The first poll after the currency shift from a company that hasn't changed their methodology halfway through has seen No support go up by five points, making it NO 49 (+5), YES 37 (-), DK 14 (-5)

Isn't it true though that George Osborne cannot stop Scotland from using the Pound, even with this scare tactic of his (it won't ever come to fruition if we do go independent?)? Other countries across the world use the American Dollar; they're not American. Westminster are just bullying the Scottish Parliament now (and have been for a while).

Isn't it true though that George Osborne cannot stop Scotland from using the Pound, even with this scare tactic of his (it won't ever come to fruition if we do go independent?)? Other countries across the world use the American Dollar; they're not American. Westminster are just bullying the Scottish Parliament now (and have been for a while).

 

Of course you could use the Scottish Pound - but it would not be the same value as the British Pound (which is what Salmond wants). So your buying power would likely go down.

 

In the rule of Charles II it was 13 Scottish Pounds to 1 English Pound! :P

I doubt the statement even has any concrete and thoroughly devised plans behind it if we were to go independent. All they're trying to do at this stage is separate the IDK votes from the No votes, and given the rise for No, they appear to have succeeded, although Alex Salmond needs to start countermanding what Westminster are saying (still plenty of time though).

They could just use it, but 1. most countries that have used another country's currency typically negotiated and made some compromises beforehand - I can't think of many cases where a country has used the currency of a country that didn't want them to. 2. Scotland would basically be losing control of interest rates and influencing central bank policy, just to avoid £500m in transaction costs - even though the pain of interest rates set at the wrong level for Scotland's economy would be far worse than that £500m (a drop in the water in GDP terms) if the Scottish and British economy went out of cycle (which they could well do given Salmond plans to take Scotland in a very different direction fiscally).

 

Osborne, Balls and Alexander aren't bluffing. It's a stupid idea to have a currency union when you don't have fiscal union. Scotland may as well just go for having their own currency (the EU has said they'd be allowed to) - they'd actually get a bit of benefit from having control of their own central bank in the event of independence. We're essentially talking conjecture here though, because none of this will actually be happening.

I doubt the statement even has any concrete and thoroughly devised plans behind it if we were to go independent. All they're trying to do at this stage is separate the IDK votes from the No votes, and given the rise for No, they appear to have succeeded, although Alex Salmond needs to start countermanding what Westminster are saying (still plenty of time though).

There is a concrete and thoroughly devised plan behind it. If Scotland wants independence, it shouldn't expect the rest of the UK to pick up the tab if shit hits the fan. Hence, you can't have the pound - it's a terrible idea for any Chancellor to leave their currency a hostage to fortune by allowing another country with a relatively large economy to use it - because if things go under, the Chancellor would then need to bail out Scotland (or if the UK went under, Scotland would be screwed) to try and protect the value of sterling.

Better Together are currently wetting themselves with excitement at Standard Life drawing up a contingency plan for Scottish Independence that includes moving some of it's business south of the border.

 

They are required to look at the risks and mitigate for those so it's not really a surprise tbh.

 

From what I understand the HE sector in Scotland has no plan B. If YES wins and Scotland becomes an EU nation the St Andrews and Edinburgh are so f***ed it's unreal. £9k tuition fee vs £1,800 via a block grant.... That's a massive hole in income. Although if we vote YES and are stranded outside the EU then St Andrews and Edinburgh are quids in as they can charge overseas fees to the English. $$$

I was just thinking, if Scotland did become independent wouldn't the United Kingdom's full title have to change? Because Scotland is part of Great Britain, but if they break away we can't be called United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. It would have to be United Kingdom of England, Wales and Northern Ireland I'm guessing.

I was just thinking, if Scotland did become independent wouldn't the United Kingdom's full title have to change? Because Scotland is part of Great Britain, but if they break away we can't be called United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. It would have to be United Kingdom of England, Wales and Northern Ireland I'm guessing.

 

It would mean 'British' could no longer be legitimately used as a substitute for 'from the UK'. (These are the important issues of course).

Ed Miliband's laughably bad basic political skills show themselves again:

 

Ed Miliband to accuse Alex Salmond of mimicking Conservative policies

 

Now I don't particularly like Alex Salmond as a person (far too smug and self-satisfied; Nicola Sturgeon seems a much more likeable personality to me, and I think the SNP could possibly do even better than now when she takes over as leader), but his party is pretty much the only one in the whole of the UK which has actually stuck up for people who are unfortunate enough to be on benefits, who have protected the NHS by not forcing pointless constant "reforms" on them, and has been one of the few who point-blank rejected austerity which everyone else has accepted. It really is the height of hypocrisy for Ed Miliband to accuse him of mimicking Tory policies, when he's planning to make Labour MPs vote for a gimmicky and offensive "welfare cap" next week.

HA! What an actual tool. We're the only part of the UK to actually be fighting against Tory policies, against austerity and for the normal working people. They sit and scream out of touch at the Tories but really this has shown them to be out of touch with the goings on this side of the border.

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/polit...es-9217514.html

 

Shetland, Orkney and the Outer Hebrides demand independence referendums of their own if Scotland votes yes

 

Considering they control 67% of Scotland’s oil and gas reserves - that leaves a massive hole in Salmond's lovely oil revenue. :o

The Islands have the financial resources to go it alone but they physically can't survive without the mainland. They need the mainland for food, water, electricity, building supplies, anything that isn't some sheep, oil and gas.

The Islands have the financial resources to go it alone but they physically can't survive without the mainland. They need the mainland for food, water, electricity, building supplies, anything that isn't some sheep, oil and gas.

 

But they could become independent of Scotland and rejoin Norway? I mean they were under Norse rule until the 15th Century. Either way, I bet Salmond is worried..

The northern Isles were Scottish first until the Vikings came and sole them before we reclaimed them 600 years later.

 

Similar story with the Western Isles in that they were Norwegian for 400 years until 1266 and have been part of the Kingdom of Scotland for longer than that. (and that's before the Kingdom of Scotland merged with England.)

The Islands have the financial resources to go it alone but they physically can't survive without the mainland. They need the mainland for food, water, electricity, building supplies, anything that isn't some sheep, oil and gas.

 

Mightn't they choose to stay in the UK? I assumed that would be one of the options for them.

I may well have recounted this tale before but it's a good one so it's worth repeating even though it may not be entirely true.

 

The one-time Liberal MP for Orkney and Shetland (and also one-time Liberal leader) received call-up papers in WWI instructing him to report for duty. One of the instructions was to report to the nearest railway station. He is said to have replied "My nearest railway station is in Norway which is currently under enemy occupation. Awaiting further instructions".

 

There are other versions of the story, some of which involve other people. Regardless of the truth, they do give a good illustration of just how remote the islands are.

You can see Orkney from the Mainland (I have done so with my own eyes, the Solway Firth isn't very wide) so it isn't very remote but Shetland is.

 

Danny - They could stay part of the UK but then they'd have to get supplies sent to them via a different country that could quite conceivably but up some barriers. Not to mention the only reason most of these Islands actually survive is the Ferry service that is owned, operated and subsidised by the Scottish Government. If they were to leave the Scottish Government would have no reason to spend money on a ferry service to a foreign country that is required for it to survive.

The pro-independence side continuing to pick up pace: just 6% behind "No" in the latest Panelbase poll.

Mightn't they choose to stay in the UK? I assumed that would be one of the options for them.

 

It's not an option in this referendum.

 

They COULD hold one later and agree to re-enter the rUK BUT why would islanders vote for their island to have reduced maritime territory because it would be an enclave and only entitled to the usual 12 miles, within which there are no oil or gas fields ?