Meanwhile in Scotland.....

Ps omit "doing"! Don't know how that sneaked in.

Does Scotland have enough people paying enough tax to sustain the country's spending?
Would enough people want to relocate? Would there be enough housing and infrastructure to sustain a purported burgeoning economy?
A lot of work needs to be done if Scotland wants their independence to flourish.

I suggest you may find some useful info in the 3 articles mentioned above.

Thanks for all the links above, particularly the one to the Chris Deerin article - one of the best I've read.

One of the most astute comments is that the Brexit debate is England talking to itself.

That's certainly what it feels like, although I will be watching the TV debate out of grim fascination to see how awful it's all going to get by Halloween.

AlisonKF

You 'resent being trapped for all those years '?
Living in England for 50+ years.
If you're now 80, it means that for between the ages of 21 and 28 you harboured resentment. 7 years?
If you're older than 80 it means that for 7 to 12 years it festered.

Surely you were enjoying a reasonably carefree life between 21 (the then age of consent) and 50+ years ago or was your life submerged in politics for all that time?

Ah yes the old "look over here at a comment made 3 weeks ago" trick, possibly aimed at getting people riled at the pointed personal enquiries which are nothing to do with news and politics and nothing to do with the situation in Scotland.

It's none of any of our business, but please bear in mind that - at any stage in life - a person might have been going through a very traumatic time and there could be unintended consequences from speculating about mood or circumstances of any of us at any age.

Wouldn't it be better to debate the political points made and opinions about the topic, rather than launching a barrage of irrelevance at someone for a comment made last month?

Jane 10 I am wondering what your thoughts are on this piece of Today's News.

^Scottish Tory leader Ruth Davidson has told party members who would put Brexit ahead of preserving the UK union to "take a long, hard look at themselves".

It comes after a YouGov survey showed 63 per cent of Tory members would rather see Scotland leave the UK than Brexit scuppered^

What was it exactly that BoJo said about the Scots and Scottish PM?

As eloquently exposed by Blackford today at PMQT?

Oh yes, here it is.

Jane10- whether you like or not the SNP and Blackford or Sturgeon, etc - he says it as it is here:

youtu.be/hiE9f8jM4SE

Can you imagine how Scots would feel being governed by a man who has stated such opinions?

I have always been a fervent supporter of the Union - and was so happy when the Indep vote didn't succeed. But NOW- I truly could not blame the Scots for wanting out at all costs- I truly could not. And, with respect (and I do mean that) - I do wonder if the middle classes in Edinburgh are out of step with the rest of Scotland.

I mean 'the Scots are a verminous race that should be placed in ghettos and exterminated' - not a 'off the cuff moment in a private event- but in a newspaper article

and also ' Scots shold be banned from being PM' or

One £ spent in Croydon is worth much more than one spent in Strathclyde'

how could any Scots, even the Tories, put up with that racism, prejudice and nonsense - and Ruth is fully aware of the dangers.

jura Bothered? Nope.

And, with respect (and I do mean that) - I do wonder if the middle classes in Edinburgh are out of step with the rest of Scotland

My father, a proud Scot and a Borderer used to echo those sentiments Jura
He felt the Central Belt (on the obvious basis of population) dominated Scottish politics much in the same way that many of us in the rest of the UK feel that too much revolves around London and the south east.
When faced with the prospect of home rule for Scotland, he said he did not see any advantage in being governed “by Edinburgh lawyers and Glasgow baillies “

I see. So someone domiciled in Switzerland and someone's Dad think/ thought that. Well good for them. However, don't forget that only 2 council areas voted for independence last time and 38 voted against. The 2 areas were Strathclyde and Dundee.
The whole question of brexit wasn't even a part of the discussion in 2014. The opportunistic SNP are trying to conflate the two referendums. Meanwhile, after more than a decade to carry out their promises they are failing in education, police and NHS. They have not taken up the 'levers' they have been offered and can't actually run the benefits system yet. Large black hole in tax intake etc etc. I could go on but it's all been said before time and again. BTW Nicola is becoming less and less popular. Check the bookies odds. That's people putting their money where their mouths are!

And what views on Hammond's statement that the 'loss of Scotland' would lead to increased Austerity? Somewhat different from the usual 'subsidy junkies' line isn't it?

Is that Schrodinger's Scotland, where in public it's always depicted as too poor for independence, in private, the loss of Scotish assets and resources will make the rest of the UK poorer?

