American Reacts to Scotland Leaving the United Kingdom

What would happen if Scotland left the United Kingdom? No one seems to be exactly sure, but this video tries to answer the question. From historical context to contemporary implications, this video explores the question that's been on the minds of many: Does anyone really care if Scotland leaves the UK? We react to the arguments and sentiments surrounding this complex issue and analyze the potential consequences for both Scotland and the rest of the UK, including the economic, political, and cultural aspects of a potential breakup.
Whether you're an American curious about the global stage or someone looking to gain a deeper understanding of the Scottish independence movement, this video offers some perspective. Join the conversation, leave your comments, and let us know your thoughts on this significant geopolitical topic. Don't forget to like, subscribe, and hit the notification bell to stay updated on more thought-provoking content like this!
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[@lesley4085]

Great reaction and a really good video. I really thought twice about watching this as it’s such a hot topic and so divisive and I’m so fed up with an extremely biased media who do nothing better than scaremonger and lie especially about funding and finances. I and my family and friends desperately want an independent Scotland, I think it’s natural for a country to want self determination and I have no faith in the govt in Westminster, Scotland has not voted conservative for over fifty years. There are sixty five countries who have gained independence from a British govt. including the US as you know and are still allies and we are told that we are not even allowed to have a referendum. The four countries in the UK are all very different with different priorities and cultures but we are all still neighbours. There are plenty resources out there such as Business for Scotland who lay out the financial implications but instead all we normally hear from unfortunately are the conservative backed media.

[@azzajames7661]

Some facts: It is rather strange that the incompetent snp don't know their own duties, or do they just not care?! Like with Child poverty, drug deaths, failing NHS, and bad economy are all devolved issues! Here this is off the scottish government website: The Scottish Government is the devolved government for Scotland and has a range of responsibilities that include: the economy, education, health, justice, rural affairs, housing, environment, equal opportunities, consumer advocacy and advice, transport and taxation. Plus this, too😉 scotland's deficit more than doubled to £36.3bn, or 23.4% of GDP in 2021-22, the highest yearly figure since devolution, according to Scotland's finance secretary.18 Aug 2022 A country to join the eu needs to be below 3%! The UK Government has already stated that the British Pound is for the Countries within the UK, and so if you leave, you won't be having the pound! Look it up! This is from the scottish government website: How is public spending and revenue distributed to Scotland? During 2021-22 tax revenue generated in Scotland amounted to about £83 billion, including North Sea oil revenue, and it benefitted from about £99 billion in public spending, a difference of £36 billion, so the UK Government gave scotland, an extra £44 Billion, on top, and also gave on top a further £17.2 Billion, which the incompetent snp, didn't pass on to the correct businesses, and people. In 2021-22, the UK faced the coronavirus pandemic together, spending unprecedented amounts to support lives and livelihoods across the country. This resulted in a £17.2 billion (27%) increase in public spending for Scotland compared to the previous year. This was possible because the UK pools and shares resources across the entire country. This system of sharing resources means Scotland is well-placed to tackle the problems like pandemic and climate change but also gives the Scottish Parliament the freedom to make many financial decisions for itself. How are funding decisions split between the UK and Scottish governments? Scotland has two governments that are both responsible for different things. For example, foreign policy and international relations are reserved for the UK government, but health and social services are devolved to the Scottish government. When the UK government increases funding for an area that is devolved, the Scottish government receives extra funding, too. For example, if the NHS in England gets a funding boost, the Scottish government will also receive extra cash. In 2021, the UK government guaranteed £8.6 billion of additional funding to help the Scottish government respond to coronavirus. In February 2022, the UK Government announced a further £1.1 billion was being made available for the Scottish Government to spend in the financial year 2021-2022 or carry forward to the financial year 2022-2023. As a result, the Scottish Government spent an extra £15 billion in 2021-22 to respond to the pandemic. The UK government also spent a further £10 billion directly on support like furlough, self-employment grants, and welfare in Scotland. The Spending Review 2022 confirmed that UK Government Barnett-based funding to the Scottish Government in 2021-22 would be over £38 billion. This equates to around £129 per person for every £100 per person the UK Government spends in England on matters devolved in Scotland. This reflects the higher costs of delivering public services in Scotland. The debt that scotland will take in the split is apparently over £310 Billion, to be paid to back to the UK, which will take scotland, with their very low economy hundreds of years. If you read the facts, scotland will be bankrupt, with no currency of its own. The greens/snp will cut off all oil and gas🤯 So, what will the new bankrupt scotland use as its income? whiskey, haggis,....?! Seriously, get a grip🤔 Also scotland has the most drug deaths in the whole of Europe, and also under the snp's failings the scottish education system is the worst in the whole of the UK, and the snp run NHS is also the worst in the UK, which is strange as Westminster give the snp enough money for the NHS, but the funds don't seem to make it there! All in all, the last 15 years of snp rule have ruined scotland in oh so many ways! Look it all up, as the truth is all over the internet and on the scottish government website. It is also funny that, Oil, and Gas as the snp got in bed with the greens, the greens want all fossil fuels to be stopped ASAP, but the lucky thing is that the Shetland, and surrounding island what to become independent from the incompetent snp, and will take their oil, and gas with them: Shetland Islands Council voted to explore breakaway from SNP-run Scotland - September 9, 2020. THE SHETLAND Islands is looking at moves to breakaway from scotland; it has emerged. The island council has agreed to explore options for achieving “financial and political self-determination” after a motion was approved by elected members. In the final tense days of the 2014 independence referendum, the local MP Alistair Carmichael, who was minister for Scotland at the time, said the islands could try to remain part of Britain if the rest of Scotland left. In the end, 55% of Scots voted to stay in Britain. The unionist vote in the Shetlands was 63.7 % - one of the highest levels in Scotland. Scotland has around 60% of the EU's oil reserves and the second-largest volume of proven natural gas reserves, most of it located around Shetland. MSPs for Orkney and Shetland made a submission to the Government’s consultation on the independence referendum warning the islands could opt to remain part of the UK even if the rest of Scotland votes to separate. It is said that once the Shetlands and surrounding islands will become a Crown Dependant of the UK, just like the Isle of Man and other islands🤔 Germany is in a recession, as are a few eu countries, yet the UK is NOT in recession;-) scotland can't survive without the rest of the UK.

[@samuel_iv]

what if scotland had complete autonomy but the king/queen stays the "head of state" in both, meaning the military is still one military under the monarchy, seems like a win win

[@azzajames7661]

@@samuel_iv scotland will need to pay for half the budge, which it can ill afford.

[@samuel_iv]

@@azzajames7661 what? they would need to pay for all of it anyway

[@azzajames7661]

@men5843 UK annual defence procurement worth more than £2 billion to Scotland. New figures today (Thursday, January 26, 2023) show Ministry of Defence (MoD) expenditure with industry and commerce in Scotland in 2021/22 was £2.01 billion.26 Jan 2023.

[@pipercharms7374]

I don’t want Scotland to leave but obviously it’s completely up to the people of Scotland, if they ever do choose to leave I will support their choice of course.

[@Finnbobjimbob]

Scottish independence will just be just another brexit, you’re tricked and lied to by the upper class who say it’ll be beneficial to the country as a whole, when in reality it only benefits the rich, But by the time you realise that it’ll be too late and there’s no going back. Don’t make the same mistakes the English made.

[@calummcmartin4628]

It would be up to the Scottish people if it wasn't for the total bombardment of the UK media telling us that Scotland would fall apart without England... the opposite is true.. Scotland would still trade favorably with England and have an open border.. but Scotland would also have an open border and free trade with Europe.. 9 years ago leaving the uk was a leap of faith.. but know, after seeing all this shit.. we'd have to be fkn morons not to want self determination and a future away from England..

[@neuralwarp]

If they do, we English want all our money back.

[@Thurgosh_OG]

We're not leaving the Union, despite what the SNP loonies think. And we already had our vote and it wa to stay.

[@pol1229]

​@@neuralwarpAs soon as you take Trident and give back all the oil money you pissed away 👍

[@stephenlee5929]

Hi, at 19:43 we see a map of the devolved governments, NI, Scotland, Wales and England, except there is no English Parliament or governing body.

[@philipsq6848]

I lived in Scotland until recently and a lot of people I worked with support independence. I am English but always felt welcome, not just because I hate the tories more. I am trying to get back, England has got much worse in the last 10 years and my new colleagues pay 50+% of their salary in rent and have no hope of owning anything but the smallest flat. Scotland has problems to but not on the same scale, I think the majority there are too comfortable to risk it on independence though they would like to be.

[@user-nz8dc1rt2m]

@@OneTrueScotsmanWho is we? You don’t talk for Scotland otherwise you wouldn’t have lost the referendum & you wouldn’t still be losing support.

[@charmainelamont2020]

@@user-nz8dc1rt2m The latest poll shows support for independence at 53%, so not losing support.

[@oliversherman2414]

As an Englishman, I hope Scotland does stay in the UK.... However, if they voted to leave, I wouldn't be offended by their decision. At the end of the day it's up to the Scots to decide on their country's fate. I hope we stay united as one, brothers and sisters in arms and all.... but who knows

[@MrNikolidas]

It's not that we want to leave you personally, it's just that it's like having an older brother dragging his younger sibling through a shopping centre towards a store named "Raging Bin Fire" despite the younger's protests that it's not a good idea.

[@oliversherman2414]

@@MrNikolidas lol I see your point. If it helps at all, me and my family don't like the government either (we even voted against Brexit)

[@MrNikolidas]

@@oliversherman2414 With all due respect, we can all hate the government together but until people in England actually start voting in sensible ways when we finally have the chance to speak up, it doesn't make an iota of a difference. We're outnumbered up here 10 to 1. We can never be equal partners in this relationship, in spite of the rose-tinted glasses Dave Cameron tried to make us all wear.

[@oliversherman2414]

@@MrNikolidas I understand your frustration but it's not my fault England is the most populated UK country

[@davidbean6973]

5:42 If that 40% threshold was enacted for the EU referendum, it wouldn't have passed. Only 37% of the electorate voted Leave in 2016.

[@stephenlee5929]

Sad truth.

[@MrBulky992]

The effect of Brexit overall is hard to evaluate because other major factors have affected the economy over the past 3 years, namely the questionable handling of the Covid pandemic (responsible for downturns in the public finances owing to prolonged lockdowns and furlough payment) by our government and the war in Ukraine (responsible for the huge surge in energy prices - not connected to Brexit). The best measure is to compare against similar countries and, all in all, we are doing better than some (e.g. Germany) and worse than others but not by an order of magnitude. One other factor is that Brexit is still a work in progress - there are acres (or should that be hectares) of EU regulations still in operation and awaiting detailed examination before deciding whether to keep them or not. So, at what point do we decide Brexit has finished and how long does it have to run before a true evaluation can be made? Finally, there is more to Brexit than economics so it is not just a financial balance sheet to be considered. Brexit was also about returning a large measure of sovereignty back to the UK which is, ironically the same aim which Scottish Nationalists have for their own country so their desire to seek EU membership seems somewhat contradictory.

[@roisinkillen4918]

I am Scottish and was on the fence about Scottish independence during the 2014 referendum, buying into the line that we are all better together. Since then, things have drastically changed. The Scottish public hasn't voted majority Conservative in decades, but because of the Union we have been ruled by Conservative governments for 13 years! Not to mention the travesty of Brexit where, as this video explains, the Scottish vote was to stay in Europe. Then there are smaller issues touched on by this video like that fact that most of Scotland is against trident! We don't want nuclear warheads in our country! Or the fact that Scotland pledged to move to clean and renewable energy only for the Conservatives to turn around and issue hundreds of new drilling licences for British oil companies off the cost of Scotland. Independence will happen in my lifetime (despite the fact that the British government is currently blocking our right to hold another referendum) and we will be better off for it!

