Here is an interesting letter from the Times which is absolutely right
Two-horse nirvana
Nicola Sturgeon doesn’t want independence: she wants to enjoy devolution while dictating to Westminster
Sir, Notwithstanding my Scottish ancestry, as a “southerner” I am feeling stirrings of dissent at the thought that the SNP could be key to deciding my economic fate. Hitherto, with a strong Union, it would have been acceptable under our albeit imperfect democratic system, but to be imposed on by a party that wants nothing to do with me other than what tax I can bring to its part of the country is unsatisfactory.
With the economic maths for Scotland as they are, I believe that the last thing Nicola Sturgeon really now wants is independence. So the major parties should support the idea that another referendum is necessary, but this time those south of the border should have their say. Ms Sturgeon might find herself cut adrift rather summarily, and would cease to look forward to the two-horse nirvana of enjoying devolution while dictating to Westminster — the prospect of which is written all over her face.
Lord Balfour
London SW3
and the solution to all this - an rUK referendum on whether we want Scotland to remain a member of the UK
Let them just pay their outstanding bills (Darien bailout with compound interest @5% for 300 years) and then leave - they can then sink or swim under their own devices without having a disproportionate affect to the rest of the UK and constant demands for more money or how badly done by they are
After all if they had won the referendum the last time around Mr Salmond/Ms Sturgons figures on oil revenues would have destroyed (bankrupted) Scotland by now - so she has already had one luck escape - but nobody seems to have raised this and it has been buried
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Replies (3)
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I sympathise
Unfortunately the actions of the SNP are causing a lot of resentment which can unfairly end up being felt against all Scots, irrespective of their support (or not) of the Sturgeon.
As much as I thank an all-UK referendum would be fair, the only practical solution is for a Scots-only vote. It needs to be clear that it's a 'we're going' rather than a 'sod-off'. The latter would only lead to more whingeing for the next few hundred years.
Ed Milliband's position is interesting. He can get power by siding with the SNP, temporarily, but the end result would probably be the death of Labour in England for a generation. And with the northern support for Labour already gone, that's pretty much them done and dusted.
So would Ed sacrifice the party for the sake of personal ambition?
(And wouldn't they all)?
Coming from Rochester, we're so sick of the election - it's like we've had a non-stop election for the past year or so.
WS.
Thanks (0)It's blackmail
Our government (ie. the Tories, Labour & Lib Dems) seem willing to pay any price demanded, just to keep the union together. There are strong signals that this 'game' is being played the National Parties of Wales and N.Ireland.
The result of this election could just be the straw that breaks the camels back! I feel truly sorry for the Scots/Welsh/Irish who want to stay in the Union, but I feel they are not vocal enough and will just get swept along with the tide. Or maybe they like the current situation where they get the extra cash, the extra power, and the security of the Union at the expense of the English?
Thanks (0)differences
There is more difference socially and economically within English regions than between England as a whole and Scotland as a whole.
Nationalism - Scottish, English or Russian - doesn't lead to good outcomes it seems to me.
Thanks (0)