Scottish Referendum Autumn 2018 - Spring 2019

Ps - in Italy

They'd better make the most of it, once we are Brexited they'll have to queue at Passport control with the rest of us!

I get so angry when I see headlines saying "Scotland wants another referendum"
The majority of people living in Scotland do NOT want another referendum. the first one was "once in a lifetime, once in a generation" , the SNP had their chance and the people said NO!
It also caused a lot of hatred and yobs charging about wearing kilts and waving the Saltire. These are the same yobs who try and disrupt football matches, they only have one thought in their minds and that is hatred for anyone who disagrees with them.
Families and friends were left at war with each other. the promised oil revenue was not there and yes voters realised they had been lied to. I hope it never ever happens again.

I agree with every word you say Jane10. I can't believe we are starting on this referendum process again so soon here in Scotland when the country hasn't even begun to recover from the division and ill feeling which was caused by the last one.

If you don't get what you want when you toss a coin you make it the best of 3 or 5 or 7 until you get the answer you want. That's the Scot's way of doing it. The upside for Scotland is that if it doesn't work out the right way the blame will be on Theresa May for giving them permission to have another referendum.

Win/win as I see it. If they vote to go then we save lots of money; if they vote to stay Sturgeon will have to resign and walk off into the sunset.

I have to agree with you milkflake. DH and I were in Dumfries in the days leading up to the referendum as DH's mother was from there and we were doing some research into his family tree. We were watching a little festival of boats coming up the river (there were a lot of families around) when these buses suddenly arrived and hundreds of SNP yobs descended. Shouting, bawling, banging drums and generally making a nuisance of themselves. It was really quite frightening. Deciding to get out of the way we walked into the town centre, only to be met by another few hundred hooligans surrounding the fountain and literally grabbing people passing by. DH and I decided that we best get out of the place and being the wimp that I am I was terrified that they might find out we were English! (DH being half Scottish might've been okay).

N Sturgeon is like a terrier with a bone, she'll never let go of her desire for Scottish Independance, a wish she's had since the age of 15 apparently. If the Scots don't want Independance they need to get rid of Sturgeon along with the whole of the SNP.

If there were to be a vote, and if Sturgeon won, presumably she would want the vote to count for more than say two years!

What do you mean two years?

I do wonder if David Cameron, the original author of this whole sad, sorry mess, manages to sleep comfortably and well in his bed these nights . Just askin' ............

Today's Telegraph says 'Mrs Sturgeon's plans are unravelling as it emerged she is to abandon the SNP's policy of re-joining the EU immediately after a vote for independence amid record Euro scepticism in Scotland'. That is of course if Mrs May gives the nod for another Referendum, and she has already said there is no likelihood of that happening until after Brexit.

Listening to NS's speech the other day about how Scotland only voted "stay" in order to stay in Europe, I wasn't sure who she was trying to convince. I'm not surprised at all about the latest revelations and it would appear her anti-English campaign has nothing whatsoever to do with wanting to remain a part of Europe

Ooops posted just as the phone rang. Should have read it through first.

I'm with Granny23.

I am Irish but have lived in Scotland for more than 30 years. Till the independence referendum in 2014 I never wanted to live anywhere else. But, as some others have said, Scotland has changed and the "silent majority" is silent with good reason - we are afraid to voice our opinion. I was told I was "brave" to put "No thanks" posters in my window. "No thanks" posters were torn down. The 2014 referendum was the worst thing that could have have happened to Scotland and now we're facing it all over again. I voted to remain in the EU but the majority of the UK want us out and the majority of people in Scotland voted to stay in the UK so we have to abide by the will of the majority. Why does the SNP want a democracy only when it suits them? The posts on GN reflect exactly what is happening in Scotland with so much ill-feeling. Someone said that the SNP aren't anti-English and she was right, they're anti anybody who doesn't agree with them. I still love Scotland and I still want to live here but I despair of the divisions the SNP have caused.

I absolutely agree with you Carol1954 (I am a Carol also!!). I am beginning to understand how otherwise peaceful nations can suddenly turn into vicious warring factions. It is extremely worrying. I am afraid that, just as the failures of the Labour Party led to the first referendum, the abject incompetence of the current UK government to be inclusive of all parts of the UK has led to the threat of this one. In my 30 years in Scotland I have only occasionally encountered anti English feeling but it is most unpleasant. Separatist views can only bring division and some Scots Nats do blame the English for all their woes. Let us hope that, if there is another referendum, the result is another resounding no vote and the SNP are put back in their box for good.

MawBroon perhaps Ankers means that the result of the last 'once in a lifetime referendum' has only lasted for two or so years before Ms Sturgeon is agitating for a referendum which gives the 'correct result'.
I could have misunderstood totally, of course!
It's called 'an Irish referendum' I think.

In the Kelvin Hall Glasgow there was (not been for a couple of years) a mention to past troubles that were to do with the
Northern Ireland/Scottish link and also the Orange order .
I will probably get slated for mentioning such a touchy issue (but as I am originally from that area I feel I can)
The West coast more specifically the Glasgow area has links with Northern Ireland
And there has been sympathy for both sides
(Think football teams) of the divide.
I am very sorry but I believe that religion plays a part in Scotland's politics .
From memory the referendum ' yes' result was mainly in the Strathclyde area ( and Dundee).
Apologies if I have caused any upset it is just my take (due to personal experience) on the referendum.

Ps Mel Gibson has a lot to answer for

Yorkshiregel that was the link I posted this morning' (9.02) if anybody wants to read it in full.

I have read this thread with interest but it seems no-one has mentioned the idea of having a federal UK (or maybe I missed it with all the passion in some messages!). I am Scottish but live in NE England and this week am visiting some family in Canada. Now the Canadians seem to have got it right - they have a federalist system with most powers devolved down to the provinces but accept a national government for areas such as foreign policy and defence. Where I am staying, in Quebec, they had a referendum over 20 years ago that had a very very close result - but they chose to remain part of Canada. The separatist movement has almost gone away (though not in the north) but the main point is that Quebec, like all the other provinces), has all the powers they want - including tax and benefits. Why on earth can't the UK go the same way? It seems such an obvious way to go if only Westminster would see beyond the south of England....

We have a similar background, swji1, part Scottish, grew up in NE England with relatives in Canada.
I'm not entering this debate/argument, except to say that I'm on the side of Nicola Sturgeon and I hope she achieves what she aims for.
My main reservation is that she might not find it as straightforward as she hopes ( as TM will find the many complications of disentangling from the EU.)

I've got to the stage of saying "good riddance". Maceroon bent over backwards bribing them to stay last time - I notice Ms Sturgeon hasn't refused any of that - but enough is enough. If they want to go, let them. I doubt the EU will bend over far to let them join.

Swhi1 the Canadian federal system is surely just their way of describing a system of devolved power as already applies in the UK. It may be that more powers are devolved - I had a quick look at their structure and it wasn't entirely clear. It was Westminster that set up all the devolved governments, and which has paved the way for mayors in major cities with significant devolved powers. In short, you are wrong to say they can't see beyond the South, and wrong to think that simple federalism will satisfy those in Scotland who want full independence.

www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2017/feb/24/labour-constitutional-reforms-federal-uk-scotland