Independence for Scotland?

[The boy formerly known as Evil Muzz 27]

Yesterday (3rd May) was election day for the Scottish Parliament, and pre-election polls showed a large amount of support for the Scottish National Party (SNP), who represent Scottish independence from the United Kingdom. Before this election, the SNP haven't really been taken seriously, but the current results appear to show that the SNP have a very good chacne of getting in. Labour, the biggest party in the UK, and currently in power in Westminster and Holyrood (with a Liberal Democrat coalition) hold 33 seats, the SNP hold 32. There are still more seats to be declared, only 88 of 129 have been declared so far. If the SNP get in with more than 50% of the vote, they will be free to take government, and in 2009/10, hold a referendum on independence. 

Although I would say the chacnes of SNP winning are quite slim, it is possible. They would need to get more than half of the vote, and if that didn't happen they would have to coalition with another party, and no other party worth coalitioning with will support a referendum.

What are your opinions on this matter? I will continue to update any major news.

Scottish Elections 2007 - BBC Coverage

[Krio 624]

Why? How hard it is to live in Union? Scots would lose more than they would gain as "free nation".

[sEAhAwk fAn121 0]

thats great in my opinion! scotland is capable to be its own country! and is totally different than England!

thats my thoughts right now

[Gozer_Jep 0]

I think Scotland has the right to be independant, and i think it can do good things for scotland. Scotland is different from england and has to be ruled different.

[xiziz 11]

I think it be cool, however, why not just hold an election and let the people decide at the next electiontime. as a secondary election beside the normal ones. Like is usually held at large questions.

[JanYpe 17]

Freeeeeeedooooooooommmmm!!!!

_{(Don't complain, you knew it was coming)}

It doesn't seem all that likely to me. And what would really be the point of going independent? It's not like they can cut the moorings,start up the old outboard engines and scoot off to the middle of the Atlantic. They'll still have to deal with the UK.

[M-SIL 2]

I always thought that North Ireland would break apart from the UK and reunited with Ireland but Scotland possibly being independent? I'm a bit shocked.

[spa 968]

If the SNP wins that's just a first step I would think. In a democratic society surely a referendum would have to follow?

Before anyone gets too excited you should consider Canada's experience over the last 40 years. In the 1970s the separtist Parti Quebecois burst onto the political scene in Quebec. What followed was several rounds of failed constitutional talks and two referendums. The Parti Quebecois has held two provincial referendums on independence (1980 and 1995) when they were in power and they lost both. People are willing to vote for separtists to form government, but voting to actually separate is quite a different matter. If it were that simple, Quebec would have been out of Canada in the 1970s. I would expect the same in Scotland. In short a vote for the SNP doesn't necessarily translate into a vote for independence.

[Constantina 5]

There are a lot of Tory gains overall, so there is a bit of a challenge.

Not all the results are in yet, you see...

[Micah 16]

Well, they were discussing this on Alex Lester's show on Radio 2. Most of the responces from his viewers were "we don't care". Anyway, it will be interesting to see what happens. I personally think that Scotland should stay in the Kingdom, but I don't live in Scotland so it's not my right to be telling them what they should do and shouldn't do. It's their decision. Texas couldn't survive as a country (when Texas was a country for two decades) without America. It makes me wonder if Scotland would be as strong without England and the others.

[jvlm.123 0]

In my opinion, it should be up to the people of Scotland on whether or not they want to be an independent nation; and if a majority do want it in an future referendum, so be it.

Plus, the 'new' country would probably be able to survive quite well if it joined the EU and similar organisations.

Biggest question: Who'd get the North Sea oil?

[Simfan34 11]

I personally think that an independent Scotland is rather unlikely. If in any case of a "dissolution" of the UK, N. Ireland will be the first to go. I would have thought Wales would then go, due to the fact that so much of the native language is still spoken.

[The boy formerly known as Evil Muzz 27]

The SNP have theoretically won. They have 47 seats, Labour have 46, all seats have been declared. But this is not the be all and end all for the UK, SNP are unlikely to have gained half the vote, so they must coalition with another party, and I doubt any party will coalition while they keep their independence policy. It looks to me like Labour and Lib Dems will coalition again, but I can't be sure.

