The Scottish Government

We as the people of Scotland should, in this "democratic" country of ours be for the first time in 300 years, allowed to decide for or against the union. We deserve the right to vote in a referendum.

I don’t understand how the London based parties can so confidently say, the majority of the people of Scotland want to keep the union some 60% approx. if you assume everyone who voted labour, libdem or conservative are against Independence, which I myself know not to be true. There is only one way to find out and that’s with a REFURENDUM now.

I’m puzzled as to why they refuse, maybe they think that we are so stupid up here in the cold, that we can’t be trusted to vote, as proven in Mays election maybe so or maybe they don’t think they have quite got us as sufficiently fearful of our own country as they would like.

With Labours horrible election strategies, which is to say, vote for us or the Tories will win (Westminster elections). They are not saying vote for us we are the right party to run the country, basically what they are instead saying is, they are the lesser of 2 evils. But remember the lesser of 2 evils is still evil. Then in Scotland, vote for us or you'll end up -£5000. I don’t know about anyone else but I'm instead going to be £2000+ better off when I graduate this year thanks to the SNP.

"Matching the UK growth rate by 2011"

Who cares about the UK growth rate. Do they give damn about stealing ours wealth.

Our progress is to be part of a modern world not a dead empire with one wealthy colony.

Forget the UK lets grow up and look after ourselves. It amazes me that the "independent fools" in Scotland always compare us to Iceland Ireland and Norway. Does Switzerland look at France or Germany or Italy or Austria to check their progress?

#74 Martin

Just as well I made some comment otherwise you would be talking to yourself!! Some CONVERSATION eh. The crowd is on his feet.

I would like to thank ALL the contributors to this blog, I have been reading the comments on a regular basis and would now like to add an initial response. Since the start of the Conversation and indeed since mid May we have had a new type of politics and a new type of debate in Scotland. It is no longer of a matter of "if Scotland will gain more powers" it is now a question of when as all the major parties have now moved further in that direction since the election.

I have also carried out face to face conversations with people in specific industry sectors such as Tourism and Constrauction....and I have done the same with areas such as Cowal and Kintyre in my own constituency. Those sessions have been listening sessions recording and mapping the views of real people, regarding their goals, ability to achieve these goals and the matters that constrain progress.

They have been positive sessions.

It may be that we will have to run an event such as the above to invite in the contributors to this blog and have a similar session to staisfy and blend the range of opinion that has so far been recorded if that is so - then I would be willing to make that happen.

Meantime, I will continue to focus my efforts of those who want to make Scotland all that it can be and who are willing to work to close the growth gap on the rest of the UK.

re; 73

So youre back again, what a surprise!
Just like a true unionist who never could keep their word. You defeat yourself and prove to us all that your word isnt worth the paper its written on and CANNOT be trusted.

lib/dems were 4th in scotland - fact.
They done a DEAL to keep Scotland stagnant for as long as they were in power as we all found out, thats why they are OUT.
The SNP are the largest party and are in power, remind us though - tony blair's labour had only 23 percent of the vote yet that didnt stop them. Enough said.

A begging bowl - well all polls, surveys and even your unionist leaders admit the SNP are impressing the majority in Scotland.

The only begging bowl is all our taxes , oil etc going to another country and us having to ask for our own money back!

Defra still not paying out to Scoltand's farmers? Our fishing waters been giving back yet? The list is endless.

Hope your enjoying watching another countrys television with the saturation of England and St. George's flags, thats normal for us up here though eh,oh forgot we pay the licence fee for the privelige dont we?

Normal state of affairs its not, but then with the Scotland flags up here too - where does that leave 'YOUR Britain '?

Times have changed and its a matter of time before Scotland is independent, get used to it.

I take no lesson from you, just get used to the facts, it will do you good.

#72 Martin

Funny I was just thinking the same about you.

A wee lesson in democracy. If you have a majority in parliament, even if its a coalition, then you are in GOVERNMENT. It you are are running about hoping to convince a majority you have, in effect, a begging bowl.

So what happened to £2,000 for first time buyers, elimination of the Community charge, cancelling the Edinburgh tram project.....?

Different people on this site have took the time and effort to interact with you and shown you there is no need for negativity Where the future of your country Scotland is concerned, i have watched others take on your points one by one on numerous topics and allay your fears even demolish your fears/arguments on any given topic you highlighted.

It is far easier, in my opinion, to sit back and be negative than be positive (which requires a bit more thinking when asked what kind of future do you want for your country) as proven by you when others asked you what you want on numerous occasions.

You failed to answer the question.

When they disproved your so called facts/comments and presented it with the accurate picture about faslane, rosyth etc you then responded by going off in a huff and resorted to criticising and what a unionist does best going off the subject and calling us separatists etc.

Well if wanting to join the world again like all other self respecting nations on this planet is divorce then so be it. It would be one unhappy world if all these tens of millions of people who have divorced/separated had had no choice but to stay together because they were told they had to.

The political map in Scotland has changed and the SNP are in power in holyrood, Independence is coming for our country its just a matter of when.

Right will always triumph over wrong in the end.

The Scottish people have and will always have the democratic right to run their own country.

Whether you take 'your' blinkers off or not is for you. Its 'your' choice.

Scotland to be responsible for running their own country, its as simple as a b c.

#70

I was right, this space to be reserved for the 'Free Scotland Brigade'

Sorry to introduce a measure of objectivity to the forum. I'll leave the floor to the blinkered group you belong to.

re; 67 here we go yet again.

