Taking the "U" out of the UK

[FunkyDexter]

unless white people are dying in great numbers, and that's certainly not the case here

Ha! You've never visited Glasgow on a Saturday night then.

NSA summed it up pretty well. I personally predict that it'll be close but that they'll leave. I think both the UK and Scotland will be diminished by that decision but it won't be the end of the world. There'll continue to be some political wrangling but we'll all continue to muddle along and I don't think the Jacobites will be marching on York any time soon.

I think the Scots will, on the whole, make their decisions with their heart rather than based on the financial arguments. That might sound patronising but it isn't. They can't make the decision based on the financial arguments because, in truth, nobody really has the first clue how the finances would play out. They haven't even decided on what the basis for a split would be including deciding what resources will belong to whom or what the currency will be. The heart will be the only basis left for the Scots to make their decision and I suspect their sense of patriotism will win out - particularly given how much they hate the Tories (and they really do hate the Tories).

One point where I differ from NSA, I don't believe the North Sea Oil reserves are in Scottish waters because I don't believe there is a definition for "Scottish waters", only UK waters. They're definitely in waters that are closer to Scotland so anyone applying simple common sense would probably call them Scottish waters after the split but common sense will have little or nothing to do with the political wranglings that will follow a split - particularly where oil reserves are involved. I suspect we'll end up with some half arsed compromise where we'll somehow share them.

In a similar vein I imagine the Scots will continue to use the pound and we'll reach some compromise around the Bank of England acting as a lender of last resort - though God knows what that'll look like.

And one point where I definitely agree with NSA, Salmond is not to be trusted. He's an extremely good orator and fantastic at connecting with the public but he does so mainly by just telling them what they want to hear - regardless of whether it's true or not.

Would the United Kingdom lose its permanent seat on the UN if Scotland votes for independence?

I would say that's extremely unlikely.

Independence from the UK has been a pretty good ride so far for those of us on this side of the Atlantic

If only you knew the joys of a national health service you wouldn't think that