[@Jester343]

You make a few good points. However, where would the Scottish economy come from? It's about 8% of the UK economy, which would mean it makes roughly £250 billion for its GDP, and is thus 49th in the world between Iraq, now 50th, and Finland, 48th. Granted, the economy post independence is uncertain so it could sway either way but the fact of the matter is you'd have to have some luck for it not to go badly especially when England, or the rest of the UK as a whole, is the largest trading partner and with Brexit it would DEFINTELY complicate things. As for Trident, Scotland has more to gain than lose. If Scotland were to leave but stay neutral, hopefully not pacifist though, like Ireland and not join NATO then it would solely rely on itself. However, we're it to join NATO then it would be protected by England. And that's not to mention than the nuclear warheads being in Scotland if anything help Scotland with jobs in the military. And if Scotland were to be neutral then them warheads would be taken out of Scitland unless a separate deal were to be struck leaving Scotland to fend for itself should some unforeseen war come about in the future. And England had just as much reason to worry about nuclear war considering you're on the same island. Whatever hits England will affect Scotland and vice versa. I also have a question. If Scotland does achieve independence but its economy doesn't go as planned and takes a turn similar to the economy of Greece a couple decades ago then it won't be able to join the EU due to requirements. If this were to take place, what would you ant Scotland to do then? Would you want it to return to the UK or remain independent still? Because if you were to say rejoin the UK then you admit that Scotland requires assistance in it's economy and therefore it surely isn't worth the risk. But I digress. If Scotland were to leave the UK and join the EU and see some economic growth it would be great for Scotland. Except for you'd be replacing the overlord of Westminster for the overlord of Brussels. The EU's biggest problem a few months ago was a charger for a phone and if you look at everything going on it doesn't seem to be getting much better. As for the UK leaving the EU, I don't agree with it. I live in Yorkshire and believe we should've remained and in addition to this, the most common Google search in the UK after the referendum was "What is the EU"... I just don't believe that Scottish independence would be ideal for either the UK or Scotland unless some deal were to be made whereby Scotland remains in the UK but is also allowed to stay in the EU. That would be a deal which I believe Scotland would benefit massively from and the rest of the UK wouldn't lose that much either if anything at all. All I'm saying is that Scottish independence, on the economic front, is based solely on the hope that the Scottish economy would be alright after leaving the UK so it can join the EU. It isn't based on facts, it's based on a hope that it would be for the best. Only once you've solved that issue can you talk about the issue of the military and Trident.

[@pettytyrant2720]

@@Jester343 If you look at the largest UK exports three of them are heavily Scottish based, the top three - crude and refined oil and whisky and food, Scotland has the majority of the UK fishing fleet and produces mass foods for export as well of course as being the home of whisky. And 90% of all the oil is in Scottish waters. Then there is our tourism which is also massive, not to mention or energy resources even oil aside, hydro, wind and wave, with some of the largest green energy production in Europe. Glasgow and Edinburgh are outside of London the two most productive parts of the UK in terms of the economy. Then there is all the resources 'stolen' gone south to the Treasury never to be seen again, Norway discovered oil in similar amounts as Scotland at the same time - their oil fund is currently worth over £1 trillion dollars, securing their economy, Scotland's oil fund is zero, not a single penny. Now the Tories have handed out another round of new leases, is there a Norway style oil fund for Scotland to benefit from these resources? No of course not, all money will as before vanish into the south of England. Then there is electricity, Scotland provides considerably above its weight in providing energy to the UK grid, energy an independent Scotland would not be giving away but selling. Would there be no doubt teething issues, troubles unforeseen? I would expect so, but just as Ireland did when it became independent of the UK it's perfectly viable. Countries become independent all the time, and Scotland has a head start in terms of government infrastructure, its police, NHS, education, legal, tax and benefits system are already in existence and independent of Westminster as is the right and ability to print our own currency (which is why you have Scottish pound notes) and we are resource rich. Scotland is well placed to be perfectly successful as a small north European country similar to our Scandinavian neighbours.

[@Jester343]

@@pettytyrant2720 You make a good point but how much money would they accumulate from that energy being sold? Who else are they selling that extra energy to whether it be oil, natural gas, electricity? Oil and natural gas would expectedly go to China and other large consumers but a lot would probably go to England for an appropriate price. As for the electricity, it would cost a hell of a lot to get it to go anywhere other than England. And England wouldn't necessarily need that electricity if it generated it itself which it would likely work on if Scotland left. I'd also like to note about the increasingly important movement away from natural gas and oil would affect the Scottish economy should independence come to fruition. I'm by no means saying Scottish independence would be an inherently bad thing (if I did in this comment then ignore me because I can't remember exactly what I wrote) but it could go very badly. As for the NHS, education, taxes etc, yes, Scotland would have their advantage from other countries if they became independent. But if the Scottish economy doesn't grow even with the natural resources, many of which are bring moved away from or at least many are trying to, then it might not be able to afford the NHS. Scottish wages aren't anything to marvel at, and the only way they'd be able to afford an NHS without increasing taxes is for the economy to either not decrease or increase and increasing taxes often comes with a lot of backlash and the economy could backfire there too. I don't think that Scottish independence is inherently bad, I just don't think that it's the right time to be independent. Maybe within the next decade we could see a more viable route for Scottish independence but as it stands today, Scotland has more to lose than to gain. I'm from Yorkshire and for what it's worth, I do hope Scotland does one day achieve independence because I love Scotland. But what I don't want and what I would hope many Scots don't want is for an overlord in Westminster to be replaced with an overlord in Brussels. Scotland would also heavily rely on England for military protection, we've seen Russia likes to fly over Irish air space and if Scotland doesn't join NATO or atleast have an alliance with England then we could see the same apply there. And Scotland is in a more militarily strategic spot than Ireland is so there's no reason to assume Russia won't do that. I think Scotland would be better off if it went a more self sufficient route to be honest. Sure, it has oil and natural gas but so long as it can afford the NHS, a sufficient military even with alliances, good infrastructure then there's no reason to export that. The same applies for electricity, they're better of saving up as much energy as possible incase of a crisis or a potential market boom in energy. Either way, Scotland would be better off with saving their energy rather than exporting. And if they did need to export then they could quite easily export a lot of fish and other natural resources if they decide to reopen the mines for tin, for example. As for me, should Scotland achieve independence then I'd be more than happy for them because I despise the south of England as much as any other person north of the Midlands. But as for independence, if I were Scottish, I'd prefer to stay in the UK rather than leave without a certain plan nor a certain path for the economy. I'd prefer to leave 10 years from now and have a better chance of succeeding rather than leaving now with a slimmer chance. And of course the success chance may decrease due to an economic crash or whatever lies ahead, but I still stand by my decision.

[@pettytyrant2720]

@@Jester343 England would be the main buyer for exported electricity, but I think they would not have much choice in that as it's not so easy for England to just up their capacity. Firstly getting anything built in England seems to be a planning nightmare, almost every major project has collapsed (see High Speed rail or any number of wind farms) on top of that England lacks suitable landscape to produce electricity from hydro, whereas Scotland not only has hydro but is expanding that capacity with a massive new hydro plant on top of our other energy resources. As to oil and gas and how much we could save, well in the same time period on similar resources Norway as a trillion tucked away, with anew round of leases meaning oil will be drilled for at least the next 50 years, an almost comparable amount of time since oil was discovered, if Scotland were independent now and set up a similar oil fund, we'd have approx 3/4 of a trillion saved by the end of that 50 year period. England is already a net importer of electricity, getting it from places like Norway and France (about 10% of Englands energy needs, think how much higher that would be minus Scottish sources they currently use), there is no reason they would not buy from Scotland. Similarly, England would be largely forced to lease Faslane for a lengthy period of time if they wish to retain a nuclear deterrent, Scotland wants them out, England does not have the capacity and very few deep water entry points suitable for submarines, on top of that one of the main reasons its in Scotland is Westminster did not think there was anywhere in England both suitable or where they could get it past local protest (when they originally were deciding where to put the nukes Portsmouth was the other main option but was dismissed as being too near a population centre, then they put it within Scotland's most densely populated area, says all you need to know about how they think of Scots, expendable). So in order to recreate the facilities at Faslane and Coulport (and that includes an entire hollowed out hill not just all the stuff you can see) would take years, probably decades. During which transition time there would have to be deal in place to maintain them here. I would envision that being part financial and in part defence related, as Scotland of course has its share in UK military (with groups like the SAS being famous for their Scots members, including their founder) and Faslane after the transition would be perfectly placed and equipped to be the centre for Scotland's navy, which should consist largely of small fast intercept ships, as main threat as you note comes from Russia and we have oil fields to defend, a small air force based out the north of the country would also be likely (probably near the new spaceport). Similarly we would probably have a good defence deal with NATO as Scotland is very strategically important to the North Atlantic treaty, and we also have many of the most important North Atlantic radar and listening posts as well as offering airfields, training, barracks and such (when the US went into Afghanistan they trained in the Scottish Highlands) should things heat up with Russia sufficiently. That should guarantee Scotland's ability to defend itself is fairly robust and with international backing. Regards swapping Westminster for Brussels, there are options there, we could have a Norway style deal with access to the single market and freedom of movement but not membership, we could stay out as I believe going back in should be a referendum in an independent Scotland, and either way would take at least a decade to be in a position where we can get membership, and much might happen before then, but as a reason to not want independence I don't think its relevant as it's considerably down the line after independence is achieved. Wages in general are higher than in England. The Scottish government pays a living wage higher than the UK equivalent to all employees. The tax system takes more from those at the top and less from those at the bottom than in England. Benefits, particularly for those with families or single parent households are better for those in work than in England, such as child care. So while wages are not fantastically better than elsewhere in the UK they are marginally overall better for the majority of people, and then you can take into account all the extras those in England may have to pay those in Scotland do not, prescription charges, travel is free for under 18's and pensioners, free education with no university fees, and the offsetting of the notorious evil 'bedroom tax', when you add all those and others into what folk in Scotland save from their wages compared to England the difference is a bit more than marginal. I'd rather be a low paid worker in Scotland than I would in England. The underlying Scottish economy is pretty solid, even in these difficult economic times, inward investment is higher than anywhere in England outside of London for example. Then there is all the stuff we 'contribute to' yet never seem to benefit for, things dubbed 'UK projects' so we paid our share for the London Olympics for example, which benefited, if anyone, London. A lot of Scotland's wealth moves out the country, mainly to that great leech on the rest of the UK London. Oh I love Yorkshire and its people, I first fell in love with the place only in my mind reading James Heriot books as a kid, then later when I got to visit in person. I honestly believe the only real downside to independence would be not being able to take the north of England with us. In my experience of the folk of that wonderful area Scots and the north of England have more in common and share a closer societal outlook than either of us do with the south of England and its priorities.

[@azzajames7661]

Some facts: It is rather strange that the incompetent snp don't know their own duties, or do they just not care?! Like with Child poverty, drug deaths, failing NHS, and bad economy are all devolved issues! Here this is off the scottish government website: The Scottish Government is the devolved government for Scotland and has a range of responsibilities that include: the economy, education, health, justice, rural affairs, housing, environment, equal opportunities, consumer advocacy and advice, transport and taxation. Plus this, too😉 scotland's deficit more than doubled to £36.3bn, or 23.4% of GDP in 2021-22, the highest yearly figure since devolution, according to Scotland's finance secretary.18 Aug 2022 A country to join the eu needs to be below 3%! The UK Government has already stated that the British Pound is for the Countries within the UK, and so if you leave, you won't be having the pound! Look it up! This is from the scottish government website: How is public spending and revenue distributed to Scotland? During 2021-22 tax revenue generated in Scotland amounted to about £83 billion, including North Sea oil revenue, and it benefitted from about £99 billion in public spending, a difference of £36 billion, so the UK Government gave scotland, an extra £44 Billion, on top, and also gave on top a further £17.2 Billion, which the incompetent snp, didn't pass on to the correct businesses, and people. In 2021-22, the UK faced the coronavirus pandemic together, spending unprecedented amounts to support lives and livelihoods across the country. This resulted in a £17.2 billion (27%) increase in public spending for Scotland compared to the previous year. This was possible because the UK pools and shares resources across the entire country. This system of sharing resources means Scotland is well-placed to tackle the problems like pandemic and climate change but also gives the Scottish Parliament the freedom to make many financial decisions for itself. How are funding decisions split between the UK and Scottish governments? Scotland has two governments that are both responsible for different things. For example, foreign policy and international relations are reserved for the UK government, but health and social services are devolved to the Scottish government. When the UK government increases funding for an area that is devolved, the Scottish government receives extra funding, too. For example, if the NHS in England gets a funding boost, the Scottish government will also receive extra cash. In 2021, the UK government guaranteed £8.6 billion of additional funding to help the Scottish government respond to coronavirus. In February 2022, the UK Government announced a further £1.1 billion was being made available for the Scottish Government to spend in the financial year 2021-2022 or carry forward to the financial year 2022-2023. As a result, the Scottish Government spent an extra £15 billion in 2021-22 to respond to the pandemic. The UK government also spent a further £10 billion directly on support like furlough, self-employment grants, and welfare in Scotland. The Spending Review 2022 confirmed that UK Government Barnett-based funding to the Scottish Government in 2021-22 would be over £38 billion. This equates to around £129 per person for every £100 per person the UK Government spends in England on matters devolved in Scotland. This reflects the higher costs of delivering public services in Scotland. The debt that scotland will take in the split is apparently over £310 Billion, to be paid to back to the UK, which will take scotland, with their very low economy hundreds of years. If you read the facts, scotland will be bankrupt, with no currency of its own. The greens/snp will cut off all oil and gas🤯 So, what will the new bankrupt scotland use as its income? whiskey, haggis,....?! Seriously, get a grip🤔 Also scotland has the most drug deaths in the whole of Europe, and also under the snp's failings the scottish education system is the worst in the whole of the UK, and the snp run NHS is also the worst in the UK, which is strange as Westminster give the snp enough money for the NHS, but the funds don't seem to make it there! All in all, the last 15 years of snp rule have ruined scotland in oh so many ways! Look it all up, as the truth is all over the internet and on the scottish government website. It is also funny that, Oil, and Gas as the snp got in bed with the greens, the greens want all fossil fuels to be stopped ASAP, but the lucky thing is that the Shetland, and surrounding island what to become independent from the incompetent snp, and will take their oil, and gas with them: Shetland Islands Council voted to explore breakaway from SNP-run Scotland - September 9, 2020. THE SHETLAND Islands is looking at moves to breakaway from scotland; it has emerged. The island council has agreed to explore options for achieving “financial and political self-determination” after a motion was approved by elected members. In the final tense days of the 2014 independence referendum, the local MP Alistair Carmichael, who was minister for Scotland at the time, said the islands could try to remain part of Britain if the rest of Scotland left. In the end, 55% of Scots voted to stay in Britain. The unionist vote in the Shetlands was 63.7 % - one of the highest levels in Scotland. Scotland has around 60% of the EU's oil reserves and the second-largest volume of proven natural gas reserves, most of it located around Shetland. MSPs for Orkney and Shetland made a submission to the Government’s consultation on the independence referendum warning the islands could opt to remain part of the UK even if the rest of Scotland votes to separate. It is said that once the Shetlands and surrounding islands will become a Crown Dependent of the UK, just like the Isle of Man and other islands🤔 scotland can't survive without the rest of the UK.

