The Scottish Government

Within Scotland, we hold an economy of stability full of potential for growth, an education system and industrial sector of strength and an ability to sustain ourselves through time.

Let our will be heard by our Nationalist government and let them lead us to our constitutional right....The Right of Independence from the Union!

529 - Dave

Naturally, everything that the UK government does for us at present will become exclusively Scots competences. The departments in London which are, at present, responsible for governing Scotland will be relocated north.

Now, this can only be a good thing. It means that Edinburgh will become base to a number of highly paid civil service jobs which previously would have been based in London. More money spent in Edinburgh stays in Edinburgh, and within the Scots economy as a result. Our talented young folk will be less likely to relocate south looking for well paid jobs. To some extent, this would almost certainly offset the loss of the UK's "economy of scale".

As well as which, with full control over our own finances and spending, we would be able to pursue policies uniquely suited to Scotland. For example, Scotland won't require half the army or navy proportional to what the rump UK will. Colonial jaunts overseas won't be an issue anymore, so we can stop funding our share of the £30-a-second Iraq War just for starters.

Consider that the UK govenrment is planning to spend between £15 and 20 billion on replacing Trident. Scotland, with 9-10% of the UK population, will be funding this project to the tune of roughly £150-200,000,000. With independence, we could put that money anywhere else we liked - a conventional military deterent, better schools, infrastructure, whatever. The point is that it will be our decision to make.

One last point I would make is that oil is not the be all and end all of independence. Scotland without oil could survive quite comfortably, as other small nations do. The oil, however, is a natural bonanza whose profits we should be saving for future generations as the Norwegians do. The only way we can impliment such a policy is with independence from the United Kingdom, which has shown itself incapable of spending oil tax profits prudently.

"I'm William Wallace, and the rest of you will be spared. Go back to England and tell them... Scotland is free!".... Its hard not to think Alec would have wanted to say that line. And maybe he will, if he gets his way (changing the name of course).
Well, I'll put in my tuppence worth, even if the devolution review doesn't want to hear it.
I would like to see more powers for Scotland, especially economic ones. The main reason for my willingness to see our nations sovereignty restored is because fundamentally, I belief in localised power. Scotland's democratic record is one of the best in the world, but it still doesn't compare to the ideals of the greek 'demos-kratos'. In my view, a truer sense of democracy can only be achieved with smaller amounts of people than the UK's 70 million odd. I am against the centralising nature of the currrent UK government, and I belief its easier to govern small amounts of people. isn't it?
As a journalist, I feel the other parties are going about their campaign against independence in the wrong fashion: I'll explain, its perhaps foolish to go on an all out attack against the SNP administration for suggesting the idea of a referendum. When you have a scottish NATIONAL party in government, with an open track record of wanting independence, its not hard to see why their pushing this agenda. But to condemn it, and for the review to not allow it as an option, will only compound scottish elements of society that want it. And whatever the polls say, there's a hell of a lot of people (not necessary informed) who would want independence just as a matter of principle. It's seem like a reaction of parties who fear its success, to bashfully deny it even as a topic of discussion! If I were a pro-unionist, (which is not a bad option either), I would stand strong and say 'the snp can do what they like, the referendum will go our way' or something like that. If it does happen, a referendum of independence will be dead at least for a generation. Then we can move on.
But, as i said, I would like to see an Independent Scotland, that would and should, in my opinion, prosper both culturally and economically. I look west for an example, The republic of Ireland. The economic boom of the last decade there is something to be admired, and to take tips from.
There is possibly a fear, like the UK has with the States(in certain respects), that if i don't have big brother watching over me, what happens if i go wrong. Small nations can and do prosper all over the world, we have resources, a good education platform and hopefully a will of the people to show a'body else we can do it.
For me, Its not just a sense of wanting to be independent for the sake of it, like your local pub alki might say, its a chance to prosper and set our own agenda, and importantly, move our society in a direction that WE want to. Its not like England control us, or even pay too much attention to us, but we are still governed by them. (for major issues, defence, economy etc)
I've rambled on far too much, but I'll leave with you all with this: An independent Scotland need not diminish its ties with the UK both finacially and socially. The big difference is, when and if we need to be separate, we can be. Its not about losing a neighbour, its about gaining control.

(sorry about my typo's, bad grammar etc, shocking I know for a journo, needless to say this comment is rushed (in typing, not thought))

FREEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEDDDDDDOOOOOOOOOOOOOMMMMMMMMMMM!!!!!!!!

Nicol J. Craig i think your coming from an angle which i think is the best approach to the current political climate. Giving Scotland and the other home nations the power to make them the best they can possibly make themselves will not only lead to a better Union, but a better country individually

Independence is the right of every nation on earth.Get used to it people Scotland is gong to be free.If that offends you then tough because Sovereinity lies with the people and their will be that the nation is free to decide its future.Unionist policy is the past it did not work then or recently and Labour went deaf and dumb to housing demands etc so let all here just go for freedom.You will love it>

One thing continues to puzzle me! It appears that every unionist party politician is prepared to give his/her life's blood in support of the struggles for independence by people in every part of the world, oppressed or not, and will vehemently declare their right to "self -determination" as an obvious entitlement, and yet they are all, apparently without exception, utterly opposed to even permitting the people of Scotland to express an opinion on THEIR future! It seems that they are not as confident about the outcome of a referendum as they pretend! Anyway, it will be interesting to see where this next phase of the Conversation leads us.

After reading these and other comments I have come to the conclusion... this whole project is a waste of time.

Has anyone seen a full cost analysis? I don't mean these people coming on the TV saying "Scotland will make a profit" I mean a FULL break down.

Unemployment benefits, Disability living allowance, New Passports, DVLA, Pensions, Defence, public sector wages/pensions, Boarder control, Immigration, Foreign embassies, Social Schemes, road maintain, NHS, brain drain, etc etc etc.

The thing is...you will not be shown it either, if it does come to a referendum you will be shown images of the Scottish hills, moving music in the background, a verse from Burns....fade to black with yellow script "it's time for Scotland to be great again"

Why? because of statements like FREEDOM!!!
I mean can you change the mind of a person brought up all their live to believe Scotland was a great country and will be again if it were not for the English, Welsh, Northern Irish or who ever is to blame this week? Is it possible to convince said person that Scotland was a second rate country and most likely will be again. I don't believe so, as the majority of people want to keep the Union what is the real reason for this project? to keep peoples attention away for their lack of policies on the big issues perhaps??

When you say sovereignty of scotland and self determination, Scottish people are also British people, therefore they have a say in British politics, self determined :)

God help us if we become independant. In a world, thats heading increasingly towards a 'global village', we want to separate. What has an independant Scotland got to offer to the world, that will make us so self sufficient? I would submit, that as we are, part of the union, with our own sense of identity and national pride we are in almost the perfect position to compete on a world wide stage. In a global context, and in an independant Scotland, how would we defend ourselves? Who would pay for the armed forces, a new Air Force and a new Navy? Who would pay for the people who work from the central UK government? Who would pay for the scottish equivalent of the NHS? The population of Scotland is just over 5 million, according to the 2001 census. Thats not alot of money to go around generated from taxes, without huge rises to generate revenue. Within the UK all 4 nations have a sense of individuality and sense of uniqueness that removes the need for us to become independant, whilst reaping the rewards of being part of the Union.