If Skintland

[bazwillrun]

get independence then what happens to the 10% of the UK forces that are Scottish ?

will they want to protect Scotland and leave whats left of the the UK, would they want to remain in the UK military, could they stay in the Uk military, what happens ?

[Hopkirk]

Perhaps Scotland will join the EU, just as the rest of us leave.

[bazwillrun]

"I still think, as it affects us too, that the rest of the UK should get a vote"

thats exactly why we in England wont get to vote.

normally a referendum is only offered when they can be pretty sure of an outcome that is favourable to whatever they want it to be and at a time when they can be pretty much assured of the required result.

cameron wants the scots to stay, so when he hears that polls north of the border would seem to be hugely in favour of staying in the union amazingly him and salmond come to an agreement to give the scots the referendum salmon want.

As polls seem to suggest the majority down here would vote to let them go, then its also pretty obvious we wont be allowed to vote and scupper his plans.

thats the way referendums work in this country, hence the reasons he wont give us a simple in or out vote on the EU, well, not until the polls suggest they would win a stay in vote, you can bet your last pound on that.

[JonnyBoy12]

By Skintland I presume you mean Scotland. My best friend who was born there calls it Tartanland instead. Isn't this term less demeaning for it?

[modeller]

jtp #You cant make Scotland stay in the union because you want them to any more than you can make someone stay in a marriage against their will.#
Q

[modeller]

cont. Quite right you can't but a yes vote might encourage them to go if that's what they want.
I think they are mad to consider breaking away but if that's what they want
so be it. However why are they waiting ? In the meantime businesses will be wondering whether to invest in a little country.
I've had problems spending Scottish pounds abroad ,as it is ,so I feel their currency may suffer without the backing of the UK in the future. .

[emmie]

wouldn't they be asked to join the EU and adopt the Euro, perhaps that is Alex Salmond's intention..

[boxtops]

Scotland are in the EU, why would that change?

[emmie]

who knows, it's all cant and nonsense.

[modeller]

boxtops #Scotland are in the EU, why would that change? #

They are not in the EURO and if they became independent they will have to
chose between the Euro and Sterling, either way they will not have independent control over their currency.

[Wharton]

I have to laugh at some of the comments on here. The idea, for example, that an independent Scotland would have to choose between the Euro & Sterling is ludicrous. An independent Scotland will choose or form its own currency without reference to Westminster or any other tribal hut.

[emmie]

then let them get on with it, it's as boring as watching David Cameron expound on almost any subject.

[douglas9401]

Scotland's a great place, it's the neighbours that let it down.

[EDDIE51]

It has already been stated by Alex Salmond that even if Scotland does seperate they will still use the £. The closest parallel would be a situation like the Isle of Man or the Channel Islands.

[andrew1707]

I am starting to notice that talk of independence is bringing out the loonies. There has been a lot of name calling and "racial" hatred going on.

Scottish independence isn't an anti English move. The Scots just want to do things their own way and being part of the UK is hindering that.

An independent Scotland might encounter lots of problems and suffer a lot of hardship; we have all had to grow up and leave our parents home eventually and sometimes this isn't easy... but we have to soldier on and make a success of it.

Personally, I don't think the SNP will win the referendum vote; there just isn't enough support for it. But then, 20 years ago, who would have predicted that the SNP would become the government in Scotland.

[andrew1707]

But to answer the question:

The British army will still be the British army. There will no doubt be a settlement that moves control of certain units over to Scotland but Scottish soldiers will not be forced to leave the British army.
Just think how many Irish still join the British army and they have been free of the British monarchy for over 70 years.