What if Scotland votes to leave...

23 November 2013

I am, by instinct, a Unionist supporting the union between Britain and Scotland.  

But, with the referendum campaign continuing, I really should ask myself whether I really should be sorry if the Scots vote for independence.

Lets face it, there would be many advantages to an independent Scotland.

First of all we can have warship building firmly back in England....  Then there is all the tax subsidy that goes to Scotland, that will certainly chop off a big slice of our deficit while, of course, the Scots would have to take over and service a fair share of the debt.

Then there is the political landscape, it will be changed forever.  A lot of Labour and Nationalist MPs will disappear from Westminster and the prospects for a Labour government, or even a Lib-Lab government will be massively reduced.   In addition the chances of our exit from the EU will increase enormously.    Yes, an independent Scotland has considerable attractions.

An Independent Scotland would certainly result in a more prosperous and independent Britain much less likely to be cursed by Labour governments.

Now, just a thought:

England + Wales = Britain

England + Wales + Scotland = Great Britain

England + Wales + Scotland + Northern Ireland = United Kingdom

So what would the United Kingdom without Scotland then be called?

• howard mcsweeney1 wrote:
  they won't vote for independence though, as the time for the referendum nears hard thinking will be done by the scots and they will be pragmatic enough to realise that the risks in leaving the union are too great financially.
• Guest 745 wrote:
  They voted nationalist ,,that surprised the mainstream.
• Bob Whysman wrote:
  Quote, 'So what would the United Kingdom without Scotland then be called.'
  
  Greater Britain?
• Guest 725 wrote:
  Gordon Brown is set to make a few speeches in favour of a no vote. I'm off down the bookies to bet on a yes vote.
• Brian Dixon wrote:
  lost.
• howard mcsweeney1 wrote:
  had a glance at the snp blueprint yesterday and the headline stuff was wrong so i didn't bother to read further.
  
  1) they would keep the pound.
  
  2) they would automatically be members of the e.u.
  
  3) the queen would still be head of state.
• Guest 698 wrote:
  It would still be called the United Kingdom. At present it's shorthand for 'United Kingdom of Great Britian and Northern Ireland'. (see the wording on your passport). That would change to 'United Kingdom of England, Wales and Northern Ireland.'
• Guest 698 wrote:
  Scotland would of course have to negotiate its own terms for EU accession. If the Barnett Formula were to be abandoned it could not meet the debt or deficit conditions and would therefore not be able to become an EU member.
  
  So if Scotland becomes independent; and if our pusillanimous coalition continues to obfuscate on EU membership and appease the eurobureaucrats, I think I would seriously consider a move north of the border.
• Guest 655 wrote:
  Someone suggested that we use the example of a former Yugoslave state and refer to the new 'depleted' country as the
  
  Former United Kingdom
  I will not type in the initials.....
• Guest 698 wrote:
  The usa remained the usa when more states joined. I'm sure it would remain so if it lost a few. Likewise the UK.