[@kimbirch1202]

As an Englishman I am happy for Scots to decide their own future, without interference from London.

[@michaelking3629]

As a Northumbrian with a significant amount of Scots blood proudly running through my veins, I personally think that leaving the UK would be a bad and regrettable idea (think brexit). However, I totally understand the urge to breakaway from Westminster rule, and think that if the people of Scotland want independence, then they should have it and something I would fully support.

[@iamamyb]

I'm half and half and, as you allude to, brexit has rather ironically turbo charged the argument for independence - I was a vehement no pre-2016, but I'm now a yes. I want that Scottish passport and EU citizenship back. As own goals go, brexit was a big one.

[@decrulez]

@@iamamybleaving the UK would be a disaster for Scotland. It’s the only part of the union that doesn’t support itself. What we need is to get united and get those thieving Tory cunts out of office. We are and have always been stronger together. Remember that.

[@franciscruickshank8794]

and we cannot afford to stay with toxic england/wastminster who plunder us daily ! ALBA GU BRATH @@iamamyb

[@charmainelamont2020]

Why would independence be bad a regrettable? Independdence is normal and not one country that has become independent has ever regretted it.

[@kdog4587]

I'm half Scottish by blood but have never lived there. I would like to think Scotland stay within the UK. However, they should have autonomy. Devolution is essentially as useful as levelling up the vast majority of the time it seems.

[@Mark-Haddow]

I'm Scottish and a Scot. You have Scots blood; this doesn't make you half Scottish.

[@kdog4587]

@@Mark-Haddow okey dokey. I'll reterm myself as half Scot blooded in future hahaa. Got a touch of the Harry Potter to it so no issue there!

[@Mark-Haddow]

@@kdog4587 Scots practice civic nationalism. We believe those who make Scotland their home are Scottish. Whether or not they were born here. Scotland has no dominant faith, so being COS (as I am) does not make me more Scottish than someone from our Muslim communities. We are equally Scottish, and most likely equally proud of our country.

[@danielgale7661]

That’s because there is an incompetent government the SNP or at least it’s leaders have a lot to answer for and are under investigation because of money going missing and a camper van that was a “bus” that was never used and was at the home of certain people, the SNP are useless and perhaps the most incompetent party on record even the tories ain’t as bad as them, they sow the seeds of nationalists and we all know what nationalism does it created people like Hitler 🤷🏻

[@sandihill669]

@@Mark-Haddow unless of course one happens to be English first 😂

[@TheJthom9]

Scottish MPs were still elected to sit in Westminster. It was not English MPs making all the decisions for Scotland. In fact, due to the West Lothian question, it is now the reverse. Scottish MPs have a say about what happens in England, but not vice-versa, because Scotland has its own parliament for that

[@charmainelamont2020]

Scotland has 59 MPs compared to England's 533 so there is no way that they can make any difference to what is going on in England. Besides which, the majority of Scottish MPs are SNP and they never vote on English only matters.

[@lomion79]

Well, JJLA, I bet you weren't expecting the contents of many of the comments to your video. Sad to say the subject doesn't always bring out the best in people. That said, all I'll say is that I really enjoy your videos: Your expressive face, smooth voice (I mean!) and often ardent responses are highly entertaining.

[@davidroberts794]

True, however none of said posts are directed at JJLA. We all watched because we enjoy his video's. That does not change due to the subject matter. People are disagreeing with other forum posters not him.

[@docksider]

Also check out the referendum in Catalonia - the image of the police beating old people as they tried to vote was very disturbing.

[@MrBulky992]

Yes indeed. There is no provision in the Spanish constitution for any province of Spain to leave the kingdom of Spain. In the past, Spain has been opposed to an independent Scotland being granted future entry to the EU as such action might encourage seceding areas such as Catalonia to plan a similar move. Similarly, the USA is an indissoluble union. The UK is not: the UK Parliament is sovereign in the same way as its predecessor parliaments in England and Scotland respectively were sovereign in 1707 when they both assented to the Union and is not governed by any overriding constitutional written document in that respect.

[@arnothill]

interesting@@MrBulky992 , but Scotland was a sovereign nation. The UK is a voluntary union, remember.

[@franciscruickshank8794]

HAVE FOLKS FORGOT WHAT THEY DID WITH THE STRIKING MINERS ?MAY SOME MORONS BELEIVE THE DIXON OF DOCK GREEN CRAP ? NOW WE HAVE THE STATE POLICE/STASI !

[@MrBulky992]

​​​@@arnothillYes, but by the Acts of Union 1707, England and Scotland legally and irrevocably surrendered their individual sovereignty which is now legally vested (post 1801) in the UK. Only the UK parliament can redraw the boundaries of the UK (as it did with the Irish Free State in 1922).

[@arnothill]

Problematic@@MrBulky992 , as you now point to the likely way to achieve independence is through armed conflict. Not my route of preference. You appear to feel that the constituent nations of the UK simply don’t exist as such. is that correct? Believe me, the status quo of the largest nation within the UK dictating policy to the others, is untenable, no matter how you interpret the act of union.

[@razornaut]

It'd be sad if Scotland left the UK, but if this is what the majority of Scottish people want, then this should be respected and honoured. No one wants to be trapped in a very one-sided relationship, which can turn toxic... Which, with Brexit, it has. If they do have the opportunity to vote on this again, can we have a referendum on re-joining the EU? Yeah, still very upset and disgusted by it, and in those who voted to leave the EU; it was monumentally idiotic. Pfft... I can't blame the Scottish for wanting to leave the UK. Can London join them?

[@steven54511]

I'm not against Scottish independence, but as an Englishman who lives very near the border, I'm curious. Will you keep Sterling as your currency when you re-join the EU or will you readily accept the Euro - possibly devaluing all of your money? To visit friends who live in Fraserburgh will I need to renew my passport? I love the way that we can traverse the border anytime we like as it is now. The Scots have many benefits over England and Wales, tuition fees, prescription charges etc but will these things still happen when money isn't transferred from Westminster and once Scottish oil runs out and the protestors stop you from exploiting new oil and gas fields - where does your money come from? I'd love to know the answers to all or some of these questions...

[@MrBulky992]

My understanding is that new members of the EU are given no choice as to whether they will adopt the Euro. The EU would only admit a state to the Eurozone if its economy were strong enough, however, and until that time it would use its own preferred currency.

[@aa-xg3ct]

There is a country that has already left the UK (Ireland). Irish people are not looked on as 'aliens', you don't need a pass port to get to Ireland, but you need ID for ferries etc.

[@MrBulky992]

​​@@aa-xg3ctYes but Northern Ireland has ties with the EU which the rest of the UK does not: it has to follow certain EU rules with regard to movement of goods etc between NI and Great Britain in order for the EU's single market to be protected without a hard border. If the EU had a land border between England and Scotland, it would not be possible to adopt the same approach as England and Wales would never sgree to operate under the jurisdiction of the European Court of Justice so either the EU would have to lower its defences or it would have to impose a hard border with checkpoints on roads and maybe even paths and possibly erect fences. The SNP are also much more welcoming to migrants than England and Wales are and there is a possibility of opening a back door to non-British/non-Irish nationals without a hard border and identity checks at Gretna Green, Berwick-upon-Tweed, Norham, Coldstream, Carter Bar and Carham, to name but a few border crossings. In short, when the UK and Ireland had the same ties to the EU (they joined the EEC simultaneously but now one has left), there was less of a problem than there is now and the current NI solution will not work for Scotland.

[@aa-xg3ct]

I never mentioned NI I said Ireland. As to your comment about migrants, if England isn't so welcoming how do you have so many cities with white English being the minority? Have a look at your two largest cities. @@MrBulky992

[@MrBulky992]

​​​@@aa-xg3ctI mentioned Northern Ireland because you can cross freely between the Republic and Northern Ireland - no passports or id and no border checks. The border around the 6 counties is an EU land border. If Scotland leaves the UK, the Anglo-Scottish border becomes an EU land border, just like the one in Ireland. Could the same arrangement be put on place for both borders? No they cannot - that was my point. You have already mentioned that Irish citizens require id to enter mainland Britain via the only means of entry i.e. ferry ports and airports. By analogy, Scots might require the same id to enter England through its land border which would therefore need checkpoints so that the id could be checked to prevent illegal immigration. Regarding the ethnic population of cities in Britain, this is the result of historic migration policies and a lot has changed over the years. Migrants tend to cluster together in urban areas. You won't find the same percentages of migrants living in villages and market towns of rural England. Any opinion poll will tell you that the resistance in England to further increases in population through migration is at a higher level than previously and higher than in Scotland. It is easy for Scotland to be more welcoming because the vast bulk of migrants heading to the UK do not want to live in Scotland. Should they find an easy route into England, most would take it at the first opportunity, not least to join other communities of the same nationality/culture already settled in England.

[@AyakaVR]

A big reason that isn't spoken about enough is the GIUK gap and Scotlands maritime proximity to it is very geopolitically and strategically important for NATO. Assuming Scotland allowed military access, it wouldn't be that big of an issue but given the expressed desire to get rid of Trident, maybe they won't.

[@franciscruickshank8794]

THEY WILL, AND NATO/USA WILL HAVE TO FIND OTHER SO CALLED PARTNERS/SATRAPS !😎😎😎

[@MrBulky992]

AmI not right in thinking that the Scottish Government opposes - in principle - the stationing of nuclear weapons in Scotland? The likelihood is surely that an independent Scotland would not allow nuclear submarines to be based there. They would have to be moved elsewhere, regardless of whether or not Scotland joined NATO.

[@DaveBartlett]

"Severing every tie" is one thing, but the UK leaving control of one of its major defence measures and it's main nuclear deterrent IN THE HANDS OF A FOREIGN COUNTRY, (however friendly,) a a different thing altogether.

[@user-xi6nk4xs4s]

Anyone know how many US bases are situated in other countries?????

[@Weesunflower]

Scotland is anti nukes

[@artasium1]

England would not be leaving defence in a foreign country because Scotland doesn't want the nuclear weapons or subs in our country. England however, think they nred to have them there for strategic purposes. The more an English govt says you cannot have a refetendum then yhe more it is pushing people towards voting SNP. The stupid thing is that being Scottish myself, I think they should have said yes to it because I think the vote would have said stay. Unfortunately by refusing the refrrendum it is more likely that SNP will now put as part of next general election, the vote for SNP is also a vote not for a referendum but for independance and that may get the votes it needs to say a majority of Scots have voted for independance.

[@stephenlee5929]

@@artasium1 Sadly true.

