Scottish Independence

[kerry red]

Quite right - but it would simplify things for them albeit I would presume they would have to devalue it against the pound proper and any savings they have would be worth less straight away

[Reg Smeeton]

 All this will need to be sorted....Cameron says he will hang around, to smoothly oil the wheels of the negotiations, I suspect his party may have other ideas.  Think Milliband will have to go also....whereas Clegg, largely because he's a busted flush anyway, may hang on.

 There will be a lot of issues raised about the break up, that will need to be put to the remainder of the electorate..

[kerry red]

Pandora's Box, Reg

[Sir Pissalot]

Good thing it's not going to happen, then.   

[Reg Smeeton]

Pandora's Box, Reg

Did Adrian Mole ever discover its contents?

[kerry red]

Feminine hygiene product

[horlock07]

I don't get the London out of touch argument. Sure it's different but the same applies to Bristol vs Swindon vs Chippenham.

There won't be devolution to the regions in England as no one wants it, the majority vote against regional assemblies and mayors when given the chance. But I think that highlights our real problem - we're all sick of politics mainly due to ALL politicians being a bunch of wankers. Though we're as much to blame for continually voting for them.

The regional thing will never happen I suspect for the simple reason that for most it would make little difference.

I lived in Cumbria when they were considering it in the north west, the concensus then was 'why bother it will take only mean us being ignore in Manchester rather than London'.

[horlock07]

If they do vote for independence then I hope the Orkneys, Shetlands and Outer Hebrides say that Edinburgh is too remote and they want independence.
Throwing more concessions at these bastards is not the way to go, shame on all three major parties and shame on the Barnett formula. 

Sure I read that this is seriously being looked at Shetland especially has much closer historic and social links to Norway.

[Ardiles]

The regional thing will never happen I suspect for the simple reason that for most it would make little difference.

I lived in Cumbria when they were considering it in the north west, the concensus then was 'why bother it will take only mean us being ignore in Manchester rather than London'.

I think it will take off...by default.  More and more is being offered to Scotland (if it stays in the UK, obviously) and Wales.  So if the North East or the East Midlands, for example - both of which have similar sized populations - ever want to get a similar settlement, regional devolved assemblies are the only way forward.

You can't have an English parliament as a counterpoint to Scottish and Welsh parliaments in a devolved/federal set up.  It would represent too many people, and would fail to address the concerns of folk from those regions who, in common with a lot of Scots and Welsh, complain of an overly centralised bureaucracy in London.  I'm sure it will happen.  It has to.

[herthab]

Federalism is the logical answer. It worked in Star Trek....

[Ardiles]

Something modelled on this would be pretty awesome.

[jonny72]

I think it will take off...by default.  More and more is being offered to Scotland (if it stays in the UK, obviously) and Wales.  So if the North East or the East Midlands, for example - both of which have similar sized populations - ever want to get a similar settlement, regional devolved assemblies are the only way forward.

You can't have an English parliament as a counterpoint to Scottish and Welsh parliaments in a devolved/federal set up.  It would represent too many people, and would fail to address the concerns of folk from those regions who, in common with a lot of Scots and Welsh, complain of an overly centralised bureaucracy in London.  I'm sure it will happen.  It has to.

So you really think that what people want is another level of bureaucracy? We'd end up with four levels - local council, regional assembly, national government, EU government.

What's wrong with devolving more powers to local councils? It would need a major overhaul though, a reduction in the number of councillors, making them full time positions running elements of the council day to day and making them accountable. More power to vary council tax, business rates, and stuff like that.

The biggest issue we have to sort in England though is the general lack of interest in politics and voting.

[Reg Smeeton]

So you really think that what people want is another level of bureaucracy? We'd end up with four levels - local council, regional assembly, national government, EU government.

What's wrong with devolving more powers to local councils? It would need a major overhaul though, a reduction in the number of councillors, making them full time positions running elements of the council day to day and making them accountable. More power to vary council tax, business rates, and stuff like that.

The biggest issue we have to sort in England though is the general lack of interest in politics and voting.

We had a long established system of local council democracy in England (don't know about elsewhere in UK, but assume the same).

Councils had the power to raise money locally and spend it locally, and so decide strategy locally....unfortunately this didn't chime well with the Thatcherites, who found these often wet old skool Tory/Socialist lite ideas at odds with their desire for profit first and foremost.

This was at first done by Rate Capping and then the introduction of the Poll Tax into Scotland, an event for which many will  have got their revenge today.

[Sir Pissalot]

We had a long established system of local council democracy in England (don't know about elsewhere in UK, but assume the same).

Councils had the power to raise money locally and spend it locally, and so decide strategy locally....unfortunately this didn't chime well with the Thatcherites, who found these often wet old skool Tory/Socialist lite ideas at odds with their desire for profit first and foremost.

This was at first done by Rate Capping and then the introduction of the Poll Tax into Scotland, an event for which many will  have got their revenge today.

Sounds like you're expecting the YES vote to win, Reg.

[Reg Smeeton]

Sounds like you're expecting the YES vote to win, Reg.

Yes I think so....who in their right mind wouldn't want to be free of the Tories.