You really have to laugh....

[malvolio]

^^ This.

if you look back to the state sponsored adverts and media for Malta's independence, they used exactly the same arguments.

Scotland has voted for parties who's main manifesto pledge is attaining independence, in ever increasing numbers since 2011. A Majority of Westminster MP's by some margin and a party holding circa 50% of the seats in the Scottish parliament (by proportional representation). The 'no mandate' argument doesn't really exist, except in the minds of Tory Little Englanders (even if they're Welsh, Malvolio).

So the boost in the SNP vote was nothing to with Salmond's successful but idiotically optimistic campaign that promised Scotland could easily exist as a financially independent nation and immediately re-join the EU?

I didn't say they don't have a mandate for a referendum. What I did say - although perhaps a little too subtly for some - is that mandate does not mean that the Scots are in favour of independence, merely of having a referendum.

We're going in circles again. If you can drop your simplistic prejudices and actually argue the point, it might help. But seriously, I'm not all that interested.

[vetran]

What part of the once in a generation scottish independence referendum was held in 2014 do you also not understand?

Hey if Scotland want to pay for it and pay for the consequences then most people will welcome it. The poor little lambs will stop screaming!

As usual its pay for a referendum, then pay us to leave and we don't want any part of the debt.

[jamesbrown]

Let 'em have the referendum. As far as I can tell, they want to retain the GBP, the BoE, the King etc. and then call that "independence"

[ladymuck]

My understanding with the Scottish problem is that there is little love for the SNP but there is much interest in independence. So, should independence be gained, there is a hope / expectation that the SNP will self-implode and then a more competent government can take over and actually deliver it. The only reason people hold their noses and vote SNP is because they are the only party who will push for it. To get them out of power, they either need to win a referendum or the Scottish need to turn their backs on independence.

[Zigenare]

There he goes, same dumb c**t argument from the same dumb c**t. There was nothing in any of the settlement agreement for the referendum signed by Salmond and Cameron that stated it was once in a generation. It was a line used by Salmond in a TV interview. The same way BoJo stated on TV and at a meeting that there would be no customs border between Britain and NI. Is your argument that only things said in TV interviews by Scots are legally binding ?

For info, by the way, the UK Govt definition of a generation , as set out in the NI devolved settlement, is 7 years.

"In the week before the referendum, both sides said that they would abide by the result." - Alex Salmond of course muttered under his breath "unless we lose", with his fingers crossed.

[TestMangler]

What part of the once in a generation scottish independence referendum was held in 2014 do you also not understand?

Did I miss the bit where anyone said they were a Tory voter? Or is this just simplistic pigeonholing, i.e. "you're daring to question something I believe in, so you must be one of the enemy"?

No, if you've been on this forum much at all, you'll know easily enough where Mal's political leanings lie and Dhoog is the same. Zigenare would vote N.A. if he was allowed to.

[TestMangler]

"In the week before the referendum, both sides said that they would abide by the result." - Alex Salmond of course muttered under his breath "unless we lose", with his fingers crossed.

You don't half talk some tulipe. I know you find this difficult to comprehend, but there is a pro-independence majority in Holyrood and huge pro independence majority of Scottish MP's in Westminster. See when there isn't, then there is no mandate.

[DealorNoDeal]

Just wondering...

If the Westminster Govt persists (for years) denying Scots another referendum is it likely to harden attitudes and make the vote, when it eventually happens, more likely to go in favour of leaving?

[vetran]

Just wondering...

If the Westminster Govt persists (for years) denying Scots another referendum is it likely to harden attitudes and make the vote, when it eventually happens, more likely to go in favour of leaving?

turn up with a sensible proposition the government will probably approve it. I want to be independent but I keep the open chequebook isn't sensible.

[Lost It]

A party that has failed with education, health, drug problems, poverty, crime, any other thing you care to mantion that has only one trick, a new "referendum" makes me shudder.
They are a one trick pony that has not managed to make anything "better" for Scotland since they got in, they are good at spending money, not so good on getting quality products with what they are spending.
Frankly if they do have one and they win it I hope the rest of the UK shuts everything off that goes into the coffers in Scotland. Re route the oil lines to Hull like they did with the gas pipes. Take everything that the UK has away.

And I'm part Scots on my dad's side....

Let them be "independent" with a new currency, the Bank of Scotland and no income whatsoever from the UK. And put a sodding border up.