Britain, Scotland Sign Deal For Independence Referendum

[phuketjock]

...

Why can plain english not be used.

Any person from anywhere in the world who has become a British citizen through legal means

can register on the electorial roll of the constituency that they reside in YES or NO??? provided

they meet the requirements to register.

So anyone in the world could vote in elections in Britain provided they met the necessary

criteria. Flowery language does not encourage people to take heed of what you are trying to

say or help them to understand your point.

I thought we had to be resident. As an expat, I can vote in the constituency of my last UK resident, but I do not have evidence of residency (not least because I am non-resident). This election is different from our other elections - expatriates will not get a vote, but some schoolchildren will.

SC

SC I did say " provided they met the necessary criteria "

Just to make it clear:

AS I UNDERSTAND IT:

If you are a British citizen, you can register on the electoral role in your district of residence in the UK. If you have registered in a district, but are no longer resident, you can still vote in that district by postal ballot for general elections and bye-elections.

This is NOT the case for the referendum on Scottish independence. Only voters who are resident in Scotland will be allowed to vote. Expatriates, and British voters resident in England etc will not be eligible to vote (as I understand it). This is different from British parliamentary elections mentioned above.

SC

You are correct

SC

But there are possible ways to circumvent this ruling which would be rather foolish of me to

divulge in here.

[phuketjock]

I would like to see the wording of the referendum question.

I would also like to know what the Scottish Parliament's stance would be frozen annual increases of UK pensioners,

Right can of worms opening up with the porridge, whisky and haggis.

Go to www.scotland.gov.uk

and you will I think find the answers to your questions and many more besides nong

That's worse than "Flower of Scotland", that web site is. I'm appalled that the Scottish government are supporting such miserable whinging

*"As a nation, we have done a lot of exploring – we were a sovereign, independent country, and then gave our independence away.

We helped to build an empire, and saw it decay.

We transformed a rural economy into the workshop of the world – and then watched as the work left.

We discovered oil and stood by as the revenues were spent by others. "

* Sorry, I don't know how to fix the line spacing, perhaps someone could tell me how to revert to single line spacing?

The fact is that we established a united nation, we didn't give away independence. If we stood idly by and saw the empire decay, it was our own inaction that was responsible, but in fact we did not; we established an empire, and saw it flourish and thrive on its own. We were the workshop, the foundry, of the world, until we could find others to do the grimy, harsh and dirty work involved, then we left those jobs and moved onwards and upwards.

You may want to see thousands toiling for pennies on the Clyde in shipywards again, yoiu may wish to compete with the wages of Colombian and Indonesian coal miners, but I do not.

SC

So what do you want SC

Do you want us to continue letting others spend our not only oil revenues but all our revenues

now and in the future because that is exactly what will happen if we continue on the uphill road

we are on now hanging on the purse strings of the English begging for handouts from an already

broke governent, is that how you see Scotlands future SC shame on YOU.

[StreetCowboy]

I would like to see the wording of the referendum question.

I would also like to know what the Scottish Parliament's stance would be frozen annual increases of UK pensioners,

Right can of worms opening up with the porridge, whisky and haggis.

Go to www.scotland.gov.uk

and you will I think find the answers to your questions and many more besides nong

That's worse than "Flower of Scotland", that web site is. I'm appalled that the Scottish government are supporting such miserable whinging

*"As a nation, we have done a lot of exploring – we were a sovereign, independent country, and then gave our independence away.

We helped to build an empire, and saw it decay.

We transformed a rural economy into the workshop of the world – and then watched as the work left.

We discovered oil and stood by as the revenues were spent by others. "

* Sorry, I don't know how to fix the line spacing, perhaps someone could tell me how to revert to single line spacing?

The fact is that we established a united nation, we didn't give away independence. If we stood idly by and saw the empire decay, it was our own inaction that was responsible, but in fact we did not; we established an empire, and saw it flourish and thrive on its own. We were the workshop, the foundry, of the world, until we could find others to do the grimy, harsh and dirty work involved, then we left those jobs and moved onwards and upwards.

