Scottish Devolution

4
I think Clocker Bob possibly knows more than I do about this.

Basically, break away from the UK to have our own government, run our own economy, etc. Currently we are mainly governed by Westminster in London.

People argue about whether or not Scotland would be better on its own. Particularly the Scottish National Party who are gaining popularity. One half of my family all vote SNP (probably because they originate from the Highlands and islands).

Oh, just realised by "devolution", you may have been referring to the fact that we got given a Scottish parliament which has not a great deal of power. This is a step towards devolution - the SNP would need to gain power before we fully devolved.

Scottish Devolution

6
I was talking to someone the other day who told me of an old people's home in Berwick (near Scottish border but in England - currently - for those who've never heard of it). Apparently the majority of the residents in this home are Scottish but there are a few English. All the Scots have their care paid for while the English oldies have had to sell their houses to pay for it so no inheritance for their kids and grand kiddies.

I've been too lazy to check up on the truth of this but if true this is fucking outrageous.

Note: I don't think it is outrageous because I think the Scots shouldn't have their elderly cared for i just think we should too.

On another note that I may have gone on about when this subject was around before I don't think Scots MPs should be allowed to vote on issues that only effect the English.
I realise that would make life difficult for the Prime Minister but fuck him.

Edit: I checked and it was the first thing I said in the other thread and it led to some protracted argument I can't be arsed going through again.

Scottish Devolution

8
Hello, here's my first post on this forum.

I implore anyone interested in the topic to read about the McCrone report from 1975 (http://news.independent.co.uk/uk/this_b ... 331945.ece). A document which was essentially hushed up for over 30 years in Westminster discussing the effect that North Sea Oil ownership would have had on Scotland - "It revealed how North Sea oil could have made an independent Scotland as prosperous as Switzerland". For a country with areas that have the lowest life expectancy and literacy rates in Europe, abject poverty, sectarian violence, the detrimental effects of the closure of industries from the late 70s onwards and the subsequent alcoholism and drug abuse (not only in the major cities) that is so rife in Scotland. I cant help but wonder what Scotland "could" have been like 30 years ago, had they won independence and ownership of the North Sea reserves.

I consider myself quite apolitical, but Alex Salmond knows more about the dark and murky past of North Sea oil than any other person (due to his previous job as an Oil economist for RBS) and I'm quite happy that there's an alternative party choice in Scotland to that of the jumped up Labour councilmen or a Tory, pigs in the trough, so to speak. North Sea Oil always seems to "run out" around election times, they've been using that trap for the last 30 years.

The London centric media will always cast aspersions towards Scottish Independence, and the argument that south subsidises Scotland doesn't entirely hold true, seeing as the south subsidises the entire UK north of Watford (Northern Ireland costing the most). Pick and choose when it suits. I work at the Scottish Parliament and I think it's a pretty interesting time for politics in general, the building alone being a Pandora's box itself - but that's another topic. I'm for it, after being adamant at first - it might even be the last nail in the coffin of new labour!

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