Devolution - What are your views?

I think the free bus pass is long overdue. Grayling We pay lip service to climate change but here at last is a practical chance to encourage new habits for transport.

I think a vote now for Scottish independence would win. Even dyed in the wool unionists are totally fed up with Westminster.

I consider myself British but proud to be Scottish. I was in favour of devolution but very much against Independence. Perhaps if our SNP government had made a better job of it over their tenure I might be in favour. I would point out Paddyanne that my DGS in P7, following the Scottish Curriculum for Excellence, has been "taught" about the Victorians and Egyptians but the only Scottish history he has had has been the Jacobites which only really covered the Battle of Culloden. Never mind, he is about to get a bus pass which will allow him free travel all over Scotland until he is 22 - what is that all about! I would think it will be a help to families who will soon not be able to afford to run a family car but would have thought it should be for school age children not someone who may leave school at 16 or 18 and be in employment until the age of 22.

I'm Welsh, but would never want independence from the rest of the UK. I didn't vote for devolution and I think it's a really bad idea. I always think of myself as British. Since the pandemic there have been definite divisions between the four nations which is sad. I say united we stand divided we fall.

I would love an England independence vote ??

I was born in England, Scottish Mum, Polish born but naturalised British Dad. We moved back to Scotland when I was three, nearly 65 years ago, after Dad died.
I’m in favour of devolution but not independence. I consider myself to be British, and even if Scotland became independent, would still do so.
Due to general political apathy, I doubt if yet another referendum would give us a clear vote either for or against independence.

I have never thought of myself as British, I am Welsh.

As a child i heard much hatred of England, much stemmed from English ironworks and coal mine owners.

I supported devolution ,

I wasn’t meaning you personally lemongrove, I meant the prevailing view in each country - England wants things to stay the same, the other nations are disgruntled with the status quo.

I do hope Paddy that if the majority of Scots do not vote for independence you will accept it with good grace.

I’m English Casdon and have just answered above that I think devolution was a good idea.I think many English people would think that too.

Many thanks Allegras yes I do, always a good thing to hear different opinions in a discussion. Never too old to learn things that’s my mantra!

Bobbysgirl19 maybe do some research that way you'll find the the now "devolved" nations were aquired against their will.
There were riots in Scotlands cities when we were sold down the river by the elite ,then years of petitioning and arguing for our country back.
Since then there have been many reasons why we would prefer control of our country ,including the clearances ,the banning of tartan and the pipes .The lack of scottish history in our schools or the punishment for use of scottish language

.In effect they tried to wipe us of our identity.A s I was told they tried to bury us and wrap us in a union flag that was never ours.Of course when you bury things there will always be seeds that spring to life,and now we are on the verge of taking back control .
We dont HATE England or English people ,we just want to run things our way .
There is no democracy in Westminster ,the English MP's outnumber all the other nations by a massive number so we cant ever win that way .
The way forward for any Scot who believes in a fairer society IS independence ,we do things differently here .We dont expect Eutopia just the ability to make our own choices and our own mistakes .Like most people on earth do !

My summary is that English people think devolution is a bad idea, those of us in the other nations of the UK think it’s a good idea. It’s big brother syndrome.

Thank you for taking time to answer me Bobbysgirl19. I hope you find all the answers interesting!

Honestly, I think the other countries should just break away from England as fast as they can - ships, as Dorothy Parker put it, deserting a sinking rat.

I don’t think there’s anything great about the UK.

Independence is NORMAL .I'll just leave that there.

The clue is in the name of our island (and N.I). United Kingdom,

I would be saddened to see any of the Countries leave the union, but do sympathise with those that wish to do so.

I have always considered myself British, although English first.
I think devolution was a good idea, but not countries breaking away as we are a small island ( including NI).
It’s probable that sometime in the future NI will want to be united with the South and become one Ireland, but not in my lifetime.
I can’t see Wales ever becoming independent ( wanting to) but of course some Scottish people do want to, not enough at the last referendum ( supposedly a referendum to decide it!)
If they have another referendum and decide to leave the UK then fair enough.
Each country in the UK is a country in it’s own right, so devolution was the right way to go.

I’m not the greatest in holding my own in political discussions so I’ll keep it simple Algerias. I just find it very sad that this great United kingdom of ours is going off in different directions. You’ve only got to look at the different regimes in handling Covid to find it so confusing, and so many loopholes because we’re going off at different tangents! I’m very proud of my heritage so appreciate also we’re all individuals but it’s all such a mish mash In my opinion!

If I still lived in Scotland I’d be voting for independence. Living as I do in the North of England I feel ignored and devalued by central government. How much worse must that have been in pre-devolution Scotland?

I'm with Alegrias1 on this. Independence all the way for me. I've never considered myself British, only ever Scottish.

I'm Scottish.

Most Grans who know me will know that not only am I pro-devolution, I'm pro-independence for my country. The differences between Scotland and rUK are large enough that we need to each be given the opportunity to set objectives, rules and laws that match our nations' characteristics and priorities. Devolution, for me, is a good start but we've got further to go.

I can think of about 1,000 worse things that have happened to the UK.

I'm wondering why you think its unfair Bobbysgirl19; who is losing out? We decide to spend out money in one way, other countries in the Union may decide on another way.