Scottish independence

[jimmy blue shoes]

How long before they do it all over again?

 

[BlueHammer85]

How long before they do it all over again?

Maybe another one in our lifetime.

 

[Cheadle_hulmeBlue]

Scottish mps need to separate now from all Westminster votes. England should get there own powers and only English mps be part of an English Westminster. Each country should have there own parliament.

 

[Len Rum]

Interesting isn't it , that having been spooked into 'devomax' for Scotland, Cameron is now making vague promises about doing the same for England. Excuse me but when and how did this suddenly become government policy? Surely Dave isn't making up policy on the hoof as a result of pressure within his own party ? Not like him to do that, after all he is a man of principle, isn't he?

 

[bluetonium]

At least now I don't have to scratch off Aberdeen Angus beef and Scottish Raspberries for the weekend shop.

Now, when do we English get a vote on independence from the rest of 'em? ;)

 

[west didsblue]

Sad news.

No chance of getting Alex Ferguson, George Galloway and Gerry McCann deported now.
And we can't stop wee Jimmy Krankie from entering England.

 

[mad4city]

Cameron 'taken a gamble and won'?
More like 'was given a winning hand and nearly blew it'.

That's the way I'd read it too.
I know GDM is clinging to the mast of the good ship 'Just Remember who won the Bloody Referendum!' on this issue but it was a monumental error of judgement on his captain's part. Cameron's ship may not have run aground but it has been damaged. And it was prevailing winds rather than able seamanship that saved the day.

Yours sincerely,
M4C
PRO of the Sustained Metaphor Society.

 

[cibaman]

Cameron 'taken a gamble and won'?
More like 'was given a winning hand and nearly blew it'.

Maybe so, but when you're cashing your chips in at the end of the night, the money in your hand smells and feels the same, mate, if you've won.

True, it was his 'Aguero 93:20 moment'.

Its been widely reported that Salmond didn't want a referendum now. He thought he would have more chance in a few years time. So by calling the referendum now, arguably just before the SNP are likely to win it, Cameron got his timing just right?

 

[cibaman]

Think this is the worst possible result.

Nearly half the Scots now hate the other half
Half the Scots don't want Westminster rule
As usual the English will get shafted

Don't think there is an answer to the West Lothian question.

For example on say the budget. The chancellor introduces a measure for England and Wales only. Then a measure for England Wales and Scitland then a different measure for Scotland only. How exactly will the vote on the budget work. Will MPs vote on seperate elements or will there be seperate budgets.

Spread this across all departments and it's a minefield

Indeed. It also raises the question as to how the Civil Service is organised and run. Who decides its priorities? What happens when there is a conflict between UK and English interests?

 

[mad4city]

Flower of Scotland no more how can we sing that, as for Scotland the Brave, Scotland the Shitebag now!!

Sorry for your woes, my Celtic cousin.
Sorry I can't enbed a Youtube link on my phone and I only hope the link below works but I think this is the song you are looking for..

<a class="postlink" href="http://www.google.ie/search?site=&source=hp&ei=a-UbVMm1KI6v7Aaqv4C4Ag&q=parcel+of+rogues&oq=parcel+of+rogues&gs_l=mobile-gws-hp.3..0l5.3498.20863.0.24858.25.21.3.15.15.0.532.6613.2-8j12j0j1.21.0....0...1c.1.53.mobile-gws-hp..0.25.2759.3.gl-LV5EqanU" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;">http://www.google.ie/search?site=&sourc ... l-LV5EqanU</a>

 

[Lancet Fluke]

Sorry, my mistake.
And you're right about the result being what Scotland wanted and no more.

Personally, I think had this vote been taken ten or fifteen years ago, when the economy was booming and the Yes Campaign could've urged the electorate to look at how there'd never be a poor day in post-independence Ireland again, they'd have won by a landslide.
In a close run thing, especially during economically straitened times, people may say one thing but in the privacy of the ballot box their wallets speak louder than their idealism. That ultimately was the tipping point for me.

On a side note, how stupid was Cameron not to demand that any Yes vote would need to be carried by a super majority (say 60%, at least)? He's a lucky boy to still be in a job this morning. Imagine the fall out had either side won by one percent.

You make some good points, especially about changing comparisons with the Republic, but I disagree with your last point. I think Cameron had little choice in setting the bar at 50%. A 55% yes vote in a 60% super majority would have been a truly awful and divisive outcome.

He's taken a gamble and won, although not as big a gamble as some thought. I've previously posted on this thread on the power of the privacy of the ballot box. I always expected the power of conservatism to win the day in the end. In stable, western countries change is often viewed with some suspicion.

Cameron 'taken a gamble and won'?
More like 'was given a winning hand and nearly blew it'.

It was a winning hand until that drippy **** Darling got involved.

 

[tolmie]

ha ha ha cracking tune!

