EU referendum -UK users

[MikeRox]

COX said:

I don't think that Scotland really wants to leave UK just after the Brexit but that will probably change if the UK becomes less and less important in the international stage in the next 15 years. It will also depends on the reaction of the EU towards UK after the Brexit. 

Indeed, though it sounds like the recent oil price shock etc are bigger factors in what have reduced enthusiasm for Independence at the moment.

Personally, I think that is entirely a matter for the Scottish people (and Northern Irish and Welsh). Possibly also Cornwall, Yorkshire etc.

I'm actually a fan of the idea of a more federal UK with less control at Westminster. However the current "Devolution" plan for things such as the NHS in Manchester worries me, as  the current government seem to be using "local powers" as a way of distancing themselves from unpopular decisions. I'm currently quite active in a campaign to save my local hospital in Huddersfield, because it's closure will mean our entire borough (Kirklees) of nearly half a million people won't have a single emergency facility in the NHS as Dewsbury's has already been downgraded on the grounds that Huddersfield is near enough.

The current government response has said it's a "matter to be determined locally", but actually, the people making the decision locally have already admitted that Monitor, the national body has made a stipulation in their reconfiguration proposals, that leaves them with no option other than to close down the NHS Trust owned hospital in the larger town in favour of a PFI private hospital in the smaller town that isn't big enough to have the upgrades necessary to cater to both area's health needs.

I do wonder if Monitor got involved before or after David Cameron went to Halifax just before the last General Election and pledged to keep Emergency services at Halifax and "sort the PFI out". As prior to this, Huddersfield was the preferred site to retain full Emergency services.

So this kind of devolution is not necessarily as good as it initially seems. I think it's actually quite poignant in the EU debate as a whole. As my draw to Brexit is sovereignty and "getting powers back". But outside the EU, this extra power could be more easily open to abuse by the government of the day. On the counter though, when the next election comes up, the current gov can well and truly get the boot. This is not really the case within the EU.