[@franciscruickshank8794]

maybe folk like you dont mind living 50km. from a big fat target but asap after independance the subs will go even if they have to tow them as 3 out of the 4 subs are in mantainence and only one out on patrol also you dont even mention the plundering of our national resorces ie OIL/GAS SINCE THE 1960 WHICH SCOTLAND HAS NOT RECEIVED ONE CENT ! OUR WIND POWER ,ETC ,AND WHEN THE WITCH THATCHER WAS PM SHE DESTROYED OUR PORTS AND MADE US SHIP EVERYTHING THRU LIVERPOOL AND LONDON ! ALBA GU BRATH

[@ruthguthrie1099]

The Scottish parliament was voted for thanks to the EU pressure on Westminster.

[@charmainelamont2020]

Rubbish!

[@BigMacGProductions]

For a country who discovered oil in OUR waters at the same time as Norway look at the direction both countries have went? Because of the oil Westminster is running scared at our resources.

[@Stand663]

You’ve been misinformed I think. North Sea oil is British not Scottish. The British people put a lot of funding into developing it. Would you pay back the rest of the UK shareholders, if you were independent ? You’re economy is half public sector and the private sector wouldn’t be large enough to subside the whole economy without increasing taxes. The Eu certainly wouldn’t bail you out. Brussels is not in the business of giving away money, especially since the Uk cash cow has left. Scotland will be in their debt forever. So much for independence eh.?? Ps There are already North Sea oil fields in England off the coast of Scarborough and Norfolk. The rest of the UK would be better off financially without the huge subsidies Westminster gives to Scotland.

[@strabanetyrone]

​@@Stand663you do realise that Scotland puts more into Westminster's coffers than Scotland receives back

[@azzajames7661]

@@strabanetyrone Some facts: It is rather strange that the incompetent snp don't know their own duties, or do they just not care?! Like with Child poverty, drug deaths, failing NHS, and bad economy are all devolved issues! Here this is off the scottish government website: The Scottish Government is the devolved government for Scotland and has a range of responsibilities that include: the economy, education, health, justice, rural affairs, housing, environment, equal opportunities, consumer advocacy and advice, transport and taxation. Plus this, too😉 scotland's deficit more than doubled to £36.3bn, or 23.4% of GDP in 2021-22, the highest yearly figure since devolution, according to Scotland's finance secretary.18 Aug 2022 A country to join the eu needs to be below 3%! The UK Government has already stated that the British Pound is for the Countries within the UK, and so if you leave, you won't be having the pound! Look it up! This is from the scottish government website: How is public spending and revenue distributed to Scotland? During 2021-22 tax revenue generated in Scotland amounted to about £83 billion, including North Sea oil revenue, and it benefitted from about £99 billion in public spending, a difference of £36 billion, so the UK Government gave scotland, an extra £44 Billion, on top, and also gave on top a further £17.2 Billion, which the incompetent snp, didn't pass on to the correct businesses, and people. In 2021-22, the UK faced the coronavirus pandemic together, spending unprecedented amounts to support lives and livelihoods across the country. This resulted in a £17.2 billion (27%) increase in public spending for Scotland compared to the previous year. This was possible because the UK pools and shares resources across the entire country. This system of sharing resources means Scotland is well-placed to tackle the problems like pandemic and climate change but also gives the Scottish Parliament the freedom to make many financial decisions for itself. How are funding decisions split between the UK and Scottish governments? Scotland has two governments that are both responsible for different things. For example, foreign policy and international relations are reserved for the UK government, but health and social services are devolved to the Scottish government. When the UK government increases funding for an area that is devolved, the Scottish government receives extra funding, too. For example, if the NHS in England gets a funding boost, the Scottish government will also receive extra cash. In 2021, the UK government guaranteed £8.6 billion of additional funding to help the Scottish government respond to coronavirus. In February 2022, the UK Government announced a further £1.1 billion was being made available for the Scottish Government to spend in the financial year 2021-2022 or carry forward to the financial year 2022-2023. As a result, the Scottish Government spent an extra £15 billion in 2021-22 to respond to the pandemic. The UK government also spent a further £10 billion directly on support like furlough, self-employment grants, and welfare in Scotland. The Spending Review 2022 confirmed that UK Government Barnett-based funding to the Scottish Government in 2021-22 would be over £38 billion. This equates to around £129 per person for every £100 per person the UK Government spends in England on matters devolved in Scotland. This reflects the higher costs of delivering public services in Scotland. The debt that scotland will take in the split is apparently over £310 Billion, to be paid to back to the UK, which will take scotland, with their very low economy hundreds of years. If you read the facts, scotland will be bankrupt, with no currency of its own. The greens/snp will cut off all oil and gas🤯 So, what will the new bankrupt scotland use as its income? whiskey, haggis,....?! Seriously, get a grip🤔 Also scotland has the most drug deaths in the whole of Europe, and also under the snp's failings the scottish education system is the worst in the whole of the UK, and the snp run NHS is also the worst in the UK, which is strange as Westminster give the snp enough money for the NHS, but the funds don't seem to make it there! All in all, the last 15 years of snp rule have ruined scotland in oh so many ways! Look it all up, as the truth is all over the internet and on the scottish government website. It is also funny that, Oil, and Gas as the snp got in bed with the greens, the greens want all fossil fuels to be stopped ASAP, but the lucky thing is that the Shetland, and surrounding island what to become independent from the incompetent snp, and will take their oil, and gas with them: Shetland Islands Council voted to explore breakaway from SNP-run Scotland - September 9, 2020. THE SHETLAND Islands is looking at moves to breakaway from scotland; it has emerged. The island council has agreed to explore options for achieving “financial and political self-determination” after a motion was approved by elected members. In the final tense days of the 2014 independence referendum, the local MP Alistair Carmichael, who was minister for Scotland at the time, said the islands could try to remain part of Britain if the rest of Scotland left. In the end, 55% of Scots voted to stay in Britain. The unionist vote in the Shetlands was 63.7 % - one of the highest levels in Scotland. Scotland has around 60% of the EU's oil reserves and the second-largest volume of proven natural gas reserves, most of it located around Shetland. MSPs for Orkney and Shetland made a submission to the Government’s consultation on the independence referendum warning the islands could opt to remain part of the UK even if the rest of Scotland votes to separate. It is said that once the Shetlands and surrounding islands will become a Crown Dependant of the UK, just like the Isle of Man and other islands🤔 Germany is in a recession, as are a few eu countries, yet the UK is NOT in recession;-) scotland can't survive without the rest of the UK.

[@grahambeadle9067]

There is plenty of oil and gas along the north east coast of England.

[@lottie2525]

Don't leave us Scotland - we love you. Can't blame you for wanting to leave, mind. Can England please leave London and the politicians behind to implode instead of taking the rest of us down too?

[@arnothill]

Move up here Lottie. Its very bracing and we love a New Scot.

[@Saffy-yr8vo]

We will leave. We tried to tell you about your govt you didn’t listen. We will continue to fight for our rights.

[@charmainelamont2020]

Being indepenent doesn't mean we will cease to be friends, after all, Irland left the union and we are still friend with them,

[@LawfullSpook]

The problem with Scottish trade if they left the UK and rejoined the EU is that the Eu controlls trade for its member states. When the UK left the Eu it has to manually negotiate its trade deals with each country all over again because all trade went through the EU, so if Scotland did leave they wouldn't be able to trade directly with the UK and outnof all Scottish trade 62% of it goes to the UK and when we where a member of the EU only 18% of Scottish trade went to the the EU. In short leaving the UK and joining the EU would mean it looses the UK its largest trade partner and gains a much smaller one.

[@davidroberts794]

Funny how this had zero replies from Scotland's SNP supporters. says it all really. When confronted with a simple fact that go's against there narrative. utter silence. At time of my post this had already been up for 6 whole months. yet not one could give any reply against it.

[@richt71]

The biggest issue not discussed here is what currency Scotland would use as being part of the EU is a process that takes years if accepted. I'll leave the Scots to comment further their thoughts.

[@lovelybitofbugle219]

Surely they could just use their own currency.

[@richt71]

@@lovelybitofbugle219 of course but a new currency would be unstable.

[@andyquin5386]

@@richt71 Do you know what a fiat currency is? We wouldn't have to create a new currency, nor beg for permission to remain using the pound. Is your question about joining the Euro?

[@timford544]

All new EU members will end up using Euros (certain criteria apply) In the meantime there will be Pounds. Let's face it, Scottish notes get refused all the time south of the border

[@Mark-Haddow]

Whatever currency they want to use. No nation owns the currency they use, including the US. Argentina are currently considering adopting the US dollar, and can do without US involvement.

[@paulmidsussex3409]

I have to ask, are decisions made on your behalf in Washington D.C. even though you don't live there?

[@coling3957]

exactly. every nation has a capitol city and almost everyone who doesn't live there hates them. lol.. USA has state assemblies and UK has the regional ones **except for England of course to settle local issues.. the central govt always has final say and controls defence , foreign policy and income tax.

[@sarahradford9822]

Binary yes/no vox pops on extremely complex matters is ridiculous.

[@wendygraham6863]

Scotland, EVERYONE gets free prescriptions, not in england, Scotland, uni is free, not in england,

[@abigail1st]

The video was very good, but of course it missed several factors….. Westminster continues to need revenue from Scotland’s oil, they have borrowed on the back of Scotland’s resources for decades and funded vanity projects which never benefited Scotland. The majority of Scots do not want trident on our shores and see this as not only a danger to our country but also recognise we are a convenient dumping ground for the U.K. nuclear waste. The issue of the border between Scotland and England is exactly the same as the issue between Northern Ireland and Ireland. Scotland is resource and trade wealthy, the Westminster Treasury receives considerably more in tax from Scotland than it returns to us under the Barnet formula, but England continues to believe government gaslighting about Scotland being too poor, too small and too stupid to thrive on its own. Lastly, the Monarchy issue confuses Royalists, because in England the Monarchy is sovereign BUT in Scotland the people are sovereign and the Monarch is required to be directly answerable to the people of Scotland, this was cemented within Scottish Law before the Act of Union and was specifically included in the Act of Union…..it has never been changed. So you can see how culturally Scotland has a different view of the anglo ‘King & Country, and British Empire’ obsession within England and Westminster.

[@debbielough7754]

You should check out Rory Stewart's series on the 'Middleland' to find out why it's really not as simple as a Scotland / England split. There are really three countries amid what's now Scotland and England, and the one that isn't recognised generally has trouble seeing any difference between the Scots and the English.

[@aa-xg3ct]

Tosh, despite what Rory the Tory says there is only one border and two countries.

[@tomnicholson2115]

​@@aa-xg3ctIf those Middleland people decided to leave Scotland and remain in the UK you'd be fine with that then I guess! Not all Scots think the UK is a bad idea!

[@aa-xg3ct]

'Middleland'...is this a new thing? Two middlelands on a small island. People could do what they like why would I care, could even be a good thing if it was the growing number of tories returning to the 'motherland'. I hear Northumbria is empty so they wouldn't have far to move. @@tomnicholson2115

[@tomnicholson2115]

@@aa-xg3ct Think of the middlelands as the lowland area between England and the Highlands of Scotland, sometimes called The lowlands! So not so new as you thought maybe! Still you don't answer the question asked so if they did want to stay within the UK would you be ok with that? After all if the Highlands want independence to join the EU should be ok for the lowlands to vote to stay, right, what's good for you should not be denied to others should It?

[@aa-xg3ct]

You talk some shit. Are you getting at another Northern Ireland situation? Well the Brits are good at that sort of thing, it usually ends well. Did Scotland get to stay in the EU? using your way of thinking it should have. Perfidious Albion still alive and kicking I see.@@tomnicholson2115

[@user-gt2ud2gw9e]

I don't think it will happen (at least anytime soon, in our lifetime.) From Lindon, we're just 95 miles from the French coast (just 20 from the Kent Coast). From Scotland to the European mainland, is an overnight journey. So trucks carrying freight have a LOT further to go. Furthermore, I've been told that the export of Scottish whiskey to the USA, alone is worth more than their total trade with Europe!!!! And nearly ALL the rest of Scottish business is with the rest of the UK.

[@user-xi6nk4xs4s]

You're using all arguments why Brexit was unlikely to happen. Anyone remember how that turned out to go?

[@PiousMoltar]

As an Englishman, yes devolution is a good thing, for Scotland and Wales and Northern Ireland. England never got its own parliament. We need our own too. Or even better, separate parliamaments for all the parts of England. East Anglia, the West Country, Yorskhire, etc. Also, in the long term, it's probably a bad thing. We should unite more. Hating each other is stupid. And I think most of us don't. The world is a scary place. Let's stop quibbling and come together. We're all just being like "oooh I dislike you a little bit" but it's petty. We have bigger things to worry about.

