Scottish Independence vote - Yes or No?

[ToxicJosh]

Speaking as a Yorkshireman: please don't leave us alone with those southern pansies; they'll ruin everything! (Or take us with you)

But seriously; independence would kill the Scottish economy. There isn't a chance of automatic EU membership, the entire banking sector would be forced to relocate to England, and either public services would face a drastic cut or your taxes would skyrocket. Plus you'd have to change your currency as you wouldn't be permitted to keep Sterling.

The yes campaign will tell you otherwise on these points, but the simple truth is that they have no influence over these issues. Control of Sterling is Bank of England and British government, and they have no reason to allow or want a currency union. EU membership is based on applying and waiting years to be allowed in. And under European law, companies have to be based in the country where they conduct the majority of their business; so the banking sector that is so crucial to the Scottish economy would have to relocate. On top of that, it would be very hard, if not impossible to get mortgages etc. as British based banks and building societies are not permitted to lend outside the EU and the criteria for lending outside the UK is incredibly strict in any case.

Simply put; voting yes would harm Scotland almost beyond repair. As much as I'd like the North of England to receive more independence from those Tory arseholes down South and maybe get representatives who actually, you know, represent. Splitting from the rest of the country is suicide.

Also, Scotland makes up part of my identity as British, as does Wales and Northern Ireland. I may have been born and raised in England, but 'English' is not and has never been part of my nationality.

This is Alex Salmond's ego trip, don't give it him.