Scottish independence vote

[Xenfield]

Why aren't the English being allowed to vote on Scottish independence, there is a large number who believe we would be better off as an English independent state? We need to push to be liberated from Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.

[Andy3536]

I always seem to think comments like this are from Scotish nationalists trying to prove thier point to non believers.
As an Englishman i can safly say that no one i know would want to distance themselves from shortbread and whiskey....

[HalloweenJack]

and the OP joined today to post this how awesome

[jim]

Because that would be an English independence vote.

[peterb]

and the OP joined today to post this how awesome

We do get a few single issue posters! There was one recently who revived a thread on courier charges to Scotland to have a quick rant

Because that would be an English independence vote.

Well, yes and no. The break up of the United Kingdom is an issue that will affect England, Wales and Northern Ireland, so you could make a case for extending the referendum. I'm sure that if Alex Salmond thought that it would help his political ambition, he would be pressing for it though!

[Saracen]

You could indeed make the case for extending the referendum, but personally, I'm delighted it hasn't been. Here's why.

I'm English, and I have two views on Scottish independence.

First, I want the UK to stay as it us, so Scotland should stay in.

Second, if the Scots people want out, they should be allowed to leave.

Clearly, if the referendum were extended, it won't give us a result of what Scots want (or, to be more accurate, as I understand it, those resident in Scotland, which isn't the same thing), and so, it isn't showing if the Scots want out. And given relative population numbers, the wishes of Scots would be almost irrelevant.

And while I'm sure it's a trivial exercise to conduct a national referendum and then break it down by region, or by "Scot" and 'non-Scot", we then have the very real possibility that Scots vote for 'out' and non-Scots vote for in.

Now what?

Either we ignore the wishes of the Scots, in which case, anger and resentment at that would be inevitable, and likely huge. Or, we ignore the non-Scots, in which case, why go the extra trouble and not trivial cost of a national referendum in the first place?

I can't see any combination of outcomes of votes for a national Scot and non-Scot referendum that enhances the position, and several that will lead to trouble. Unless, of course, the situation were to be that someone wants to say to the Scots, "we don't care if you want out, we're keeping you in" .... which rather reminds me of the attitude of the EU to the UK.

Personally, I want Scotland in, but not against the wishes of the Scots. If they want out, and I hope they don't but if they do, so be it.