Chaos in Scotland

[OFSO]

I've just heard Nicola Sturgeon saying Scotland must be allowed another referendum on separation from the UK and when they have achieved this "they will reapply to join the European Union".

Nicola, why don't you get it ? Any such application will be blocked by Spain, firmly and definitely. You don't have a gnats chance in hell of getting into the EU as a break-away state. Just come to Barcelona and ask the Catalans.

[Fox3WheresMyBanana]

'course she does.
If it's one thing the Spaniards are, it's bribe-able.
The EU will be desperate to get Scotland back in as an example to others to stay in.
The only question is what the Spaniards can extract from the EU to remove their veto.

[BenThere]

From afar, and not having a stake in the consequences, I've leaned toward the idea of letting Scots be Scots, and Brits be Brits. Scotland is a left wing country, and would be more comfortable in the left wing EU. Scotland wants to absorb Islamic migrants who might otherwise flock to England.

England, on the other hand, has a long, long history of maintaining its culture, defenses, and managing itself as a going concern. I would always bet on England to survive and emerge triumphant after whatever turmoil this century brings down upon them. That's what the English do.

[Magnus]

Some (possibly a majority) of Scots might lean left, but not all. If indyref2 led to a Scots breakaway, then I'd consider a move to Italy which is (currently) in the EU, but ignores it.

[om15]

The EU would bend all the rules to allow Scotland to join the club, they are after quantity of membership, doesn't matter from where it is, the fact that Scotland is broke doesn't matter, they will just fiddle the figures as they did in Greece.

The Scots aren't that daft, Sturgeon has screwed up the services and will reap the results in a couple of weeks time. However, opinion in the papers this morning speculates that with a hung Parliament the SNP can have a coalition with Labour to form a majority, can you imagine that.

The only thing that can save Scotland from independence is the Scots themselves, they did last time and I can't think another rerun will give a different result, particularly as Ms Davidson appears to be quite skilled at pointing out the obvious short comings of the SNP.

[BenThere]

Scotland is an enigma to me. It is a font of Western civilizational thought and philosophy, yet today seems determined, collectively, to pursue the paths of Venezuela and Greece. I hope the Scots find their way, and continue to produce my favorite beverage, keeping the production of it out of the hands of Socialists, who ruin every thing they touch.

[Woody]

Some good news for Nicola

Scotland's public finances improved last year, with an increase in revenue and a reduction in the deficit.

According to official figures, the country spent £13.4bn more than it raised in 2017/18 as income form North Sea oil grew.

This represents 7.9% of Scottish GDP - down from 8.9% the previous year.

First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said the statistics showed Scotland was "on the right trajectory".

However, opposition parties pointed out that the deficit is four times higher than that of the UK as a whole, with the UK figure standing at 1.9% of GDP.
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[AtomKraft]

Scotland should be an independent Country.

The Scots, as has been pointed out here,are quite different to the English. As a Country, we're a bit more left leaning and our outlook on things is generally different to the English. I won't say better, because it's a little divisive, but different certainly.

In my view a 'Country' is the home of people who are similar to each other, and different from their neighbours. The Scots- and the English- qualify.

I'm just ashamed that enough of my fellow Countrymen were able to be scared by 'Project Fear' last time.

[Bob]

I recognise that independence would **** the Scots up, I am in favour of it.

[Magnus]

"Project Fear" doesn't scare me. Europe does.

[Capetonian]

Seems that people are carping on about how that nice Mr. Salmond is in a bit of a flounder and his reputation has taken a battering. Clearly not in a good plaice at the moment. He'd better get his skates on and mullet over as someone's obviously angling to get him soled down the river, or eel soon be history.

[Woody]

I think he’s had his chips!

[Undried Plum]

I dislike Salmond greatly and I don't support the destruction of the UK and I regard him as a serial liar on political matters unrelated to this topic.

That having been said, I think he's being stitched up in this case. It has echoes of the Cliff Richard thing.

The investigation process which appears to have been manipulated to his detriment nominally requires non-disclosure at all levels. That includes the identities of the accused and the accuser(s). He sought a judicial review into the process itself, but someone in the know spilled the beans to the Press fully knowing how profoundly damaging such a disclosure would be.

I hope that Salmond can sue the Permanent Secretary personally and I hope his litigation succeeds.

[OFSO]

Deposed and threatened-with-arrest so on-the-run ex Catalan President Carles Puigdemont has arrived in Scotland to speak at a conference. The Catalans are getting Nicola Sturgeon in part exchange, not much of a bargain...

[Woody]

Can’t believe this one

Elgin City's match with Cowdenbeath has been called off because of a nine-week drought drying out a section of the Borough Briggs pitch.

The League Two club announced an hour before kick-off the game would not go ahead after referee Gavin Ross was unhappy with a corner of the surface.

Elgin City chairman Graham Tatters says that a lack of rain in the Moray town is to blame.

"It's a nightmare as people are here for the game," he told BBC Scotland.

"It's an issue with the top-left corner of the pitch. It has been starved of water with no rain in nine weeks.

"There's no real growth. The grass there is going brown and there's a bit of gravel left from sand that had been put down.

"I can do many things, but I can't make it rain."

Visiting supporters would have travelled a 340-mile round trip for the game.

[G-CPTN]

Couldn't they have played avoiding the corner of the pitch that was affected?
Maybe not 'championship' but as a friendly - something for the travelling fans to see . . .

[Woody]

Latest from Jockistan

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland- ... s-45770801

[Jetex Jim]

https://www.theguardian.com/politics/bl ... 77b41b05ed

According to research by the Centre on Constitutional Change, which is based at Edinburgh University, Brexit is “dislodging long-held red lines about the [UK] union”. It says a majority of Conservative voters in England would prefer to press ahead with Brexit even if it led to the UK breaking up.

I suppose the Conservative and Unionist party will be looking for a new name.

As will the (Former) United Kingdom. FUK has a certain ring to it though.

[Fox3WheresMyBanana]

I expect England will call itself England.
The rest will be FUK'ed

[Sisemen]

Call it “Project Fear” if you will. The fact is, it wasn’t. The Scots weren’t greatly influenced by the grandstanding and the hustings ; they are far more canny than that. The simple matter is - and this is what people with a contrary view find so hard to understand - that the majority of people wanted to remain part of the UK. Each voter had their own personal reason and it wasn’t swayed by what was said in the lead up.