The Scottish Government

on the independence question simple yes/no vote. what is needed is a good clean campaign not on spin but fact based with both the yes and no campaigners bein shown in the same light given ample chance to honestly debate wether it would be in the people of scotlands interest for independence or not . any other questions such as joining the eu or not those questions would be of a newly elected government governing scotland only if the vote was yes although party's stance on this would obviously have to be clear on any manifesto.

1) The status quo is not a satisfactory option.
2) Dev Max. Depends what is on offer. At very least the power of Westminster to abrogate devolution must be rescinded. Referendum?
3) Independence. Depends what one means by independence. Independence in Europe – IS NOT INDEPENDENCE there being legislative bodies capable of telling the Scottish Parliament what to legislate.
4) The monarchy. I see no way we can accept the present one. The treaty of union set out that the UK should be a new country, consequently the monarchs numerals should all have started at (I) For a while this worked with the Georges but when William came along it was the English numeral that was accepted. The Take Eddie 8. Up until his ascension he’s kent as David. Did we get a David II? No we got an English E VIII. Need I say more. Of course what about a monarch of our own for those who like the idea.
5) Republic V Scottish Monarchy. Referendum BUT only after INDEPENDENCE.

A free independent scotland part of the E.U with a european currency,ruled from Brussels, officially named as a northern section of the E.U. I think i prefer being part of the U.K with a scottish currency with decisions made in the U.K

Far too many people here are only seeing one side of the equation. Independence would not simply be setting up Scotland as a new country, it would be breaking up the United Kingdom, which would be more akin to a messy divorce than anything else with all the squabbling and bad feeling that normally accompanies divorces with both parties feeling they are being short changed.

Poster No 68 is on the right lines, when looking at the range of things we have to consider, the majority of which would make our lives worse, not better!

Far too many people assume that an independent Scotland would turn over night into an even richer version of Switzerland. This is complete nonsense! Unless there are very strong reasons for becoming independent (such as intense discrimination/persecution or very clear economic benefits) the status quo seems to me to be a far better option.

Over the years there has been talk of a "Scottish Six" news programme which I agree with but what I would like to see would be a Scottish Question Time not only on TV but on radio which is the situation at the moment, as everyone knows
these programmes are seldom broadcast in Scotland. We need a forum for the Scottish people to air their views and this would bring knowledge to the listeners of what is important from a Scottish point of view

#75 Kev (If that's your name)

It is usual, if a political party is out of favour with the electorate, for the electorate to vote for another party as a protest. Before the gradual swing to Labour over the last 60 or so years Scotland voted for the Conservative (& Unionist) Party in reasonably equal numbers. The Iron Lady created a more marked difference in preference towards the Labour party. However Labour was never in power during the 18 years of Conservative rule in Westminster or the Conservative administrations prior to that period. I would suggest that Labour inherited the protest vote in Scotland from that political persuasion. Even after devolution Labour was never in full control in Scotland but operated in coalition with the Lib - Dems for the first 8 Years.

Tommy Sheridan and his fellow MSPs inherited some of the socialist vote until they made themselves unelectable and as a result the 'natural' successor to the protest vote was the SNP. If we move on to a level playing field where people vote on political preferences then we would consider preferences from the left of centre to the right of centre, in which case the vote would be balanced between these extremes.

My reference to 'self determination' was to suggest that the individual's ability to stand up for themselves in a personal manner was a characteristic commonly ascribed to Scots, and is usually associated with persons of a conservative persuasion (with a small 'c'), NOT with an independence leaning.

If I printed my name would you find the argument more persuasive? I doubt it.

I don't normally reply to the more "petty" poster's on this forum but no-name from Fife post 73, strikes me as a rather deluded post.

Firstly Scottish voters are certainly NOT likely to be conservative, that statement of "no-name" is ridiculous, its was not that long ago that the smaller Socialist's parties nearly outnumber the tory Msp's..

He/She goes on " most people prefer self determination and the ability for the individual to stand on their own two feet than dependence on the State.

What is this suppose to mean>??, is this an indication that self determination would be a mandate to vote for Independence?, and to break from the old labour approach of a 'hand out' mentality ?

A better and much more valid point is show by an earlier post

"Mr Salmond offers an Independent Scotland, where we will be free to vote for our own Scottish Government with full powers, not fettered by Britain. In elections for that government we will be free to vote for whatever political party we want."

Perhaps in an Independant Scotland I could once more vote for the smaller socialist parties or return to a more enlightened Labour party!

Full independence or the status quo...no more no less

#70

I see you have come round to my way of thinking, Independence 'Yes' or 'No'.

I think you'll find that the Scottish voter is more likely to be conservative rather than socialist, as most people prefer self determination and the ability for the individual to stand on their own two feet than dependence on the State. The 'hand up' rather than the 'hand out' mentality demonstrated by many of our fellow country folk. Replacing Labour's rule from the centre with SNP's rule by dictate is hardly a change for the better. Out of the frying pan into Mr Salmond's fire?

i agree with you - keep it simple and i cannot wait to wave a saltire on the day independence is declared either!