Qt: Second Scottish Referendum.

[vetuste_ennemi]

This seems to be an excellent idea.

Firstly Scotland decides to leave the Union (that's us - England/Scotland).

Then the rest of the UK has a "people's vote" without the five million Remain Ians.

We minus the Scots leave the EU without paying the Danegeld. Scotland has left the Union, foregone its Barnier formula crumbs, but invited new dues to its new EU liege lords and embracing its new future as an independent and self-governing country and various other intellectual confusions.

The popular phrase is "What's not to like", isn't it?

To be honest, I like the Union to which Scotland has played such a big part. But if I can chuck the Scots under a bus to get Brexit then - and witjh regret - so be it.

[steg]

Or even ‘hear,*

[steg]

//Why were ex pat Scots not allowed to vote I wonder?//

Maybe the same reason english immigrants were

[Spicerack]

'Immigration, immigration, immigration' said the SNP cadaver.
Remarkably white audience, would have frightened Jon Snow.
Perhaps it's Ramadamadingdong.

[steg]

‘Bah bah gives a turnip’, said the sheep

[retrocop]

//Did he stay long after graduating ?//
Probably about 10 years. He obviously was single when he graduated so had yet to find a Scottish wife and also National Service intervened. RAMC doctor in Libya for three years.
Did you qualify as a nurse at St Mary's Harrow Road, England or in Scotland ?

[anneasquith]

Any/ all my qualifications were attained in Scotland . By choice .

[andy-hughes]

I can't understand why they keep referring to it as a 'People's Vote' - who voted the first time - foxhounds?

[youngmafbog]

Hook line and sinker, works every time :-)

[New Judge]

//I think what comments like the above show is just how much an English (and to extent Welsh) project Brexit is. It certainly isn’t the UK clamouring for Independence//

Firstly, not “to an extent Welsh”. The percentage of those voting to leave in Wales was 52.53% which was as near as makes no odds the same as in England (53.38%). England and Wales together make up over 88% of the UK electorate. The Scots and N. Irish may well not be “clamouring for Brexit” (in common with those in Greater London) but unfortunately for them they are not members of the EU in their own right. The UK is and every region in England and Wales bar Greater London chose to leave.

Whether they like it or not the residents of the minor constituents of the UK are far and away the minority. It would be outrageous if the wishes expressed by areas containing less than 12% of the electorate gain preference over those of the majority.

[naomi24]

Nicola must have high hopes. She's saying there's a 'real chance' that Scotland can remain part of the EU. Not sure how she works that out right now.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-scotland-politics-48307775

[ichkeria]

The constituent - but diverse - parts of the UK are split 50 50 NJ on Brexit (or were 3 years ago, and we all have seen how, rightly or wrongly, people have feared for the union as a result of the referendum.

[New Judge]

So two parts that contain 11.3% of the electorate get one "vote" each and the two that contain the rest get one "vote" each?

[Peter Pedant]

// As Englishmen you are not aloud a vote.//
and so we should keep quiet
or even keep mum?

god the english is bluddy awful on this thread this morning

[ichkeria]

I’m not talking weight of numbers here NJ: I’m merely making the point that we are not a United Kingdom for Brexit as the admittedly bizarre and possibly not serious OP underlines.

[Zacs-Master]

PP, it's afternoon mate.

[pixie374]

Scotland decided to stay with us. The English were not given a choice. Brexit was voted for by the UK as a whole.

[Peter Pedant]

// PP, it's afternoon mate.//
foo ! whatever
Zaxi, it's AB all day, mate.

[New Judge]

//I’m not talking weight of numbers here NJ: I’m merely making the point that we are not a United Kingdom for Brexit as the admittedly bizarre and possibly not serious OP underlines.//

But the Kingdom is not United on many, many issues, Ikky. It’s the nature of the beast. But the idea is that the majority view prevails. Unfortunately there are many people who cannot stomach being told they cannot have what they want. This is one of the biggest problems with Brexit. And the government is complicit in supporting this philosophy by attempting to please both sides with a "compromise" to resolve a binary issue. It cannot be done.

Even more disingenuous than that is the fact that many politicians are openly stating their intention to stop Brexit. This is not part of the (frankly fatuous) argument that “it’s now about how we leave”. This is a simple declaration that they will do all they can to reverse the decision the electorate were asked to take. The reason that Brexit is a mess is that half the population and 80% of Parliament are openly opposed to the decision the electorate took. The reason that many are opposed to a second referendum is that, having seen the deliberate dog's breakfast politicians have made following the first one they have no confidence that they will handle the results of a second one any differently (unless, that is, voters come up with the "right" answer in which case their decision will be implemented without delay).

It’s unfortunate that most Scots who voted wished to remain. But whilst they are part of the UK they are bound by the decisions the UK as a whole makes. They may be given a choice if they don’t like what the UK does. This is a choice which the English will not be afforded.

[KARL]

"Since the Jacobite rebellions Scotland has been one of England's and the world's greatest contributors .............."
Right there we have revealed one of the reasons some Scots cannot stomach the Union.

[vetuste_ennemi]

The contribution by Scotland to the culture hasn't come at a cost to herself, Karl. Hasn't the Union been mutually enriching?

My single complaint about Scottish influence on the affairs of the UK as a whole is its over-representation in one particular area.

If I mention Ramsay MacDonald, Harold MacMillan, Alec Douglas-Home, Tony Blair and George Brown you'll get my drift.