You may want to see thousands toiling for pennies on the Clyde in shipywards again, yoiu may wish to compete with the wages of Colombian and Indonesian coal miners, but I do not.

SC

So what do you want SC

Do you want us to continue letting others spend our not only oil revenues but all our revenues

now and in the future because that is exactly what will happen if we continue on the uphill road

we are on now hanging on the purse strings of the English begging for handouts from an already

broke governent, is that how you see Scotlands future SC shame on YOU.

The British government is our government. The British treasury gets the revenue from sale of licenses in Morecombe Bay and in the bleak North Sea. We are not Arabs, squabbling over land for the sake of the oil below it. Nor are we so driven by money that we would sell our neighbours and our nation for a few sheckels. We are British. And we are Scottish. If our neighbours and our compatriots need us to help them, to guide them, then we will continue to do so. We would not turn our backs on our neighbours for the sake of any weakness or ineptitude on their part, would we?

Personally, my experience, having spoken to numerous English people, is that in fact, they are very little different from you and I.

You can try and set up "little Abu Dhabi" North of the Tweed, but even with the oil revenues, we will not be able to afford the same nationalist social polices that the Emirates or the Saudis maintain. Our future lies with the world, as it always has, and not with selling our resources at the expense of our people. I would have more faith in our ability to thrive without the oil - as Singapore has done - than propping ourselves up on the crutch of North Sea oil.

SC

[7by7]

I would like to see the wording of the referendum question.

I would also like to know what the Scottish Parliament's stance would be frozen annual increases of UK pensioners,

Right can of worms opening up with the porridge, whisky and haggis.

Go to www.scotland.gov.uk

and you will I think find the answers to your questions and many more besides nong

Dammit - that link should have been posted last week and saved a lot of hot air in here

I have posted it umpteen times but the hotairians seem to read it and run.

It doesn't seem to appeal to them, I don't know why?

Who do you mean by 'hotairians' I wonder?

Can't be me; I've linked to that site myself previously; but the pro Yes brigade ignored that link; as they have all others that confirm facts they don't like.

The SNP's preferred wording is "Do you agree that Scotland should be an independent country?"

[Richard W]

Partly for the benefit of Phuket Jock, I will take the discussion of electoral rolls back to its beginning. However, I do have some significant new points to make.

Everyone on the electoral roll for the independence vote will obviously be eligible for a Scottish passport regardless of whether they voted yes or no.

While this is not incompatible with the principles of the Scottish constitution the SNP put forward in 2002, several features struck me as odd.

A. Unfortunately, I don't know what the basis of 'obvious' is.

B. 'Regardless of whether they voted yes or no' - Won't it be a nominally secret ballot?

C. Why the 'electoral roll for the independence vote'? Why not 'those eligible to vote at elections to the Scottish parliament'? If there is to be a reliance on electoral rolls for practical convenience, why not the roll in force at independence?

Now, ignoring age, residence and private status aspects (sanity, bankruptcy(?)), there are the following major categories of voters eligible to vote in the independence referendum:

1) British citizens born in Scotland

2) British citizens not born in Scotland and Irish citizens

3) Other EU citizens

4) Other commonwealth citizens

However, it has now occurred to me that there may be an element of an electoral bribe involved, namely Scottish citizenship, as follows:

1) Dual national Islamic extremists are the only bribable subcategory I can think of, so 'no bribe' is a reasonable summary for the category of British citizens born in Scotland.

2) If one thinks that Scottish independence is inevitable, but one will be excluded as not Scottish, this may seem a never to be repeated offer to secure one's right to live in Scotland. This may be reasonable belief if one intends to leave Scotland and return, but so far as I am aware, is otherwise unwarranted given the SNP's currently declared intentions.

3) If one has doubts about being able to secure permanent residence (e.g. inability to obtain stable employment), an offer of Scottish citizenship is attractive.

4) Those who are not on a citizenship track, such as overseas students, or currently disqualified (or worried about becoming disqualified) from ILR or citizenship by minor offences (85 m.p.h. in a 50 m.p.h. limit on a motorway at 2 a.m. comes to mind) will find the offer attractive. I am not sure about visitors - I can see some being tempted to 'mistakenly' register a visitor so that they may claim Scottish citizenship.

