Salmond "We can take Scotland in two weeks"

[TestMangler]

What happens if islands vote no, which looks like being the case; given their grievances against the SNP are pretty much the same as the SNP's against Westminster?

Could we see a referendum after the referendum for secession back to the UK?

It's a house of cards, all it takes is one of the guesses on business, immigration, economy, currency or EU membership to fail and the whole thing falls over.

Which Islands are these then ? I suspect you're thinking of two groups of Islands here.

I would wager the majority of the islands will vote yes.

[Batcher]

What happens if islands vote no, which looks like being the case; given their grievances against the SNP are pretty much the same as the SNP's against Westminster?

Could we see a referendum after the referendum for secession back to the UK?

It's a house of cards, all it takes is one of the guesses on business, immigration, economy, currency or EU membership to fail and the whole thing falls over.

How do you know the islands (I assume you mean Orkney & Shetland since there are hundreds of islands off the coast of Scotland) will vote no? Have you been reading the MSM again?

Most of the last few links have been from stories in the Torygraph which has an agenda. The Yes campaign have used other means of communication such as social media and blogs to get the message across as the MSM refuse to be balanced.

The way it's going. according to social media, is that the Orkneys & Sheltland are turning to Yes. I've been saying for weeks that the word on the streets is the Yes campaign is winning but the MSM refused to report it.

[Old Greg]

The current Royal family are not descended from the Stuarts.

George I of Great Britain - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

[GazCol]

Which Islands are these then ? I suspect you're thinking of two groups of Islands here.

I would wager the majority of the islands will vote yes.

Orkney and Shetland specifically; didn't they both vote Lib Dem in the last election?

The article below is interesting:

Orkney and Shetland islanders already winning Scotland

There would be something wonderfully ironic if the islands called for a referendum against Union with an independent Scottish state for, almost, exactly the same reasons that Scotland is looking for independence from the UK.

[jamesbrown]

So Plan C is the Scots Pound, which is the obvious and sensible plan. So we should ask why this isn't being proposed as Plan A. Is it because the public is spooked at having their savings, mortgages and pensions redenominated?

There is nothing wrong with Plan C, but Salmond should respect the voters enough to say it is the most likely outcome.

Agreed, long-term, this is the most like outcome, but it's a technical and political minefield for the Yes campaign, given all the ancillary requirements of central banking and the risks of capital flight in the mean time. For that reason, it's just easier to make stuff up for campaigning purposes and repeat it in a deliberate fashion, "I did not have sexual relations with that woman", which will stick sufficiently, of course, because everyone knows that Cameron et al. are lying toads also. The main thing is to get the win, and the "details" - to corrupt that term in the strongest possible way - can be worked out later.

[GazCol]

How do you know the islands (I assume you mean Orkney & Shetland since there are hundreds of islands off the coast of Scotland) will vote no? Have you been reading the MSM again?

Most of the last few links have been from stories in the Torygraph which has an agenda. The Yes campaign have used other means of communication such as social media and blogs to get the message across as the MSM refuse to be balanced.

The way it's going. according to social media, is that the Orkneys & Sheltland are turning to Yes. I've been saying for weeks that the word on the streets is the Yes campaign is winning but the MSM refused to report it.

I haven't been reading anything really, I'm probably not concerned with what's happening north of the border as I should be - probably due to disenchantment with how poorly Salmond has argued his cause. FWIW I would like nothing more than Scottish independence, I just want it on the terms that best suit Scotland; not on a wing and a prayer.

[Old Greg]

Agreed, long-term, this is the most like outcome, but it's a technical and political minefield for the Yes campaign, given all the ancillary requirements of central banking and the risks of capital flight in the mean time. For that reason, it's just easier to make stuff up for campaigning purposes and repeat it in a deliberate fashion, "I did not have sexual relations with that woman", which will stick sufficiently, of course, because everyone knows that Cameron et al. are lying toads also. The main thing is to get the win, and the "details" - to corrupt that term in the strongest possible way - can be worked out later.

It's being played very cleverly. I think overall you are correct, but also there is the 'look at the nasty bullies not sharing sterling' game. If independence happens, I hope there is not buyers' remorse when the Scots Pound hits the shelves. It should work out fine, but there are risks and these risks should be honestly discussed.

[SueEllen]

The current Royal family are not descended from the Stuarts.

Yes they are.

Mary, Queen of Scots ---> James I and VI of England and Scotland ---> Elizabeth of Bohemia ---> Sophia of Hanover ---> George I ---> George II ---> Frederick, Prince of Wales ---> George III ---> Edward, Duke of Kent and Strathearn ---> Queen Victoria --> Edward VII ---> George V ----> George VII ----> Elizabeth II

[TestMangler]

Orkney and Shetland specifically; didn't they both vote Lib Dem in the last election?

The article below is interesting:

Orkney and Shetland islanders already winning Scotland

There would be something wonderfully ironic if the islands called for a referendum against Union with an independent Scottish state for, almost, exactly the same reasons that Scotland is looking for independence from the UK.

Is it not hard enough getting people to talk sense on this thread without this ?

Scotland has had factions calling for an Independence vote for 40 years.

They had to vote in an SNP government for that to happen.

Anybody anywhere can call for a referendum on anything.

Being able to get that through your parliament is a different matter,

[tomtomagain]

Scotland can and will use the £, either in a formal currency union or out of one. I have no idea how it will work out. I'm happy to take the risk.

Well you wont have a formal currency union because all the UK parties have ruled it out. Of course they could change their minds .... but would be slaughtered by the UK electorate. Although a deal could be done where the UK keeps a population based percentage of the oil. That might swing it for me as a UK voter.

So of course Scotland can use the UK Pound. However there will be no "Lender of last resort" and that makes it inevitable that the financial industry in Scotland will need to leave. Either to the UK or the Europe.

Without your own currency and more importantly the ability to print your own money an independent Scotland will need to build up significant foreign exchange reserves ( and if you default on your share of UK debt then I doubt you'd be getting a proportion of the UK's to get you started).

To build up these reserves Scotland will have to spend less than it earns. This means that Scotland will need to implement an additional austerity programme.

If Scotland is going to use someone else's currency it would be far more sensible to use USD.

Otherwise you will be always in the market selling dollars ( that you get from your oil sales ) and buying GBP.

Which will add an additional exchange rate risk and also, ironically, hand loads of luverly commission to the City of London.