Will Scotland Leave the UK?

Mariano Rajoy has just torpedoed Fat Aleck's assertion that Scotland could negotiate terms of accession to the EU, and then complete accession, in the 18 months between a 'yes' vote and separation day.

http://www.theguardian.com/politics/...lex-salmond-eu

Alex Salmond's plans for an independent Scotland to smoothly join the European Union have been dealt a painful blow after the Scottish first minister's proposals were dismissed by Spain's prime minister.

Mariano Rajoy said his government believed an independent Scotland could only apply to join the EU from outside the organisation as a new state, as he warned against regions of Europe embarking on "solo adventures in an uncertain future".

His intervention confirms long-held suspicions that the Madrid government will resist the Scottish government's plans because of its rejection of Catalonian independence, which has seen large marches in Barcelona in favour of secession.

Originally Posted by Chris

Mariano Rajoy has just torpedoed Fat Aleck's assertion that Scotland could negotiate terms of accession to the EU, and then complete accession, in the 18 months between a 'yes' vote and separation day.

http://www.theguardian.com/politics/...lex-salmond-eu

Having read through the summary of the independence book released yesterday i think Salmond has made a few assumptions ,one being an automatic entry into the EU ,another being to use the pound and have the Bank of England as their lender of last resort for their banks

Assertions is what he does, he's been doing it for years. The difference is, now there's actually a referendum happening, there is an organised opposition calling him out on them.

Well in the unlikely event I have just renewed my passport.

[spreadsheet]

will they have customs checks on the border - stopping you bringing in a sly haggis or whatever?

[Nidge41]

An Independent Scotland where their currency is controlled by Frankfurt and Government decisions are made in Brussels. There's nothing independent about that.

[richard s]

Alex Salmond and Nicola Sturgeon something fishy going on here.


KEEP THE UNION

[Derek]

Originally Posted by Nidge41

An Independent Scotland where their currency is controlled by Frankfurt and Government decisions are made in Brussels. There's nothing independent about that.

Exactly. I'm baffled as to why Salmond is so desperate to get out of one union and jump straight into another.

I've been wondering how long it would take for someone to realise that a request by Scotland to share the currency of RUK would almost certainly lead to a referendum being called in England, Wales and N Ireland ...

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/poli...eferendum.html

---------- Post added at 10:28 ---------- Previous post was at 10:27 ----------

Originally Posted by Derek

Exactly. I'm baffled as to why Salmond is so desperate to get out of one union and jump straight into another.

Four legs good, deux legs better.

[Osem]

Given all the promises and rhetoric he's issued over the years, Salmond is in between a rock and a hard place now. He can't back down or he'll be seen for what he is so he'll continue his policy of denial and carry on promising what he can't deliver knowing that the naïve will be taken in. I think Salmond is far more fixated on what he feels is his rightful place in history than he is the greater good of his people. If he were to win, he'd go to his grave believing he'd set Scotland free and blaming others for the chaos which ensued. If he loses I don't think he'll accept defeat because doing so will deny him any chance of ever being known as Alex the Great...

[LondonRoad]

Originally Posted by Maggy J

Well in the unlikely event I have just renewed my passport.

That's no guarantee that we'll issue you a visa

[Pierre]

Thing is a white paper is supposed to have all the answers to help people make a decision.

It's not of much use if all it does is leave a load of open questions.

Salmond can't make promises on things when he doesn't have the say so. it beggars belief, and surely no one in their right mind would follow this guy off to his version of Oz.

Just on the Europe question alone. Does he really think he'll be allowed to join the EU as a separate nation and bring Sterling to the party? And that's If we let him have it?

just that question alone is a fundamental question for the Scottish economy that remains unanswered and will probably still be unanswered come polling day.

how can you vote yes, with that question unresolved?

And that's just one, the so called White Paper is littered with these assumptions.

I would hope the vast Majority of Scots believe that they have their own identity ( IMO they do more than the English ) and that they have enough self governing powers without risking the theirs and our future on this chancer.

I hope he is trounced on the day.

---------- Post added at 13:39 ---------- Previous post was at 13:38 ----------

Thing is a white paper is supposed to have all the answers to help people make a decision.

It's not of much use if all it does is leave a load of open questions.

Salmond can't make promises on things when he doesn't have the say so. it beggars belief, and surely no one in their right mind would follow this guy off to his version of Oz.

Just on the Europe question alone. Does he really think he'll be allowed to join the EU as a separate nation and bring Sterling to the party? And that's If we let him have it?

just that question alone is a fundamental question for the Scottish economy that remains unanswered and will probably still be unanswered come polling day.

how can you vote yes, with that question unresolved?

And that's just one, the so called White Paper is littered with these assumptions.

I would hope the vast Majority of Scots believe that they have their own identity ( IMO they do more than the English ) and that they have enough self governing powers without risking the theirs and our future on this chancer.

I hope he is trounced on the day.

[nashville]

Just read on FB from a Scottish soldier stationed abroad but is not allowed to vote. This is an disgrace.

[LondonRoad]

Originally Posted by nashville

Just read on FB from a Scottish soldier stationed abroad but is not allowed to vote. This is an disgrace.

There was a soldier, A Scottish soldier who wandered far away
and gave his vote away...