Nicola Sturgeon vows to start process of second independence referendum

No one has been brainwashed about being too poor, too wee etc.

Then why, oh why do people completely misunderstand the premise of the Barnett Formula and keep asking us how we'll survive without rUK subsidising us?

A friend once told me I was thinking with my heart, not my head, in 2014. Friendship ended. And be very careful about talking about levels of education and suggesting that maybe those who think differently to you about independence are ill-educated. That would be a mistake.

Well Hadrian's Wall has its birthday today ....might I suggest those who disagree with Scottish independence apply to help re build it !! ////seriously if Scotland does become independent I am moving there .....will be back being part of Europe (if they will have us !)

As an English daughter of a Scottish mum, I was totally against independence last time round. I’ve read all the comments on this post, including the one we might all wish hadn’t been posted. I was anti Brexit and anti breaking up the Union but I do think if Scots feel so strongly then so be it, Independence must be granted. Maybe it will stop some of the rabidly anti English rhetoric we have had to put up with in recent years, I for one will be glad to see an end to it and a return to more neighbourly relations. I have seen numerous times on this post comments about English people thinking Scotland to be too small, too poor, too stupid, first I’ve ever heard of this but then I don’t spend my days thinking about it so possibly missed it, I’m sure Scotland will be ok if they go their own way and it won’t be my problem if they don’t. I’m much more interested in how the remaining union will fare and I suspect we will be alright too. I cannot quite get my head around all this “400 years ago, this happened” stuff, what relevance does that have to life today? I think that’s a poor argument for change, I am sure there are better ones. Surely we don’t think much of what was happening 400 years ago would actually be preferable to life today.

Yiayia70

If Scotland gets independence, then they can’t come on our quiz programmes etc, as they will be non British. Always a silver lining ??

What?

I wonder if I can class that as rabidly anti Scottish rhetoric? ?

I love Scotland - been a few times, & I love the people. Really hope they stay with us, but if the majority want out then I wish them all the best.

Well forget the argy bargy on this thread, I’m thoroughly enjoying Robert Burns, No Holds Bard on Sky Arts. Did a course on his poetry with Future learn, excellent. I’m English, but love Scotland , distant ancestry and family served in Scotland.

As a Scot who lives in Scotland I must say I am sick fed up of Nicola Sturgeon aka Nippy Sweetie ranting on about independence . We had a referendum and we voted against independence. I am certain that if we had voted for independence then Ms Sturgeon would not entertain another referendum. I am very proud to be Scottish and British. I find it sad and embarrassing that some Scots dislike the English - very small minded.

As a Scot living in Scotland I am happy with Nicola Sturgeon. I don't think of her as a nippy sweetie, or a Krankie, but as an able and respectable politician. She is hardworking and honourable, unlike other leaders within this country. The SNP win elections because the people support them. In Scotland we have a PR system that is designed to prevent single parties gaining control, but the popularity of the SNP is such that they have gained a full majority in the past and the minority parties crow that the SNP didn't get a full majority at the last election, but they did win, and indeed at the last election independence supporting parties won a majority of the vote. That is the mandate for holding a referendum. Holding a referendum isn't the end of the world, if the Scots truly don't want independence they won't vote for it, but if they do, they should be given the opportunity.

And be very careful about talking about levels of education and suggesting that maybe those who think differently to you about independence are ill-educated. That would be a mistake

I just wish Brexiteers had been given the same consideration Alegrias
?

But it's been proved on numerous occasions in many surveys that the people voting for brexit were likely to have lower educational levels that those voting to remain.

Them's the facts ma'am.

Alegrias1

But it's been proved on numerous occasions in many surveys that the people voting for brexit were likely to have lower educational levels that those voting to remain.

Them's the facts ma'am.

Brexiteers have never been very keen on facts, Alegrias.

I hope you include me in your list of pro Scots. I did post an evidenced refutation of the argument that England subsidises Scotland earlier. ?

Power to your elbow I say. My Scottish born niece & nephew would be delighted....

I don't have a list MaizieD but if I did you'd be on it. ?

Nicola Sturgeon has spent most if the Covid crisis bleating about wanting more money from Westminster for Scotland. If we become independent where on earth is money coming from ?