[@arnothill]

I know of nobody who hates The English as you seem to think. We Scots are welcoming to visitors, and English people seem to be very fine, unless they are in a Spanish bar. We do not like Conservatives on the whole - we last voted them in in the 1950’s. imagine that - not seeing the party your electorate voted for - winning, 2 out of every three elections! That’s us.

[@smugb]

"We should unite more. Hating each other is stupid." "Let's stop quibbling and come together." The same could be said about the UK in the EU. But, seeing as rUK dragged Scotland out of the EU against our will, we don't find these arguments convincing.

[@sc3pt1c4L]

"England wants that Scottish Tax money"... Is that a joke?

[@franciscruickshank8794]

THE SAD TRUTH IS WE DO PAY TAXES THAT GO TO LIL ENGLAND AND DONT GET 100% RETURNED ALSO MAYBE YOU FORGOT ABOUT THE BILLION BEING PLUNDERED FROM OUR OFSHORE OIL/GAS AND NOT A PENNY IS PAID TO SCOTLAND ! ALBA GU BRATH

[@sc3pt1c4L]

@@franciscruickshank8794 The Scottish budget for 2021 from UK coffers was £41 billion. I would be happy for you to go independent as long as we could seal the border.

[@arnothill]

@@sc3pt1c4L , that is exactly the attitude that we hear so often from some folk in England. Luckily, your view is not the consensus in England. But really, if your view is what you truly believe, then why would we stay?

[@sc3pt1c4L]

@@arnothill Lucky for whom that my view is not the consensus? I think my view is mostly ambivalent towards the other countries in the UK. I would imagine most people in England couldn't care less if the other parts of the UK wanted to go independent, but we are sick of being whined at by the Scottish and you wanting referendum after referendum. If you want to go, just go. England has no parliament unlike Northern Ireland, Wales and Scotland, so have no independent say, and we receive the least funding per person of any of the parts of the Union.

[@arnothill]

You are whining a bit yourself, @@sc3pt1c4L . Referendum after referendum? There’s been one - pre-Brexit -poll. A lot has changed, and we’d like to chance to -as you say- go. Thanks for your input. BTW, after Blair was elected, the English turned down the chance for a parliament - and Cameron instead instigated "English Votes for English Laws"

[@brackie2000]

To really simplify it, it's like wanting to move out of your parents house and they say no. It's not that you don't love them anymore or you won't be round for a cuppa tea every other day, it's just the the fact that you want to start your own adventures and yes it will be hard in beginning. Hopefully in time the UK would look at Scotland with pride and give themselves a pat on the back. If we hadn't let them leave they would've never got to where they are now.

[@Allegro_Giusto]

As an Englishman with Scottish and Irish heritage I’d hate for Scotland to leave the UK. Would be a sad day for the Union in my opinion

[@araptorofnote5938]

Every citizen of the United Kingdom should be entitled to vote on whether their country is dismantled or not. It is not a decision for one member of the union to make.

[@philjones45]

But you probably voted for Brext. Be honest youdid didn't you!!

[@Thurgosh_OG]

@@philjones45 So what? Many more Scots are now in favour of Brexit, than at the time of the vote. We've seen how the EU has treated us, particularly N.Ireland since and many now know if was the right move for the UK. Anyway, we Scotland are not leaving the Union.

[@pol1229]

​@@araptorofnote5938Nah, that flies in the face of "Self Determination". Only people who actually live in the country of Scotland should get a say.

[@RodParadise69]

​@@araptorofnote5938nonsense, keep your coloniser thoughts to yourself

[@redceltnet]

The point you missed is that the Trident base is right next door to Scotland's most populated city. The majority of Scots want Trident removed.

[@araptorofnote5938]

He understandably missed almost every point because he's getting incomplete information from this video.

[@Mark-Haddow]

It's between both of Scotland's most populated cities.

[@redceltnet]

@@Mark-Haddow Wait. What? Glasgow and which other city?

[@Mark-Haddow]

@@redceltnet Edinburgh. A missile attack from Russia, or China, wouldn't be over Europe. It wouldn't target Faslane either, it would hit the region between both cities; taking out Faslane as well. Or maybe you think a TENBYFC strike would be directly on the subs in their pens?

[@redceltnet]

@@Mark-Haddow Faslane is a military target. Glasgow and Edinburgh are civilian targets. In the event of a nuclear exchange, military targets will *always* get priority over civilian targets.

[@DukeDanseMacambre]

Don’t want to see Scotland go but if they did the money used to prop them up can return to the rest of the UK, Scotland as a country runs at a deficit so unless there’s huge cut backs I don’t see it being feasible.

[@charmainelamont2020]

“Scotland receives no net subsidy from the UK” Centre for Economic and Business Research “Scotland’s GDP per head is bigger than that of France” Financial Times. “ An independent Scotland would start with healthier state finances than the rest of the UK” Financial Times “Scotland’s Gross National Income is 13th highest in the world.” Centre for Public Policy Research “Scotland is one of the world’s top exporters” Financial Times.

[@deb1544]

You are such a great bloke to watch as you really show interest and pay attention to all sorts of topics from the UK. I’m English but I wouldn’t blame Scotland for wanting to break away from the UK as our government and the other parties are absolutely useless. I am for us staying out of the EU though.

[@philjones45]

Why stay out of Europe? Give me a good reason without using the words "take back control"

[@Oxley016]

crybaby remoaner detected@@philjones45

[@old.not.too.grumpy.]

At the moment, Scottish members of the UK parliament can vote on matter such as education and health that just affect only England. In Scotland and Wales, those areas are controlled by their own parliaments

[@stephwaite]

If you ask around England, many people feel if Scotland leaves the Union and join the EU there would have to be a hard border between England and Scotland; this is because Scotland would still have freedom of movement for all EU citizens and without a hard border there would be problems with people coming into England (and Wales): illegally and of course the Scots would also need a passport to come to England.. As for Faslane ( the nuclear weapons base) the SNP have stated the want it all gone but that would lose so many jobs for the Scottish

[@franciscruickshank8794]

LESS THAN 800 JOBS WHICH CAN BE EASILY TRANFER TO THE SCOTS NAVY, WE HAD OUR OWN NAVY UNTIL WE WERE SOLD TO ENGLAND AT ONE TIME HAD THE BIGGEST WARSHIP IN EUROPE ALBA GU BRATH

[@charmainelamont2020]

Ireland left the UK a hundred years ago and the Irish don't need a passport to go to England.

[@smugb]

I find it hilarious that you think the flow of people across the border would be into England if an independent Scotland joined the EU. Your delusions are truly comedic.

[@CyberStuff-go7kc]

I'm Scottish and it's great to see someone without a vested interest view. As someone who supports independence, I feel your views in this video, as someone outwith Scotland and the UK , with an unbiased view, would be beneficial to those with perhaps an internal biased view. Although not in relation to this video can I just add I have enjoyed your reaction videos to music for a while now. Looking forward to more vids thanks.

[@bryanromans2331]

Scotland elected Scottish mp's to the UK parliament - they had the same voting rights as any MP

[@Tsunami7964]

The way I look at it is if you voted Brexit then you can’t be against Scottish independence. However, the independence movement spent years telling us the disadvantages of leaving the EU, which are all applicable to Scotland leaving the UK. So if one is acceptable then both are. The UK left it’s largest trading partner, the EU…Scotland would leave its largest trading partner, the rest of the UK. The UK wanted sovereignty over laws from Brussels. Scotland want’s sovereignty over laws from Westminster. The border mess in Ireland would be replicated between Scotland and England. We didn’t want to spend millions for EU membership (even though a lot was returned), Scotland doesn’t want to send millions south of the border (even though a lot is returned). People’s perception of it is what matters. I do find the SNPs arguments for independence while criticising Brexit is kinda backwards and also the SNP are against Orkney independence for some reason, seems hypocritical. Personally I hope the union survives, even if does need to change a bit.

[@omegasue]

It would be sad if Scotland broke away from the United Kingdom, BUT I firmly believe that if that’s what they want, there should be no question that the break is made. I don’t understand the desire to stay within that little club in Brussels because unelected Eurocrats were laying more and more rulings on us, riding roughshod over our Sovereignty. Most of Parliament could not believe we’d voted to leave. Although some legalities were left undone, contrary to what many say, we have secured trade all round the world.

[@charmainelamont2020]

How are they unelected when there are elections to the EU Parliament?

[@johnstrac]

The SNP have severely weakened their position with various financial irregularities that (appear) to have taken place, it's a shame.

[@CaledonianCloud]

As a Scot, I'd say the Brexit curveball just a couple of years after the referendum was the biggest national ache. The favour to stay in the UK was so closely tied to the EU that many felt cheated, and had the referendums (Brexit and Scotland independence) occurred the other way round we wouldn't be in the same position. One annoying thing my US friends consistently get wrong (not out of badness, just the over-simplification that happens outside of Europe) is that England=Britain. England is part of Britain in the same way Wales and Scotland are part of Britain, and even if all of us become independent nations we are all still British nationality-wise. I'm Scottish and British, my London-born cousin is English and British etc. I don't think it massively helps the Welsh/Irish/Scottish notions when England is considered the 'main player' and the rest are add-ons. Weirdly enough, I don't even get this feeling from the English themselves, but from non-Brits.

[@carolinejohnson22]

The only reason that Scotland and England are united is because the king of Scotland inherited our throne and moved to London. James vi of Scotland became James i of England. You would think we had kidnapped them 😆. They voted to stay with UK, but only Scots could vote. I was born in Scotland, my ancestors sailed to Scotland from Ireland because of the famine and l think I'm English 🤭😆🇬🇧

[@outlawking4106]

It’s crazy they make a big deal about the military if Scotland went on it own…it’s easy…the Isle Of Man 🇮🇲 is an independent country under British protection…military is already Scottish mixed in plus its own army, of isle of man share currency too

[@QuietManUK]

Tbh, the only people getting asked are the Scots, and do they want to leave. I rather doubt they'd like the results of any referendum of the English, in that do they want to keep them.

[@smugb]

"I rather doubt they'd like the results of any referendum of the English, in that do they want to keep them." Why would we not like it? Either they'd want to keep us - which considering the myth of the Scots being leeches on the English, why would they want that? - or they'd want rid of us, which we'd see as a mutual feeling.

[@tonypotts1644]

You may think that some of what you heard is unfair, but the Union and how it functions is very complex, and suggesting that England wants the Scottish tax money betrays a ignorance of the facts. Also, if unfairness is a criterion for making such a superficial judgement, then consider the West Lothian Question, which is; whether MPs from Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales who sit in the House of Commons of the United Kingdom should be able to vote on matters that affect only England, while neither they nor MPs from England are able to vote on matters that have been devolved to the Northern Ireland Assembly, the Scottish Parliament and the Senedd (Welsh Parliament). Currently, a Scottish MP sitting in the House of Commons can vote on, and help pass legislation that affects only to English and Welsh voters. The Senedd has far less legislative power than the Scottish Parliament. I'd say that was unfair, but is a result of the complexity of our system.

[@garrickdarts]

You keep mentioning Scotland accepting Trident "not being a big deal" and being confused about why it should be but you don't have the context that the SNP has said that an independant Scotland would not accept nuclear weapons based in Scotland, and so that's why it's a problem - NATO is a nuclear weapons backed mutual defence organisation so there's dissonance there plus a problem for the remaining UK on where to house their nuclear fleet in the near term if independant Scotland won't allow it, and that has knock-on effects to NATO itself with the UK being one of very few nuclear guarantors of the treaties.

[@bargainsstoragedeals3653]

They won’t be allowed to by the government

[@user-lk2ql1hq3x]

the SNP want rid of nuclear weapons for some strange reason....

[@MrBulky992]

England has no say in Scottish home affairs as these are within the aegis of the Scottish Parliament alone. As there is no English parliament, England's home affairs are decided by the United Kingdom Parliament at Westminster in which not only is England represented but also Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. Although Scotland has far fewer MPs than England, there could be cases where a voting result on an English-specific issue is close and Scottish MPs could tip the balance. This is known as the West Lothian Question and stems from the lack of symmetry amongst the democratic institutions of the four home countries. In this respect, Scotland is getting a better deal than England. There is also the question of the Barnett Formula which allocates Scotland a greater per capita share of public funds than England. It is true that Scotland has reserves of oil in the North Sea and the revenues for those need to be taken into account but fossil fuels will decline in importance in the future owing to pressure to limit their use in order to tackle climate change so they cannot be relied upon as a future source of wealth.

