Scottish Independence

[Gabriel]

I thought the initial pitch was full of holes so I voted no. I am far more minded to vote yes this time but they have to make the argument better and more convincing from an economic and implementation perspective.
It remains to be seen how good or bad a Johnston government will be. All I can say is that if he continues to act as he has in the last 12 months. There will be a second referendum within 2 years.

It’s interesting that people in Scotland seem to require all Is dotted and all Ts crossed before even contemplating Yes, yet people in England required only the vaguest of promises before deciding Leave.

 

[Gabriel]

Such soundbytes do have real meaning in the current context. It will be offered by the UK governnment as the principal justification for not enabling a second referendum and as such will almost certainly receive support from all the non-nationalist parties. The political expedience of those in power is political reality.

Being in power gives the holder the ability to say no, but that does not make the issue go away. Had Brexit not happened, then I think it really could have been a generational thing, and 2030 would have been a realistic time to revisit it if necessary. However, the circumstances have changed in the eyes of many in Scotland, which is why I’d like to see Westminster try and address the issue in a novel way.

 

[Saddleworth2]

It’s interesting that people in Scotland seem to require all Is dotted and all Ts crossed before even contemplating Yes, yet people in England required only the vaguest of promises before deciding Leave.

No. We will never get that, but an intelligent proposal that stands up to some scrutiny would win. Until the last couple of years I was a very strong Unionist and EU supporter so Brexit has shifted my thinking significantly, as has Johnson’s abhorrent dog whistle version of politics. The SNP will have a spectrum of support ranging from die hard nationalists to previous unionists like me. The strength of their proposals will dictate how many of us vote yes this time.

 

[Gabriel]

No. We will never get that, but an intelligent proposal that stands up to some scrutiny would win. Until the last couple of years I was a very strong Unionist and EU supporter so Brexit has shifted my thinking significantly, as has Johnson’s abhorrent dog whistle version of politics. The SNP will have a spectrum of support ranging from die hard nationalists to previous unionists like me. The strength of their proposals will dictate how many of us vote yes this time.

So, which specific economic and implementation points do you still feel are unanswered?

 

[Gray]

The SNP vote amounted to 30.65% of the Scottish Electorate, how does that give them a mandate to leave the Union?

 

[Saddleworth2]

So, which specific economic and implementation points do you still feel are unanswered?

Oh wow.
The deficit, central bank and currency, shape of the economy, both tax plans and revenue. There is some really interesting initiatives on sustainable energy but the Scottish farmed salmon industry is abhorrent and is a big revenue earner so I would like a clearer statement on how that will be policed in future. Transition plans including the border solution and the solution round the carve up (or not) of the national debt. The decomposition of GERS to make it believable. The entry path back into the EU. So many questions and so much that is up for discussion and argument. I can see an independent, successful sustainable Scotland but the journey from here to that vision is what still troubles me. But the U.K. and it’s new values are not what I recognise so like many Scots, the way I feel at present, I would pay good money to break away from that.

 

[George Hannah]

Being in power gives the holder the ability to say no, but that does not make the issue go away. Had Brexit not happened, then I think it really could have been a generational thing, and 2030 would have been a realistic time to revisit it if necessary. However, the circumstances have changed in the eyes of many in Scotland, which is why I’d like to see Westminster try and address the issue in a novel way.

Quite so, but it is refreshing to read Ms Sturgeon concede that not every SNP voter wants independence.

 

[Saddleworth2]

Quite so, but it is refreshing to read Ms Sturgeon concede that not every SNP voter wants independence.

A politician that tells the truth. Who’da thought it.

 

[Gabriel]

Oh wow.
The deficit, central bank and currency, shape of the economy, both tax plans and revenue. There is some really interesting initiatives on sustainable energy but the Scottish farmed salmon industry is abhorrent and is a big revenue earner so I would like a clearer statement on how that will be policed in future. Transition plans including the border solution and the solution round the carve up (or not) of the national debt. The decomposition of GERS to make it believable. The entry path back into the EU. So many questions and so much that is up for discussion and argument. I can see an independent, successful sustainable Scotland but the journey from here to that vision is what still troubles me. But the U.K. and it’s new values are not what I recognise so like many Scots, the way I feel at present, I would pay good money to break away from that.

Rather unlikely that you’d have all answered satisfactorily; everything wasn’t clear when the Union formed, so perhaps it would presume too much for everything to be clear if it were to be dissolved. That said, the SNP should be capable of clarifying many of your points.
On the (re)entry path into the EU, you might find this of interest:
https://www.europeanfutures.ed.ac.uk/article-4667

Not contemporary, granted, but they give readable and plausible guidance.

 

[DT King of all Geordies]

If we are leaving the EU then I don't think the government would have the resources to deal with Scotland leaving as well. I fear that Scotland will have to wait until we leave the EU.

I'm not sure that would be a bad thing negotiations wise as I don't think it will be pleasant dealing with a Boris Johnson right wing nationalist government.