Free Scotland

[Brew_DD2]

How would an independent Scotland finance itself?

Does Scotland pay for armed forces?
New figures today show Ministry of Defence (MOD) expenditure with industry and commerce in Scotland in 2020/21 was £1.989 billion. This is the equivalent of £360 per person in Scotland.20 Jan 2022

https://www.gov.uk/government/news/...end-worth-almost-2-billion-a-year-to-scotland

Interesting. Would the rUK be able to manage without Scottish shipbuilding?

I'd imagine Faslane/arranging an alternative might become quite costly too.

 

[Brew_DD2]

I wonder if Labour gets into power will that cool the demand for independence in Scotland?

SNP's biggest enemy in Scotland tends to be Labour.
Any Scottish members have a view on this?

Labour are finished in Scotland. Their voters have been swallowed up by SNP.

The moment they allowed themselves to stand on a platform with the Tories and share in their tactics, was their death knell. They are largely seen as a joke up here these days. They really should've taken a neutral position.

 

[Stan's Brew]

Should there be an option in the poll where the whole of the UK gets to vote on a Scottish referendum, after all it would have some effect on all members of the Union not just Scotland?

 

[Bosch]

Labour are finished in Scotland. Their voters have been swallowed up by SNP.

The moment they allowed themselves to stand on a platform with the Tories and share in their tactics, was their death knell. They are largely seen as a joke up here these days. They really should've taken a neutral position.

Was not aware of that, thank you

 

[Stan's Brew]

Labour are finished in Scotland. Their voters have been swallowed up by SNP.

The moment they allowed themselves to stand on a platform with the Tories and share in their tactics, was their death knell. They are largely seen as a joke up here these days. They really should've taken a neutral position.

There is very little of an opposition to the Tories, can't put many fag papers between Tories and Labour.

 

[Brew_DD2]

There is very little of an opposition to the Tories, can't put many fag papers between Tories and Labour.

The current Conservative government is the most right wing government there has been in the UK in any of our lifetimes. Labour have moved back to the centre, but they are still miles away from the current iteration of the Conservatives.

 

[Bosch]

No need to read it it is just spin.

That's a shame, it has some original ideas.

Funding of both defence and education by re-issuing 'Letter from America' by the Proclaimers and using the royalties.
Remaking Braveheart so William Wallace doesn't die.
Making the Proclaimers ambassadors to the UN.

Novel manifesto

 

[Chippy_Tea]

Interesting. Would the rUK be able to manage without Scottish shipbuilding?

Yes, we have been shipbuilding here since 1871.

Barrow Shipbuilding Company was founded in 1871, by James Ramsden, a former Superintendent of the Furness Rail Company. The rail company had built their own docks in Barrow as a rival to Liverpool Docks, and to attract much-needed trade to this remote area of North Lancashire (now Cumbria).

 

[Brew_DD2]

Yes, we have been shipbuilding here since 1871.

Barrow Shipbuilding Company was founded in 1871, by James Ramsden, a former Superintendent of the Furness Rail Company. The rail company had built their own docks in Barrow as a rival to Liverpool Docks, and to attract much-needed trade to this remote area of North Lancashire (now Cumbria).

Who knows though? The UK has relied on Scotland's input too.

 

[Bosch]

I did know the UKs nuclear deterrent was based in Scotland but I never knew most of the Royal Navy's ships are still built in Scotland.

SNP said they would get rid of Trident. Wonder if independence would effect the the Royal Navy contracts?

https://ukdefencejournal.org.uk/military-shipbuilding-in-scotland-a-quick-look/

 

[Brew_DD2]

Wonder if independence would effect the the Royal Navy contracts?

Once upon a time it would be near unthinkable for Navy ships to be built by a "foreign" country, but we already use South Korea and (Denmark? I think) for the building of some frigates.

 

[Bosch]

It will be interesting to see how the coming recession (which seems to be hitting the UK very hard compared to it European peers) effects the demand for independence.
Will it increase as the SNP blame Westminster for the decline in living standards.
Or will Scots not want to rock the boat as the world economy looks uncertain.

 

[Chippy_Tea]

Who knows though? The UK has relied on Scotland's input too.

I am not saying we haven't but we will be fine if you decide to go it alone.

 

[Brew_DD2]

I am not saying we haven't but we will be fine if you decide to go it alone.

Can't be sure. I'm yet to see rUK's plans for Scotland leaving. Seems careless to me.

 

[foxy]

That's a shame, it has some original ideas.

Funding of both defence and education by re-issuing 'Letter from America' by the Proclaimers and using the royalties.
Remaking Braveheart so William Wallace doesn't die.
Making the Proclaimers ambassadors to the UN.

Novel manifesto

You can say the same thing about the spin for Brexit, great ideas, opening up global trade. I still think it is a good idea but people just have to realise this is a long term project, 10 to 20 years long.

 

[Bosch]

You can say the same thing about the spin for Brexit, great ideas, opening up global trade. I still think it is a good idea but people just have to realise this is a long term project, 10 to 20 years long.

True.

I love the idea on the manifesto, to have Robert Carlyle to be Minister of Defence in the character of Begby from Trainspotting.

Nobody would mess with Scotland.

 

[deesloop]

I'm afraid that anyone who seriously believes that one set of clueless individuals is any better than another set of clueless individuals is sadly mistaken. best politicians promise to deliver that which they have no real control over - a better future. Even those who genuinely believe in what they think is possible (and many dont and just lie thru their teeth) are hamstrung from day one by a system where the "rights" of one group have to be weighed against the "rights" of another. Someone always loses and it descends into a "who can cry the loudest" debate. It's like juggling explosive jelly during an earthquake. None of it ever works. Changing it just swaps one broken form of governance with another untested (but destined to fail) form.

 

[Brewnaldo]

The difference is they tell us what they plan to do, have they told you how they are going to pay for Defence, Universities, Health as @devexwarrior asked earlier in the thread?

By taxes, revenue and borrowing, presumably. Like every single other country.

I still have the question, why is Scotland uniquely positioned to be unable to function as a country in its own right?

 

[Clarence]

I'm afraid that anyone who seriously believes that one set of clueless individuals is any better than another set of clueless individuals is sadly mistaken. best politicians promise to deliver that which they have no real control over - a better future. Even those who genuinely believe in what they think is possible (and many dont and just lie thru their teeth) are hamstrung from day one by a system where the "rights" of one group have to be weighed against the "rights" of another. Someone always loses and it descends into a "who can cry the loudest" debate. It's like juggling explosive jelly during an earthquake. None of it ever works. Changing it just swaps one broken form of governance with another untested (but destined to fail) form.

Well that's really inspiring. I mean what's the point in even getting out of bed in the morning?

 

[samale]

Interesting to read the different view points on this thread. Personally I feel it's the people's choice. Big decision that requires alot of planning.