[@arnothill]

You are in error. Scottish MPs do not vote on English matters. Consider also that Westminster control many home affairs as they are frequently reserved - like immigration, tax, etc. Then the UK chancellor decides on spending - often limiting the options open to the finance minister in Scotland. the funds passed to Holyrood are 9especially at present) borrowed by the UK government, then passed to Scotland as some kind of largess instead of what it really is.... debt! Debt that Scots did not arrange or control.

[@MrBulky992]

​@@arnothillYes, you are absolutely correct. I am out of date. Since 2015, there have been Grand Committes for England, England and Wales, Scotland etc. made up of the appropriate subsets of Westminster MPs which have powers to discuss and legislate on matters affecting their respective territories. That went under the radar for me - it hasn't been much publicised but it does solve the West Lothian Question in large measure. Last time I remember Grand Committees being discussed was way back when it was mooted as a substitute for having a Scottish parliament, following the failed devolution proposals of 1979.

[@davidroberts794]

No true to a full extent. The UK can overrule Scotland in certain circumstances. Which have done at least once in recent times. For the most part however we don't.

[@MrBulky992]

​@@davidroberts794I did not say that the UK could not overrule Scotland's devolved administration: of course it can - it can even abolish it if the governing party in the UK Parliament has enough votes to pass the legislation. England and the UK are not the same thing. I assume you are referring to the Scottish gender self-recognition bill. As far as I know, the power to overrule applies only if the legislation strays outside the remit of the devolved administration by coming into in conflict with international obligations and other overarching UK considerations (defence or security, for example?) such as human rights legislation enshrined in UK law which can only be varied by passing legislation to amend specific provisions in the UK's Human Rights Act or to repeal the entire act. The Act itself enshrines the European Human Rights Convention to which the UK is a signatory. Were the Scottish legislation to have been given royal assent, it could have been challenged in our courts and, as a last resort, at the European Court of Human Rights. That does not constitute *England* overriding Scotland. If so then you will also be arguing that the legal arm of the Council of Europe is "overriding" the UK. The reason behind the decision was that gender self-recognition impinged on the rights of another protectrd group, namely women. The decision was also referred to the High Court to make sure the veto was lawful under Scots law. They agreed it was in December 2023 so, as far as I can see, Scotland overruled itself.

[@smugb]

@@MrBulky992 "it can even abolish it if the governing party in the UK Parliament has enough votes to pass the legislation." Which is precisely why we want rid of Westminster. Our democracy is at their whim. It's funny to see pro-UK advocates parrot anti-Brexit rhetoric, even though national sovereignty is guaranteed under EU treaties, but Scottish sovereignty is nothing more than an easily reversed pronouncement of Westminster.

[@carolineskipper6976]

At the time of the last Scottish Referendum I was really glad they voted to stay in the UK (I'm English) but since Brexit I can really see why they might want to go their own way - the people of Scotland didn't want Brexit at all - so Independence would mean a chance to rejoin the EU. Talking about Defence- yes, probably Scotland and the UK would continue their co-operation, and in practice much would remain as it is at present- but there'd be no guarantee it would always be so- or that there'd be agreement on every issue. The judgement about whether the Scottish Parliament could call a new Referendum was about what the legal position actually is at this time. The UK Government has to sanction such a referendum- as it did on the last occasion. Whether it morally should, if there is enough interest in Scotland is a different issue. The Scottish Parliament doesn't at present have full sovereign powers in all areas. Yes, any county coulld declare its independence- but without the legal framework for this, it would essentially be a revolution.....

[@tomnicholson2115]

You say the Scots didn't want Brexit at all, then why did 38% of Scots vote to leave? Remember that was a UK vote not a Scottish vote and the 38% that did vote to leave definitely helped decide that the UK would leave!

[@arnothill]

So, @@tomnicholson2115 The UK is not a shared Kingdom of 4 nations? Odd, I thought it was. Thanks for putting me right. The reason that the national views count is that we are very aware that these 4 nations are voluntary members of the UK.

[@tomnicholson2115]

@@arnothill Just as Scotland has parts that voted against independence and some parts voted for it their votes were taken as from one United Scottish people, now if the parts that wanted independence had been given independence Scotland would now be two separate nations, it's silly to chop up a nationwide vote the way you do as every country in the world (well democratic countries) would end up fracturing into many tiny countries!

[@arnothill]

I understand your argument,@@tomnicholson2115 - but surely you cannot ignore the simple fact that half of those polled in Scotland consistently indicate they wish to leave. Why, do you think? It’s because we consider ourselves to be a nation. Would you pose the same argument to a Ukrainian?

[@tomnicholson2115]

@@arnothill If half the people polled desire to leave the union that means half the people polled want to stay, and Ukraine is already an independent nation, fighting to remain independent so doesn't compare to Scotlands situation, you feel you were dragged out of the EU but seem perfectly happy to drag half the people in Scotland away from the UK, and you will not be independent long if you rejoin the EU, so some Scots sound like they want Independence but they actually don't! or at least don't want to stay independent long.

[@williamwhitty7243]

england lets have a referandem to leve the eu also england no scotland your stuck with us no referrandum for you

[@Thurgosh_OG]

JJLA - I'm Scottish and I've just started watching the video and the point at 0:48 is wrong, the UK economy (right now) is growing (slower because of Covid and Ukraine, but still growing) Germany on the other hand is in economic decline. Devolution has not worked for Scotland because the Scottish National Party (SNP) got into power and then didn't know what to do other than call for independence. Their actual track record of helping the people of Scotland boils down to free prescriptions and free tertiary education for Scots, within Scotland. Every other policy set by the SNP has failed and lost the country millions of pounds in waste, devastating the Scottish NHS, crippling the Police and pushing 'woke' ideology into education, as all levels. Add potential fraud, to SNPs resumé, as several top members of the SNP are now under police investigation for missing funds and at least one arrest, the people of Scotland may never know where all of the funds that should have been used to improve the nation have gone. I've yet to meet a Scot (i'm a Highlander by the way) who actually wants anything to do with the EU and at no point during the independence vote was that brought up as an issue. (this came out in mainstream media, after the vote, as an 'excuse', for the outcome being to stay in the Union). Brexit has mainly been a mess for 2 reasons (aside from the impact of Covid and the Ukraine war): The Government at the time of the vote expected the majority to vote remain but they voted leave and that government didn't know what to do and their leader resigned, instead of carrying out the democratic will of the UK (Scotland wasn't voting as an independent country but as part of the nation of the UK and though 62% of Scottish votes cast said remain, they were not the majority of the Scottish electorate; roughly 1.7m of the 4m eligible voters). 11:10 I'm not sure why they show a German Petrol (Gas) station, when talking about Scotland? 11:31 The author of the video has cherry picked which polls he's referring to as the official figures don't reflect what he said. - The latest monthly polling averages on Scottish independence, show 'No' campaigners maintaining a steady lead in the polls. Excluding those who declare themselves to be undecided (currently around 6% of the electorate), polling averages from August 2023 places the 'Yes' side at 47.9% and the 'No' side at 52.1%. Scotland would not be offered an EU membership, as the economy cannot support an Independent Scotland, so they would be relying on handouts from the EU and the EU is already struggling, with it's biggest economy (Germany) in decline. Nicola Sturgeon is hated by most Scots and left the leadership, knowing she was about to be investigated for defrauding the Scottish people - the video host is giving a very biased or ill-informed viewpoint. Overall Scotland is better off being part of the UK. (also the UK stands for the United Kingdoms of Scotland and England, if Scotland left, there would be no UK, as Wales and Ireland are not Kingdoms.

[@lovelybitofbugle219]

You should watch Al murray talk about Scottish independence. He basically says what most of us think.

[@Mark-Haddow]

Does he say what Scots think, or does he mock from afar, as his character tends to do. You know, because it's an act.

[@redceltnet]

Correction: "what most of us knuckle-dragging mouth-breathers think". :)

[@lovelybitofbugle219]

@@redceltnet You shouldn't talk about the scots that way sir. Yes they are a little rough around the edges but they're good people. Well they're people.

[@Mark-Haddow]

@@lovelybitofbugle219 Sure, we're people. Meanwhile, in your country, you're still the most hated people in Europe. 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿

[@lovelybitofbugle219]

You could also watch Jack Dee talk about Scottish independence. Thats hilarious. And Stewart lee does a wonderful piece on the scotch. But my absolute fav is Ray Winston on "have i got news for you" He actually asked the audience to vote by a show of hands if England should kick Scotland out. Every single hand went up. And they're an extremely left wing audience.

[@eihcra_]

I'm pretty sure a lot of English people want to rejoin now, my dad was furious that we left anyway. You are right, after we left the economy has suffered heavily.

[@PamDuthie]

See if you can find a video explaining the UKs oilfields, that might give you some ideas why the politicians dont want Scotland to go her own way

[@tomnicholson2115]

Old fashioned stuff oil! Exploiting new oilfields will not improve Scotland's standing in the world! It'll be like taking wool clothing to Panama all over again!

[@PamDuthie]

@@tomnicholson2115 I totally agree oil is the old thing, but in response to this video where he was wondering if things were money motivated. I imagine once the UK move away from oil then Scotland will finally be permitted another referendum

[@tomnicholson2115]

@@PamDuthie I do wonder though how many Scots want independence or EU integration because you can't have independence if your in the EU! Seems more likely that old hatreds are driving this! You have to remember how much better Scotland fared after union, more inventions were coming out of Scotland the universities and other schooling jumped up to to greater heights than ever before, Scottish medicine went up so much they were training Doctors from all over Europe, Not bad for a country lifted up from bankruptcy, seems unfair you'd take all the benefits and advancements then leave!

[@strangelyjamesly4078]

If Scotland costs the UK so damn much why has there never been a single English MP who has advocated for Scottish independence? Scotland could most certainly go it alone, we are self sufficient in all basic foodstuffs (grains, vegetables, meat). We produce all our electricity from wind and wave power. By 2030 we will be producing 12 times the amount we actually need. We have some of the most easily accessible oil reserves. A massive food and whisky export. More fresh water than we know what to do with. England has none of this. None. And that is the reason England will fight to keep us, all the while lying and belittling us. Scotland may not be allowed to hold a legally binding referendum but it CAN and SHOULD unilaterally declare independence. The chance was there but too many people wanted to have the trappings of power but without the responsibilities of power. Nicola Sturgeon turned out to be the worst of all leaders - a person for whom being popular was more important than being effective. She allowed a radical Trans agenda to take hold and alienate the older more conservative party faithfull. All to appease the the woke mob. But remember, that which can be joined without a referendum can be left without a referendum. The only problem I foresee is America swooping in to save our oil from the evils of socialism

[@redceltnet]

Future wars will be fought over water. Meanwhile, Scotland has more than 30,000 fresh water lochs.

[@Finnbobjimbob]

Scottish independence will just be just another brexit, you’re tricked and lied to by the upper class who say it’ll be beneficial to the country as a whole, when in reality it only benefits the rich, But by the time you realise that it’ll be too late and there’s no going back. Don’t make the same mistakes the English made.

[@EarthlyEden1]

I am happy with the idea of independance, however the issue is independance under the tyranical SNP. Humza is also a racist who hates white people and would be more than happy with men in womens prisons. Thank god westminter stopped that from happening.

[@iAmDiBBz]

because scotland is oil rich in the north sea as well as having a very good export trade for luxury items. you'd be surprised how much luxury items come from scotland whether its in made goods or harvested materials. our fishing industry was also ruined after brexit because we exported a crap ton of fish we simply dont consume alot of to the EU. ports in the netherlands, belgium, germany, france, denmark. sometimes norway. etc etc So in turn the Tories AKA the conservatives want to hold scotland tightly. the thing people are not realising is the EU single market would provide more beneficial stability. as well as grow our market in the long term compared to whats happening within the past 8 years for the UK. england losing a major revenue stream would have no choice to still continue trading but just that a sea wont be stopping them from doing so when it came to EU customs imports and exports. yes major new installations would need to be setup at the border which there is alot of towns in order to make sure people have correct paper work. the prime example people should be look at is ireland. their economy is now at a state in which it rivals the UK because their long term exposure with the EU which provides alot of benefits yes but also comes with alot of hassle and annoyances.

[@Burglar-King]

1018332 Scottish people voted Brexit, 1,661,191 voted to remain. I respect your opinion but we are stronger together against the likes of Putin. Scotland would be the one of his ports of call in years to come. And who then will Scotland expect to jump in and help?

[@thorinbane]

Scotland should leave the UK, leave conservatives in England to their own corner of the island .