Some people's views are interesting, personally I am against imdepence, I think the UK has been one of the best things ever for Scotland. Considering Scotland has the worst heart disease and sorossis of the liver rates in Europe, I doubt Scottish health funding independently would be enough to deal with this, the UK NHS is necessary here. Also, in the poorest part of Scotland, the life expectancy is only 53! What is this?!? I know countries in Africa that have better life expectancy! The UK is important to Scotlan in many ways, and inversely Scotland is beneficial to the UK. Think of all the tourists from around the world that flock to try and see nessie, or "look at the history" that pay into the UKs economy.

This means that the SNP have the biggest simple numbner of Members of the Scottish Parliament (MSPs), but only one more than Labour, so it will still be difficult for them to try and push anything that may be seen as nationalist, and that other MSPs oppose.

[Barbarossa 51]

I would love to make a productive comment to this thread, because I think this is a fascinating topic. When I first read about it, I felt it gave "Scot-land" a whole new meaning. I don't know enough about the history (read as "baggage) of Scotland, but I tend to agree with most of the "break-up" countries when it comes to independence (Soviet satellites, former Yugoslavia, Tibet (sad, that), even Quebec (uh-oh, this site is Canadian!)).

But then, I think California should be its own country! *evil grin*

Barbarossa

[Goldfish4209 9]

If they want to, let them. I don't really care, but if it benefits them, go ahead.

[bakercity 270]

Scotland and England been a union since 1707 and Scotland still has a parliment and its own supreme court. England and Scotland are seperate nations in union with each other under the name of United Kingdom of Great Britian and Northern Ireland. They have their own governments and share the same monarch ( Queen Elizabeth II ). Confused, visit wikipedia and search Scotland; England; or United Kingdon of Great Britain; or Great Britian. That site will explain more in depth on what I said. To me, both England and Scotland and Wales; are still nations. Need and example, United States of America. The USA is made up of 50 states and numerous territories and DC. And they are independent state and territories in an union under a common name. Just visit wikipedia for info.

[A Nonny Moose 8,261]

The Act of Union was managed by a job, and a bad job too! 

On the other hand, I don't see an advantage to the Scots in separating completely.  A loose federation would be good.  All the international implications could be avoided, as we know with the Quebec problem here. 

The Scots won't get away with any clean set of heels.  There is a matter of dissolving a large, long-standing corporation, with apportioning of assets, liabilities, etc.  Too messy to contemplate, so look before you leap.  It could well be out of the frying pan into the fire.

What will you do about a head of state?  Are there any real Stuarts left?  Why would you want them?  Bonnie Prince Charlie was a complete bust by all reports.

[Jasoncw 11,839]

I don't really understand what the point is. Are they being oppressed or something?

I think I sort of understand the Quebec thing (which I say, "so what? so you want to make a new country about it?").

Being used to the US, these strange government arrangements don't make a lot of sense to me, lol.

[JanYpe 17]

What will you do about a head of state? Are there any real Stuarts left? Why would you want them? Bonnie Prince Charlie was a complete bust by all reports.quote>

Please refer to the standard answer for Q: "Are there any real [insert European royal family name]s left?

A: No. Even though Germany has no royalty of its own, all the European royal families are now at least 65% German through various intermarriages and other schemes. Ha ha, zee Joke is on you, Freunde.

[toxicpiano 125]

Originally posted by: The boy formerly known as Evil Muzz

Labour, the biggest party in the UK

quote>

Actually the conservative party is the biggest in the UK, it may not have more MP's but it has more members and more councillers and councils in the entire united kingdom. Wether Scotland should break away is really up the people of Scotland. Also if our electoral system wasn't so unbalanced the tories would have won the 2005 general election (They actually got the most votes). Of course, first past the post is never really fair.

[Duke87 1,070]

In general I'm against any area becoming independent. Simply because more countries means more international disputes, more borders to cross, and more annoyance in travel and politics.

I believe the world would benefit from having fewer countries, not more.

So whenever anyone wants to split from their parent nation, I'm against it. But whenever two or more countries want to unite together, I'm all for it.

[Krio 624]

And "free Scotland" would soon be in bankrupty if SNP will be it's biggest party. Nationalism is yesterday, united world is the future.

[Cjah 15]

Soviet Union anyone....

I may be a huge raging communist...but even I realize Central goverment is what killed the USSR and is what is killing America...more states rights would be best and save the nation more money...also imagine if the states could use their own money to fix highways and such without DC...might have some states with better highways...i hear Minnesota has very bad highways...

I'm only for breaking up of countries...the USSR also was wise enoguh to grant autonomy to some areas...like the Hungarian Autonomous Province...

Magyar Auton