Blow to Unionists as 51% of Scots back independence in new poll

[scooterscot]

I really do think Brexit has changed opinion on IndyRef - I voted Yes last time around but struggled to justify the separationist argument while condemning Brexit. Now that Brexit is upon us, if we could guaranteed some kind of continued EU membership then I think it would be worth re-consideration...

Brexit shocked a number of people on the continent. Now it's yeah well it happened, move on nothing to see here. I feel there'd be more interest towards Scotland remaining part of the EU than facilitating Brexit. But I'd rather Scotland remained under its own merit not the result of a squabbling divorce.

[northernladyuk]

Scotland doesn't build walls...

That won't be much help to the hard border problem.

[MrMarkyMark]

Second, an independent Scotland would face hard choices. The deficit per head in Scotland was £2,824 last year, according to the ONS data. To reduce that figure as a standalone nation, taxes would have to rise or spending would have to fall, other factors being equal. That makes the currency question – one of the central debates in the 2014 referendum – critical.

Back then, the Scottish National party said a post-independence Scotland would continue to use the pound sterling. The economic logic looked weak at the time, and remains so: Scotland would be embracing a currency union that could damage its own competitiveness at the moment of separation and make balancing the budget harder, especially if the oil price was low.

https://www.theguardian.com/business...h-independence

[scooterscot]

That's been done to death. The country is too big in the public sector. Small country it is small it should be.

[northernladyuk]

That's been done to death. The country is too big in the public sector. Small country it is small it should be.

You can redeploy surplus staff as customs officers.

[grabri]

You can redeploy surplus staff as customs officers.

maybe there will be bulk training discounts on offer if we team up with the Northern Irish...

[chopper]

That's been done to death. The country is too big in the public sector. Small country it is small it should be.

So all those Scots who work in the public sector - those jobs get repatriated back to England. The SNP's public sector in Scotland is smaller. That's a lot of Scots out of work.

[chopper]

Scotland doesn't build walls...

Maybe not, but the European Union does.

If the UK leaves the EU, and Scotland leaves the UK. That's OK so far.
But as soon as Scotland joins the EU, then suddenly Scotland's trade with the UK is per EU rules. (And the FT would have us believe that the EU wont trade with us freely unless we cough up £100bn).

But don't worry, you are in good company here. Donald Trump also struggles with the concept that EU members negotiate trade deals as one, so Scotland wouldn't be free to have a bespoke Scotland to UK trade deal.

[JozefBlofeld]

While I have every sympathy for Scotland wanting to head for the lifeboats, can any pro-independence Scots explain how they will deal with the impact of a hard border with England?

There will be no hard border between Scotland and England.

One of the EU's red lines in Brexit orders to the UK, is that there will be no hard border between Eire and Northern Ireland. Scotland/England will follow suit.

[northernladyuk]

There will be no hard border between Scotland and England.

One of the EU's red lines in Brexit orders to the UK, is that there will be no hard border between Eire and Northern Ireland. Scotland/England will follow suit.

No It isn't.