world

Scotland will vote for independence in two years: Salmond

9 Comments

The requested article has expired, and is no longer available. Any related articles, and user comments are shown below.

© (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2017.

©2024 GPlusMedia Inc.

9 Comments
Login to comment

Good luck to Scotland. If there's one thing the EU referendum has taught us it's that people value their sovereignty over economic risks. They don't want the agenda to be set by a Parliament in a foreign nation or to be under the yoke of a foreign supreme court. They want to retake their seat at the UN, Nato, amd WTO in order to have more influence internationally. They want to take back control so they can trade with the rest of the world rather than being tied into a customs union with England, which is only concerned with protecting it's own domestic industries in trade deals. And even though Scotland may be leaving Britain, Scotland will not be leaving the British Isles. They will seek the closest possible relationship. (Am I missing any other Brexit arguments that apply perfectly to Scottish independence?)

3 ( +4 / -1 )

The deal breaker for any future vote of independence is manifested within Scotland public spending deficit running at over £14billion through 2015/16, some 9.1% of GDP. By far the largest deficit of any region within EU.

Greece in comparison runs a deficit of 6.9% needing a bail out that resulted in years of political turmoil and austerity the Greek people have had to endure. To meet the EU 3% target required under the stability and growth pact, well best not go there.

The people of Scottish are far to canny to let the south of the boarder Sassenachs of the hook when devolution max remains a option .

There are some parallels to the logic behind Brexit though. However, the open wounds politically left by the Thatcher era of government have never healed but festered resulting in an intense deep seated resentment, bitterness and hostility.

Even the fact that Scotland public spending deficit is underwritten and so managed by generous subsidies from UK taxpayers has achieved little to bridge the political animosity and belligerence of Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon or Alex Salmond.

Economically oil prices critical to Scotland's future prosperity are not a bleak as predicted. Ironically had EU member states adopted an Identical UK monetary and fiscal Union, in essence EU debt consolidation and wealth transferal before contemplating a single currency. Oh for the benefit of hindsight ............??

-1 ( +1 / -2 )

Brexit is going to mean the end of the United Kingdom. I understand and support the Scottish people in their bid to leave the sinking ship this time around. England and her racist old baby-boomers are to blame for the madness.

3 ( +3 / -0 )

Economically oil prices critical to Scotland's future prosperity are not a bleak as predicted.

This is certainly interesting. The oil price will surely determine the timing of any future referendum. But it will be interesting to see if Westminster will even allow it. We seem to be living in a new political age post-Brexit.

2 ( +2 / -0 )

It is not the British Isles. Ireland is not part of the Uk, is it?

0 ( +2 / -2 )

Hi M3, Brent crude and Texas light sweet are up nearly 2.5% and 2% respectively Friday on expectations that the Vienna oil producers compliance meeting will agree a deal to a cut global output. A welcome step in the right direction.

However any future prospect of Scotland continuing to trade within the single market on completion of Brexit is fraught to say the least. One aspect is Scotland continued trading relationship with the rest of the UK. The current export stats revel the conundrum...see below....

http://www.gov.scot/Topics/Statistics/Browse/Economy/Exports/ESSPublication

Even if an agreement with all 27 member states can be hammered out, the current 'free trade' relationship with the UK would be an anathema for EU commission and Parliament, resulting in a hard boarder separating Scotland from the rest of the UK. The SNP lacks a majority in the Holyrood Parliament so would need the support of the Scottish Greens.

Another wild card is Ruth Davidson.......

Tory leader Ruth Davidson named politician of the year....

http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-scotland-scotland-politics-37797019

Scotland public spending deficit would need to be reduced to 3% of GDP and England, Wales and Northern Ireland would need agree to shoulder all of the current UK sovereign debt.

Firstly, Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon SNP needs clear economic policies in health, education, social welfare and pension provision that can convince the Scottish people that it's fit to govern independently subsidy free . Since devolution the Holyrood has never been able to close that deficit.

Then as you rightly point out the UK parliament at Westminster would need to pass legislation.

2 ( +2 / -0 )

@itsonlyrocknroll

Yes, I agree. I think there's zero chance of Scotland being able to negotiate any sort of special relationship with the EU while still part of the UK, at least not in the trade sphere. It was a comforting idea to hold onto immediately after Brexit, but reality seems to have set in at this point. Independence (and eligibility for EU membership) is obviously just as problematic and uncertain today as it was last time around, but the difference now is obviously that the UK has embarked on an equally risky and uncertain project. It will be interesting to see how it unfolds.

@seanwd20

It is not the British Isles. Ireland is not part of the Uk, is it?

Well, you're certainly correct on Ireland and I know it's a controversial term, but don't forget that there are still quite a few other isles floating around out there besides Ireland, it's not the English half-isle... yet.

0 ( +1 / -1 )

This blog article from Paul Anderson is worth a read. Ignore the header because he highlights crucial pitfalls the Government of Spain faced when dealing with Catalonia.

Scotland, Brexit and Spain: A special deal for Scotland is unlikely.......

http://blogs.lse.ac.uk/europpblog/2017/01/16/scotland-brexit-and-spain/

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Scexodus

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Login to leave a comment

Facebook users

Use your Facebook account to login or register with JapanToday. By doing so, you will also receive an email inviting you to receive our news alerts.

Facebook Connect

Login with your JapanToday account

User registration

Articles, Offers & Useful Resources

A mix of what's trending on our other sites