UK and Scottish governments reach provisional agreement on independence referendum - Polidicks

[img]http://news.bbcimg.co.uk/media/images/63078000/jpg/_63078846_015971100-1.jpg[/img] • Single yes/no question on independence. • Voting age for the referendum will be 16. • Cameron and Salmond to meet on Monday to finalise the deal. [url]http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-scotland-politics-19892368[/url] [quote=BBC News][B]The basis of a deal has been reached between the UK and Scottish governments over the independence referendum.[/B] In a joint statement Deputy First Minister Nicola Sturgeon and Scottish Secretary Michael Moore said "substantial progress" had been made. But the BBC understands that although a few minor details need to be ironed out, a package of measures has been agreed. It paves the way for a meeting between David Cameron and Alex Salmond. This is expected to take place on Monday in Edinburgh. The prime minister and the first minister are expected to agree on a plan which will involve a referendum which asks a single yes/no question on whether Scotland should leave the United Kingdom. It is understood the agreement will also extend the vote to include those aged over 16 in Scotland. Mr Moore, who is currently on holiday, and Ms Sturgeon spoke on the phone on Monday night and are due to do so again on Friday. [B]'Further work'[/B] It follows a series of face-to-face meetings and negotiations between the pair in recent weeks. A joint statement issued by the Scottish government and the Scotland Office after Mr Moore and Ms Sturgeon's latest conversation said: "Further substantial progress towards agreement was reached this afternoon between the Deputy First Minister Nicola Sturgeon and the Secretary of State Michael Moore. "Officials have now been tasked with doing some further work on the final detail of the agreement. "We are however on track for the full agreement, including the terms of a section 30 order, to be presented to the First Minister and the Prime Minister over the next few days." The BBC's political editor, Nick Robinson, said the deal - if it is finalised - will be presented as "a compromise involving concessions by both sides". The SNP is understood to have accepted a single question referendum, as opposed to two questions including one on greater powers for the Scottish Parliament, whilst the UK government has abandoned its opposition to giving 16 and 17-year-olds a vote. [B]One question[/B] Scotland Office Minister, David Mundell, who has been involved in the negotiations, told the BBC there will be one question and confirmed the vote will be held before the end of 2014. He said: "It won't automatically be the case that 16 and 17-year-olds can vote in the referendum. "The UK government, certainly the Conservative party, oppose that change. "It will be up to Scottish Parliament to determine who can vote in the referendum in Scotland, and also the date and the nature of the question." Scottish Finance Secretary John Swinney said progress had been made but "further ground" had to be covered before a final agreement is reached. He added: "The Scottish government has always made clear that we preferred to have a single question on whether Scotland should become an independent country. "But we also recognised that some people in Scotland want to consider other options to strengthen the powers of the parliament. "That is a question we have consulted upon, it is one we have discussed and it has been an important part of the discussions with the UK government, but throughout all of this our preference has been to have a single question." When a final agreement between the two governments is formalised legislation to set up the referendum is expected go before both the Westminster and Holyrood parliaments.[/quote]

Oo, something I can vote in.

Excellent. I hope the Scottish people win what they want for most, whether its continued union or independence.

I've got to say I'm really against Salmond choosing the question, he's making it deliberately leading in favour of independence, rather than having a neutral stance.

Can't wait to make my first vote and tell Samond to fuck off.

So do most scottish people not want to be in the UK or is just just one guy and a few people supporting him?

[QUOTE=C0MMUNIZT;37976114]So do most scottish people not want to be in the UK or is just just one guy and a few people supporting him?[/QUOTE] [url]http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scottish_independence_referendum,_2014#Polling[/url] [img]http://puu.sh/1d8Hy[/img] A good campaign can change anything though; there was majority support for AV in 2010, but by the time of the referendum the No campaign had absolutely steamrolled it and won in a landslide

Is there really any good reasons for them to be independent anyway?

[QUOTE=C0MMUNIZT;37976227]Is there really any good reasons for them to be independent anyway?[/QUOTE] "Because Braveheart was awesome."

Huh, independent Scotland sounds interesting, but how would it impact the current political climate? I'm guessing it'd mean that the laws of Britain wouldn't strictly apply to Scotland, since they'd have their own government, and I suppose you'd require an EU passport to pass over the Scottish border. Still, i'm not expecting a new Hadrian's Wall any time soon (old Roman wall used to keep the ancient Scottish tribes back in 2nd century Britain), even if Scotland achieves independence.