If there is such an offer, presumably it should stand even if one leaves Scotland before independence.

Has the SNP been so devious?

[Richard W]

No, Scotland won't be independent by then. Most estimates I've seen suggest it would be two years from referendum to independence.

No one here including you and me can predict what or how, or for that matter when things will unfold if and when Scotland becomes independant.

True, I don't have a reliable estimate. The best I can do is, "Alex Salmond has laid down a road map to independence for Scotland, ... naming May 2016 as the target for elections to a post-United Kingdom parliament in Edinburgh", dated 25 January 2012 - http://www.guardian....iament-may-2016 . This does suggest 18 months rather than 24 months to sort matters out. I expect a shambles would be gone through rather than calling it off because things can't be sorted out.

Edited December 23, 2012 by Richard W

[endure]

You have all been asked a number of times to refrain from insulting each other,. If you wish the thread to remain open and you also wish to retain your ability to post on it you will take notice of those requests.

[MAJIC]

...

Why can plain english not be used.

Any person from anywhere in the world who has become a British citizen through legal means

can register on the electorial roll of the constituency that they reside in YES or NO??? provided

they meet the requirements to register.

So anyone in the world could vote in elections in Britain provided they met the necessary

criteria. Flowery language does not encourage people to take heed of what you are trying to

say or help them to understand your point.

I thought we had to be resident. As an expat, I can vote in the constituency of my last UK resident, but I do not have evidence of residency (not least because I am non-resident). This election is different from our other elections - expatriates will not get a vote, but some schoolchildren will.

SC

Easy to see the School children are likely to fall for the Nationalistic Scottish Flag Waving,Anti British Vote,because they haven't been taught much else at 16 & 17 about the harsh realities of total Independance,which even Salmond doesn't know the true answer or outcome of.

So not giving the Expats a vote helps to keep any possible negative, older, mature vote in it's box,far away in Paradise. Don't expect Salmond to recognise the Expats right to a vote either,he's just playing the street wise percentages game,in his personal favour, as always!

[MAJIC]

I would like to see the wording of the referendum question.

I would also like to know what the Scottish Parliament's stance would be frozen annual increases of UK pensioners,

Right can of worms opening up with the porridge, whisky and haggis.

Go to www.scotland.gov.uk

and you will I think find the answers to your questions and many more besides nong

That's worse than "Flower of Scotland", that web site is. I'm appalled that the Scottish government are supporting such miserable whinging

*"As a nation, we have done a lot of exploring – we were a sovereign, independent country, and then gave our independence away.

We helped to build an empire, and saw it decay.

We transformed a rural economy into the workshop of the world – and then watched as the work left.

We discovered oil and stood by as the revenues were spent by others. "

* Sorry, I don't know how to fix the line spacing, perhaps someone could tell me how to revert to single line spacing?

The fact is that we established a united nation, we didn't give away independence. If we stood idly by and saw the empire decay, it was our own inaction that was responsible, but in fact we did not; we established an empire, and saw it flourish and thrive on its own. We were the workshop, the foundry, of the world, until we could find others to do the grimy, harsh and dirty work involved, then we left those jobs and moved onwards and upwards.

You may want to see thousands toiling for pennies on the Clyde in shipywards again, yoiu may wish to compete with the wages of Colombian and Indonesian coal miners, but I do not.

SC

And that SC is when a Country is seen to be making progress,when you can see the Coal Mining,Ship Building,Steel making,and all the other dirty work going abroad to third world Countries,as long as the timing is right,and not as happened under the Thatcher regime "Kicked out from under" without a choice.

[endure]

Two flames has been removed and 2 posters have been suspended. You have been warned.

Edited December 23, 2012 by endure
Update

[StreetCowboy]

No, Scotland won't be independent by then. Most estimates I've seen suggest it would be two years from referendum to independence.

No one here including you and me can predict what or how, or for that matter when things will unfold if and when Scotland becomes independant.

