From here, the Economist: And, so, what next Mrs. May? It was a horse's-ass PM from your party that started this present mess with a referendum that he lost (barely). It's still that horse's ass of a political party that cannot seem to agree as regards Brexit - the worst political maneuver that the UK has made since Chamberlain went to kiss Hitler's ass in 1938. Lotta good that did ... ! As will happen to Brexit, five years down the road when the Brits wake up to the colossal mistake they made. With any luck the Scots will cut the umbilical cord with the UK and strike out on their own in the EU - bringing a huge swath of "British oil" with them ... And the Labor Party is no real alternative run today by just as much of a horse's-ass as is that of the Conservative Party ...
My friend, the only mistake we have made is not playing our hand. Our government has tried to sell us down the river as our Prime Minister is a vehement Remainer. Our only hope now is that an EU member vetoes the extension and we come out no deal as desired by the majority of the public. I would be far more concerned about France right now than Britain. What do you actually know about Scotland and their finances? They could not leave the UK and join the EU because their debt to GDP ratio is nearly as bad a Greece. The fallacy that they could live off the oil is even more ridiculous because the price of oil is lower than ever before. Also, what currency would they use? I feel that you've read this somewhere without knowing the full details but please do correct me if I am wrong.
There is no hope for the British economy - and, yes, it is going to take five long years for you (plural) to understand that fact. Because you are evidently devoid of economic clairvoyance. (Your best-trading partner is the the huge Demand of the EU - a Demand-market of about 450 million customers (less the UK)! And you think perhaps the US or the rest of the world is going to replace EU-demand? YOU ARE NAIVE! Greece is paying off (arduously slowly) its debt-overhang. The Scots will have a far easier job of doing so because they have the oil! Which means at present 980 million pounds (1143 million euros). And that sum will likely increase in any final separation arrangement! The price of oil at the station is sky-high here in France. Upon which planet do you live. Still, your remark is not entirely wrong. Industrial jobs are leaving the UK by the thousands. What should Scotland do to make up for the loss. That's for the Scots to decide - and neither you nor me ... in fact, remaining in the larger market EU for them would seem a better deal. NB: A recent article from the Economist regarding the matter of ScotExit from the EU (here) - it's not for tomorrow. Understandable, the Scots sell what - aside from oil - to earn foreign currency that would support their own national economy? (And yet: Brexit could sway Scottish voters toward independence from UK, poll finds)
What hand would that be? Scottish Fishing Waters....AGAIN? Scotland's debt is not Scotland's debt...it is the money spent FOR Scotland by Westminster. Scotland is not permitted by the Scotland Act, to spend over budget . AND it has to pay interest on our small level of permitted borrowing from our budget...as well as contributing through our "deficit" to the UK's debt interest payments...AND it has to pay HMRC from that same limited pot for their kindness in collecting the Scottish Tax for us. The debt to GDP restriction has nothing to do with joining the EU...that is part of the criteria for joining the EURO! And who says we want to join the EU anyway...EFTA/EEA would do us fine, at least initially....and maybe shut the farmers and fishermen up. Do you really think that it would cost Scotland £3 billion more than the £ 9 billion administration budget for every Westminster department to fund the few departments we still need? Really? We have never said we could or would live off oil...we said that we would do as Norway has and save it for a rainy day....and not piddle it up against a wall as Westminster has been doing for the past 45 years. Given there have been a number of finds since 2014 and the price is creeping up, we should manage a wee nest egg, especially if we don't give the oil companies more back in tax breaks than they pay us in taxes....as the UK does. We will use sterling until we get up and running...after all it will be little different to what happens now in the Union, given our banks have to deposit enough money with the Bank of England to cover their note issues...and will have our own currency in the short/medium term, probably pegged to sterling initially, as The Republic of Ireland did. I don't know what it will be caled...but as it already exists...and is as hard to spend in England as any foreign currency...what is wring with "the Scottish Pound"?
Because it's fairly straightforward and rids you (plural) of English hegemony with your own parliament? From here: Independent Scotland 'would have to apply to join EU' – Brussels official (13 Mar 2017) Excerpt: 'Nuff said ... ?
. I know we will have to rejoin EU, but I'm not as inclined to think that it will be as much of a shoo-in as my compatriots do.....and EFTA/EEA would be an easier sell to the fishermen who voted YES in indyref1, and LEAVE in the Brexit referendum, and who blame the quota shambles on the EU and not the way the UK Government allocated the quotas. The EU proper may be best left as an option for a later generation....opinions change anyway...I voted LEAVE in the 1975 Brexit referendum just after we joined the EU....but not this time.
