Scottish independence: Cameron and Salmond strike referendum deal

[Bosonic]

Source: BBC

A deal setting out terms for a Scottish independence referendum has been signed by Prime Minister David Cameron and First Minister Alex Salmond.

The agreement, struck in Edinburgh, has paved the way for a vote in autumn 2014, with a single Yes/No question on Scotland leaving the UK.

It will also allow 16 and 17-year-olds to take part in the ballot.

The SNP secured a mandate to hold the referendum after its landslide Scottish election win last year.

Read more: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-scotland-politics-19942638

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[truebrit71]

1. And thus ended "Just call me Dave's" Prime Minister-ship...

...have fun on the back-benches after the next election you ass carrot..

[muriel_volestrangler]

3. Not necessarily, at all

He's behind in the polls, but for different reasons. At the moment, the Scottish polls have been showing that the referendum is more likely to fail than pass; and one of the things Cameron has established is that Salmond can't put it off after 2014 to try to build up his vote further. And this also means just a straight question on independence can be asked, rather than a 'devolution plus' one, which Scotland was more likely to support.

Giving the vote (on this, not everything) to 16 and 17 year olds may make them more likely to vote for independence in gratitude, perhaps, but they're still a relatively small age group, so the effect will be limited.

[harmonicon]

9. This will have no effect on him.

He'll be out in the last election because his government is a complete disaster, but this has nothing to do with it. I'm pretty sure that there's not a single Tory anywhere in the UK government who is from Scotland, or in the Scottish government.

However, if Scotland were to become independent (it won't happen), it would be a massive victory for the Conservatives, basically securing a Conservative government for the rest of the UK for at least a generation.

[Rambis]

2. Wow

[DavidDvorkin]

5. More to the point, it could be the prelude

to the breakup of France, Spain, Germany, Italy ...

[HereSince1628]

6. I understand Spain and Italy...what department(s) want out of France?

[dipsydoodle]

7. Did you mean Belgium, not France ,

and in Germany I guess you refer to Bavaria.

It doesn't follow that the separated states would become part of the EU. Any of the current current member states can veto an application - the full agreement of all member states is necessary to accept an application and Article 49 isn't about to be re-written.

[DavidDvorkin]

13. Belgium, yes

Typing faster than thinking.

[dipsydoodle]

8. What ?

Its not a matter of hanging on - its what the population want by referendum. Chances of NI splitting are nil.

[harmonicon]

10. What on earth do you mean?

For one, Britain is England, Scotland, and Wales. In no way do they "hang on to Northern Ireland." Northern Ireland is an equal party in the United Kingdom of Britain and Northern Ireland (that's what "UK" is short for). There is zero indication that the population of Northern Ireland have any interest in dissolving this union.

[muriel_volestrangler]

12. Scotland going would reinforce that Northern Ireland would get to decide its own future

rather than the Republic, or England, deciding it for it. At the moment, the polls indicate the majority in NI want to remain in the UK.

[harmonicon]

14. In the south of what?!

In Mexico?

[harmonicon]

18. Even if you were right (and you're not),

you suggest that foreign countries should have a say in the governance of their neighbours? Not only their governance, but in fact their independence and right to self determination.

How the fuck on earth do you think that is a justifiable position?

[harmonicon]

20. Should I not degrade those who are against the democratic self-determination of a country?

I think that's something worth degrading. Otherwise, perhaps you'd like to give your vote to a foreigner, if you value it so little.

[muriel_volestrangler]

21. Why have you deleted all of your meaningful posts from this thread?

All that we see of you now is that you are offended by someone saying "how the fuck...". Why do you claim that degrades you? In the words of a DU smiley,

[dipsydoodle]

15. The 26 counties in the south

are the Republic of Ireland - a separate state. As such they'd have as much say in the subject as the French would in a Belgian referendum.

[Nye Bevan]

16. That's kind of like saying Mexico would like to take over Texas (nt)

[loli phabay]

22. i wonder if there is independance what the next fracture in scottish society would be

would there be a scramble for independance from the borders, or the islands or just an east west coast thing, throw in the republicans, unionists and scots first you might end up with a lot of violence.