True, I don't have a reliable estimate. The best I can do is, "Alex Salmond has laid down a road map to independence for Scotland, ... naming May 2016 as the target for elections to a post-United Kingdom parliament in Edinburgh", dated 25 January 2012 - http://www.guardian....iament-may-2016 . This does suggest 18 months rather than 24 months to sort matters out. I expect a shambles would be gone through rather than calling it off because things can't be sorted out.

I think it will make the Edinburgh tramways look like a slick and well-run project, but I am ever the optimist looking for slivers of light even on the darkest and gloomiest night

SC

[StreetCowboy]

I would like to see the wording of the referendum question.

I would also like to know what the Scottish Parliament's stance would be frozen annual increases of UK pensioners,

Right can of worms opening up with the porridge, whisky and haggis.

Go to www.scotland.gov.uk

and you will I think find the answers to your questions and many more besides nong

That's worse than "Flower of Scotland", that web site is. I'm appalled that the Scottish government are supporting such miserable whinging

*"As a nation, we have done a lot of exploring – we were a sovereign, independent country, and then gave our independence away.

We helped to build an empire, and saw it decay.

We transformed a rural economy into the workshop of the world – and then watched as the work left.

We discovered oil and stood by as the revenues were spent by others. "

* [sC]Thanks to the mods for fixing the line spacing[sC]

The fact is that we established a united nation, we didn't give away independence. If we stood idly by and saw the empire decay, it was our own inaction that was responsible, but in fact we did not; we established an empire, and saw it flourish and thrive on its own. We were the workshop, the foundry, of the world, until we could find others to do the grimy, harsh and dirty work involved, then we left those jobs and moved onwards and upwards.

You may want to see thousands toiling for pennies on the Clyde in shipywards again, yoiu may wish to compete with the wages of Colombian and Indonesian coal miners, but I do not.

SC

And that SC is when a Country is seen to be making progress,when you can see the Coal Mining,Ship Building,Steel making,and all the other dirty work going abroad to third world Countries,as long as the timing is right,and not as happened under the Thatcher regime "Kicked out from under" without a choice.

For too long people had been forced to toil underground by greedy union executives for the sake of their own power, and allowed to do so by careless management of a state-controlled energy market. Subsidising inefficient industries does not improve them, and nor does it improve the environment for those that have to carry the burden.

Will the oil revenues be focussed on investment for the future, to make Scotland a productive place for the 21st century? I hope that there are no socialist dinosaurs left to be preserved as living museums. Personally, I have twice tried to prop up traditional industries (though the second time I was dissuaded by my fellow investors) - I bought out my fellow investors the first time, and then subsequently lost the remainder. And the men who lost their jobs went to the dole office sadder, older and wiser, than if they had gone a year earlier, and with poorer redundancy packages to boot.

SC

Edited December 24, 2012 by StreetCowboy

[Richard W]

I've found a category of British citizen Scot that the SNP's 2002 draft constitution would deny Scottish citizenship to although they have no connection to the rUK. These people are those not resident in Scotland born abroad to a father born abroad to a father who was born in Scotland and was abroad on crown service at the time of his son's birth. If their grandfather's birth in Scotland and his service to the crown are the only connection to the UK and its current overseas territories, they are British citizens by descent, and need not have any connection to any part of the UK or its overseas territories but Scotland.

Would it be reasonable for the last government of the UK of GB & NI to insist that such people become Scottish citizens?

It would be wrong for them to become British Overseas Citizens (a category I strongly suspect will become rUK Overseas Citizens, though perhaps former colonies should be divvied up.) Those that would qualify as rUK citizens (equivalent of British citizens) under the principles of the British Nationality Act 1983 can reasonably be made rUK citizens on the basis of their residence in rUK, and similarly for the overseas territories.

[StreetCowboy]

I've found a category of British citizen Scot that the SNP's 2002 draft constitution would deny Scottish citizenship to although they have no connection to the rUK. These people are those not resident in Scotland born abroad to a father born abroad to a father who was born in Scotland and was abroad on crown service at the time of his son's birth. If their grandfather's birth in Scotland and his service to the crown are the only connection to the UK and its current overseas territories, they are British citizens by descent, and need not have any connection to any part of the UK or its overseas territories but Scotland.

