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New monarch gives fresh impetus to Scotland's independence debate

31 Comments
By Anna MALPAS

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I have little or no time for political unions at all.

Back in Edinburgh, Theresa Brown, a 51-year-old receptionist, said she was happy for him to stay Scotland's king.

"It's mainly from Westminster I want independence. I don't mind the royal family," she said.

I fully appreciate and support this sentiment. Voters in Scotland should be able to hold there politicians directly accountable.

Now there are risks economically,

Nicola sturgeon governing Scottish National Party have alienated the English, with a brand of nationalism that reeks of abhorrence and loathing.

In the event of a successful vote for a independent Scotland a Westminster Government would be negotiating steps with a view to the Edinburgh agreement

However the UK Government would be under no obligation to accept any demands since authority over constitutional matters would remain with the UK bodies

This could have profound economic consequences for a newly independent Scotland.

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Silly article - the current political mood in Scotland is way less SNP than (say) 5 years ago. SNP have shown themselves to be as useless and corrupt as the rest of the shower south of the border.

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Nicola sturgeon governing Scottish National Party have alienated the English, with a brand of nationalism that reeks of abhorrence and loathing.

I find that a ridiculous statement. I can't think of any anti-English comment made by Sturgeon or the SNP. Many of its members are English-born. From my own experience, there was more anti-English sentiment back in the 1960s. I say that as an English-born person who lived in Scotland from the age of one.

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From what I understand, one woman was arrested, and the booing seemed to come from one man. Possibly drunk.

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Totally agree Nicola sturgeon has in my recollection not made any direct anti English rhetoric.

However that can't be said for a number of MSP SNP, and the ever growing under current of anti English sentiment.

The SNP’s mountain of mendacity

https://www.spectator.co.uk/article/the-snp-s-mountain-of-mendacity

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The Scots are among the most well represented people in the whole of the UK - not only do they have MPs in Westminster (more MPs per head of population than other parts of the UK) but they also have their own parliament that can make their own laws covering a whole range of issues. I'm not sure that Scotland would vote for independence and I'm not convinced Brexit would have changed many minds having seen how problematic it has been - basically, it would be like Brexit on steroids. What are they going to do, join the EU? Then what? What currency are they going to use? The Euro? Then what of all the trade with England? There would have to be a hard border, no? Defence? Just a huge mess, way worse than we saw with Brexit because Scotland have been part of the UK, a much closer union than the EU ever was, for much longer than the EU even existed.

I feel for the Scots, who are generally more left/progressive leaning and thanks to English voters usually end up with a Tory government that they don't support. But that is the same for vast swathes of people in English inner cities too - especially in the North, and those people don't have their own independent parliament like the Scots do.

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What are they going to do, join the EU? Then what?

Perhaps try to be like nearby and similarly sized countries in the EU, e.g. Denmark, Ireland, Finland. And if that happens, the bigger question might be what England is going to do. Will it rejoin the EU in some fashion? I think many in England would like that.

the ever growing under current of anti English sentiment.

I think you'll find it more of an anti-Spectator-type sentiment. Probably shared by most people in the north of England.

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Yes the Spectator is not the most objective publication politically.

My experience of Scotland its people have always been positive.

There is banter but stated in fun.

It is the perception from the English media, that there is a distinct belief, the Scottish political establishment has a dislike for the English, echoed from time to time in the Scotland press.

Although there is always the misconception that political disagreement can be wrongly taken at face value to mean contempt.

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Scotland will stay with England. Don't be distracted by all the media guff and propaganda. God bless all four of the awesome foursome - England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, and God Save The King!

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I think that most Scottish resentment comes from the fact that out of a country of just over 3,000,000 people, 85% of the land is owned by less than 500 people.

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The support for a independent Scotland under King Charles III is higher than for republicans either independent or united.

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What are they going to do, join the EU?

Yes, and the EU will welcome them back to rejoin similarly minded countries, many of which enjoy links with Scotland many centuries older than the Act of Union.

The Scots will finally be in a union of equals, free from the democratic deficit that the Celtic fringe are subject to at Westminster. Roll on IndyRef 2.

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I really wonder why everyone feels they have to experience life through the screen of a phone when they are actually right there with it happening in front of them?

Picture shows like 75% of people recording what is right in front of them instead of looking at it.

Concerts are also annoying in this way. See it with your own eyes and if it is memorable, you will remember it. If not, you wont and no loss.

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I do not think the Scots will want to break away from the UK, those that do, live in the past and probably salute the following (primary school song I once learnt):

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZkW9nR07o_U

An Independent Scotland will fail, what makes Scotland Great, is, it's cohesion within the UK as a respected partner, Royalty aside.

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As for the EU, the decision to introduce the Euro Currency in it's present form, was the Worst "Hurried" decision that the Community ever made. Nice in Theory, but bad in Practice.

