tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1603438996450817644.post901620726141164771..comments2024-01-12T01:56:21.933-08:00Comments on chokka blog: Two Wrongs Don't Make a RightKevin Haguehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14587343060415859159noreply@blogger.comBlogger9125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1603438996450817644.post-57485160623576953982017-03-31T06:12:44.708-07:002017-03-31T06:12:44.708-07:00Living on England's south coast, I think Wildg...Living on England's south coast, I think Wildgoose is probably right about the way England would vote in a U.K. wide referendum on the Union. If nothing else, to get rid of Sturgeon "moaning" on the TV every night. <br /><br />I doubt that few English are anti-Scot. And are very sympathetic to Scots wishing to have their culture and law. However, both Remainers and Leavers in England know there is a huge amount at stake over the next two years. I wonder how many believe that England should be distracted from this for the sake of the SNP. "Yes you can have your independence referendum but you're bloody well not going to wreck our chances to sort Brexit out, when you might vote to stay anyway." <br /><br />Although Sturgeon is careful to only attack Westminster, she doesn't come across well to an English audience; Salmond even less so. They don't seem to realise that they need English voters' cooperation not only to gain independence, but even more so afterwards. The SNP have not helped their cause with the English by making them pay to go to a Scottish university. That just appears seems incomprehensibly spiteful. <br /><br />I've no hat in the ring. I'd feel very sorry for my Scottish neighbours who, of course, would become foreigners over night through no choice of their own. I'd feel sorrier for Scots in Scotland who wanted to stay. I'm just a bemused onlooker.Terry Mushroomhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15729701316513729828noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1603438996450817644.post-72813973710761539772017-03-17T00:53:03.772-07:002017-03-17T00:53:03.772-07:00Wildgoosee......To be honest, Nicola Sturgeon keep...Wildgoosee......To be honest, Nicola Sturgeon keeps on saying that the scottish people are being dragged out of EU aganst their will. But i wonder how many are ike me, who voted Remain, but are now quite willing to spport leaving the Eu to get the best deal possible for the whole of the Uk. I wonder if it' near the 50% of the voters. Then we wouldn't keep on hearing about her representing tthe scottish peopleAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1603438996450817644.post-30830037712437976062017-03-12T11:37:35.373-07:002017-03-12T11:37:35.373-07:00If there's another Referendum then everybody s...If there's another Referendum then everybody should vote.<br /><br />I suspect that Scotland would vote to continue being given English money - and that England would vote for Scotland to leave and stand on her own two feet.<br /><br />Which is why, as always, nobody will dare ask what we English truly think.Wildgoosehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14884595915411975940noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1603438996450817644.post-33484904565092028862017-03-07T13:11:56.509-08:002017-03-07T13:11:56.509-08:00If there is another referendum does the whole of t...If there is another referendum does the whole of the UK have to pay?<br />If England, Wales and Northern Ireland have to pay we surely deserve a say.Arbo regularhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07028613595289039402noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1603438996450817644.post-48004166001331773792017-03-01T13:23:09.287-08:002017-03-01T13:23:09.287-08:00I would like to take you up on your challenge of a...I would like to take you up on your challenge of a moment's analysis comparing the Scottish relationship to the EU with the UK.<br /><br />The EU is a very odd place indeed by global standards. It has 7% of the world’s population, 25% of its GDP and 50% of its social spending. Indeed government spending in the EU as a share of the economy is more than double the global average.<br /><br />The huge debate that Brexit is throwing up is this: Should the UK change to a more common model where government spending is dramatically lower? This is something that has been outlined by both the Chancellor and the Prime Minister as a possible plan.<br /><br />There is quite a bit of logic to it: my business quite happily competes against businesses in France and Germany. On the other hand, if the door was thrown open with a deep Free Trade Agreement with the USA (for example) then we would have severe problems as our our US competitors have much lower labour costs, much lower taxes and much lower environmental regulation which are all big costs in our industry.<br /><br />The only way we could get a level playing field would be to persuade Donald Trump to raise US regulations and taxes to the UK level or as seems more likely cut the UK minimum wage, taxes and other regulations to match the US.<br /><br />So really the question is: do Scots feel that they are closer to the European social model or are Scots closer to the US social model which is being promoted by the Brexiteers?Andrew Veitchnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1603438996450817644.post-10476135430995852322017-03-01T05:44:04.897-08:002017-03-01T05:44:04.897-08:00I am unconvinced the UK Government will agree to a...I am unconvinced the UK Government will agree to a 2nd referendum, they are well within their rights to reject it.<br /><br />To take offer one the first time is a calculated gamble, to offer one a second time isn't worth even the slim risk, regardless of the political fall out in Scotland.<br /><br />With an ever more aggressive Russia, the UK Government, the Americans and Europe just can't afford even the slightest chance of the UK suffering the catastrophe of losing a third of the landmass with all the MOD assets based there, not to mention the real possibility of Trident being homeless or on foreign soil for 10-20 years until a new Coulport is developed elsewhere.<br /><br />Both Scottish Nationalists and Scottish Unionists are prisoners of their own geography. <br /><br />Scottish Nationalists can't pretend sharing the main British landmass isn't important for Scotland's security and economic interests.<br /><br />Scottish Unionists can't suddenly wish away the continent of Europe being on the UK's doorstep as a major source of power, influence and trade in the world, regardless of the eventual fate of the EU. Drewnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1603438996450817644.post-41833474287423440552017-02-28T18:44:45.028-08:002017-02-28T18:44:45.028-08:00Sturgeon and Salmond both said repeatedly that the...Sturgeon and Salmond both said repeatedly that the EU referendum was coming, that it could lead to Scotland being taken out of the EU, and that it was a reason to vote Yes. The issue was aired, and the voters said "No, Thanks". How on earth those two muppets think that it is now justification for a do-over of their "once in a generation" referendum is beyond me.<br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1603438996450817644.post-69786567817564488942017-02-28T01:01:15.740-08:002017-02-28T01:01:15.740-08:00The other aspect aside from the financial is that ...The other aspect aside from the financial is that of citizenship. I'm not sure what the SNP's current line is on this but the assumption that all Scots woudl retain UK citizenship upon independence is not correct in terms of international law. And it would also be a very hard sell to the rest of the UK.<br /><br />Members of my family could well be affected by this - Scottish born, living in Scotland - post indy I doubt they would retain British citizenship. The only option would be to settle permanently in the remaining UK territory prior to secession.<br /><br />Fight the good fight, Kevin - this blog is really one of the best.DPLnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1603438996450817644.post-60866034381960300042017-02-27T20:51:29.047-08:002017-02-27T20:51:29.047-08:00I was reading your "Thoughts on an EU Referen...I was reading your "Thoughts on an EU Referendum" and I wondered how your thoughts are now with the last 6 or more months of positive financial news. Also the fact Trump is now the President of the USA and is seemingly keen on a trade deal with the UK? <br /><br />It just seems to me that many countries in the world are now keen to do trade deals with us so is that not a positive for Brexit?<br /><br />Also as we go into elections in the Netherlands, France and Germany it does look like anti-EU rhetoric is growing. Italy also looks to be in a position where they might have to leave the Euro just to survive. So not all is rosy with the rest of the EU.Alastair McIntyrenoreply@blogger.com