should an independent scotland abolish the monarchy.?
930153
yes. there is no need for one anyway. their just for the old foggies to keep pictures of them on plates.
796808
I am English, and I have lived in both Wales and Scotland in the past.\n\nThere would be substantial problems in achieving independence for England from Scotland, but I think there would be substantial advantages too. For all concerned.\n\nFirstly, from an English point of view if the four countries of the United Kingdom went their separate ways transfers of Westminster funds to subsidise Scotland etc.would cease. And I do not think these subsidies benefit Scotland: on the contrary I think that they lead to dependence on public services. The economic growth of the Republic of Ireland shows how an independent Scotland could prosper through enterprise.\n\nObviously, the electoral arrangements that give Scotland and Wales, but not English regions, democraticly elected assemblies  are grossly unfair. They are made worse by the West Lothian question, ie. Scottish MPs voting on specifically English matters.\n\nYou refer to Latvia and Ireland. More power affecting the UK has been transferred to Europe than the politicans admit, and is largely exercised by  Commissioners of which each country has one and in the Council of Ministers, and its subsidiary mettings of specialist ministers.  This results in countries like Latvia (since you mention Latvia) having preferential treatment compared to areas like South East England of equal or greater size. If Scotland, Wales and perhaps Northern Ireland (that's one of the problems) were independent, we would have four Commissioners or Ministers representing us instead of one. We should have more MEPs too as MEPs are not now elected, as they should be, strictly in proportion to population.\n\nOne reason Westminster fiercely opposes independence for Scotland or England is the vested interest of politicans and civil servants.But to me this is an opportunity. Westminster government has become inefficient and insufficiently democratically responsive. The unprincipled inequalities of democratic arrangements between England and Scotland are just one example of this. Independence between Scotland and England should apart from anything else make us rethink wha government we should really need. And if the Westminster establishment don't want this split I suggest one thing they need to do is reform UK government to be principled, efficient, and genuinely concerned for democracy. I think such reform could improve opportunities for people of talent to rise to the top in politics and the civil service.\n\nFinally, nothing in this response implies any inquality of regard for England  or Scotland generally (as opposed to political cliques from one nation or the other). and I would hope that any split would take place peacefully and in friendship.
1044692
Don't be silly, there are no laws in Scotland.  Scotland, as everyone knows, is a hellish wasteland ruled by vicious gangs of barbarians, who ride from place to place on motorcycles seeking the precious "juice", the gasoline which will keep them going for another day.\n\nOr maybe I'm thinking of Mad Max...
296335
Technically, Britain is a constitutional monarchy... and the fact that the police and army and MPs etc have to swear allegiance to her is outrageous (the Queen is also head of the Church of England, of course, and Britain is now a secular multi-cultural country, and proud of it). Laws cannot be passed in this country without the Queen's signature. And as a previous messager said, they are anyway greedy parasites who have the IQ of an amoeba between them because they are all inbred. What right do they and the rest of the so-called aristocracy have to their wealth? Did they earn it by honest toil? Or did they steal it at the point of a sword? Let's be done with them all. Stuff them all and put them in Madame Tussauds. The wasters.
971133
This solely depends on your own hopes and aspirations,vote snp and take power in Scotland from the labour mafia and watch them shake.Labour know they cant hold the uk without the scots .The negotiations would be intersting,more control over budgets ,perhaps an oil tariff solely for Scotland .Who knows perhaps they might listen to the people and not their own dogma,perhaps it may make them realise that power is in the hands of the electorate and not the labour machine,the tories are an irrelevance in scotland ,if Independance looms watch the tories play the ORANGEcard.
418824
Along with Wales, England and Northern Ireland it is part of the United Kingdom and so it's not an independent country.\n\nA few years ago the people of Wales and Scotland were asked to vote for 'devolution' and in both cases the countries voted for this.  As a result both Wales and Scotland have their own Parliaments although they are restricted in what they can do.  Most major decisions are still made by the UK Parliamant in London.\n\nFor example, only the UK Parliamant can make decisions relating to defence and national security but the Scottish Parliemnt have introduced free higher education in Scotland and one of their most recent decisions enables Scots to receive free eye tests.\n\nMany years ago Scotland was an independent country and to this day there are many Scots who would like this to be the case.  Not least because much of the UK's wealth comes from oil and gas fields found off the coast of Scotland and over the years assests totalling trillions of dollars have left Scotland and gone to the UK as a whole.\n\nThere was fierce fighting between England and Scotland and some of the darkest moments in Scotland's history result from this - the Glencoe Massacre (1692) and the Battle of Culloden (1746) for example.
747433
I think that Scotland and Wales both have their own identity and language and there are probably separatist movements.  Northern Ireland should be returned to Ireland IMHO.
1088200
Half the bloody Government is Scottish. The bloody Scots have England in their mean grasp.
578227
Ok, to start off, I will correct your poor spelling - the correct title is Prime Minister.\n\nAnd the answer to your question - Scotland does not have its own Prime Minister - Tony Blair is the Prime Minister for the whole of the UK.
382940
Yes give to the Arcadian kicked out by the Britt's, thank god for king Louie of France.\nTo answer your question yes they should but its impossible to do that because Government would have to comp all of us
890323
As I live in England I would like to see this happen ,we English are being denied an identity because we have to call ourselves British.The Scots want to go it alone anyway so as most Scots seem to want to break the union and now more and more English do then I think it's a good idea.However I am talking from an English point of view ,wether the people in Wales and NI want the same I don't know ,But I will only vote for it if we are truly liberated from the other 3 nations and not left to look after N I or Wales .If they stay in the union then we all stay in the union .
956878
This is definitely one of those areas where the government should keep it's fat nose out of peoples business... How would let's say, Protestants like it if their religion was outlawed, just because they couldn't get 50% of the votes to keep it legal?.. Our religion, what we put into our bodies and a lot of other areas of our lives are none of anyone's business.
707623
I think it would be good to split the union especially now since its the 300th anniversary in 2007. I dont want to start arguments about countries which would survive outside of it or which countries support others. It is a myth that England supports the neighbouring countries though. Sure; Scotland for example is given a hefty supplemet every year to look after itself but only from money the UK (NOT England - contrary to popular belief) has earned ie from oil (which is actually Scottish anyway)and tourism - which all nations in the kingdom earn. Please dont continue flaming or anything. I havent said anything to insult anyone and everything I have said is fact. btw Robespierre made the classic fault assuming Wales and Scotland were in England. They are not and never have been, I strongly suggest you don't say that when you are in one of those smaller UK nations. You may be risking your health ;)
86548
Thats a tough question. I think I would like to live in Scotland... out in the country in a castle. Yep sounds wonderful.
581909
I think it is stupid for any country to eliminate their standing military forces. There will always be some country out there wanting what some other country has. England of all countries should know that, with the number of wars they have been direct participants in (as either attacker or attackee).
761493
Well, yes, obviously it was insulting. However, it was also fear, in that the current Government really do feel that the SNP are increasing their vote, why attach them so viciously if this is not the case.\n\nYou want to insult tham back, vote SNP, big time, all over Scotland, then vote again for a separate Parliment, without heed to the English.\n\nNow that will really piss them off.
989343
Yesterday's newspaper reported that it currently costs the British people $70 million dollars a year to maintain the Monarchy.\n\nConsidering the fact that the Monarchy plays no role in running the British Government, and makes no decisions or policy whatsoever, I think it's high time the British people dissolve the Monarchy and spend their money on ANYTHING better.\n\nPerhaps they should spend the money on paving the grass at Wimbledon with asphalt so they can finally have a more meaningful tennis tournament on hard-court that fairly decides the best player.