But how is the referendum going to be taken seriously if the UK government are insisting that the Scottish government do not have the power to hold it?However it would be morally wrong to dabble with the result either way.
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But how is the referendum going to be taken seriously if the UK government are insisting that the Scottish government do not have the power to hold it?However it would be morally wrong to dabble with the result either way.
That's the original plan for independence, before the legality was questioned. I like the idea of two referendums, so when people see how pointless, or even hard, it's going to be, people can change their mind later.If Scotland voted for independence in a "non legally binding" referendum, Westminster wouldn't have any choice but to start negotiating Scotlands withdrawal from the UK as there would be a mandate for it.
Bring Scottish Devolution on asap, as far as I am concerned.
Then we can get back to English Parliamentary matters being decided by ENGLISH MPs instead of having contentious Legislation forced through by Scottish MPs who refused to vote yes for themselves in Scotland.
WE can also then go back to permanent BST rather than being held back at the ankles because a couple of Scotsmen may have to go to work in the dark :roll:
The Scots can also then decide which Country they want to befriend as the majority clearly hate the English - as aptly demonstrated by Andy Murray in 2006 when he stated he would support "anyone but England" - source Scottish Daily Record. He also wore a Paragauy shirt when they played England.
In this hatred of England and all things English he is not alone but rather represents the majority I feel. The remainder rather shrewdly realise the large amounts of money that they get per head in proportion and remain somewhat more "discreet".
I'm Scottish and have lived here all my life and I can categorically state that 99.9% of us do not hate the English. The reason in terms of football that most of us won't support England is because of the arrogance of the pundits on tv and the press claiming a game or tournament is won before it even begins and also going on and on about 1966 every chance they get!
I love many English places I have visited, met many wonderful English people and have many English friends and even have some English family. I am also British and proud of it and did not vote for the Scottish parliament however it's here now! that's democracy! I will not vote for Independence and I don't think the majority will. I do think since we and the Welsh have a devolved parliament that the English should have one too, that would be fair!
I'm Scottish and I find this offensive.
I married an English girl, have lived in England for 15 years and most of my closest friends are English. I support the England football team when they are playing anyone except Scotland but that's natural being that I'm Scottish. This impression that the majority of Scots hate the English is false. I know this because I lived there for 22 years including 3 years in Glasgow. I am NOT he minority and comments such as those above do us no good, nor yourself for believing what is hyped. Above all, I'm proud to be British.
Sectarianism is a far worse issue in Scotland than xenophobia and may yet sink independence if it is not tackled properly.
As this issue inevitably would herald the end of the Union ...... and being English I therefore am part of the same Union .......... do I get to vote in this? After all it should not just be the Scots who should be able to vote, it affects me as I am sure the rest of the Union members. The vote should be for all Union members .... Scotland, N Ireland, Wales & England.
I can't help thinking Westminster is playing into the SNP hands, I'm sure salmond would be delighted if legal action delayed a referendum any longer and he can as usual blame the fact they're not getting a referendum because a big boy did it and ran away.
I think Britain is better united, however if Scotland went it would be their loss more than the rest of the UK's. I don't think being able to vote at 16 is good though.
If you can get married at 16 why not vote ?
If you can get married at 16 why not vote ?
That's a fair point I must admit. Though:
I have to say, my view's always been if you're old enough to vote, you're old enough to be banged up for life without parole.
I don't think at 16 you're fully responsible for your actions, i.e. you're not old enough to have your life taken away, and by the same token, you're not old enough to exercise the franchise.
You can even have kids at 16 (legally at least). So the state/society considers you competent to have kids and get married but not to vote in an election? Always struck me as odd (though not as odd as the US where you can get killed in a war fighting in the army/navy/airforce but can't buy a beer!).
Agreed they should all be reduced to 16
I find it odd that you're considered competent enough to procreate at sixteen, but not competent to enjoy a pint of ale !
Well, it could happen theoretically - but each country would only be able to decide on its own future. So Wales could vote on whether Wales stayed in the Union, England on England and N Ireland on N Ireland.
I don't think that the SNP would win a vote for Scottish independence but it tells me a hell of a lot that the Tories are ****ting themselves so much about it with their recent comments.
Let the SNP have their desired date in 2014, let them chose the questions. Then when they fail nail them if they don't get the answers they want.
It is that simple.
Otherwise, let the people of Scotland have their say of what they want.
No, no and no.
The SNP have tried to rig the referendum - this much we know.
They wanted to have three answers: No, Devo Max, and Yes. This could mean Scotland would become independent on a polling of 40% No, 30% Devo Max, 30% Yes.
Had the popularity of Devo Max been higher, they would have likely settled for a referendum now.
They have allowed 16 and 17 year olds to vote in the referendum - I support this, but find this policy strange.
In 2010, they allowed 16 and 17 year olds to vote in Health Board elections - now, without much time to analyse turnout, they're immediately extending the franchise. Why? Because the polls show that younger people support independence more.
Finally, they said they wanted their own commission, reporting to Holyrood, to run the referendum. This is strange, because the London-based Electoral Commission have successfully run thousands of legally-binding ballots without question of tampering. Why change the status-quo?