ALEGRIAS1, you are incorrect once again re " there is no such constituency as buchan" .....see below. I await your apology

Alexander Elliot Anderson Salmond (/ˈsæmənd/; born 31 December 1954) is a Scottish politician who served as First Minister of Scotland from 2007 to 2014, currently serving as leader of the Alba Party since 26 March 2021. He was previously the leader of the Scottish National Party (SNP), serving two terms, from 1990 to 2000 and from 2004 to 2014. He was the Member of Parliament (MP) for Banff and Buchan from 1987 to 2010, when he stood down to focus on his role as First Minister, and then for Gordon from 2015 to 2017. Salmond was the Depute Leader of the SNP from 1987 to 1990 and was a Member of the Scottish Parliament (MSP) from 1999 to 2001 and 2007 to 2016.

Independence can't come soon enough for me. And almost every other Scot I know.

Even my English friends are telling me they wish they could come and vote YES, then move here, as Nicola Sturgeon is such a great leader.

For those who say Scotland couldn't pay for itself - splurge out £7.50 on the book (which has references to where the info comes from) "Scotland The Brief" by
Gordon MacIntyre-Kemp

The sooner we're rid of the corrupt shysters in Westminster the better. Oh, and don't forget - if you're not, like me, a huge fan of the SNP - it doesn't matter. Vote for Independence, then promote whatever other Party you like.

(I doubt you'll win, unless it's maybe the Greens, but vote away.) It's just that most of us realise that it's the SNP who've given us free prescriptions; baby boxes; free travel for the elderly AND the Disabled AND the 5 -21 year olds; shorter waiting lists in the NHS than England's had for years, and a far more sensible and robust approach to Covid.

Just to name a few.

I would like London to go for independence, a bit like The Vatican City. With a population approaching 9 million, the most diverse, multi-heritage population throughout the UK, we are unique. Nowhere else in the UK has anything like the diversity and inclusiveness of London. We deserve to govern ourselves for the benefit of all our citizens, including those from the richest echelons to the most deprived.

As a Londoner I agree Rosie51. We could join the EU and London could get back lots of the jobs it lost as centre of Euro finances. After all 70+ % of Londoners voted remain which is a proper significant majority. We have a bigger population than many independent countries. And are truly diverse and multinational. England’s parliament could move to some Brexitty voting place like Sunderland.

ALEGRIAS1, you are incorrect once again re " there is no such constituency as buchan" .....see below. I await your apology

Is that right?

Banff and Buchan. The good people of Banff and the surrounding areas will not take it kindly that you have decided to erase them from the electoral map.

I lived there for 20 years. Family still live there. Nobody calls the constituency Buchan, ever. Buchan is an entirely different thing.

No apology. If you're going to argue Scottish politics, get you facts right.

Once again, where would the money come from to pay for all the promised wonderful benefits?
Even pushing the voting age down to 16 and promising free bikes and laptops (no sign of them yet by the way) didn't help get a clear majority last May.

Several posters have described where the money will come from.

Several posters have described how the Scottish Parliament was designed not to return majorities. (Although the SNP did manage it once)

So the continued need to ask the same questions over and over again demonstrates a certain degree of obduracy.

England’s parliament could move to some Brexitty voting place like Sunderland

It's always asked how a small country like Scotland could survive independently - the three Baltic states have a combined population of around six million and they seem to be doing OK.

I’m English, but can understand why some want Scottish Independence. For me it will be a sad day.

My relatives in Scotland, including those who moved to Scotland just to benefit from their fee free university places, are split between leave (independence) and remain. The firm my DH worked for who employed him because he lived in England and could help them extend their business, want remain. The hotel where we stayed talked about leaving. I just wish the vote could go ahead. Sexit is like Brexit all over again, reading the posts on here.
Leave-I wish Scotland all the best. Remain-I’m glad Scotland will still be part of the UK.

Unfortunately Alegrias pie in the sky economics don't convince. Even the SNP haven't worked out the economic case or the currency question or the trading borders and so much more
The separatists exist in a bubble of people who agree with them just as the unionists only ever hear about the benefits of the union with the other countries of Great Britain. The divide is dangerously deep and sharp. Only trouble lies ahead if Sturgeon continues a neverendum.