Would it be reasonable for the last government of the UK of GB & NI to insist that such people become Scottish citizens?

It would be wrong for them to become British Overseas Citizens (a category I strongly suspect will become rUK Overseas Citizens, though perhaps former colonies should be divvied up.) Those that would qualify as rUK citizens (equivalent of British citizens) under the principles of the British Nationality Act 1983 can reasonably be made rUK citizens on the basis of their residence in rUK, and similarly for the overseas territories.

Also children of Scots who were naturalised British citizens.

SC

[Richard W]

Also children of Scots who were naturalised British citizens.

And what of those who naturalised in Scotland and then left? This group will include formerly foreign wives of Scots.

[nong38]

I would like to see the wording of the referendum question.

I would also like to know what the Scottish Parliament's stance would be frozen annual increases of UK pensioners,

Right can of worms opening up with the porridge, whisky and haggis.

Go to www.scotland.gov.uk

and you will I think find the answers to your questions and many more besides nong

Well the question is not there so we can only speculate on what the wording will be, but the wording is important because the wording can be worded to give the answer YOU require so who is asking the question London or Edinburgh.

It might be just a ploy by the SNP, we promised you a vote, you got a vote and decided to stay in the UK, we delivered what we promised. we are indeed honest politicians. Right.

[bigbamboo]

Also children of Scots who were naturalised British citizens.

And what of those who naturalised in Scotland and then left? This group will include formerly foreign wives of Scots.

Phew, looks like the EU courts will be busier than ever sorting out who's entitled to what in the UK if independence ever happens.

Have to join the queue behind assorted muslims, Africans, Romanians, eastern Europeans and the rest first though.

[StreetCowboy]

Also children of Scots who were naturalised British citizens.

And what of those who naturalised in Scotland and then left? This group will include formerly foreign wives of Scots.

Phew, looks like the EU courts will be busier than ever sorting out who's entitled to what in the UK if independence ever happens.

Have to join the queue behind assorted muslims, Africans, Romanians, eastern Europeans and the rest first though.

You don't get naturalised in Scotland. You get naturalised in the Home Office in London. It's a function of government, not location.

SC

[7by7]

I would like to see the wording of the referendum question.

I would also like to know what the Scottish Parliament's stance would be frozen annual increases of UK pensioners,

Right can of worms opening up with the porridge, whisky and haggis.

Go to www.scotland.gov.uk

and you will I think find the answers to your questions and many more besides nong

Well the question is not there so we can only speculate on what the wording will be, but the wording is important because the wording can be worded to give the answer YOU require so who is asking the question London or Edinburgh.

It might be just a ploy by the SNP, we promised you a vote, you got a vote and decided to stay in the UK, we delivered what we promised. we are indeed honest politicians. Right.

Having agreed to there being a referendum and the general principles of same, the UK government will play no further part in the actual running of it; including the decision on the actual question asked. All that is the responsibility of the Scottish Parliament.

As already said, the SNP want the question to be "“Do you agree that Scotland should be an independent country?”

The ploy by the SNP is, in the view if many experts, that the question is designed to influence the result as it makes no mention of leaving the UK and so may confuse some people into thinking that voting 'Yes' will mean that Scotland will be an independent country within the UK. The view being that the question should include leaving the UK, making the result of a Yes vote perfectly clear and so the referendum much fairer

Expert warns on Scots’ referendum question is one among many articles discussing this.

The question is before the Electoral Commission, who will decide whether or not they consider question is acceptable and fair. But the Scottish government, i.e. SNP, do not have to accept the Commission's advice.

Alistair Darling, leader of the 'No' campaign, has already said that he will accept the Electoral Commission's decision. The SNP have not said directly that they wont; but have dropped heavy hints that they will only do so if the decision suits them.

Edited December 24, 2012 by 7by7

[jpinx]

................