 

[TGR]

You make some good points, especially about changing comparisons with the Republic, but I disagree with your last point. I think Cameron had little choice in setting the bar at 50%. A 55% yes vote in a 60% super majority would have been a truly awful and divisive outcome.

He's taken a gamble and won, although not as big a gamble as some thought. I've previously posted on this thread on the power of the privacy of the ballot box. I always expected the power of conservatism to win the day in the end. In stable, western countries change is often viewed with some suspicion.

Cameron 'taken a gamble and won'?
More like 'was given a winning hand and nearly blew it'.

It was a winning hand until that drippy c**t Darling got involved.

Cameron is the man who has just killed off the political career of Alex Salmond.
Salmond is now a busted flush and will be replaced as the leader of the SNP in the not to distant future.
Cameron gave Salmond enough rope and he has hung himself. Nobody on here would have even remotely considered
the margin of the 'No' vote last night. Cameron has now killed off the independence cause for good.
He will also now use the opportunity to beat the drum for 'England' which is a political vote winner for the tories and will also help to head of UKIP.
I would suggest Cameron is feeling pretty pleased with himself this morning whilst Salmond is considering his political future.
Cameron is also being lauded across Europe for allowing the referendum to take place whilst in Spain where they have similar issues
they will not allow it.
All in all - Well done Dave!

 

[metalblue]

Cameron 'taken a gamble and won'?
More like 'was given a winning hand and nearly blew it'.

It was a winning hand until that drippy c**t Darling got involved.

Cameron is the man who has just killed off the political career of Alex Salmond.
Salmond is now a busted flush and will be replaced as the leader of the SNP in the not to distant future.
Cameron gave Salmond enough rope and he has hung himself. Nobody on here would have even remotely considered
the margin of the 'No' vote last night. Cameron has now killed off the independence cause for good.
He will also now use the opportunity to beat the drum for 'England' which is a political vote winner for the tories and will also help to head of UKIP.
I would suggest Cameron is feeling pretty pleased with himself this morning whilst Salmond is considering his political future.
Cameron is also being lauded across Europe for allowing the referendum to take place whilst in Spain where they have similar issues
they will not allow it.
All in all - Well done Dave!

When was the last time a politician willingly fell on their sword? Robin Cook? Such moral fibre belongs to another generation of our political "elite" sadly.

The only good thing I heard Salmond say was that he isn't going to turn this into a neverendum anytime Scotland don't feel like they're getting their way.

 

[foxy]

Now to address the West Lothian question

 

[inbetween]

Cameron 'taken a gamble and won'?
More like 'was given a winning hand and nearly blew it'.

It was a winning hand until that drippy c**t Darling got involved.

Cameron is the man who has just killed off the political career of Alex Salmond.
Salmond is now a busted flush and will be replaced as the leader of the SNP in the not to distant future.
Cameron gave Salmond enough rope and he has hung himself. Nobody on here would have even remotely considered
the margin of the 'No' vote last night. Cameron has now killed off the independence cause for good.
He will also now use the opportunity to beat the drum for 'England' which is a political vote winner for the tories and will also help to head of UKIP.
I would suggest Cameron is feeling pretty pleased with himself this morning whilst Salmond is considering his political future.
Cameron is also being lauded across Europe for allowing the referendum to take place whilst in Spain where they have similar issues
they will not allow it.
All in all - Well done Dave!

Spain will never allow the Catalonian vote because it will be an obvious yes, so much for democracy eh! Barcelona is the second major economic centre in Spain and you don't want to lose that when the country is already in the toilet.

It was a bit different here where I think many were surprised it was even as close as it was.

 

[Ifwecouldjust.......]

I actually want what the Scots are getting

I want

1) No Prescription charges.
2) No eye test charges
3) No privatisation of the NHS
4) No University fees
5) No bedroom tax
6) No wholesale sell off of our woodlands
7) Free Nursing care for the elderly in care homes and at home
8) One single operator for our rail network (a British one at that)
9)Free bus travel for under 18's (and under 25's if your a volunteer for a charitable organisation)


I look forward to seeing what additional goodies the Political Elite have agreed to sign away

 

[law74]

So now the union is safe (for a while), Westminster MUST ensure that the riches of our great nation are shared between ALL the citizens of our nation in a more equitable manner, the gaps between the rich and poor MUST be narrowed, public services MUST be secured and properly financed, privatization has to stop and by tackling tax evasion and avoidance will mean that welfare reform (or attacks on the working poor) need to stop.

 

[denislawsbackheel]

Pour encourager les autres Salmond should now be stripped naked, bound to a hurdle upside down, dragged through the four areas that voted yes then transported to London and hanged, drawn and quartered in front of the Palace of Westminster.

 

[baildon blue]

Pour encourager les autres Salmond should now be stripped naked, bound to a hurdle upside down, dragged through the four areas that voted yes then transported to London and hanged, drawn and quartered in front of the Palace of Westminster.

That should happen .
I would go to London to see that .