[@obiwanjabroniX]

Also your reaction is spot on, they just want our tax. We also have all the oil and top 5 renewable. Those reports are wrong, we would not be poorer

[@MichaelJohnson-vi6eh]

If Scotland left, it would be more or less like Canada. Same king, defense ally, close culturally, different government. Brexit was just so stupid. Westminster just had a fantasy of it getting back the prestige of the British empire, not just another euro state.

[@kosefix]

It would be a republic. I don't think they would keep the monarch. It would be like Ireland.

[@MichaelJohnson-vi6eh]

You think? That was not included in the vote I don't believe. I'd be interested to hear the statistics.

[@insoft_uk]

If Scotland did leave the whole of 🇬🇧 would break up, we will see the unification of Ireland 🇮🇪, while Wales 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿 England 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 Scotland 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿 will have free trade and open borders with each other and accept each other’s currency and people can freely work in ether country like it’s still 🇬🇧, perhaps we keep the flag as a sign of a true United Kingdom just we be all independent from each other’s in running and governing the people of them countries

[@seldom_bucket]

No they wanted brexit so they wouldn't have to follow the new european legislation that would enforce taxing the rich, eg amazon and starbucks. Also it's so the tories can sell out the nhs from under us to american insurance companies.

[@BigBoomOfDoom2]

"Westminster just had a fantasy of it getting back the prestige of the British empire" Oh look, someone that doesn't understand Brexit in the slightest. Westminster expected the result to be remain, not leave. Go ahead though, insert your frustrated bigotry.

[@brianferris8668]

The Orkney Islands in Scotland have said if Scotland leaves the UK it will declare independence from Scotland.

[@timford544]

Why? I'm genuinely interested to know

[@TattiebogleYouTube]

​@@timford544The Orkneys and the Shetlands used to be Norwegian territory until the 17th century when they were ceded to Scotland. Scottish History Tours (a brilliant channel) recently uploaded a video on this very subject.

[@timford544]

@@TattiebogleKZbin thanks for that. A very interesting take on history

[@h-Qalziel]

@@TattiebogleKZbin To be more precise, Orkney and Shetland (not plural) were part of the Norwegian Kingdom for around 600 years from the 800s to the 1400s (not the 17th century) when they were gifted to Scotland by the Danish king. They have been part of Scotland for the last 600 years or so, ignoring that it was inhabited by Picts hundreds of years before the vikings raided it. It still shares some culture from the viking rule and even had its own Scandinavian language called Norn. None of this, however, is a good reason to leave, apart from feeling left out by the UK and Scottish governments. Last time I checked a year ago, however, only about 8% of people in Orkney and Shetland supported leaving Scotland.

[@kltolv7412]

@@TattiebogleKZbin 15th century (1469) Orkney and Shetland were part of a wedding dowry with a Danish princess(?). In 1969 Shetland designed its flag to commemorate 500 years of Viking rule and 500 years of British rule. Its a Scandinavian cross in the colours of the Scottish flag. The above comment is very accurate regarding the sentiment towards Scottish independence here in the islands. Shetlanders still consider themselves more Scandinavian than British, and the local dialect shares a great many words with Norwegian to this day.

[@craigevans6156]

The United Kingdom is Scotland and England, Scotland never joined the UK! They formed it with a union between the two countries. However I believe that Scotland will regain her independence after the disaster of Brexit

[@davidroberts794]

That is correct, the union was formed by the Scottish King becoming the king of the union. James VI of Scotland became James I of the UK. People don't know history. Most of these SNP still believe England forcibly took Scotland against there will. It did not.

[@craigevans6156]

@@davidroberts794 Well it sort of did. The nobles of Scotland were coerced and bribed to vote for the Union of the crowns. The people were never given a choice!

[@davidroberts794]

@@craigevans6156 Sorry but that just not true.

[@craigevans6156]

@@davidroberts794 How is this not true?

[@smugb]

@@davidroberts794 You seem to be confusing the Union of the Crowns (1603) with the Union of the parliaments (1707). The crowns were united for a 104 years prior to the creation of the political UK. As for Scotland being taken against their will, it most definitely was. But, most English people conveniently forget that the English were also unified with Scotland in 1707 against their will. That's why there were riots both north and south of the border when the acts of union were passed, and why some English fought as Jacobites when a German took the British crown in 1714 - not to mention the troubles sparked by Westminster unilaterally voting to install a Dutch Protestant as king 1688.

[@clgray1970]

This video is completely wrong from the start. James vi of Scotland becoming king of England only gave a union of the crowns. The declaration of Arbroath took the power from the king and gave it to the Scottish people. Scotland has been constantly lied to much like every other British colony to try to maintain control.

[@user-dz1kl6is1y]

I am glad that you quite clearly see that there is something wrong with the relationship between a large country constantly over ruling a smaller country and denying the wishes of that country. Also as all main stream Media in the UK is governed by England so there is a major bias towards the English version of how great our relationship and how strong and how poor wee Scotland cannot manage to govern itself without their assistance and how we are better together which is frankly gaslighting in the extreme Facts There is more money stored in the whisky bonds in Scotland than there is Gold reserves in the Bank of England We pay per head of population far more into the UK system in taxes (think of all that oil and whisky your example) than we receive back to run our budget for our country The former. Bank of England governor is on record stating not only is Scotland Financially viable it would be the 19th richest country in the world. Scotland contains 32% of the landmass of Great Britian and a substantial proportion of all the assets but only has 8% of the population. We are self sufficient in water, fuel and energy. we produce more energy just from renewable sources than we need as a country and are a net exporter of fuel and energy to the rest of the UK. For which incidentally we are charged for the privilege of putting our excess energy onto the national grid. As we can produce sufficient energy for our own country by renewable sources we do not need nuclear power plants and all the potential hazards that come from nuclear fuel but Westminster wànt to force us to have nuclear power plants to provide fuel to England so we have all the risk for fuel which we don't need. The EXPORT lie is another ruse to gas light us " England is our biggest export market" so they say. What they fail to mention is that any Scottish goods which travel through England enroute to other destinations is classed as an export to England so all our Scottish Whisky which goes to Europe through English ports are misclassified as an export to England rather than being treated as goods in transit. If Germany produces cars in Germany and they travel through France to come to the UK it is still a German export France is just the transit country but if Scotland sends whisky to anywhere in Europe and it travels through England it is classed as an export to England and they claim the credit as being a UK export.( You can see this being replicated in virtually all our exports) We are world leaders in many fields including tech, research, oil etc and provide high quality foods which are sought after and exported around the world such as Scottish salmon, seafood, beef, Whisky(obviously) Gin and many other food products. Bearing in mind that our population is only 5.5million we can more than adequately support ourselves. The issue is that England cannot afford to let the goose who lays the golden egg escape from their clutches and they will fight tooth and nail and play dirty at every turn to keep us under the thumb of Westminster . Do not in anyway take this as an anti English rant, I and many Scots have English family and friends who we love dearly it is the Westminster government which we have an issue with. There is also a similar stirring of discontent in both Wales and Northern Ireland happening but it is not yet at the same advanced stage as it is in Scotland but watch this space.

[@MrBulky992]

The open border between Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland has resulted in Northern Ireland having to follow some of the rules of the EU. How would a similar border work between England and Scotland? England and Wales would not be willing to adopt the rules of the EU in the way forced on Northern Ireland as dictated by Irish geography as such a change would undo Brexit entirely yet, without it, the EU would be unable, in its own words, "to protect the single market". The EU insisted that a hard border was the only other alternative in Northern Ireland so we have to assume they would insist on a hard Anglo-Scottish border too. Scotland should also not escape iys historic responsibilities in relation to British dominions and overseas territories too - Scotland proportionately played as much a part in Britain's worldwide role over past centuries and there would need to be a fair division of responsibilities. Ought some of their taxws not be used to support public spending in Northern Ireland for example? A substantial proportion of its population are of Ulster Scots descent! Scotland should also contribute to the defence of overseas territories such as the Falkland Islands.

[@smugb]

"The open border between Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland has resulted in Northern Ireland having to follow some of the rules of the EU." You mean those EU rules the rUK has to follow when trading with the EU? Y'know, the EU rules we no longer have a hand in making because idiots voted for us to leave the EU?

[@nlptrckshmn5535]

The video is a decent overview but can’t really cover the complexities and nuances, which is fair enough. Same goes for the selective “fact” quoting in this comments section, which is mainly dominated by callously patronising English people to whom Scottish Independence is an affront or blinkered pro-Independence supporters who cling purely to (not unreasonable) principles but without regard to any of the fiscal drawbacks.

[@user-px3sw2up4p]

England always votes Conservative and Scotland never ever does so we are always saddled with a government not of our choosing.

[@user-nz8dc1rt2m]

The borders never vote SNP so have been saddled with a ridiculously incompetent government not of their choosing for many years. Do you propose that they split from Scotland. Stop spitting your dummy because you can’t get your own way!

[@sammyross9076]

they want to keep hold of scotlands oil

[@georgeamery]

That video you chose is wildly out of date as people here know. An American cant possibly know.

[@JimKerr-xl2jt]

They should split and they will 💯

[@GanderG]

You sound like daily dose of internet. 🥶👌

[@brigidsingleton1596]

Oh dear ... Scotland ... What's going on ? 😮💙😢🧡🥺💙🤔🧡🤔💙😳🧡☹️❤️

[@sandihill669]

The difficulties are many. First though I feel it is manipulative if the SNP to have lowered the voting age in Scotland to 14 years of age! I will leave that with you! Scotland would have to put in place a new currency - they would be a new country and so could not use the English pound. And therefore establishing the stability of a new currency will take time to establish. In essence the currency will not have established a ‘safe’ credit rating. They would also have to apply for membership of the EU and that takes often, many years, so they would be in limbo trade-wise for that time. And there’s no guarantee they would be accepted. Five or ten years for keeping the nuclear bases IS a BIG deal for the SNP and they would probably insist on the bases being cleared before that. The oil is running down and the Islanders with the oil want to continue to be British! The annual amount of money given to the Scots by Westminster would stop. Also it wasn’t James 6th and 1st necessarily that took Scotland into the Union it was a vote. And it was because the Scots made far more money being part of the union. England was very successful in various trades. Scotland wasn’t. So they joined forces to get more goodies. Furthermore Nicola Sturgeon, her husband and their mate have recently been arrested by the police for misappropriation of funds. And there is evidence of sexual harassment by one of the MPs being ignored by the SNP. Personally I think there’s strength in numbers and I find it odd the Scots want to separate from a land mass they are joined to, and want to become a union with a land mass several miles away across the North Sea. I feel that all areas of the UK should have their own devolved state. The Scots, Welsh and Northern Irish are not alone in thinking that the Westminster Govt sucks. A lot of England feels the same way. So I think there should be devolution all around 🌻💚🌈

[@aa-xg3ct]

Scotland could use the pound if they want. Voting age was 16.

[@sandihill669]

@@aa-xg3ct no voting age 14

[@smugb]

A country's decision to use a currency is their own decision, it is not determined by the OG currency holder, we could use the pound, the dollar, the euro; the rUK, the US and the EU wouldn't have a say in which we choose. Yes, we'd have to apply for EU membership, something we'd not have to do, if the Westminster parties weren't lying in their 2014 "promise" that remaining in the UK guaranteed EU membership. But, what of it? Scotland's desire to re-join the EU should be forgotten, because leaving the UK means we'll have to apply? The problem of where to house the nukes is an rUK problem, not a Scotland problem. If the rUK doesn't have bases to house the fleet, they should invest in such, before it's too late. As for the money we get from Westminster, that money is paid to Westminster by Scottish taxes. Scotland has been a net contributor to the UK since the 1970s - one of only two regions to be so. As for "trade" in the 16th-17th century, I don't think the dominance of English piracy, and sacking of Catholic treasuries, is the flex you think it is.

[@paulwilson2651]

Yes!

[@JudgeMazza]

Scotland wouldnt leave the UK, scotland wpuld break up the UK.

[@drunkenrockstar23]

They don’t want us to leave, we get zero from England WE WANT TO LEAVE and westminister propaganda is disgusting!!

[@MrZombie999]

BREXIT is a great Idea handled very badly and even though it was handled badly it was important to get out of the EU for a whole number of reasons (you can research them yourself) but for the most part because the EU if just a bunch of power-hungry, money wasting fools that have zero respect its members and just want to found and preside over a Western EU Block at the expense of the stability of it member countries not to mention very bad management overall. To be honest there are so many reasons as you will see if you look into it.

[@Stand663]

We haven’t had a proper Brexit. The Tories have not been doing it. Most of em’ were on the lavish Brussels gravy train.

