The Church of Scotland’s most senior cleric has expressed fears that “something ugly” is permeating the referendum campaign, as a new poll finds that voters believe the country will be divided after 18 September regardless of the outcome of the vote.
The Right Rev John Chalmers, moderator of the General Assembly, said: “I am repelled by the name-calling and rancour we have seen in recent weeks. We need to behave as though we are paving the way for working together whatever the outcome.
“I have faith that despite divergent views most Scots are behaving courteously during the runup to the referendum. However, it has become clear that some are not. I fear that something ugly may be beginning to permeate the independence debate.”
Most of us are just fed up with the belly-aching Scots. If they leave us, and I hope they do not as we need them, who will they find to belly-ache about? Each other?
One of the most thoughtful and thorough analyses I have seen of the implications was done by Andrew Neil [a London Scot]: Scotland Votes: What’s at Stake for the UK? Probably only accessible in the UK unless you have access to a UK IP or can find it online locally or on World Service, BBC America, BBC Youtube or elsewhere.
But as Andrew Neil says, the silence from the rest of the UK has been deafening.
But if the Scots leave, won’t departure from the EU for England — a very blessed thing — be more likely?
#3 We would never have another Labour government again if the Scots left, which some would say would be a very blessed thing indeed Sarah. Mind you, with the current coalition, one is hard pressed to tell the difference. If the Scots leave, Cameron will get the blame as the man who dissolved the Union and the likely beneficiary will be the UK Independence Party.
I suppose that I am one of those who if asked his identity will say British, rather than English primarily. I think we are enriched by the wealth of difference among the English, Welsh, Scots and indeed the Irish in these Isles. And the Scots bring to us industriousness, regard for education and in some cases Christian witness. The downside they also bring to us a balanced view of the rest of us – a chip on both shoulders, or so it seems.
The thing the US and Nato allies should be most concerned about is the plans of Scottish nationalists to close in short order the military facilities at Faslane and Rosyth from where our submarine fleet and independent nuclear deterrent is housed and serviced, in extensive and expensive facilities. Apart from the impact on the local economy and jobs, it will mean that an alternative in the UK will not be readily available without considerable expense and a gap of a number of years. If alternative planning is in place, the Government are not letting on. After a number of years when we have had no aircraft carriers thanks to the premature retirement of the Ark Royal and the sale of our sea harriers to the US Marines, since we are shortly to receive our two new Queen Elizabeth Class aircraft carriers for which we have no aircraft, lack of joined up military planning here would be nothing new.
I am only wondering what the Union flag will look like if Scotland leaves.
#5 All the colors of the rainbow if Cameron and Welby have anything to do with it.
Surely the Scots would be wiser to demand rent for those military bases than to close them, #4.
Since Labour has labored hard to destroy Britain, seeing the last of them would be a benefit, although care needs to be taken to see that their ideas don’t just migrate to another group. Current Conservative leadership doesn’t strike this American as very conservative.
#7
“Surely the Scots would be wiser to demand rent for those military bases than to close them, #4
You would have thought so, Katherine, but you have no idea how many fruitcakes and loons they have collected in their new ‘Scottish Parliament’. It is just like Lambeth Palace.
Thanks PM. The video is (of course) on Youtube…
[url=http://youtu.be/i5zKTlB5LWk]Scotland Votes What’s at Stake for the UK BBC Documentary 2014[/url]
Pageantmaster, it would be indeed a group of fruitcakes who would ignore such a lucrative revenue stream for the new country, especially considering the question of what their currency would be.
I understand the separatists are planning on expanded haggis exports to support the economy.