Jane10- whether I live in Switzerland or Timbuctu - Boris has officially made the above statements publicly - how could anyone in Scotland, never mind in Starthclyde- be able to trust him as a PM - especially one who wants to drag a strong Remain Scotland into disastrous No Deal.

And we are not talking here about a vague 'someone's dad' - but the dad of one of our long 'serving' GN member- how can you just (and rudely) dismiss her comment?

Of course it is the same in many countries - here in Switzerland, people in rural areas, and in te French speaking part, often feel Zurich and Geneva wag the tail- and resent their arrogance. Same in France re Paris, or the USA re NY or San Fran...At this very moment though, we are looking at the UK and the major crisis it faces. My family and friends, my grandchildren, and us, as, living in Switzerland or not- what happens next will affect us directly until probably the end of our life. So... a bit of respect and understanding, please.

Our 53 year old niece and one of her teenage daughters are currently visiting. They are distraught and disgusted by what their see- and be other older close relatives who either abstained or voted Leave, and tell them 'they do not really understand'. They have done everything not to fall out- but it is a real struggle, and has really put a spanner in the family works. Sad... tragic.

Anyone who currently gives support to Boris have to take on his words with them, and tacitally (sp?) approve of them - or refute him and his words and actions, and not just on Scotland.

Out of context, my foot

jura Boris is just spouting words. He's just being Boris. Meanwhile we've had a decade of SNP nonsense up here. We actually live it. We pay for it. We've had to put up with the daftness, the cuts and the crass inefficiencies. It's obviously hard to convey to onlookers what it's really like.

What will it be like under Boris - nonsense, daftness, cuts and crass inefficencies - galore and so much more.

Or do you think Boris will have a beneficial effect for Scotland and its people, and not just those in Edinburgh. Please, pray tell. I am surprise but such an intelligent and sensivite woman as you are- you cannot see that when asked to jump from a Scottish frying pan, to a burning inferno ruled by BoJo from London ...

Can you imagine how Scots would feel being governed by a man who has stated such opinions?

As Jane10 is a Scot I find it rather odd asking her how she would image the Scots would feel.
I presume she knows.

imagine not image

Jane is a very intelligent Scottish woman- but I am sure no-one can speak for a whole nation. Especially when living in a very particular part of Scotland- often seen as an elite by other Scots. It is clear from discussions on GN, that Scottish members have very varied and often, opposing, views (just as people in England).

Yes we are all different and have opposing views, but there are many benefits to living in Scotland, depending upon your circumstances. The SNP do make mistakes and it is always true that the longer any party is in power, the more likely they are to shoulder the blame.

And at least, for those who think Labour or the Lib Dems would do any better, Scots get the chance to vote at the ballot box on a regular basis and the proportional representation element means all voices have a chance of being heard.

Constantly having a downer on the SNP without acknowledging the benefits their changes have made for Scotland as a whole, gets us nowhere.

Boris Johnson will be a disaster for Scotland (if he even remembers we exist) and - if it came to a straight choice between which leader would put country before personal ambition or political dogma - my money would be on Nicola.

"Boris just being Boris" is totally unacceptable to any intelligent Scot!
Read into that what you will!
Of all the Scots who post here, jane is the least representative.
Jura's finger is more on the pulse!

Good post, mcem. I very seldom post on these threads because I get so annoyed, but I don't think that Jane10, who is, of course, entitled to all her views, speaks for as many Scots as she thinks. Although the SNP government has not done everything perfectly by any means, I am one of those who are proud to live in a country where our tax money goes to such things as free prescriptions (to name but one) and also that those who earn more pay more tax. (And yes, that does include some of my family.)

It really does beggar belief that there are still Scots who think Westminster is the best option for us.I'm sure many south of the border would love a government who is performing FOR its people in the way the SNP are .Over 50 000 new affordable homes ,half way decent rises for the Police an dNurses and Teachers ,small rises for carers ,mitigated austerity with no scots paying the "bedroom tax" and we balance the budget ..thats the budget that Westminster gives us out of the money we hand over to them .That money THEY call the Barnett formula ...all that means is they have control of what we bring in and they spend a huge portion of it on their wants and needs .Jane is not typical of any one I know.There have been over 5000 NEW members of the SNP in just 2 days this week....no appetite for Independence ? Dont you believe it!