Why do Scots want independence from the UK?

Question

Im an American asking this, and i hear people all the time saying that Scotland should be independant.

I saw Braveheart, it was a great movie, but that was a long time ago. Arent you guys better off together?

Answer 1

Being a Scot I cannot see an independent Scotland being anything but a Third World nation. North Sea is only producing 65% of the oil that came ashore in the 1970's. One oil field closed last year and another one is due soon, followed by more over the next couple of years. The revenue from the North Sea oil and gas lines all went to Westminster (London). This means that although the North Sea falls under Scottish law the revenue went to England to pay England's debt. Bear in mind when Celtic won the European Cup (soocer to those in the US) they were the first 'British' team to do so, however, when Liverpool won they were an English team. Essentially, if the English win anything they are English. If they lose they are British. If the Scots, Irish or Welsh win anything they are British, but if they lose they resort to their own nationality.

The English are racist and like to exhibit their [own] superior attitude to those around them. Scotland was the first united kingdom in Europe in the 9th century under Kenneth McAlpine who was king of all Scotland, whereas at the same time the English did not exist as they were fighting among themselves, i.e. the Angles, Saxons and Danes until the Normans came along in 1066 and conquered them. Only under Norman rules can it be said that England became one nation as we know it today.

There has been many centuries of fighting between Scotland and England as we fought to retain our independence from the larger bully nation. The English used bribery, murder, imprisonment, political sanctions, economic sanctions and the papacy to buuly Scotland into submission. The Declaration of Arbroath in 1320 states that our re-independence from English rule was and would again be bought with Scottish blood.

Keeping to a short version of 1000 years of Scottish history - yes today there are still prejudices on both sides of the border, but having been to England many times I am dismayed by the public expression of prejudice there and how the BBC (English Broadcasting Corporation) always portrays Scotland and the Scots in a bad light.

Many English MP's resent Scottish MP's being at Westminster and would grant our independence, but not before the North Sea runs dry and is no longer financially viable. Many English MP's resent Scots being in positions of power, i.e. prime minister, Chancellor of the Exchequer, etc. Perhaps these lofty positions are reserved only for those of English descent? Aren't those colonists of North America fortunate to have gained their independence and that George III was no doubt insane from tertiary syphillis at the time?

Scotland cannot become independent now as there is no viable industry to sustain the economy. Westminster closed the shipyards, even those that had experience of building the Type 42 frigate - this order went to an English yard which had no experience and the order is now almost 3 years behind schedule. I could cite many more such examples.

In some ways the Scots and English are like the Americans and Canadians - similar yet can't stand each other. However, there is no way Scotland can go alone. The Act of Union in 1707 may have been illegal, as the Scot's signatories were all bought, but the dirty deed was done and much water has passed under the bridge. Like it or not we must remain in union, perhaps for the first time in 300 years there will be some agreement between our two nations.

Answer 2

The problem with Braveheart is the problem which afflicts Scotland. There is as much historical truth in that film as there is in the idea that we would somehow be better off if we were independent. If Scotland, the people of Scptland, really wanted independence then the Scottish National Party would have been voted into power long ago. It hasn't happened. Braveheart was a tremendous entertainment but very inaccurate as a piece of history. And yes, we are better off together.

Answer 3

as to being a long time ago does it make it any better, as i have often heard of canada referred to as north america so why are they still different countries ?

anyway in answer to your question, a lot of scots want a return to how it was before the english invaded over 300 years ago and took them over, where they stamped there rule by taking the young into english run schools, and teaching them only english, which means within 20-30 years the use of scottish gaeilic was not even understood by thier own children, which is the rule of all conquerors takre away thier language, education , cultural identity, and imprint their own on the country instead, like the english empire also did with countries around the world, except the only reason it worked so well with scots was because the 2 countries were joined by land instead of water, and as to the economics of independence now, the english would accept it as they have taken most of the natural gas outr of the north sea and experts reckon within 50 years it will be drained..

Answer 4

its one thing to join a union - another to be forced into one.
the english have stolen from the scots and looked down their noses at the scots, irish and welsh for centuries, its only when countires like america and india kicked their sorry bullying a55es that they realised that theyre not above anyone, the echo of their trouble making is still heard in northern ireland, years after they got whooped out of 3/4s of the country by a force a fraction of their size. most of the english people are ruled in their very class based society by a small group of people ( born into wealth stolen from foreign countries )who consider themselves elite. effectively scotlands natural wealth and taxes are going to the (undeserving) upper class living it up in southern england (using scotish wealth to keep themselve in the good books with the average english person). expect to see it happening one day soon. think it was 2002 when a vote for a scotish independent parliament failed by - - - - - 1 - - - - - ministers vote.

Answer 5

from Braveheart to Rab C Nesbit! What went wrong? I think it's more a case of Scots wanting independence from Tony Blair! Bloody hell we all want independence from that jerk.

Answer 6

For start if my parents country can do it in Jamaica why can't Scotland do it. I might be born in England but I don't class self as English. I am Black British Caribbean. English people are very racist people. They think there pure race.

Answer 7

uk= uk.. the snp at the instant are not offering the wreck up of the dominion, in basic terms the political device. so the united kingdom might proceed to be whether it wont have any political overtones. whether all this might could be formalised in the example of an independence vote.

Answer 8

We want Independence because we wish to run our own country and not be led into stupid wars like Iraq by Tony Blair and his crony George Bush

Answer 9

From what I understand the scots feel that all their tax money goes to england and they get nothing in return.

Answer 10

why do the Irish want independence from the U.K. ? because they are not English. look around, everyone wants independence. remember INDIA ? the AMERICAN colonies ? HELLO! do You think the U.K. would want independence if it were a colony of SCOTLAND ? why ? there, You just answered Your own question.