The Scottish Government

Hi Gavin

I must say that I was quite taken aback but your likening of me to a Nazi. I think every other person who has used this message board will agree with me when I say that at no point have I spouted any extremist view. Just because I have pro-British views does not in anyway make me a 'mini’ Hitler.

So let’s get one thing clear. Being a unionist does not make you racist or xenophobic. I have no problems with Britain being in the EU (although I oppose full integration) and I find European people to be very kind and warm people. You should also note that at no point did I say Scottish people were xenophobic. Euro Scepticism does not equal racism and intolerance. So when you start to make the above accusations all you are doing is undermining your own argument.

Can I ask what ever happened to the days when you would say there is room for ‘friendly banter’?

I see that you are still unable to get your head around the fact that I am both a proud Scot and a proud Briton. According to you cannot truly be Scottish unless you marry yourself to everything Scottish. Having a passion for Britain means, in your book at least, that I am a diluted Scot and therefore I am the hybrid weirdo that I spoke of in a previous thread.

So what of all those famous Scots who supported unionist parties in the run up to the Holyrood election? People like Alex McLeish who publicly backed the union? Are you more Scottish than the most popular man in the country just now?

And please can we drop the whole Scotland would still be British if independent thing. We would not be British, we would have a British past, that’s it. According to your thread Belgium is a wee bit French because both countries share a common language. I don’t think many Belgians would subscribe to such a view but there you go!

You also say that people are ‘politically shoehorned’ into being British. If that were true then where do nationalist views come from? Such a statement doesn’t even stand up to historical scrutiny. Even in the days when ‘Britishness’ was stronger a strong sense of ‘Scottishness’ always existed.

You ask if I would support a referendum. Well to be honest I think the SNP ‘government’ should spend its time doing what it was elected to do, that is govern Scotland on devolved matters. After all it’s not the public that are calling for a referendum it’s the SNP. Nonetheless, if one is called, and the unionist parties put forward a positive case for the union then why not. At present the SNP would not win and by their own admission they would have to shelve future plans if defeated.

In today’s ever smaller world, of globalisation and the like, it makes no sense for the countries which make up the British Isles to go their separate ways. We have a proud history, we have shared customs and common values why waste that?

Please- Enough already!! Only 31% of Scots want independence. Majority rules. 69% want to remain as we are. Why the debate???
By the way, we will fight(by whatever means) to remain in the Union.
Rule Britannia- God save the Queen!

First I would say Alex Salmond has shown mature statesmanship as First Minister and I would urge him not to "devolve" into petty party politics; I believe the whole British Nation is sick and tired of party wrangling and blame-mongering.

1). I think the SNP should de-emphasise its policy on nuclear power. It probably loses more supporters than it encourages. We don't want brownouts in our independent economy while alternative power sources slowly grow.

2). Similarly for nuvlear weapons; I suspect if it weren't for the "nuclear detergent", I'd have been called up many years ago and thrown in as fodder to the front line in Western Europe, given a gun and a tin hat, and told to try and hold a line to give the regular army 24 hours to arrive and dig in.

3). Europe. Many don't like the EU, with its layers of unapproachable bureaucracy and unworkable rules; also the total loss of national sovereignty that has already occurred while Westminster wrangels internally both inter and intra party. Suggest that EU membership is not automatic if we get independence. Perhaps a possibilty along the lines of Switzerland is an alternative, with its ready access to trade within the EU but without having to bend the knee to Brussels Directives formulated by a handful of self-serving plc board members.

4). Since independence is becoming nearly inevitable, great care should be taken to keep English goodwill. England is our nearest trading neighbour and probably still accounts for 56% of our tourists. Perhaps the SNP could consider supporting the stance that Scottish MPs should not vote on purely English issues.

There are huge opportunities for Scotland as the newest nation, in terms of tourism from the US, Canada, Australia and New Zealand - and all over. Such tourism and other means could encourage huge business opportunities to Scotland. Perhaps tax could be cut greatly with increased GDP (or whatever), giving even more incentives for global companies to have their HQs in Scotland. Not to forget the revenue from our stamps and other collectables!

Oh, one more thing, it's not too early to consider our ccTLD (country code top level domain) for the internet - I suggest .ab (see http://www.acctld.co.uk). To get this we'd have to get an ISO 3166-1 two-letter code for reasons other than to get a ccTLD, so research into this should be well in hand already ...

... it won't be long now!

If the major parties show reluctance to support a referundum for Scottish independence, perhaps support should be canvassed for a vote in England to expel Scotland from the Union? I'd vote for it, and I suspect many of my countrymen would agree. Discuss.

Growing up I have always passionate about Scotland, about what we have the opportunity to be as a nation and the endless prospects for us to prosper independent from the UK. I was told that there would be an SNP Government in my life time and that independence could be a reality. It is my hope that a referendum on the issue of independence will see Scotland become the independent prosperous nation it should be.!!!

It's about time Scotland got her independence once and for all.

Scotland needs freedom and it needs it now

A leap of faith was taken by installing SNP as the governmnet of Scotland in May
So far so good
Ive always supported independance and the impressive way in which SNP have governed can only have enhanced the belief among others that the time is now right to go forward as one country standing on its own feet.
Many believed the SNP were a one policy party but they have proved otherwise
Alex and his ministerial team have avoided the gloating that could have prevailed at this conference and it has been very professional and Alex comes across very statesman like.
THe stats that Scotland could be third wealthiest in Europe, 6th in the world was intresting
Lets take the next leap

I am proud to Scottish and more than anything I would love to see Scotland gain Independance. We have more resources than England thats why they dont want us to be Independant. Sick of them treating us like second class.
I will always support Mr Alex Salmond. God Bless Scotland and Mr Salmond.

To prosper, we must break from the shield of Westminster.

Currently, you're paying tax and being given dirty hospitals and Middle Eastern wars among other wasted money.

You could vote Conservative and allow a repeat of Margaret Thatcher's government. You could vote Liberal and get leadership instability. You could vote SSP or Solidarity and have two parties with the same policies lose.

You could vote SNP and have Scotland given back its proud status of independence.