The ploy by the SNP is, in the view if many experts, that the question is designed to influence the result as it makes no mention of leaving the UK and so may confuse some people into thinking that voting 'Yes' will mean that Scotland will be an independent country within the UK. The view being that the question should include leaving the UK, making the result of a Yes vote perfectly clear and so the referendum much fairer

Expert warns on Scots’ referendum question is one among many articles discussing this.

The question is before the Electoral Commission, who will decide whether or not they consider question is acceptable and fair. But the Scottish government, i.e. SNP, do not have to accept the Commission's advice.

Alistair Darling, leader of the 'No' campaign, has already said that he will accept the Electoral Commission's decision. The SNP have not said directly that they wont; but have dropped heavy hints that they will only do so if the decision suits them.

Any "expert" who believes that "independence" is going to be misunderstood is totally out-of-touch with reality. Tell them to take a poll in any street in any city, town or village in Scotland and see how many people do not understand "independent" to be "out of UK"

I have family living in a quiet highland village - well away from the political cooking pots of the city - and there is absolutely no doubt in anyone's mind in that village......

The Electoreal Commisssion is a UK body and Scotland was given the mandate by it's people and the agreement of Westminster to run it's own referendum. I am amazed Scotland has even considered using the Electoral commission.

Edited December 24, 2012 by jpinx

[StreetCowboy]

................

The ploy by the SNP is, in the view if many experts, that the question is designed to influence the result as it makes no mention of leaving the UK and so may confuse some people into thinking that voting 'Yes' will mean that Scotland will be an independent country within the UK. The view being that the question should include leaving the UK, making the result of a Yes vote perfectly clear and so the referendum much fairer

Expert warns on Scots’ referendum question is one among many articles discussing this.

The question is before the Electoral Commission, who will decide whether or not they consider question is acceptable and fair. But the Scottish government, i.e. SNP, do not have to accept the Commission's advice.

Alistair Darling, leader of the 'No' campaign, has already said that he will accept the Electoral Commission's decision. The SNP have not said directly that they wont; but have dropped heavy hints that they will only do so if the decision suits them.

Any "expert" who believes that "independence" is going to be misunderstood is totally out-of-touch with reality. Tell them to take a poll in any street in any city, town or village in Scotland and see how many people do not understand "independent" to be "out of UK"

I have family living in a quiet highland village - well away from the political cooking pots of the city - and there is absolutely no doubt in anyone's mind in that village......

The Electoreal Commisssion is a UK body and Scotland was given the mandate by it's people and the agreement of Westminster to run it's own referendum. I am amazed Scotland has even considered using the Electoral commission.

Quite right. We don't need that sort of "checks and balances" poppycock in Scotland

SC

EDIT: By the way, Scotland is part of the UK, for the time being, and will be for some time after the referendum, so it would seem that the Electoral Commission would be the ideal body to provide an independent oversight of the conduct of the referendum. Though, as a non-resident, I have already been jerrymandered out of the decision on the future of my country.

Edited December 24, 2012 by StreetCowboy

[7by7]

The Electoral Commission is an independent body; it is not part of the UK government.

The SNP agreed to the question being tested by the EC, with the proviso that they wont accept the EC's recomendations if they don't like them!

I submit that the question should be something like "Do you agree that Scotland should leave the United Kingdom and so become an independent country?”

Absolutely no room for any doubt or confusion if it were worded along those lines.

Why are the SNP afraid of making it clear they are asking the Scottish people if they want to leave the UK?

[StreetCowboy]

The Electoral Commission is an independent body; it is not part of the UK government.

The SNP agreed to the question being tested by the EC, with the proviso that they wont accept the EC's recomendations if they don't like them!

I submit that the question should be something like "Do you agree that Scotland should leave the United Kingdom and so become an independent country?”

Absolutely no room for any doubt or confusion if it were worded along those lines.

Why are the SNP afraid of making it clear they are asking the Scottish people if they want to leave the UK?

Perhaps the SNP believe that Scotland is so important that without Scotland, the UK is just England? Or perhaps that is the impression that they wish the electorate to form in their minds, though they (the SNP) know it to be false. There really is little point speculating, but there is little else that we can do, since the SNP's true thinking is unlikely to be made public (unlike the identify of the video referee - the EC in this case)

SC

[jpinx]

The Electoral Commission is an independent body; it is not part of the UK government.

