observer Posted September 7, 2014 Report Share Posted September 7, 2014 It appears that the surge towards a vote for "independence" in Scotland, owes more to a rejection of the ivory tower politics of Westminster than it does to any Braveheart notions. Despite the original appeal of Government "to tighten our belts" and accept a period of austerity, sugar coated with the idea that "we're all in it together"; the majority of folk, especially in the Provinces, have suffered wage freezes and price rises; while some (especially those directly responsible for the crash), remain untouched by this economic reality. And now, as if to rub salt in the wound, UK MPs will be considering a 10% pay rise; as if to say to the rest of us "let them eat cake". Arguably, the Roman Empire was lost in Rome; so to, the unity of the UK is being lost in London. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Evil Sid Posted September 7, 2014 Report Share Posted September 7, 2014 thought it was only 9%. still takes teh average politicos wage to around the £74k mark. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
asperity Posted September 7, 2014 Report Share Posted September 7, 2014 Personally I'm not bothered which way the Scots vote, but if any of them think that by voting yes they will avoid their politicians giving themselves out of proportion pay rises they are sadly mistaken. I think our Parliament is overmanned and over compensated. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Davy51 Posted September 7, 2014 Report Share Posted September 7, 2014 How will a vote to leave affect MPs ? Will Scottish MPs still sit in Westminster ? If not surely it will badly hit the Labour vote . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
asperity Posted September 7, 2014 Report Share Posted September 7, 2014 If they vote yes they will have a load of MSPs to keep in the manner to which they would like to become accustomed to. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
observer Posted September 7, 2014 Author Report Share Posted September 7, 2014 Think Alex has the separation planned for 2016; which would mean no Scottish MPs at Westminster; and the probability of a permanent Tory majority south of the border; giving Ulster & Wales, and the English Regions a similar motivation to the Scots. What's rather comical is that all the Scots living in England haven't had a vote; but any and all EU immigrants living in Scotland do have a vote ! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Davy51 Posted September 8, 2014 Report Share Posted September 8, 2014 At least a "yes vote" will not make us the last dumping ground for continental immigrants ....we will be able to move them all onto Scotland where ,i am sure, Mr Salmond will be only too pleased to support them on the Scottish welfare system. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
asperity Posted September 8, 2014 Report Share Posted September 8, 2014 Looks like the "Yes" side will win by a mile now: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/scottish-independence/11080220/Gordon-Brown-to-take-centre-stage-in-fight-for-UK.html :lol: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
observer Posted September 8, 2014 Author Report Share Posted September 8, 2014 Could be a wind up by those being polled, just to get offers of "Devo-Max" from panicking Westminster politicians. I'll be surprised if the canny Scots vote with their (brave)hearts rather than their wallets. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wolfie Posted September 8, 2014 Report Share Posted September 8, 2014 If the Scots win and don't get the pound what will happen to Poundland and Poundstretcher? 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Evil Sid Posted September 8, 2014 Report Share Posted September 8, 2014 they will become 1.24753 euroland and 1.24753 eurostretcher (at current exchange rates) 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wolfie Posted September 8, 2014 Report Share Posted September 8, 2014 Thanks Sid, so that'll be the 1.23505store instead of the 99pstore then. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Davy51 Posted September 8, 2014 Report Share Posted September 8, 2014 The Better Together campaign must be desperate ....they've enlisted the services of Gordon Brown to make all sorts of promises to tempt the wavering voters of Scotland to vote against Salmond's campaign. Good Gord ! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
observer Posted September 9, 2014 Author Report Share Posted September 9, 2014 It seems Salmond has outmanoeuvred Westminster politicians from the beginning; in setting the most favourable circumstances for his objective. Under 18's and transitory EU immigrants with no sense of history or national interest getting a vote, while Scots born and bred, but living in England don't get a vote. They forgot the most basic rule of calling a referendum, set the most favourable terms for the required outcome - seems Alex didn't forget ! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
