Just a thought

[Deleted]

Should Scotland become independent in September (I doubt it, but stranger things have happened) I wonder how a Scottish government would view the proposed "regulations". My thoughts are, they will probably go with it if they think there will be a few quid in it for their budget. Any thoughts folks ?

[Karma]

Jan 29, 2014 19:02:51 GMT striker42 said:

Should Scotland become independent in September (I doubt it, but stranger things have happened) I wonder how a Scottish government would view the proposed "regulations". My thoughts are, they will probably go with it if they think there will be a few quid in it for their budget. Any thoughts folks ?

It's only a referendum, we will not just be independent overnight

It would probably depend on whatever party ruled.  The SNP's job is finished once we get independence and we would then vote in our own government.

As to what would happen re e-cigs, I recon whatever happens in Scotland re independence the ruling party will embrace the EU.  As far as e-cigs go, we will probably end up in a worse predicament than at the moment.

I'm no too bothered, I have friends in Carlisle, just need to make sure my passport is up to date 

[Deleted]

Jan 29, 2014 19:06:57 GMT Karma said:

Jan 29, 2014 19:02:51 GMT striker42 said:

Should Scotland become independent in September (I doubt it, but stranger things have happened) I wonder how a Scottish government would view the proposed "regulations". My thoughts are, they will probably go with it if they think there will be a few quid in it for their budget. Any thoughts folks ?

It's only a referendum, we will not just be independent overnight

It would probably depend on whatever party ruled.  The SNP's job is finished once we get independence and we would then vote in our own government.

As to what would happen re e-cigs, I recon whatever happens in Scotland re independence the ruling party will embrace the EU.  As far as e-cigs go, we will probably end up in a worse predicament than at the moment.

I'm no too bothered, I have friends in Carlisle, just need to make sure my passport is up to date 

Yep, either way, it don't look too good for vapers over the next few years.

[Karma]

Have you decided which way you'll vote in September striker42 ?

I'm still undecided, but so many people are so fed up with Westminster that I think it could go either way

My DS is also friends with Alex Salmond's neice, she's a lovely girl I think everyone over the age of 16 are getting to vote and our young people want change!

[Karma]

Oh and off the vaping topic but still the independence debate

My 92yr old father, who was born in Co Donegal, says that he'll vote to stay within the union so long as we sack the Queen and abolish the House of Lords

[Gary Horder]

Bloody jocks, sooner we get rid of em the better i remember Wembley Tease-smiley

[Deleted]

Likewise Karma I'm undecided. My general rule of thinking is if Westminster don't turn us over then Holyrood will, either way it won't make that much difference. Turned over by the same people just sitting in a different place. Maybe that sounds a bit cynical and down trodden but I haven't met anybody who can convince me otherwise. On the plus side, think I've got enough nic base to see me through the next five years.

[Karma]

think I've got enough nic base to see me through the next five years

me too striker42

[mikeb]

As I understand it if Scotland regains independence then they are no longer in the EU and can go their own way.
Possibly join with the Nordic countries or reapply to join the EU but why would you want to?

[Karma]

Jan 29, 2014 21:33:00 GMT mikeb said:

As I understand it if Scotland regains independence then they are no longer in the EU and can go their own way.
Possibly join with the Nordic countries or reapply to join the EU but why would you want to?

I wouldn't but I was under the impression that Alex Salmond wants us to stay in the EU 

[xs2man]

On a purely financial basis, I will be voting no to independence. I pay enough tax as it is, and it can only get worse in an independent Scotland. I don't really see where the advantage is for us to be independent.

I mean, a lot of the policies the SNP are talking of implementing post-independence they can already do. They choose not to as a two fingers up to Westminster, despite what it could do for the good of the country. The whole child care issue for example.

The SNP are dreaming when it comes to North Sea oil. We couldn't have an Oil Fund like they do in Norway, as Norway kept a portion of the industry in the state, rather than selling it all off. That's why they manage to get so much money from it. Something an independat Scotland couldn't do.

The SNP want it all, buying back the Post Office, re-instating housing benefit to previous levels, keep the pound, stay in the European single market etc... All of which would be too expensive for a newly independent nation with a pile of debt.

A Newly independent Scotland will still require deep spending cuts, and increased personal taxes, in order to balance the books. Yes, we are resource rich, but we aren't rich enough. We are no Angola or Nigeria when it comes to mineral wealth. Whiskey and tourism are big, but we don't have the same international recognition as England for example (in my years travelling for work, I often had to resign to being English due to not knowing of Scotland).

£1000 per year in extra taxes per working person is a figure I had heard bandied about. That's the extra cost of an independent Scotland, on average. Worth it if your on the brew, or still at school, but for the actual working person, I still feel Scottish enough thanks. I don't need to pay an extra grand a year to have a passport that says it.

If I could see any advantage, I would probably vote yes. But I don't. Not for me, and not for the majority of the working population.

And if we vote no? Well, we will have another shot in 40 years time anyway, when the argument can be made without the pot of North Sea gold muddying the financial picture, as it will be close to finished by then.

[Brambles]

Totally agree with xs2 - wise words indeed.