The Scottish Government

hmmmm, well Euan Purchase, what makes you think Scotland can't do those thngs now within the Union?? their is nothing holding scotland back from doing this. Like i said before WTF is it with the people who sound like William Wallace. He FOUGHT against oppression, Scotland is NOT oppressed, so their is nothing to fight against "oooo Westminster" boooohooo, Scottish MP's are AT Westminster, you are basically saying that your 'own' people are oppressing their very country. That don't sound right to me.

In fact, it sounds completely f**ked. "Hello im Alex Salmond, i love Scotland, but i want to make its laws subordinate to EN laws and our precious oil reserves to be allowed to be transported to Eastern Europe. But don't forget i look for Scotlands best interest"

Scotlands best interest is within the United Kingdom, where it can look for its best interests while looking for Britains.

First: It would be a great thing to see an independent Scotland. However, like so many have already pointed out; is Scotland ready to become totally independent when it comes down to economy? perhaps, with the free and open labour market, I do think Scotland can manage. Norway did it, but it happened over a hundred years ago, long before the II WW and the UN. If Scotland is to become independent, what state shall then take Britain's place in the Security Council? A split of the Union will not only mean minor changes in Scottish domestic and foreign policy, it will mean changes in the international political system as well. That's my view, the rest is up to the lot whose job is to think about this.

Any 1 who was born in scotland who do not want indepence should move to england where they belong, england has held back scotland,northern ireland & wales we are the mud on there shoe(example scotland playing in a huge game against italy gets less coverage on tv than an england friendly),if scotland cant prosper why wont they let u's go simple in my opinon we make them to much £ we are the jewel in there crown I Was Born To Live In A Free Scotland

An Independent Scotland! That's what we need! The chance to show our ability to stand on our own feet on the world stage. A chance to fully make our own decisions without looking over our shoulders to Westminster. The opportunity to build on our success of the past. A chance to have a Scottish voice in this world, a voice for peace and prosperity. An opportunity to make the most of our talents and demonstrate our willingness to leave a lasting impression to the rest of the world, to look at Scotland and think I wish I could do that! It's time to move on, to move forward. It's time to make the most of ourselves. It's time for an Indpendent Scotland.

An independent Scotland would be a magnificent thing. It would build a nation that was not only proud, but a nation that has something to be proud of. a so called Celtic lion economy a confident proud Scotland that is actually attractive to multinational companys investment and a nation that can make its own decisions according to the view of the people i need only to point to Trident were you see a Huge proportion of Scottish MPs rebel ageist there party for example Nigel Griffis..... And yet we may have to put up with more NUKES on the river Clyde without the peoples of Scotland's consent

this is just cause to Brake the chain connecting Scotland and England together. for ever

to Alasdair Martin, indeed their is a majority of people who are English, as you have so pointed out, but this is one of the reasons why Scotland, Wales and Northarn Ireland and Devolved Assemblys/Parliament, so it is fairer to balence out the Majority Question.

PM Brown has effectively taken control of the devolution/independence debate.

PM Brown's man is now in charge. His name is David Cairns the minister of state at the Scotland Office. Parachuted in to save Ms Alexander's blushes to announce to the Scottish Labour Youth that contrary to previously expressed views Scotland on its own would not be an economic basket case.

He followed up his speech to labour's youth league by putting his signature to an article in the Guardian(7th Nov) in which he reverts to the 'old labour' tactic, that of exploiting the politics of class. The gloves are coming off!

The sinecure occupied by Mr Cairns is proving a useful conduit through which PM Brown can pull the strings.

As addendum to my last post, I would like to state that while it may be true we would be worse off in the short term through the breakup of the Union, some thought needs to be given to the fact that this debate is about more than money. There are benefits to an independent Scotland that cannot be costed, and I believe that an independent country would lead to a better national identity, which would engender a communal attitude to finding ways to improve our country on our own, without tied assistance - our economy can then develop in the way that best suits Scotland, without such a disparity between the central belt and the rest of the country. In Norway, they have a far greater distribution of population, and I would like to see an independent Scotland supporting this here, helping local industries and communities to return to their more balanced levels, as they were before the clearances. The current unbalanced spread of wealth and population is an artifice created by outside influence - lets bring life back to the countryside.

I and my family have always lived in Scotland, as have my parents' families. I have 5 brothers and sisters from the ages of 23 to 36, and all have now left the country to find employment abroad. I would love to stay in this country, but will next year follow their example and emigrate.
The reason is that it is very hard to feel proud of my country as it currently exists, due to the fact that the streets are filthy, the people are unhealthy and unambitious, the public services are poor, and our public bodies are disorganised, bloated and ineffective (I work for the civil service, and see this every day).
I believe many of these problems stem from our lack of national identity - many have a perennial chip on their shoulder about English governance, and seem to use this, unwittingly or not, to justify contributing nothing to our country. In our schools, the cleverer pupils are derided as 'swots', sport is massively undersubscribed and aside from football, openly mocked(I also went to school in England for 5 years and was amazed on my return to find that there was no school athletics or rugby team), and creativity, bizarrely, is seen as a sign of being odd.
Many Scots seem to define themselves as 'salt of the earth' (with the chauvinism and small-mindedness that that entails) compared to our effete southern neighbours, which divests them of any responsibility to take responsibility of our country as it is beyond us. It is about time we were forced to confront the uncomfortable truths, that our 'sick man of Europe' tag is entirely justified, and nothing will do that as effectively as removing the get-out clause of blaming our problems on England.
Don't misunderstand me, I love this country, but our lack of local industry, our lack of civic pride, and our lack of ambition seem like a spit in the face on a daily basis, when I have seen the difference first-hand in Norway, and in Germany. This is a deep-rooted problem, and I believe it can only be confronted by taking the blame ourselves, as an independent country.

The three best reasons for national independence are Identity, Unity, and Independence itself.
Asking for the price tagging of these is to miss the point.
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