England, no way sorry

We were in Scotland for a wedding several years ago and were berated for being English because of what happened to Mary Queen of Scotts.

nigglenellie (to paddyann) "Honestly, are you for real!!";
are you?

You don't have to follow the link, I won't mind if you don't

Are the English upset because Mary Queen of Scots' son became James 1 of England?

I have several Scottish friends and they don't understand the bitterness either gillybob - but then so many of them live in England or Wales, but still have relatives in Scotland.

Why on earth should English people be upset about James 1st!! I doubt many people know anything about him or his unfortunate mother!! He was a Protestant, He was the G.Grandson. of James 1Vth and Henry V111th elder daughter Margaret, which is how he came to be king of Scotland/England, no problems with that!
I agree annie, an event 52 years old is quite absurd to keep on about! and doesn't say much for the intervening years! best kept quiet about I'd have thought!!! We're not football fans, so don't really care who wins, but would always ' back a 'home team' if asked, whichever country that happened to be. But, do you know if N.S were to back the dark side of the moon, I frankly could care less!!

Thanks Jalima. I Googled the wrong way and started with Welsh Water instead of Thames!

Of course, if the UK collapses and no one wants to live in London the problem is solved!

nigglynellie, I agree I don't really care about the football either and we can't dine out forever on "1966" it seems that English football fans are forever destined to be disappointed and invest way too much hope in what often amounts to mediocre performances by the English team. Having said that what a great team Iceland were for such a small population so maybe she's picked well. However, I would back an English side in an international event, albeit in a luke warm way, perhaps making an exception for team GB during the Olympics who did us proud, I hasten to add drawn from all 4 nations within the British Isles.

Doubt whether the English of 1603 were consulted as to whether they wanted the mincing (allegedly) Scottish James V1. Would a Scottish king be more acceptable to a republican Scottish nationalist, there's a conundrum Perhaps they could draw some comfort from the fact that his son was executed and as a consequence altered the balance of power from then on.

I’m not upset about James 1st. I don’t mind in the least that we had to have a Scottish King. In fact, I suppose that makes us all Scots.

I don’t like football niggly, I use to belong to a forum when AOL existed. We decided to hold a draw for something, can’t recall now, I was draw master ! This led to draws for Wimbledon and several other events, some plonker, yes a chap, wanted one for the World Cup, I had to follow it so I could congratulate who ever’s team went through, had no idea what I was talking about ?, I was so bored , I drew a team from a country I had never heard of .

No Nfk, it does not ?

Firstly, as this thread is about Water - "Scottish Water is a statutory corporation that provides water and sewerage services across Scotland. It is accountable to the public through the Scottish Government."

Secondly I must reiterate, once again, that I, and my fellow Scottish Nationalists DO NOT HATE the English (nor Welsh nor Irish) people. What we do resent is that we cannot make our own choices but have to abide by the choices/decisions made in Westminster by a government we did not vote for. That government can, and regularly does, reject any proposals or amendments, (even ones which affect Scotland only) put forward by the Scottish MPs. They can do this by sheer weight of numbers. Conversely, under EVEL legislation, Scottish MPs are excluded from the chamber and not allowed to vote on matters which are deemed to affect England or England and Wales only. This rule applies even if there is likely to be a knock on effect for Scotland because of this new legislation.

Threads like conversations in the real world have a tendency to wander granny23 . At least Scotland has its own parliament which is more than we English have . Scotland make a lot of decisions for Scotland and yet England cannot make decisions for England which I find quite strange .

Maybe “hate” is too strong a word ( or maybe not ) but the Scottish nationalists seem to have a definite dislike of all things English .

Lots of people in England are living under a government they didn’t vote for too.
I know that’s not quite what you meant granny23 but it is a fact.

We all have a cross to bear !!! Lucky we don't live in Syria!!
annie, you did make me laugh, sounds so like me!!!! ?

secondly I must reiterate, once again, that I, and my fellow Scottish Nationalists DO NOT HATE the English
You may not Granny23 and I am sure you are lovely, but I don't think you can speak for everyone, even some on here.

And I was told by a Welsh colleague that she 'hated the English' (but not me so that was all right then).

If that's the case, Granny23, why can't Nationalists bring themselves to root for England in the World Cup, as per my link up thread? Scotland has no skin in the game so why not support your nearest neighbour, who you'll have to live next door to for a very long time, independence or not?

Scotland beat England at ODI cricket yesterday. Hurrah for them, I say! I'd have said the same if England had won - to me, it was a win:win situation. Best of both worlds.

I joined the SNP decades ago as soon as I was old enough to do so.

I seem to have a strangely large number of English folk amongst my kith and kin for someone who “hates them”.

I must have missed out that bit on the application form...

I couldn’t agree more SueDonim I would always support a home team before any other. I remember supporting Wales in the European cup in 2016 when they brilliantly got to the semi finals.

Oh I think by joining the SNP it was a given (no need for a tick box) muffin .

I have to confess, Gillybob that I'm not a sports fan and don't actually watch any sport or do any active team supporting.

I wouldn’t call myself a massive fan SueDonim but quite enjoy watching the odd game especially if one of our home teams are playing.

I find this belief that I “hate the English” curious. I have absolutely no hatred whatsoever for English people. I’m not a swivel eyed racist and neither are the other Nats I know.

I just believe strongly in the principle of self determination. I believed in it strongly enough as a teenager to join the party. I believed in it strongly enough to vote Yes in the referendum.

I don’t go about in a St Andrews Cross and a tam o’shanter singing about Culloden.

I care about the folk living in my country - no matter where they are from, or their nationality, if they are here, they matter to me - and their prospects and a better future for us all.

I still believe the SNP represent the most realistic chance of that happening. If I change my mind about that, I will vote differently.

I have to be honest, English folk and the nation of England don’t factor into my decision making at all on that front. We live in a democracy, right? We all vote for what we agree with the most.

I’m so glad you feel that way muffin. That’s exactly how I feel about wanting to come away from Europe. I was quite upset when some called Brexiteers racists, when all we want is independence. So yes, I see precisely where you’re coming from wanting to be free of the Westminster yoke (actually a lot of English feel the same). I don’t altogether understand though, those who wanted to break up the UK but stay in Europe, that being one of 27 is better than being one of 4.

So do you think English people who say they've been subjected to hatred from Scots are making it up, Muffin?

I don't think anyone here is accusing you personally of hatred but to deny it happens anywhere is not credible. Such remarks may come with the proviso 'Not you, of course, you're ok.' or 'My brother-in-law is English so I'm not racist.'

Sue I haven’t denied any racist incidents targeted at English people anywhere I posted. I deplore them. I deplore all forms of racism; there’s no place for it in a progressive society. I would absolutely report any such incident to the appropriate authorities as and when I was aware of one.

I firmly believe that when someone interprets a statement or gesture as racist, that person’s viewpoint should be heard and believed. I don’t engage in victim denying.

I don’t have anything to do with the cesspit that is Twitter, so I appreciate I probably miss out on the worse of the cybernats and EDL nonsense. Tribal pish, to be blunt.

I have no interest in denying that racist morons exist and no interest in defending their cause, either. You will not hear that argument from me.

Nfk I felt there were compelling arguments for an independent Scotland to be an EU member and voted accordingly. I considered that if the UK as presently constituted withdrew from the EU, it would be significantly more difficult in practical and probably political terms for Scotland to rejoin the EU. I also believed on the basis of the evidence I am familiar with that withdrawing from the EU even whilst remaining in the UK as presently constituted would negatively impact Scotland’s economy.