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I think you'll find it more of an anti-Spectator-type sentiment. Probably shared by most people in the north of England

Yes.

I read the Spectator for balance. It’s very reactionary but has some good writers. I used to read the Telegraph but that’s nearly as stupid as the Mail these days.

I agree with the north of England comment. I’m from a northern English city and always felt more in common with the people in Glasgow than the people in the south of England. I remember Alex Salmond on Question Time in Liverpool and the half-serious idea of Liverpool joining an independent Scotland raised cheers from the audience.

I must admit I feel a bit strange when I see people from northern cities getting patriotic/ doing the ‘God save the Queen/king’ thing.

Just doesn’t sit right with me.

The England ends at Watford Gap idea has some truth in it.

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The Queen's coffin travelled from Holyrood Palace to the St Giles Cathedral in Edinburgh... watching live on TV and only shouts seemed to be God Save the King! Sturgeon is a monarchist and I don't see the bulk of her party being republicans. I don't know any fellow Scots who are republicans. There are, but they would be a vocal minority.

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Give the English a vote on Scotish independence, I look forward to them coming back cap in hand when they dont have the handouts they currently receive.

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The SNP, like most nationalists everywhere try to portray themselves (and instill in others in the population) as bullied oppressed victims. The game is : give us more or else we will go independent.

The question at the last referendum "Should Scotland be an independent country", never made much sense to me. Scotland has always been an independent country, setting most of it's own agenda regarding budgets, tax, education and even laws (note Scottish law varies from English Common Law). On all other issues, Scottish MP's are free to vote at Westminster.

Nowhere in the world is a more successful partnership between two countries.

Scottish people are intelligent, industrious proud people, and it was good to see that a decisive majority saw through this nationalist victim, own destiny jargon at the last referendum.

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Some corrections:

out of a country of just over 3,000,000 people

Scotland's population is about 5.5 million.

Got to love the simple fact that in 1707 the Scots gave up their independence willingly

Most Scots had no say in the matter. The decision was made by 110 people.

Scotland has always been an independent country, setting most of it's own agenda regarding budgets, tax, education and even laws

There has only been a Scottish Parliament since 1999. Before that, all laws affecting Scotland were passed at Westminster.

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Seeing as Brexit doesn't seem to have resulted in anything positive for Britain, it only makes sense that the Scots, who wanted to stay in the EU, separate from Britain and join the EU again. They got dragged into a crappy deal by the English.

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StrangerlandToday  12:55 am JST

Seeing as Brexit doesn't seem to have resulted in anything positive for Britain, it only makes sense that the Scots, who wanted to stay in the EU, separate from Britain and join the EU again. They got dragged into a crappy deal by the English.

You mean you cannot see the positive results of Brexit on Britain. Like the over ten billion pounds saved in new taxes, to begin with.

And for Scotland, Brexit put the spotlight back on the independence movement.

Is someone really arguing Brexit has been bad for Britain?

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There has only been a Scottish Parliament since 1999. Before that, all laws affecting Scotland were passed at Westminster.

Scottish MP's have always been able to vote at Westminster, and still can.

Scotland's population is about 5.5 million.

My goodness, healthy birthrate. Glad to hear that my Scottish cousins are thriving.

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You mean you cannot see the positive results of Brexit on Britain.

Every time I've asked here what the positive results of Brexit are, I've received crickets.

Like the over ten billion pounds saved in new taxes, to begin with.

Really?

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In response to There has only been a Scottish Parliament since 1999. Before that, all laws affecting Scotland were passed at Westminster:

Scottish MP's have always been able to vote at Westminster, and still can.

Where 84% of UK population is represented by English MPs, and the chamber is near empty at Scottish (Welsh or Northern Irish) questions? Rrright.

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Instead of focusing upon divisions that the New Monarch brings, we should take a closer look at what he has focused upon during his life to date... regardless of where you live, if you mess up your environment in the carefree way that we have been living to-date, it will come back to haunt you and your descendants later on.

I happened to stumble upon this one from 2010 - Robbin Williams (A Comedian, worthy of Historical Note - RIP), was way ahead of us, when it came to Environmental issues - Plastic in our Oceans:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PSX7IT2_iQc

Prince Charles (now King) was ahead of his time in such matters. One has to wonder what else, he is ahead of...

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In the British Commons, the UK is divided into constituencies. England 533. Wales 40. Scotland 59. Northern Ireland 18.

Wales with a population of 3 million has the highest number of MPs per citizen. 1 MP/75,000 people.

Scotland with a population of 5.5 million. 1 MP/93,220 people.

England with a population of 56 million. 1 MP/105,000 people.

Northern with a population of 2 million. 1MP/111,000 people.

Scotland has more MPs per person than England.

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Scotland has more MPs per person than England.

They’d have 100% of their MPs if they were an independent nation.

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We need a Comedian, of the quality exhibited by Robin Williams, to allay our concerns for the Future of the "United" Kingdom.

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