Pound Stirling?

[ludwig]

Is it reasonable for the SNP to expect that an independent Scotland could keep the pound?

[ludwig]

gromit // So why would Scotland using Sterling be a problem. Losing Scotland would damage the power of Sterling, probably hastening our conversion the the dreaded €uro. //

So presumably you concur with the SNP's view that Westminster (at least Balls and Clegg) are just saying this as a scaremongering tactic to influence the independence vote, when in reality they wouldn't be opposed to the Scots retaining sterling?

[anotheoldgit]

Gromit

/// A union or tethering two or more countries to a single currency is something that is done by agreement between all parties. While the Conservatives are in Government, it is fair to assume they will oppose it. ///

This is not a one party thing, all the main parties are in agreement over this.

/// Britain's main political parties will tell Scotland in coordinated statements in coming days it cannot keep the pound if it votes for independence ///

http://uk.reuters.com/article/2014/02/12/uk-britain-scotland-osborne-idUKBREA1B0EQ20140212

[Gromit]

A union of countries using Sterling would not cause squabbling, it would stop it. The Bank of England would write the terms of the Agreement and an Independent Scotland would have to sign it. It would be a contract.

It would be unusual for a currency to lose a quarter of its users and be judged stronger.

If Scotland do go Independent, there will have to be agreements and collabarations on all kinds of things besides currency. The armed forces being the most prominant.

[Gromit]

AOG

That is part of the unified campaign for a 'No' vote. The main English Parties are against Scottish Independence and they have set up a co-ordinated effort to convince Scottish voters.

If they instead vote for Independence, I'm sure the economic arguement will win the day.

[ludwig]

// If Scotland do go Independent, there will have to be agreements and collabarations on all kinds of things besides currency. //

Independence sounds a bit like a union. Perhaps it's just oil reserves they want independence for, and everything else to stay pretty much the same.

[jomifl]

youngmaf, I suspect wee,eck has realised that Scotland doesn't have a sustainable independant future so he wants to go down in history as the man who gave Scotland independance but without actually doing so. Typical small town shyster lawyer....

[Gromit]

The UK and Ireland have hundreds of bi-lateral agreements and have done for years. That does not make the Republic of Ireland any less Independent or a sham. Neighbouring countries, US/Canada etc have agreements if the result is beneficial to both countries.

[Gromit]

And after Irish Independence, they maintained with the pound and it had parity with Sterling for 50 years.

[Ellipsis]

As an Englishman I would expect to be offered a vote in a referendum if the UK was proposing monetary union with anybody, including an independent Scotland.

[Wharton]

An independent Scotland will be able to decide its currency and monetary policy. If there is indeed a 'YES' vote then the preferred option is to remain within the Sterling Area, under the ownership and governance of the Bank of England undertaken on a shareholder basis.

[jomifl]

Wharton, Scottish independance is exactly that.

[emmie]

no it isn't, and according to Mark Carney, and now George Osborne they won't be able to, and no i don't think as Nicola Sturgeon put it, it's just scaremongering. It seems to me that Alex Salmond wants his cake and eat it.

[naomi24]

I agree with Ellipsis. Since it seems Scotland doesn't want to distance itself completely from the rest of us, perhaps we should all be given the opportunity to vote on Scottish independence.

[emmie]

seeing as how Scots have had a vote on all our business all these years, i totally agree.

[Wharton]

ludwig - Please forgive me for drifting off your question by asking another question on your interesting thread. By what means will Scotland be prevented from using the pound?

[emmie]

by the means already detailed by the Chancellor and The Governor of the Bank of England, who has already detailed to Alex Salmond what his views are in no uncertain terms.

[emmie]

details here, all three parties have said the same, for once.

http://www.theguardian.com/politics/2014/feb/12/uk-parties-rule-out-currency-union-scotland

[Wharton]

I'll answer my own question. The Bank of England, Westminster (all parties, not just 3) have no power whatsoever in dictating to Scotland what monetary policy it will pursue or what currency it will use after independence. Scotland has chosen to retain the pound and that's all there is to it.
Scotland has also chosen to retain The Monarchy after independence and no-one can refuse that either, not even Her Majesty.

[emmie]

hate to tell you but you don't get the vote till September, and this is not a done deal.

[DaisyNonna]

Could somebody please define independence?