Scottish Election 6 weeks away.

Why not? Kali has ventured many opinions on many threads on GN.

And will Kali ever venture an opinion again?

Is that in your opinion Kali2 or do you have some facts to back that statement up?

I voted to remain in the EU but think I've changed my mind a bit after recent events. All is not well in the EU these days.

Remainers are the true Unionists.

But people wanting an independent Scotland are separatists just as there are Basque separatists. Those wanting to stay part of the UK are unionists. Seems reasonable nomenclature.

I'm not getting into any more independence discussions about who said what to whom and exactly what they meant by it. Not good for my health. ? I really object to the new trend of calling us "separatists" as well, as though I'm blooming Count Dooku.

tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Characters/StarWarsSeparatistAlliance

Folk who support independence are ent9itled to their view. but Nicola Sturgeon tries to have it both ways. When before the vote she told an interviewer that voters who liked some of her party's policies but were against separatism should vote SNP but now that vote is taken as an endorsement of her separatist position.

No, of course not varian, that's why I said I so often agree with you. And I also agree with you that we need we shouldn't base a decision to go to independence on a simple majority, we should have a higher threshold.

Just the wording of "it must be resisted" caught my eye rather, as though folk who support independence are some kind of fifth column.

Sorry * Allegrias* I hope we are not enemies. We are both Scots and I think were both in favour of the UK remaining in the EU.

I think we were both appalled by the irresponsible action of David Cameron in allowing our membership of the EU
to be decided by a referendum unprotected by a supermajority when the vote on that one day was so out of line with opinion before and after.

The brexit fiasco has not only damaged the UK e only but has split the population into two disparate groups. Five years on we are still Leavers or Remainers.

It shows never have been allowed to happen. There should never be any in a nation's constitutional position without the consent of a clear majority say two thirds not 50 per cent plus one.

There is chatter abroad that a Scottish equivalent of a Gina Millar might come forward to challenge the legality of Indy2 in the Scottish Courts. The reasoning behind it is that Boris and his government can distance themselves from any unfolding drama.

varian we often agree on things, but "must be resisted"? Are we the enemy now?

And it's 300 years. 314, to be exact.

The covid crisis has enabled the Vote Leave government to blame everything on covid and nothing on brexit.

At some point we must see the huge damage that has been done to our country by leaving a 40 year partnership.

The much more dreadful damage which could be inflicted by the separatist leaving a 400 year partnership must be resisted.

Alegrias1

I'll answer one of your questions Call. I'd want independence whether or not Brexit had happened.

Ok, fair enough, thanks.

I don't think it is just me, though, who remains puzzled about some aspects of this.

lemongrove

Brown speaks sensibly about the Union and why we should stay together, but do people still listen to him?

I agreed with the part I heard this morning Lemongrove, something about the Tory government's brand of Unionism not working in Scotland any more, if it ever did. I will listen to the whole thing later.

Personally, I see him as yesterday's man - a former PM who is not even a back bencher any more, in a party that isn't in power.

lemongrove

The Scottish tourist industry has suffered badly during the last year with Covid, imagine if there was constant wrangling (which there will be) about the ‘next’ referendum for independence, very off putting for visitors.
I agree this aspect can’t be the be all and end all for thinking (if you are a undecided voter) about independence, but if you are a business owner or work in the tourist industry in any capacity, it could sway you.
A hard border would be the other thing to sway you.

DH works in the tourist industry, is a small business owner. Still supports independence.

That's my sample of one. Other opinions may vary.

Brown speaks sensibly about the Union and why we should stay together, but do people still listen to him?

The Scottish tourist industry has suffered badly during the last year with Covid, imagine if there was constant wrangling (which there will be) about the ‘next’ referendum for independence, very off putting for visitors.
I agree this aspect can’t be the be all and end all for thinking (if you are a undecided voter) about independence, but if you are a business owner or work in the tourist industry in any capacity, it could sway you.
A hard border would be the other thing to sway you.

I think over the coming months we are going to see wilder and wilder and more desperate fantasies being put forward as to why Independence is A Very Bad Idea . Anyone who instead wants a mature discussion and hear the Unionists position could listen to Brown on this mornings Today programme ( when strangely enough he forget to mention the danger posed to tourism). He was the man who actually saved the Unionists bacon last time round. Meanwhile, let’s just remember Johnson didn’t have the guts to go to Scotland during this election. Frit frit frit.

lemongrove

If it happens ( leaving the Union) then only time will tell if it affects English visitor levels in significant numbers, but I think it may well, from conversations I have had with people.
Already, friends in the West Country who go to Scotland every year with a big group, have said they don’t feel welcome anymore.

Oh right - real evidence and there was I thinking it was biased speculation .

Size of the Scottish economy, about £200 billion. Size of the tourism industry, about 11 billion. Spend by visitors from England, about 1 billion.

Anyway sw, I thought you knew, as a person from England you are only allowed to comment on Scotland if you are telling us we're too poor, too wee, too stupid, and you couldn't care less about us. ???

Independence in Scotland could well affect visitor numbers.

And why is where I live relevant. You can’t resist getting personal can you ? I look forward to you mentioning other posters locations when you comment on their posts.

If it happens ( leaving the Union) then only time will tell if it affects English visitor levels in significant numbers, but I think it may well, from conversations I have had with people.
Already, friends in the West Country who go to Scotland every year with a big group, have said they don’t feel welcome anymore.

lemongrove

The tourist industry is big business for Scotland. Visitors come from all over, including England and spend money there, if I was a hotel or B&B owner, or any other owner of a business there that relies on visitors, then yes, I would be worried.
Since you live in Surrey sw then it doesn’t affect you.

Yes I know tourism is important for Scotland. It was the idea of tourists not visiting because of Independence.???