Scotland's finances

[Ticktock]

Look, I got the foreign soil bit wrong, it was a superfluous comment after a post.

After some foogling I was wrong.

It could be worse.

You could be trying to work out the difference between a nation, a state and a country and which of those applies to each of and the whole of the constituents of the UK.

[minestrone]

It could be worse.

You could be trying to work out the difference between a nation, a state and a country and which of those applies to each of and the whole of the constituents of the UK.

Take care to pack you English passport next time you go to the Costa del Branco.

[minestrone]

Or Labour party activists telling Eastern Europeans that the would be deported on the 19th in the event of a Yes vote, or Cameron demanding 'words of warning' from the likes of Baroso over Europe.

Take care to pack your ZoomerParanoia Land passport next time to go England.

[Ticktock]

Take care to pack you English passport next time you go to the Costa del Branco.

I don't have an English passport.

The main problem is that there are many different definitions of "country", and normal usage equates it with a nation-state, whereas there can be differences. Arguing over what is technically correct is pretty pointless (unless you're currently drafting a law or an international treaty or something) that needs to be so precise. Otherwise, as long as people know what you mean, who cares?

[minestrone]

I don't have an English passport.

I know you don't.

[MicrosoftBob]

I don't have an English passport.

The main problem is that there are many different definitions of "country", and normal usage equates it with a nation-state, whereas there can be differences. Arguing over what is technically correct is pretty pointless (unless you're currently drafting a law or an international treaty or something) that needs to be so precise. Otherwise, as long as people know what you mean, who cares?

There's also geographical differences like people confusing Holland being the same as The Netherlands

[Ticktock]

I know you don't.

Ah, I thought the key bit was whatever was meant about me going to somewhere Spanish, not the passport. I don't have a UK / GB / EU passport or whatever it's labelled as, so didn't pay attention to that.

[minestrone]

I don't want a Scottish passport.

[Batcher]

Going back to the OP about the GERS figures, people in Scotland are highlighting the celebrations by Labour every time there is bad news about the economy as if it helps their case against the SNP.

Instead of putting a positive case for how they would improve the figures if they got into government in Westminster or Holyrood, all they can do is point and laugh and then wonder why they are about to join the Tories in getting wiped out in Scotland.

Gordon MacIntryre-Kemp today:

"Why would anyone in Scotland vote for a party that didn't believe in Scotland to run Scotland, or even to champion it's cause in Westminster? The No campaign won the referendum but did so by trying to stop people believing in Scotland and Labour poisoned the very well it now needs to drink from."

[Zero Liability]

Interesting, polling seems to suggest quite a few SNP members are partial to a Tory government with many SNP MPs over a Labour one, with few. I wonder if this is suggestive of how the next government may shape up; albeit, if poll numbers keep going in the Tories' favour, and they manage to muster a coalition again with the Lib Dems and/or some sort of arrangement with UKIP, it may be irrelevant. Quite a few senior Labour figures are against an SNP-Labour alliance, and things do not appear to be headed in that trajectory at present. Equally, it may make it all the easier for the SNP to convince the Scots of the need to exit the UK... A win-win, for them.