algy Posted September 11, 2014 Report Share Posted September 11, 2014 Who needs the Jocks anyway!. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wolfie Posted September 11, 2014 Report Share Posted September 11, 2014 I think it's very selfish of the Scots to go it alone, ............................................. they should take the Welsh and the Irish with them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dizzy Posted September 11, 2014 Report Share Posted September 11, 2014 Ouch :lol: Having watched part of the debate tonight I'm at a complete loss now about what it's all about and what those who are in favour actually hope to achieve....... Mr Dizzy said to just give it them and say SOD OFF Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bazj Posted September 12, 2014 Report Share Posted September 12, 2014 I find it amazing that 50% of the jocks are prepared to side with Salmond when he does not have a definite currency, does not have a definite plan for health and social security, is not guaranteed entry into the EU (because England, Spain etc have already said they would veto it) and virtually all the top businesses and business leaders have said that they will hike prices and scarper south if they vote yes.... Scotland will become the new place for business to screw the buyers because they will have no formal redress to complain... And if they vote no, I reckon the rest of us should get the vote to get rid of them anyway Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Evil Sid Posted September 12, 2014 Report Share Posted September 12, 2014 Well one good thing will come out of a yes vote, just think of all those jobs that will be created rebuilding hadrians wall. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
observer Posted September 12, 2014 Author Report Share Posted September 12, 2014 Think the Scots need to take a long hard look at their own history and why they came to join the Union in the first place; history has a habit of repeating itself. IF they vote for a divorce, it should be messy imo, give them nowt; and see how a reduced tax base will pay for all of Alex's promises. Think we need to ask questions about by whom and how this referendum was set up? EG: in most organisations, any change to the constitution requires a two thirds majority. Still, we could always take a leaf out of the Brussels handbook and just keep having refendums until we get the answer we want ! 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
P J Posted September 18, 2014 Report Share Posted September 18, 2014 What makes me smirk is that one of the most common "threats" people seem to use against the Scots if they vote yes is that they won't automatically get into the EU, usually from people advocating our quitting it . Oh the irony. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
observer Posted September 18, 2014 Author Report Share Posted September 18, 2014 Frankly I couldn't care less what they do, if they go independent ; as long as we cease funding them. They can join the EU and the Euro, and suffer the fiscal discipline and constraints recently suffered by the Greeks, Spanish, Portugese and Irish. However, entry would certainly be vetoed by the Spanish, who currently have a similar problem with Catalonia. If your looking for "irony"; it's in the fact that Alex wants to change from the dictatorship of Westminster, to the dictatorship of Brussels ! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Davy51 Posted September 19, 2014 Report Share Posted September 19, 2014 I think Alex is more interested in a leg up on the world stage ,from political no mark to a place in the Euro political hierarchy. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
observer Posted September 19, 2014 Author Report Share Posted September 19, 2014 Alex has completely outmanoeuvred the Westminster elite, by deciding the battle ground where 5% of the UK electorate could have wrecked the Union. What's required now imo, is a national UK constitutional convention to produce a written constitution for the whole of the UK, that would require a two thirds majority of all UK voters to overturn. Such a new constitution should create a Federation of the Regions, devolving powers down from Westminster; the creation of an elected Senate (House of Lords) and a 50% reduction in the number of Westminster MPs. What we'll probably get is fudge, with the Tories arguing for an English Parliament in Westminster to secure them a permanent majority; with Labour opposing them for the same reason. What they just don't get is the fact that the disillusionment of the Scots with Westminster is shared by the rest of England; who will hopefully now have the sense and the bottle to demand similar powers for their regions. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Goonerman Posted October 8, 2014 Report Share Posted October 8, 2014 It really irks me re the selfishness and frankly bigotry of the different peoples of the UK. It really angers me. You in GB are just the same as the cretins over here; you're just more passive-aggressive about it. The UK still hasn't grown up yet. 401 years since the Union of the crowns and still no proper sense of partnership. It's time for the first ever UK constitutional and economic convention. Ed Miliband may not be suitable as a future Prime Minister, but he is darn right in what he says. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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