Electoral Reform

here we go, two three four

But I know he’s a moron, Gordon is a moron Gordon is a moron, Gordon is a moron:D:D:D:dev2:

They reckon he might take up a job as a teacher.

Hope to god it’s not mathematics !!!

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NA NA NA NA, HEY HEY HEY GOODBYE!

Hear, hear!!:diablo::diablo:

Well Mr Broon will now be heading back across the border, and bliddy good riddance to the prat…….

Urgh, stop this treasonous talk of dissolution of the union, I wont tell you where in the UK I am *from* but I’m a strong unionist.

as for electoral reform, proportional representation would return 20-21 UKIP MPs which would send me over the moon, you’re going to end up with weak government after weak government, FPTP works better in a 3 party system than a 2 party system

No, I’d rather be poor and independent, than be a wealthy sponger. As much as I love the English, we are a totally different people here, and must decide our own future instead of hanging on to a union forged three hundred years ago, after Culloden.

Fair enough, but I don’t know how many Scots would view it that way when facing the cold reality of the situation, with huge cutbacks and job losses.

One more question, again playing devil’s advocate I’m afraid; say Scotland were independent and the Orkney and Shetland Islands held a referendum over independence from Scotland, an independence that would take 75% of the oil revenue with it, do you think the rest of Scotland would welcome or even allow such an independence?

The Baltic Basket Cases……?;)

Brown quits, no duff!
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/election_2010/8672859.stm

As a casual observer…with no real opinions on the matter

Isn’t there a argument for Scottish independence by saying if all the Baltic states and other parts of the former USSR can be independent, why not Scotland?
Surely with oil, they’d have a better economic case than most.

Financially, would they be worse off than…say, Ireland?

“The oil will run out sometime, but it’s reckoned not for another hundred years….”

Maybe, Al, but more likely not. New wells will only be sunk if there is a worthwhile return on the initial investment. Costs are rising and new exploration becomes more complex and more expensive. And I am not sure that I agree with your first point. From years of visiting Scotland I find there is as much diversity amongst the Scots as there is between Scots and Welsh and Scots and English and amongst the English themselves.

There are certainly groups within each of the parts of the Kingdom who see themselves as being different.

You would think by reading that, that Scot’s don’t pay any tax and are “sponging” on the rest of the United Kingdom. 🙂

Well I won’t state obvious but let’s just say the return on every pound spent on Scotland wouldn’t exactly attract many independent investors.;)

So, to play devil’s advocate for a minute, Scottish independence is based on Scotland being ‘better off’ because of oil revenue? Would Scots want independence if the was no oil, had never been any oil, and what happens when the oil runs out (which it will)?

No, I’d rather be poor and independent, than be a wealthy sponger. As much as I love the English, we are a totally different people here, and must decide our own future instead of hanging on to a union forged three hundred years ago, after Culloden. The union has always been pretty one-sided anyway – even on the flag, the St George cross is firmly on top.
The oil will run out sometime, but it’s reckoned not for another hundred years…

In fact the majority of Scots don’t want independence – they know which side their bread is buttered, canny that they are.They will whinge daily about the Sassenachs but never give up the billions they squeeze out of Whitehall, for the privilege. And whilst our taxes help them to a better education and health service why should they?:rolleyes:

You would think by reading that, that Scot’s don’t pay any tax and are “sponging” on the rest of the United Kingdom. 🙂

Only because all Scotland’s oil revenues have been squandered by Westminster since exploration began. Thatcher used it to rebuild and modernise much of the south east, while Labour gave it away in benefit handouts.

So, to play devil’s advocate for a minute, Scottish independence is based on Scotland being ‘better off’ because of oil revenue? Would Scots want independence if the was no oil, had never been any oil, and what happens when the oil runs out (which it will)?

As I indicated earlier you are wearing rose-coloured spectacles in respect of the benefits accruing to Scotland from the oil. You would have been in deficit for all but 4 of the last 30 years even if you had taken 92% of all the revenue. And you are now taking about 4 times the revenue in the annual devolution payments from Whitehall.

Right now, the Scots would be rather worse off than Greece – it is after all, their banks that caused the majority of the problems in the financial idustry in the UK.
Bruce

Only because all Scotland’s oil revenues have been squandered by Westminster since exploration began. Thatcher used it to rebuild and modernise much of the south east, while Labour gave it away in benefit handouts. Norway, on the other hand, tidied their revenues away, estimated to keep them in the black for perpetuity…
And by the way, the Bank of Scotland’s troubles only started when they were rudely taken over by the Halifax. Shrewd centuries-old banking practices were replaced by whiz-kid quick-buck tactics.

Right now, the Scots would be rather worse off than Greece – it is after all, their banks that caused the majority of the problems in the financial idustry in the UK. Had the Scottish government been forced to bail them out, they would have soon been knocking on our doors.

PR would as has been said give voice to some less wholesome minorities – where on earth would these MP’s sit? I cant imagine that it would be very popular for BNP MP’s to be parachuted in to constituencies who really, really dont want them!

Bruce

are.They will whinge daily about the Sassenachs but never give up the billions they squeeze out of Whitehall, for the privilege.

Sotto voce, microphone left open….”Och the wumman’s a bigot” :p

In fact the majority of Scots don’t want independence – they know which side their bread is buttered, canny that they are.They will whinge daily about the Sassenachs but never give up the billions they squeeze out of Whitehall, for the privilege. And whilst our taxes help them to a better education and health service why should they?:rolleyes: