Quote:
Originally Posted by Damien
Salmond can't rant and rave but suddenly the Scottish won't be Westminster's constituents anymore and they'll play hardball to protect British interests. We won't want to concede anymore than we have to. The UK holds most of the cards, the only one Scotland would hold is the threat to walk away from the debt. Their bargaining chips are Oil and Faslane. Both of which seem to be red lines as the oil is to to pay for everything and a nuclear free Scotland is one of their main principles.
It's actually a point I don't think the Yes campaign has grasped. Scotland and Britain would be rival countries. We'll compete for the same businesses. One of Salmond's great ideas is to cut corporation tax and this is lauded as a genius way to grow the Scottish Economy and take business away from London. Yet implicit in this is an idea that Britain would sit back and let that happen. Do they really think the Conservatives will bulk at the idea of cutting corporation tax? When it comes to cutting taxes who would hold their nerve more, the Tories or the SNP?
Too many in the Yes campaign seem to think this is Independence with all the perks and none of the drawbacks. Scotland as it is now but richer. They've been cocooned away from the rough-and-tumble of the world stage and difficult choices instead choosing to blame London for every ill.
Salmond's "stop bulling Scotland" tactic isn't going to work when try to secure trade deals with Foreign leaders.
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Speculation is certainly healthy for debate, Damien.
The fact remains, however, that an agreement has been signed ensuring
"...the best interests of the people of Scotland and the rest of the United Kingdom." will be what is thrashed out after the outcome of the referendum is known - irrespective of what that eventual outcome might be.
What exactly that might involve is anyones guess.