The SNP agreed to the question being tested by the EC, with the proviso that they wont accept the EC's recomendations if they don't like them!

I submit that the question should be something like "Do you agree that Scotland should leave the United Kingdom and so become an independent country?”

Absolutely no room for any doubt or confusion if it were worded along those lines.

Why are the SNP afraid of making it clear they are asking the Scottish people if they want to leave the UK?

The electoral commission is an English-based UK agency. The Mandate was for Scotland to run it's own referendum and westminster agreed to that. Any concession to the EC getting a look at the question is only that - a concession, but it confers no right on the EC to veto the wording.

[7by7]

Unfortunately, the video referee has no power in this situation. The EC can advise, but the Scottish Government are not bound by that advice.

Essentialy, Salmond will not only be a key player on the pitch, but the referee as well!

[jpinx]

The Electoral Commission is an independent body; it is not part of the UK government.

The SNP agreed to the question being tested by the EC, with the proviso that they wont accept the EC's recomendations if they don't like them!

I submit that the question should be something like "Do you agree that Scotland should leave the United Kingdom and so become an independent country?”

Absolutely no room for any doubt or confusion if it were worded along those lines.

Why are the SNP afraid of making it clear they are asking the Scottish people if they want to leave the UK?

Perhaps the SNP believe that Scotland is so important that without Scotland, the UK is just England? Or perhaps that is the impression that they wish the electorate to form in their minds, though they (the SNP) know it to be false. There really is little point speculating, but there is little else that we can do, since the SNP's true thinking is unlikely to be made public (unlike the identify of the video referee - the EC in this case)

SC

You are seriously missing the point -- all this has been agreed by westminster - the "english" parliament. The referendum will be run by the Scottish parliament - that is what has been agreed.

[jpinx]

Unfortunately, the video referee has no power in this situation. The EC can advise, but the Scottish Government are not bound by that advice.

Essentialy, Salmond will not only be a key player on the pitch, but the referee as well!

Take your argument to Westminster -- they agreed this

[7by7]

The electoral commission is an English-based UK agency.

I have no idea where their head office is; but they are an independent body set up by the UK Parliament to cover the whole of the UK. (About Us)

So, jp, why are the SNP afraid of making it clear they are asking the Scottish people if they want to leave the UK?

BTW, Westminster is not the English Parliament, there is no such thing as an English Parliament.

Westminster is the UK Parliament!

The UK Parliamnet agreed to Scotland holding a referendum, as I have already posted, and that the referendum would be run by the Scottish government as it is a Scottish matter.

I am sure you and others would be complaining mightily were Westminster running it!

Edited December 24, 2012 by 7by7

[jpinx]

The electoral commission is an English-based UK agency.

I have no idea where their head office is; but they are an independent body set up by the UK Parliament to cover the whole of the UK. (About Us)

So, jp, why are the SNP afraid of making it clear they are asking the Scottish people if they want to leave the UK?

BTW, Westminster is not the English Parliament, there is no such thing as an English Parliament.

Westminster is the UK Parliament!

The UK Parliamnet agreed to Scotland holding a referendum, as I have already posted, and that the referendum would be run by the Scottish government as it is a Scottish matter.

I am sure you and others would be complaining mightily were Westminster running it!

No idea what the SNP are doing, but I can tell you it is 100% clear in the minds of every villager where my family live.

I did put "english" in inverted commas to make the distinction.

yes - Westminster agreed to Scotland running it's own referendum - end of story. If England was trying the same thing - they would not be too happy if the scottish parliament had a finger in it

tbh - the party politics are not interesting - the interesting thing is the democratic process, and the possibility that there is actually a huge game being played in the background which might actually change the whole make up of Europe......

[StreetCowboy]

The electoral commission is an English-based UK agency.

I have no idea where their head office is; but they are an independent body set up by the UK Parliament to cover the whole of the UK. (About Us)

...

Their head office is in London. They have four regional offices in England, and offices in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.

According to their web site.

SC