Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Zackback]

What are they leaving for? I think it's better to stay with the UK.


http://news.yahoo.com/scotland-step-closer-vote-independence-uk-british-premier-220047494.html

EDINBURGH, Scotland - Scotland moved a step closer Monday to a vote on independence after Scottish and British leaders signed a deal laying the groundwork for a popular referendum that could radically alter the shape of the United Kingdom.

Officials from London and Edinburgh have been meeting for weeks to hammer out the details. Sticking points included the date and the wording of the question.

On Monday, British Prime Minister David Cameron met with Scottish First Minister Alex Salmond in Edinburgh to approve the deal. No date was set, but the vote is likely to be held in October 2014, as Salmond's nationalists had wished.

The "Edinburgh Agreement" means that the Scottish Government can now propose legislation on the precise wording of the question, the exact date, extending the vote to 16 year olds, finance rules and conduct.

If Scotland does break away it will end more than 300 years of political union with England.

An ebullient Salmond said he is confident the independence movement can triumph. "Do I believe we can win this? Yes I do," he told reporters. "It is a vision of a prosperous and compassionate Scotland and that will carry the day."

He said the advantages of separation from Britain would become clear, and that his government envisioned "a Scotland with a new place in the world � as an independent nation."

Cameron did not immediately comment. But the prime minister is expected later to praise Scotland's two governments for coming together to deliver a "legal, fair and decisive" referendum that now puts the decision on a separate Scotland or a United Kingdom in the people's hands.

"This marks the beginning of an important chapter in Scotland's story and allows the real debate to begin," Cameron will say in a speech later Monday, according to prepared remarks released by his office.

Cameron and other pro-union politicians had pressed for the vote to be held earlier than 2014, because opinion polls show that only between a quarter and a third of Scots currently favour leaving the union.

[visitorq]

[Savant]

I would like to see an Independent Scotland but a future reliant on North Sea Oil Reserves? Nope, don't see it happening.

[JustinC]

The new independent nation of Scotland; home of the deep fried breakfast pizza. Also home to the highest level of disease and medical spending in the Union.

And they get free prescriptions, support for elderly people, and University all care of English taxpayers!

I'm surprised they haven't already been voted out.

[NohopeSeriously]

Instead of an independent Scotland, what the United Kingdom needs is a federation. UK should overcome domestic issues on this controversial devolution.

[Unibrow]

Good riddance. They can try to make an economy from sheep

[JustinC]

[nautilus]

[Neil]

Wish them all the luck in the world, the rest of the UK subsidies them to a ridiculous extent and we'd be happy to see them go alone, hopefully it'd solve the West Lothian question.

What will they do for money? Sticking with the pound would mean their economy would still be influenced by the BofE, which would make any independance movement a sham. They could adopt the Euro, but good luck to Salmon in selling that, given events in Southern Europe. Or maybe make their own currency (the Mc dollar?).

Also Scottish nationalists have a somewhat naive view of whom the North sea oil belongs to and how long it'll last IMO.

[Kuros]

[nautilus]

[aq8knyus]

Why try hard for independence if you are just going to sign it over to Brussels anyway. They should do what Norway do especially after the way in which smaller countries all over Europe have been treated. I can't imagine why Scotland would want to be a part of that.

Another point is that Salmond talks about taking 8% of the UK debt yet he forgets that the two biggest bank bailouts were for banks headquartered in Edinburgh. If there were to be another banking crisis isn't there a danger that Scotland would be in a situation akin to that of Iceland.

[Ya-ta Boy]

Europe has one, and only one, chance for relevance in the modern world. The various ethnic groups, whether they be Scots or Basques or Walloons or whatever... It makes no difference.

Europe needs to accept that, separately, it is no longer a player. Together it can be.

Choose one.

Meanwhile, sit down and shut up until you figure out what role you want to play. You are endangering the world economy.

[aq8knyus]

[visitorq]