Sad Sprinter
Established Member
OK - here is my tuppence worth, bearing in mind I voted No in the Referendum last time out:
Anti - English Sentiment? No, Anti London Sentiment - Yes (and shared with many of our friends in the North of England)
The economy: If Scotland had wanted to benefit from the Oil boom, it would needed to have done so back in the 1970s, it is too late now, the revenues are spent (wisely or not) by the UK Government. At the last ballot, we were told that Scotland would retain the Pound and would remain tied to the Bank of England. This was a deal breaker for me, throughout the "boom" years of the 1980s interest rates were high to try and keep the economy of London and the SE of England in check, at the same time the economy in Scotland was struggling and the SNP were demanding that Scotland should have control over interest rates to better reflect the regional economy. That would be impossible in an independant Scotland with the Bank of England having control over interest rates. I dread to think what the SNP would do following independance, just giving them tax raising powers under devolution has been like giving fireworks to children, anyone earning over £43,430 currently faces paying 53% of their income in tax and national insurance - and they say this is fair!
Brexit: Now here there is a definate sense of injustice, the Conservatives stronly backed the "no" vote and used the threat that an independant Scotland would have to apply for membersip of the EU, Sticking with the Union was the only way to stay in the EU. Now that same Union is the reason that we are coming out of the EU.
Defence: I am still confused as to the Westminster attitude towards Scotland, we are called "subsidy junkies" by many, yet there is a strong determination to keep us part of the union. Of course Scotland is strategically essential to the defence of the UK, being home to the submarine based nuclear deterrant which the SNP are insistant would be removed from Faslane, Boris wants nukes but would prefer them to be as far away from London as possible
I think Faslane is where Trident is because of its inland location and protection from the sea. Plus its quick entry into the North Atlantic.