Do you think Scotland will secede?

[Odin]

Being an american I havent gotten much information on this issue in our news, I do listen to the BBC news in the morning on NPR but it hasnt spent much time on it.

I did take a moment to read a few articles but I dont see how this would be advantagous to Scotland save for becoming independant. Hows it playing in Europe? I guess the better question is what are the advantages other then nationalism?

Im not being sarcastic here, I have been to the UK once and wont profess to know the cultural nuances between scotland and england, just curious as to whats really at stake here.

[Meneldil]

I guess the better question is what are the advantages other then nationalism?

Nationalism is an end by itself. It overcomes any rational thinking.
If these people think they are a nation, and as such, are entitled to have their own independant country, they'll likely not give a crap about the pro and the con of it.

[Odin]

Nationalism is an end by itself. It overcomes any rational thinking.
If these people think they are a nation, and as such, are entitled to have their own independant country, they'll likely not give a crap about the pro and the con of it.

That sounds about right to me, still I was hoping that someone could give a link or a list of what Scotland has to gain by this move, outside of nationalist intrests.

[KukriKhan]

1. Are the separatists monarchists or Republicans? If they successfully secede, will they elect or select a new King or Queen from among themselves, or elsewhere?

2. Will they seek UN recognition?

3. Will their citizen-soldiers have to quit their current units, and re-form new ones? Will the UK military bases, equipment & units currently stationed in Scotland be expelled?

4. Will they seek EU recognition? NATO?

5. Will they join the Commonwealth?

[Vladimir]

What will happen to the UK flag?

[InsaneApache]

1. Are the separatists monarchists or Republicans? If they successfully secede, will they elect or select a new King or Queen from among themselves, or elsewhere?

2. Will they seek UN recognition?

3. Will their citizen-soldiers have to quit their current units, and re-form new ones? Will the UK military bases, equipment & units currently stationed in Scotland be expelled?

4. Will they seek EU recognition? NATO?

5. Will they join the Commonwealth?

Interesting questions Kukri.

1. I have no idea. I just found this. http://www.snp.org/independence/ques...d%20of%20state

So no change there then.

2. Probably.

3. Yup. The SNP has already started making noises about the 'English' navys base at Faslane. It is going to be a messy divorce, if it transpires.

4. Ahh...now this is very interesting. Not only will the Scots have to (re)apply to become a member of the EU, but also England, Wales and Norn Iron will have to as well. The reason is that at the present it is the UK who currently enjoys (groan) membership. No more UK, no more membership.

I would imagine that the way the treaties are worked that this would be the case for NATO as well.

5. They probably will apply to join the Commonwealth. After all they created most of it.

What will happen to the UK flag?

No Union, no flag.

[Kralizec]

4. Ahh...now this is very interesting. Not only will the Scots have to (re)apply to become a member of the EU, but also England, Wales and Norn Iron will have to as well. The reason is that at the present it is the UK who currently enjoys (groan) membership. No more UK, no more membership.

I would imagine that the way the treaties are worked that this would be the case for NATO as well.

Not necessarily. England, with or without Wales & NI would probably be considered the successor state of the UK, just like Russia is considered to be the successor state of the Soviet Union so that treaties with the SU still applied after the breakup.

Scotland would have to rejoin, though. Then the English can veto their application

[InsaneApache]

Not necessarily. England, with or without Wales & NI would probably be considered the successor state of the UK, just like Russia is considered to be the successor state of the Soviet Union so that treaties with the SU still applied after the breakup.

Scotland would have to rejoin, though. Then the English can veto their application

Why can't Scotland be the suceesor state? After all it is a Union of equals. You see, problems are already arising. I would be mildly amused if the Scots were to have to apply to join the EU and not England.

A bit more digging fetched this up...

Article 34 of the 1978 Convention on Succession of States in respect of Treaties says:

"Any treaty in force at the date of succession of states [i.e. Independence] in respect of the entire territory of the predecessor state continues in force in respect of each successor state so formed."

An example worth noting is that of Greenland. When Greenland gained more autonomy from Denmark in 1979, it had to negotiate to be allowed out of the EU.

The 1992 Maastricht Treaty has already conferred on Scots the status of European citizens and the EU will have no more reason to reject an independent Scotland than to reject the independent remainder of the UK.

For the past two decades the overwhelming weight of legal and political opinion has stated that an independent Scotland would inherit EU member ship on exactly the same terms as the rest of the UK. The SNP has consulted widely throughout the EU and we are confident that an independent Scotland would not only remain in the EU as a full member, but would be welcome as such.

Emile Noêl, former Secretary General of the European Commission, has said:

"Scottish Independence would create two new member states out of one. They would have equal status with each other and the other 11 states. The remainder of the United Kingdom would not be in a more powerful position than Scotland."

[Husar]

I agree with Adrian, I'm already starting to laugh in anticipation.

[Ronin]

ohhh....this could be great fun

go on...go on....I´ll be watching...