Yes we had a coalition with labour/lib-dems that no one wanted or voted for, the lib-dems came fourth remember? You can shut your eyes and cover your ears all you want but labour controlled that coalition and as we all know gave a 'few' lib-dems their mondeos for one of the greatest stitch ups in Scotlands history and yes your right we had to endure that through 2 parliament terms! Dark, dark days indeed.
The SNP chose to go it alone in governmet you said - well firstly like others have said id get your facts straight first, the lib-dems didnt WANT to join with the SNP due to the independence question so threw their dummy out the pram, now we all know that the independence referendum was in the SNP manifesto and since they were the biggest party hence they are in power at holyrood, it is only right and democratic that the SNP stuck to their guns as we all know that you and your unionist media would have never let them forget that had theyd reneged on their promise to the people who voted them in and youd have said they cant be trusted to fulfill their promises, you KNOW thats the case, but then they dont sell out their people like labour have done and the lib-dems have shown they are anything but their said name and have no respect for the Scottish people in doing so.

My god you are so scared of this independence referendum, you want it left on the shelf for ever, well at least give us the choice to have this independence referendum first! after all we have been waiting 300 years...and remember, we have never had the choice to be part of this unequal union, SOME socialist you are.

Oh we copy what Wales and NI do in government do we? remind us, socialist that you are, is devolution not about making our own choices down our own paths? well so we were told, but this seems to scare you. You see, the SNP has not only a present vision but one for the future of Scotland too, more than can be said for Gordon Brown.

YES at last we have a holyrood government and a First Minister who have a 'BACKBONE' unlike the labour/lib-dem lot who stood by and let westminster pick off Scotland at will for their own political ends AND you know it.

Its brilliant to see this SNP government confronting westminster and 'standing up' for Scotland something Jack McConnell couldnt or wouldnt do and even less chance from Wendy Alexander with her brother tied to her boss's apron strings.
Still no answer from you to some of my questions about your beloved unionist stitch ups like taking away your own Country Scotlands fishing waters and redrawing the boundaries???
Last week thanks to the SNP bringing to light that Gordon and co reneged on their promise and withdrew their financial offer to Scotland's farmers who by the way are threatening the westminster government with legal action. THIS would never have come to light in front of the Scottish people if it had been due to any of the last lot we had to endure. Long may it continue id rather have my rights fought for than a weak weasel with self interest who rolls over and takes defeat so readily, its what 'we' put them there for!

These are the reasons this union is discredited and dead as a do do. The Scottish people deserve so much better, if it was only due to the 30 year rule that we just found out that they gave the biggest lie of all to us that there was no oil left, well weve paid a hefty price and still they are at it on that score.

You have gave me no reason whatsover to convince me of staying in this dependent un equal union. We have a right to govern ourselves like any other nation on earth.

Until you take the blinkers off and open your eyes to the inevitabilty that whether you like it or not independence is coming for Scotland. Start addressing this unionist sham towards Scotland and the disgraceful slurs we have to endure that we are not quite good enough on a daily basis then you will come up to scratch with the reality of the mood in Scotland. Socialist? yet you love weapons of mass destruction on our beautiful countryside? dont make me laugh.

Finally, well done to the Scotland football team for beating Ukraine and topping their group, you have done Scotland proud, do your best against Georgia, this country is jumping!

66. Here we go yet again - Fife
Saturday, October 13, 2007 12:27

Rosyth, Have you been over there recently?
It is hardly what I'd call a hive of industry, these contracts are only about four years late.

How many ships have Babcocks launched on the Forth in that time?

I'm sure the RN and the French Navy will be reassured to know their ships are to be assembled by graduate students from Fife.
How many apprenticeships will these ships provide for the Forth and how many Scottish ship builders will find jobs there?

btw If these are super carriers, what does the USN have?

Any ideas what we are going to be allowed to use these carriers for?
What aircraft they will be carrying, ie American?
When will we be seeing the order for the Clyde designed type45 frigates they'll need for screening them from future attack?

Rosyth won the contract on the merit of having the only dock in the country big enough to assemble these ships.
It was built to handle Trident nuclear submarine refits.

Devonport.

Poland does not get to tender for UK 'grey ships', unlike Fisheries Protection Vessels (which are only painted grey), and CalMac car ferries.


Nobody had been investing in the West Coast towns since the USN left at the end of the Cold War and took away their dollars.

Take a look at the upper Clyde and across the water at Port Glasgow and Greenock and see what is happening there if you would know what could be done with the land currently behind razor wire.

Questions of who pays for pensions etc?
The same people who pay for them now, us.
NATO, why do we need to be members, who do we intend to nuke?
What has NATO done since its inception apart from stick a big nuclear bullseye over Scotland?
Why would independent Scotland need nukes or aircraft carriers?

All but a very few Scots do not need or want either.
We can happily continue to design and build warships for foreign navies as we do at present.

The new Scottish government has undertaken to match UK growth rates.
I suggest you Google the two terms to aquaint yourself with the differences between GDP and Scottish Economic Growth.

Here's a link to start you off:
http://www.economics.stir.ac.uk/staff/dnfb1/scotland/Scottish%20GVA.htm

'Truth be told' if we lifted our eyes from the limited/ing horizons of the UK to the wider horizons of the EU, and the world in general, our potential is only limited by our imagination and our will.

I think of it in these terms:
Scotland under Westminster is like our football team under Berti Vogts, nuff said.

Scotland under SNP is like under Walter Smith, turning it around and giving us back our pride.
Same people, same resources to call on, very different outlook.

Independent Scotland would be like our national team under Alex McLeish and Roy Aitken:
Currently 14th in the FIFA rankings, second in the world only to Croatia for nations with populations under 10 million, and who knows how far we can go and what we can achieve?...