro as their currency in the same way as any other new member state would.

Given nobody in their right mind would currently vote for something that could see them made part of the Eurozone at the moment, it's no surprise Salmond wants to delay the vote a couple of years. That, and tapping in to the nationalist fervour of the 700th anniversary of Bannockburn.

Gorgeous George's latest shot across the bows is that if Scotland wants to be independent then it takes with it an appropriate share of the UK's national debt. I'd imagine that, combined with the setup costs of paying for a brand new set of central government departments to replace the ones currently run for the UK (tax, transport, defence etc), would make full independence a very unappealing financial proposition IMO.

Re: Can Salmond net it? : Fri Jan 13, 2012 1:00 pm  

duke street 10 wrote:

Am i right Scotland get some benefits that we dont?...free eye tests, prescriptions, university places etc.

They get an amount of money settled by the Barnet formula, it is then up to the Scottish Government how they spend it, bit like being given pocket money as a teenager.

Re: Can Salmond net it? : Fri Jan 13, 2012 1:03 pm  

Andy Gilder wrote:

As an independent nation, if they wanted to join the EU they would have to be prepared to accept the Euro as their currency in the same way as any other new member state would.

Really? You have some evidence of this?

ROBINSON wrote:

Scotland costs England money now.

And of course you have some UP TO DATE evidence of this?

I wouldn't trust Salmond with his dinner money to be honest never mind run a countries economy.

Re: Can Salmond net it? : Fri Jan 13, 2012 1:06 pm  

Andy Gilder wrote:

if Scotland wants to be independent then it takes with it an appropriate share of the UK's national debt. I'd imagine that, combined with the setup costs of paying for a brand new set of central government departments to replace the ones currently run for the UK (tax, transport, defence etc), would make full independence a very unappealing financial proposition IMO.

This is a very good point, just how much of National debt will they take and who will decide? How much North Sea revenues will they take, who will decide? An absolute nightmare of a scenario to work out with so many vested interests!

Re: Can Salmond net it? : Fri Jan 13, 2012 1:13 pm  

Big Graeme wrote: Really? You have some evidence of this? A quick Google search brings up this... http://www.euractiv.com/enlargement/enl ... ier-188288 "New member states are eligible and compelled to join the single currency."

Big Graeme wrote: Really? You have some evidence of this? A quick Google search brings up this... http://www.euractiv.com/enlargement/enl ... ier-188288 "New member states are eligible and compelled to join the single currency."

Re: Can Salmond net it? : Fri Jan 13, 2012 1:15 pm  

deeHell wrote:

This is a very good point, just how much of National debt will they take and who will decide? How much North Sea revenues will they take, who will decide? An absolute nightmare of a scenario to work out with so many vested interests!

Easy - they get to pick the percentage of remaining North Sea revenue, we get to pick the percentage of national debt.

Sorted, having raised two children I should have applied to be a diplomat.

Re: Can Salmond net it? : Fri Jan 13, 2012 1:17 pm  

Andy Gilder wrote: A quick Google search brings up this... http://www.euractiv.com/enlargement/enl ... ier-188288 "New member states are eligible and compelled to join the single currency." Mmm interesting, Salmond believes Scotland will be automatically a member and be an accession state rather than a new member, not sure on that one.

Andy Gilder wrote: A quick Google search brings up this... http://www.euractiv.com/enlargement/enl ... ier-188288 "New member states are eligible and compelled to join the single currency." Mmm interesting, Salmond believes Scotland will be automatically a member and be an accession state rather than a new member, not sure on that one.

[Mild Rover]

Re: Can Salmond net it? : Fri Jan 13, 2012 1:20 pm  

While it was obviously a more acrimonious parting, Ireland hasn't come 'crawling back' and I doubt Scotland would either.

It'd mean a Conservative government in England, Wales and Northern Ireland for the foreseable, I'd assume.