The Scottish Government

One year in power the snp have done pretty well they aint perfect but who says politicians could ever be ?against the hatred of the pretendy left snp has remained positive for Scotland and Labour thrown out by voters everywhere.The Union is finished because the majority of people in the UK see through the lies and the policy nonsense that failed the UK >Independence is coming as the natural resurgence of a nation long trodden under by flagging tired old ideas that do not work.
Unionist politics are over a force that carps from the dark room of jealousy over snp grit.Young people in Scotland have wakened to their future and it is not the Union.

I have long supported independence, but I really hope that the negotiations to achieve it are done in a spirit of goodwill and positive thinking. It's hard to deny that there have been some benefits from 300 years of Union, and it would get things off on the wrong foot if independence negotiations were to take place in a spirit of resentment on the one side and prickly self-justification on the other. Both Scotland and England ought to think about what jointly works for both of them and strive to keep it. I'm thinking of such things as the National Grid, Highway code & other driving regs, the BBC transmission system, Air traffic control, Royal Mail, and so on. I'm sure most people can come up with similar things that they would not wish to see destroyed. If we are going to be asked to give the Scottish Government a mandate to negotiate an independence settlement, I think we ought to see first exactly how it foresees that settlement and be reassured that it not going to throw the baby out with the bathwater

We should follow Irelands foot steps! they are a prosperus nation now! but if we become independant we would be better off as we have the North Sea Oil!!

I am completely against independence.

I fear that they arguments for it are jingoistic and just not strong enough to justify such a monumental change.

I've lived here all my life but would leave if independence became a reality.
I am a partner in a business that employs just over 40 people and my firm could easily relocate. My partners all feel the same way, and I don't think we are the only ones.

Presumably at the point of independence all Scottish MP's cease sitting at Westminster?

Just tell us how much a litre of four star will be in an independent Scotland that doesn't have to finance Labour/Tory wars and nuclear weapons and we'll all vote for independence

With it looking like a Tory government in waiting at Westminster, Independance should be an easy choice. Independance must happen to avoid the Tory devastation of the 80s repeating. With the SNP in government (although minority) there is a feel good factor about Scotland, and they are a breath of fresh air. They are exposing the many flaws of Westminster governance. Lets stand on our own feet. We are better than wwhat many give us credit for. Free Scotland. Saor Alba.

#595
David, you're a fortunate man to have spent all your life in Scotland. I had to emigrate in 1971 because Scotland didn't have a job for me, but after squeezing every last penny I could out of the English economy I brought all my wealth back to Scotland in my retirement. If you want to emigrate when we get independence, good luck to you. I hope you enjoy living in a country where even the 'intelligent middle classes' couldn't place Inverness and Aberdeen on a map ... and who don't care either.

I am totally, 100% against independence. I agree with most of the points made my SMC at 589. Let's stop the Balkanisation of the UK. I don't want to hand in my British passport. I would rather leave the country than live in an independent statelet run by emu style policitiacians, who seem to have forgotten about globalisation and EU legislation. Becoming independent will not stop English people buying houses in the Highlands. It will cost a fortune and we'll be poor for a generation or two.

[#595] With all due respect, it does not sound as if you and your partners have thought very deeply about this, but presumably you have also consulted your employees and that they share your thinking?

The economic arguments are far from “jingoistic”, and now that the benefits to an Independent Scotland of its oil revenues have finally been ‘officially revealed’, there is no longer any excuse for ignorance in this regard. The fact that the SNP government has already made moves that favour small businesses in Scotland, and indicated a willingness to do more, should actually be encouraging small businesses in England to move here, not the reverse. How much more could an Independent Scotland do for Scottish businesses, and their employees, if it were not compelled to fund those elements of the expensive 'UK overhead' that most Scots are against, never-mind ‘UK infrastructure’ costs focussed on London that provide little benefit to those outside of the South East of England?

The ‘monumental change’ to which you refer has to some extent already happened with the transfer of many of Westminster’s powers to Brussels (or Strasbourg) and some to Holyrood, but what has not changed is that most decisions that are still made by Westminster are made in a ‘British context’ rather than a ‘Scottish context’, fishing being an obvious example. This situation has resulted in Scotland, in spite of its considerable natural resources, lagging the UK in economic growth which is key to improving the quality of life of our citizens and the aspirations of our children. Therefore, rather than fear some more change you and your partners, and your families and friends, should look forward to the increased prosperity that will undoubtedly come as more Scots work together towards a common vision of an ambitious but compassionate country.