[@lorrainemoynehan6791]

well with an 80 seat majority and Al (Boris is his stage name) throwing out anyone who opposed his Brexit, why didn't you get the Brexit you wanted? Who was stop[ping you? Or did you not have a plan?@@Stand663

[@Bpat6169]

All this is a moot point. If Scotland left, I doubt they would be able to rejoin the EU by themselves. Scotland would never meet the requirements needed to join the EU. Nicola Sturgeon was selling the Scottish people a bunch of baloney.

[@ruthguthrie1099]

Utter rubbish.

[@franciscruickshank8794]

you forgot to say that an independant would immidiatley join EFTA while waiting to join EU .

[@robzy9310]

Watch 13 hours that saved Britain

[@user-eh5ll4mb2y]

Scotland does not leave the Untied Kingdom, Scotland and England is the United Kingdom. Wales and N. Ireland are not kingdoms so, England Wales and N. Ireland could not be called United Kingdom.

[@KizzyKismet1]

YES! Scotland & England friends! EU - Ireland & Scotland goodbye! Vote 2024, freedom! :)

[@Cainb420]

England dont want us to leave because we produce 3.5 times the electricity we use in a year, we take all our oil and fishing rights with us. We have control the water between scotland and Iceland which stops Russia from sailing straight to the usa. The best one is if you look at the vote on brexit where Scotland voted to stay in and we were taking out anyway, democracy lol

[@lorddaver5729]

Wrong. England don't want Scotland, full stop.

[@Cainb420]

@@lorddaver5729 tell that to your politicians. The only thing England has to export is immigrants

[@smugb]

@@lorddaver5729 Then be rid of us, ffs.

[@MsPataca]

I remember 2014 and the Scotland referendum. As an outsider from another European country, I was fascinated with the debate. One thing that struck me was when Mr Salmond (SNP) said that an independent Scotland would keep the pound and it would also keep the Queen as the monarch. This sounded insane to me. In my view, if a country wants to become independent, the first thing they want is their own currency (duh!) and why on earth would you keep the monarch of the country you claimed independence from as a head of state? That alone sounded very amateurish and half-baked to me, and I could imagine that for many voters that were torn between yes and no, they felt insecure about the actual repercussions of independence and in the end decided to vote no to be on the safe side.

[@Mark-Haddow]

Scotland invented the Pound. Scots founded the Bank of England, Bank of Scotland and Bank of France. The monarch is a figurehead, and has no relevance to independence. A referendum on becoming a Republic will happen.

[@aa-xg3ct]

You don't understand the monarchy you muppet, it isn't the English monarchy. The fist King of the UK was a Scottish King, he united the Kingdom. You do know that Charles is the head of state for Canada, Australia etc.

[@Mmjk_12]

@@aa-xg3ctJesus relax bro, he literally said he's an outsider from another european country... He's just giving his opinion and perspective.

[@BigBoomOfDoom2]

"why on earth would you keep the monarch of the country you claimed independence from" Because the monarch was not just the Queen of England, But also Queen of Scots. Two distinct crowns, worn by the same head. Same thing with the King now.

[@Mark-Haddow]

@@BigBoomOfDoom2 Eh? The King is a descendant of Scotland's royalty. It was a Scottish Queen that created the UK, and a Scottish King that created Great Britain.

[@williamwhitty7243]

and nigal farage made shour him and his fam all had german passports

[@jackduddle9449]

Leaving uk would be damaging for uk and scotland because the militaries have too many ties Scotland builds a large number of navy ships so does England the majority of the army is English Welsh or Irish so Scotland would be severely undermanned in that case and the UK overall tank fleet so low Scotland would not have many independent if not zero

[@smugb]

Scottish taxes paid for those tanks and ships and planes, so we'd be due a proportional share of them, or compensation for rUK keeping them. As for Scottish troops, there are plenty of those. In what world are you living where you think that Scottish troops aren't are large part of the British armed forces?

[@williamwhitty7243]

and by the way im scouse

[@trollface057]

If Scotland left uk and joined the eu it would be Switzerland 😂🍷

[@smoke5543]

England doesn't receive 1 pound of Scottish taxes in the .English cover any shortfall in there taxes and that includes cover free uni college education to you and free prescriptions and many other things as we don't receive any financial benefit from there taxes . We give our taxes to them we want them to leave we would be better off

[@smugb]

Absolute BS. But, keep spouting that Westminster tripe, because the more English people denigrate their Scottish neighbours - who are sending more to Westminster in taxes than we ever receive from them in spending - the more people up here will understand your bigotry and want to be rid of your leeching rule.

[@mattbentley9270]

Scotland leaves maybe Hadrian wall would be built up to 50 feet like a trump fence ? lol.... ha, no we love each other

[@robertadavies4236]

This is a biased video, although Brexit and Scottish independence are both such fraught topics that it would be a struggle to find anything that's not biased. You'll need to read and watch discussions from a variety of sources to get the overall picture. Scotland has been joined up with England for about 300 years, but they were never very willing partners. The Acts of Union happened because some disastrous attempts at setting up colonies left Scotland flat broke, and England agreed to pay their debts in return for uniting the kingdoms and settling the question of royal succession. It was a marriage of traditional enemies, forced together through financial necessity (on Scotland's side) and political expedience (on England's side). Purely emotionally, Scotland would rather like to be independent again, and England is mainly indifferent. The main argument against Scotland leaving the UK is economic -- they simply can't afford to go. The UK treasury allocates extra funding to Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland, mostly according to a calculation called the Barnett formula. It's really complicated and I don't pretend to understand all the ins and outs of it, but the bottom line is that Scotland spends more money than it raises (in 2020/21, Scotland raised 7.9% of Britain's overall tax revenue, but accounted for 9.1% of spending). This extra amount is basically money raised in England and sent over the border. (And yes, it's controversial.) If Scottish independence happens, that revenue stream will be cut off. Scotland currently spends quite a lot of government money per head of population, more than in England. Thrown onto their own resources, either services will have to be cut or taxes will have to be raised, or both. They've also been told in no uncertain terms that if they go independent, they won't be allowed to use the pound. They'll have to set up their own banking system and their own currency, as well as all the other mechanisms of an independent government and economic system.

[@andrewmcdonald6987]

No - Scotland does not get ( a lot of money) we get all our money taken off.

[@brianbonner7128]

I voted for independence in the 2014 referendum. I now realise that without their own currency Scotland would have to rely on the pound or the euro to set taxes, they wouldn’t be in control of their own money. Scotland would have gone bankrupt during the covid pandemic due to furloughing half the workforce for over a year. The price of oil has bombed out, leaving a huge deficit in funding the economy They would have no trade deal with the rest of the UK, nor Europe, making the cost of living very high in Scotland

[@arnothill]

Pish. Uk borrowed the cash to fund the covid strategy. then they pretend that they are gifting it to Scotland. they borrow in our name, without our mandate.

[@arnothill]

Look at the books. The mess of the UK economy means that the government in Westminster is heavily borrowing (and has been for the past century). It then spends it where it feels it best - you know - tax breaks for bankers, HS2 and all that. Not content with having spent the oil revenues on tax cuts for yuppies, they now impose costs and limitations on eco-energy schemes, while offering massive incentives to big oil to carry on regardless. None of the above carry any consent of the Scottish electorate. You have to go back to the 1950s to find a general election where Scotland voted Tory. That democratic deficit is real. Imagine if your neighbour in the enormous house controlled your mortgage for you (as a favour), deciding how much to it would borrow on your behalf, then try to convince you that it was a gift if they let you have some of it to pay for the basics. Imagine that. Even David Cameron agreed that Scotland would do fine as an independent country. What you may miss is that England considers Scotland to be its hegemony that can be exploited through shear weight of electorate numbers. It’s a united kingdom of voluntary members, not an imperial project run by the largest nation - except it is! Jeez. On the subject of a further referendum, imagine if Sweden had assumed the power to refuse Norway its right to be a nation again. That sounds undemocratic, right? Oh, while we are here - can you name me one country that having gained independence from anyone, has wanted to change its mind afterwards? No I can’t think of one either. The argument that the 2014 referendum settled the issue is bogus. Promises and assurances were made (Brexit being the most obvious one), so rather like a dodgy banker, Westminster flim-flammed its way through the final days of that vote, believing that once the victory was in the bag, then nobody would remember the promises. Ironically, the Brexit campaign used the exact same strategy (The NHS Brexit Bus...). Even if you still feel that these things don’t convince, at least allow the Scots to steer their own ship. To deny democratic process is not the British way... Yes, I am British, in the same was that a Norwegian is Scandanavian, and in an independent Scotland, I’d be a Scot who’d be happy if I was considered a Brit, as a geographical moniker. Folk get hung up on nationalism as a force of division. I see an independant Scotland as an outward facing country, who welcomes (and needs) inward migration of New Scots (Westminster once more ignores a need). So, to all those who fancy a bit of wilderness, fine people, great history, tasty beverages, and all the wind energy you can whistle up; come join our project.

[@nocturnal2148]

Scotland has its own parliament, England could do with that equality.

[@neilford7338]

it's called Westminster. Remember all the EVEL nonsense?

[@aa-xg3ct]

Well why don't you campaign for a parliament, do you think it was just given to Scotland? There was a home rule movement in Scotland for 50 years.

[@helenaweston1296]

I personally don't understand why humans make life so awkward and confusing to live. I'm in the south of England, I have nothing against the Scottish, they have a beautiful accent, stunning scenery, and somewhere I yet need to visit, I'm desperate to get there! I have Scottish ancestors, it is really sad alot of Scottish detest the English...we should all be friends, why let Governments mess with us! Love you Scotland ❤

[@arnothill]

Why would we detest the English? i don’t and know of nobody who does. I save such feelings for acts of evil in this world. Come and visit us before you defame us with detestable libel... You would be welcome. Check out the west coast - Oban, Northwards in the late spring, perhaps. Edinburgh after that maybe? You might stay and become a New Scot! Say Yes... we likely will!

[@franciscruickshank8794]

MY ENGLISH FRIEND DONT BELEIVE THE BRITISH?MEDIA BBC LIARS ABOUT ANTI ENGLISH FEELING THE MSM DONT TELL YOU ITS THE CORRUPT RULING CLASSES AND WASTMINSTER WE HATE !YOU WILL ALWAYS BE WELCOME ANYTIME ,TAKE CARE , SAOR ALBA

[@coling3957]

SNP is fuelled by anti-English rhetoric. the incompetence of the sNP is camouflaged by "its all the fault of England" .. sadly ppl fed a diet of deep-fried mars bars vote for these con-artists.

[@smugb]

"it is really sad alot of Scottish detest the English" You mistake detesting Westminster rule with hatred of the English. Although we get miffed by the English propensity for claiming we're subsidy junkies, despite us being net contributors the the UK treasury, our actual beef is with the far-too-often-tory-run Westminster. We want to run our affairs and our resources our way, and not have our lives ruined by right-wing t-pots in the UK government.

[@helenaweston1296]

I won't pretend, I know nothing of politics really, politicians annoy me. I don't blame you wanting to do it your own way!

[@DarrenLamb-on3py]

Please can we have a vote on the independence of England then the taxes of 55 million ppl won't have to prop up the pittance in tax that the Scottish contribute to the pot. Wales and Scotland have their own parliament and can make their own laws. Guess who doesn't, yep, the English! EDIT... the scots also have free education so when they leave university they aren't saddled with £27,000-30,000 in debt for tuition fees alone (not to mention the crazy rents students in England have to pay, and all the other debts they incur through student loans). Yes those hard done by scots.

[@arnothill]

England were offered devolution when Blair was elected and it garnered no support in the regions.

[@monkeymox2544]

You seemed shocked regarding the Supreme Court's ruling that the Scottish government did not have the power to legislate for a referrendum. Bear in mind that the Court was interpreting the UK constitution, not just making an arbitrary ruling. Whatever your view on Scottish independence, here's the thing with that ruling: the UK is a sovereign nation state. Scotland is not. It is a nation _within_ a sovereign nation state. In terms of the UK constitution, the UK parliament has soveregnity. For that reason, a devolved national government cannot have the power to unilateraly hold a referrendum which undermines the sovereignty of the UK parliament. The right to do so is exclusively reserved for the UK parliament. Whether or not you think Scotland should be able to do so, that is the constitutional reality, one which Sturgeon accepted with grace. It is no different from any other sovereign nation state on the planet. I think I'm right in saying that in the USA, the legal position of secession in quite similar, no state can unilaterally withdraw from the union.

[@aa-xg3ct]

The UK doesn't have a constitution

[@obiwanjabroniX]

5:05 scotland are the richest country in the UK. We get one quarter of the money we give the UK back, on a yearly basis. Independence NOW.