Scotland to vote on independence in 2014

Herve - yes, I read it. Cameron, leader of the nasty party and against independence, said it. Maybe only his half of the story?

If everything Scotland earns (from oil & gas, whisky, fishing, IT, tourism, financial services, etc. - the place has a lot going for it) goes straight into the UK accounts and then Scotland gets a 'grant' from the UK government, and the grant is less than the income, is that still a 'dole'?

Herve, you do know that Scotland gives quite a bit of funding into the U.K. as well?

It's my understanding that those who want independence from the UK were peeved at the thought of revenues from North Sea oil and gas going into English coffers

It's more to do with not wanting to part of a Tory-lead coalition government.

Go Scotland, break free of the nasty party while you can.

Would Scotland stay in the EU? join the Euro? stay in the Commonwealth?

All will be revealed in due time.

Thought I read somewhere Whales wants to leave the UK as well. So that would leave England and Northern Ireland? Deed over the last to Ireland and might as well bring back the old English ensign. When something is no longer true perhaps it is best to allow it to disappear.

So do the Scots just want to be different from the English?? Do they want to have different passports?? What is wrong with fish and chips??

Tbird, if they are taking grants to support them, yes. By definition.

lucabrasi - the statistics would agree that it would give England a permanent Tory government, but perhaps thats what England deserves - more of the nasty party.

"Cameron argues that Scots, and Britain as a whole, would be worse off if they voted for independence, as the bulk of Scotland’s funding comes from a 30 billion pound ($48 billion) grant from the UK government."

That would be a dole.

So would that make Northern Ireland and Wales also dole scroungers?

I wish England could have a vote too; you might find that more English support independence than Scots.

I'll second that. Time to throw off the yoke of Edinburgh. (Though we'd be stuck with a permanent Tory government in England, which is worth bearing in mind when Scots independence starts to look too appealing).

I'm all for independence and smaller governments. I'm also hoping for the Second Vermont Republic.

Tbird, fair enough, but just saying from the article what it seems.

Cleo, did you read this bit?

" Cameron argues that Scots, and Britain as a whole, would be worse off if they voted for independence, as the bulk of Scotland’s funding comes from a 30 billion pound ($48 billion) grant from the UK government."

That would be a dole.

Actually, if Scotland gains its independence, we will still use the Pound, the Queen will still be head of state... there are some other cop-outs as well. I think what Salmond wants is for a little back door to be left open in case it all goes t*ts up and we sink... which is a distinct possibility.

If Scotland were to leave it would raise interesting questions about what was left: the country's name (no longer the 'United' Kingdom if the Union of England and Scotland were broken), the flag (dark blue background and white diagonal cross represents Scotland of course), nationality (very many Scottish-born residents of England) etc. Would Scotland stay in the EU? join the Euro? stay in the Commonwealth? Nothing to do with Japan of course but likely to be followed closely in Catalonia, Flanders and so on.

2014 is a cunning plan.

2014... Glasgow (my home) hosts the Commonwealth Games, so Scottish people will feel pride in our team... becoming a wee bit more nationalistic.

In 1314 Robert the Bruce's armies beat the English at Bannockburn (where my family are from), sending them back to England... so the 700th anniversary of that will also make people feel more Scottish than British.

It's so cunning you could pin a tail on it and call it a fox... to paraphrase Blackadder. And yes, Salmond IS a power freak.

Herve... try living here... it'll open your eyes. Scotland is not a haven for dole scroungers. Stop reading and believing that kind of rubbish.

Alex Salmond is a power freak. I am sure the Uk has more pressing issues at hand, ie huge deficit, lack of economic growth, etc

Funny how they always talk of Scotland breaking away from England, when it was the Scottish king James VI who took over England and became James I.

It's my understanding that those who want independence from the UK were peeved at the thought of revenues from North Sea oil and gas going into English coffers - dunno where Herve gets the idea of Scotland being on the dole.

Why should England have a vote? Do they want to leave the UK too?

"Polls suggest between 30 and 40% of Scots currently support independence."

So, this seems to indicate 60-70% support continued dependence. The dole promotes servitude.

I wonder why they need two more years before a vote. Let's have the vote now and be done with it.

I wish England could have a vote too; you might find that more English support independence than Scots.

Go Scotland!

I hope they vote for independence. No 3rd Option though - that would change the relationship within the union and therefore should require consent of all of those in the union, not just Scotland. The only democratic vote the Scots can have have is yes or no to remain part of the UK - that is a question for only for Scotland.