The Great Scottish FREEEEEEEEEDOOOMMMMM!!!!1!!! vote

[Imran Siddiqui]

We can't stop them using the pound in a sterlingised economy should they choose to, but that's a bit of a 3rd World approach to running things.

The SNP's response is that if they can't have full credit union, they will walk away from the existing UK national debt. That's fraught with issues, of course. I can't see it helping their credit rating, and it's not a great idea to seriously piss off the nation that is (by far) your biggest trade partner.

True. I guess I was thinking more about the credit union thing rather than the literal using another country's legal tender. The debt issue is going to be MASSIVE if Scotland votes to leave and I don't think a lot of "Yes" voters have really considered that. Also, I think they believe they'll be automatically included in the EU and the EU has been going, hey wait a sec..

[regexcellent]

No- the LibDems don't support it. It's because power was devolved to the Scottish Parliament, and the Scots elected the SNP into government. That's democracy.

Can't Parliament just revoke that authority then?

[Proteus_MST]

Which dumbass in Parliament decided to make it legally binding? Was this to appease the Lib Dems or something? ...

I guess the prime minister was so sure of the outcome (i.e. that the majority of scots would decide to stay) that he thought: "Better let them cast their vote now (and have silence for another century or two before they demand another referendum) than at a worse time"

[Colon™]

Bit like he thought promising a referendum on the EU also involved a limited risk. Who knows by the time Cameron has left office, he'll have blown up 2 unions. That oughta secure his place in the history books.

[notyoueither]

I guess the prime minister was so sure of the outcome (i.e. that the majority of scots would decide to stay) that he thought: "Better let them cast their vote now (and have silence for another century or two before they demand another referendum) than at a worse time"

If Quebec is any guide it doesn't stop with one vote for No.

[Dinner]

As a half Scottish person I must say this is the.dumbest vote ever and an independent Scotland would be an economic basket case despite the SNP's plan which seems to be based on wishful thinking, rainbows, and unicorn farts.

[Bugs ****ing Bunny]

Can't Parliament just revoke that authority then?

You aren't really buying into this "democracy" and "self-determination" concepts, are you?

[kentonio]

We can't stop them using the pound in a sterlingised economy should they choose to, but that's a bit of a 3rd World approach to running things.

Not to mention that (if I've understood this correctly) the EU won't admit a country that follows that route.

[regexcellent]

In the United States, the states have authority over all matters not particularly specified in the constitution as belonging to the federal government, or otherwise forbidden from interference by the government in general. That's not true in Britain. In Britain, my understanding is that legally the government is allowed to proscribe exactly the rights of the Scottish Parliament. So can't it just say "you're not allowed to vote for independence?"

Also, even though we have state's rights here, that has been decided (admittedly, through war) to mean that states still can't vote to be independent.

[kentonio]

In the United States, the states have authority over all matters not particularly specified in the constitution as belonging to the federal government, or otherwise forbidden from interference by the government in general. That's not true in Britain. In Britain, my understanding is that legally the government is allowed to proscribe exactly the rights of the Scottish Parliament. So can't it just say "you're not allowed to vote for independence?"

Also, even though we have state's rights here, that has been decided (admittedly, through war) to mean that states still can't vote to be independent.

What is frequently misunderstood about the British political system is that what may be allowed on paper is not in any way, shape or form an indication of would be permitted to happen in reality. On paper our Queen could dissolve parliament tomorrow just because she felt like it, but it wouldn't be allowed to happen because it would lead to the immediate dissolution of the monarchy. Similarly, for government to refuse to allow people the right to self-determination, or to hold a referendum on independence and then try and ignore it would lead to dire political consequences.

We're a democracy and when people try and act undemocratically we get rather annoyed about it.

The stupid thing about the referendum is not that it's being held, but that a simple majority is enough to win it. For an issue as serious as independence that is absolute insanity. The polling is currently neck and neck, so whichever side wins, Scotland is going to be a deeply divided nation for years to come.

[Hauldren Collider]

So how is it legally binding at all? Parliament could just pass a law saying "just kidding". Or just not recognize it. I mean, I can see a number of maneuvers to make that work--their refusal to accept the national debt, for instance.

[Bugs ****ing Bunny]

So can't it just say "you're not allowed to vote for independence?"

No.

Democratic process #1

A referendum was held as to whether Scotland should have devolved power and a Parliament. That referendum was passed with a clear majority.

Democratic process #2

The Scottish electorate elected the SNP.

Democratic process #3

The SNP-controlled Scottish Parliament passed a referendum bill.

Democratic process #4

Here we are at the referendum.


Attempting to revoke that lot would be a clear violation of democratic process, of the principles of self-determination, and unacceptable tyranny.

[Proteus_MST]

So how is it legally binding at all? Parliament could just pass a law saying "just kidding". Or just not recognize it. I mean, I can see a number of maneuvers to make that work--their refusal to accept the national debt, for instance.

You wouldn´t want to have rioting scotsmen rampaging through Londons streets, wearing kilts and wielding claymores

[Hauldren Collider]

If they secede they're out of NATO and the EU, and I doubt any countries with separatist movements (paging Spain) are going to let them in.

[Proteus_MST]

If they secede they're out of NATO and the EU, and I doubt any countries with separatist movements (paging Spain) are going to let them in.

With regards to the EU that´s not totally clear yet ...
some informations say that they would be allowed to immediately enter EU membership upon independency as if they had always been member
other information say that they have to apply for membership like a totally new nation (which then may be blocked by the current members).