[QUOTE=ironman17;37976277]Huh, independent Scotland sounds interesting, but how would it impact the current political climate? I'm guessing it'd mean that the laws of Britain wouldn't strictly apply to Scotland, since they'd have their own government, and I suppose you'd require an EU passport to pass over the Scottish border. Still, i'm not expecting a new Hadrian's Wall any time soon (old Roman wall used to keep the ancient Scottish tribes back in 2nd century Britain), even if Scotland achieves independence.[/QUOTE] Welcome to the Democratic People's Republic of Scotland! I imagine it would operate just like EU continental land borders. What I don't know is whether they'd join the Commonwealth and keep the monarchy, or become a republic. Also, what currency would they use? And what would happen to BBC Scotland?

Salmond is a slimy man and I certainly wouldn't want him running an independent Scotland.

Sean Connery wants independence right?

No, stay in the UK, I don't want to remember another nation.

[QUOTE=ironman17;37976277]Huh, independent Scotland sounds interesting, but how would it impact the current political climate? I'm guessing it'd mean that the laws of Britain wouldn't strictly apply to Scotland, since they'd have their own government, and I suppose you'd require an EU passport to pass over the Scottish border. Still, i'm not expecting a new Hadrian's Wall any time soon (old Roman wall used to keep the ancient Scottish tribes back in 2nd century Britain), even if Scotland achieves independence.[/QUOTE] The Scottish parliament would have more power, and the UK parliament would lose their right to pass bills that affect Scotland (excepting foreign policy, which would be established if Scotland becomes independent). Scotland would have its own foreign policy, its own representation in international relations (like the UN and EU). Laws that apply in Scotland are technically Scottish laws, so in that sense, no laws of the UK would apply to Scotland. I'm pretty sure Scotland would use UK laws as a base and rework them a bit, if they become independent. In turn, Scotland would lose representation in the UK parliament, and they would have to decide whether to keep the queen as head of the state, or replace the monarchy with a republic. Scotland could either keep the pound as their currency, adopt their own currency or adopt the Euro. Scotland would have to establish their own diplomatic relationships, as the UK wouldn't represent Scotland internationally anymore. Quite a tricky question! There are more implications of Scottish independence, but these are some of them. Will be interesting to see the outcome of this referendum.

I'm for independence of my home country, but not right now. Economies bad and Salmond is a slimy wanker. I'd rather stay with the Queen for now, thank you very much.

[QUOTE=Moustacheman;37978867]I'm for independence of my home country, but not right now. Economies bad and Salmond is a slimy wanker. I'd rather stay with the Queen for now, thank you very much.[/QUOTE] Where do you live?

[QUOTE=jaykray;37978869]Where do you live?[/QUOTE] In scotland

[QUOTE=MR-X;37979182]In scotland[/QUOTE] United States, actually. I left Scotland when I turned 18 and joined the United States Army.

[QUOTE=Moustacheman;37979265]United States, actually. I left Scotland when I turned 18 and joined the United States Army.[/QUOTE] I left the motherland too and live in the US.

They should totally go independent, can an Englishman living in Scotland vote for this? I think it will be so cute watching them trying to run their own country :3

pls dont go scotland we dont want a thousand years of tory rule

no pls stay, the UK flag will look awful without the scottish bit

[QUOTE=DainBramageStudios;37981267]no pls stay, the UK flag will look awful without the scottish bit[/QUOTE] [img]http://img.thesun.co.uk/multimedia/archive/01437/SNN1406GXB-682_1437682a.jpg[/img] Not really?

[QUOTE=joshdasmif;37981288][img]http://img.thesun.co.uk/multimedia/archive/01437/SNN1406GXB-682_1437682a.jpg[/img] Not really?[/QUOTE] I'm going to be sick

[QUOTE=DainBramageStudios;37981310]I'm going to be sick[/QUOTE] Just slap a certain dragon on it and shit'll be cool.

Seriously hope we don't go independent, there is so many questions that Salmond just does not answer, like NHS, Police, Army, Exports/Imports and Currency to name a few. Cant wait to tell him were to stick his independence.

As dunkace pointed out, there are too many things not considered for this independence bid. If it goes through, they'll fuck up their country for years in a blaze of nationalism.

The SNP are fucking morons for thinking that this is a good idea. I'm as patriotic as the next Scot, but this is NOT what's best for our country.

I'm usually not one to bother voting, but it's time Salmond stopped pretending he's William Wallace on his crusade to save Scotland. I really don't see things working out if we had independence. So I'm definitely going out to vote against this.