Is there any chance Scotland could become independent and take part of England?

Question

The North East was once owned by Scotland, if they became independent is there any chance they could take us with them? http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-16235349 read this article and you'll see where I'm coming from. The south of England is and has been a priority since the beginning, probably because this is where the capital is. Do you think its fair that £2700 is spent per head on transport in London compared to £5 per head in the North East. We pay just as much tax yet every benefit seems to be skewed southwards. When Wimbledon was held the teenagers from the 4 surrounding countys were asked if they would like to be a part of it. There were plenty of kids from the rest of the country who were willing to travel down just to be part of something major. Its stupid, plus university is free in Scotland and the people are a lot nicer. Is there any chance?

Answer 1

@ Kandy- you've picked the one year out of the last, what? 8? where Scotland budget was slight under compared to all the others to prove a point???? All it shows is the impact of the unjustified cuts on Scotland lets look at GERS from the surrounding years



The 4 years leading up to the year you provided:



"The cumulative value of Scotland's current budget surplus over the four year period from 2005-06 to 2008-09 now stands at some £3.5 billion. Over this same period, the UK built up a deficit of £72.3 billion."

http://www.scotland.gov.uk/News/Releases/2010/06/23103654



Then the last tax years:



"In 2011-12, Scotland generated 9.9% of UK revenues with 8.4% of the population, while only receiving 9.3% of UK public spending back from the UK government.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-scotland-business-21684684



So just stop with your propaghanda PR spin on 1 years set of figures compared to the overall figures. Your blatantly trying to mislead the questioner with 1 set of figures compared to the 4 I've provided which are all over a continuous 6 year period. Here's a question fro you how can Scotland be subsidised when England can't cover its own spending and Scotland can? didn't you know England had a deficit of 8% GDP, isn't England being subsidised by borrowing? Que the thumbs down for talking sense from the "British patriots" who will defend England's debt to the hilt and talk Scotland's profits down as much as possible as the truth be told Scotland gets less in spending than it raises in taxation.





Now to answer the Question, if Scotland gained independence and say the NorthEast wished to come with Scotland first that region of England would have to have a referendum on leaving rUK and joining an Independent Scotland. Its possible but I'm not sure there is any support for that to take place.

Answer 2

Its been the same for years, this government is very London centric when it comes to infrastructure spending. Its reasons like this the private sector in Scotland is dead and why Scotland should be independent. They are using Scottish resources to fund infrastructure in London while not just Scotland but the rest of the UK is being left behind in terms of infrastructure. More has been spent in London in the last 10 years than has been spent outwith London across the Uk in the last 50. How anybody can justify that is beyond me.



Scotland doesn't even have a proper motorway network, we have a glorified dual carriageway in the M8 and the A9 which isn't even a dual carriage way as the only road linking up the central belt with the North of Scotland. Glasgow Airport, an International airport with no rail or underground link, its scandalous how scotland gets ignored in terms of spending and certainly isn't fair. People always go Scotland will be a 3rd world country if it got Independence, well i've got news for you it will become one if it remains in the UK, even Eastern European countries have better transport infrastructure than Scotland and can soome how do it with lower GDP than Scotland, that alone says it all.

Answer 3

What do you mean by 'the north east was once owned by Scotland'? I think you are confusing this with Bernicia, later the Kingdom of Northumbria, which were Anglo Saxon kingdoms, the rulers of which conquered the Dalriadian Scots and extended the kingdom as far north as the Forth. If you cannot get this fact right, what hope is there for the rest of your question?

Answer 4

From the same article quoted by Kandy:



'Scotland provided 9.4% of total UK revenues and got only 9.2% of UK public spending in return.'



That's from 2010-11, the worst year in the past 10 years. So even then we still managed to subsidise the UK economy. And there are a lot of things not considered in those revenue calculations, such as tourism.

Answer 5

If you think the situation in Scotland is any better, you're sorely mistaken. Most of the islands surrounding Scotland, as well as much of the North of Scotland have repeatedly said they would stay with the United Kingdom as they don't find the Edinburgh government to represent them fairly.

Answer 6

There's over 8 million people who live in London. 1/4 of that lives in North East England. Do you now understand why more is spent on transport in London? It's not that hard to comprehend.



And sure, go ahead and join an independent Scotland. Just don't expect the freebies to continue. We won't be subsidising it anymore.



"The basic facts are that Scotland accounts for 8.4% of the UK population, 8.3% of the UK's total output and 8.3% of the UK's non-oil tax revenues - but 9.2% of total UK public spending.



Scottish Executive figures for 2009-10 show that spending per capita in Scotland was £11,370, versus £10,320 for the UK. In other words, spending in Scotland was £1,030 - or 10% higher - per head of population than the UK average."

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-16477990

Answer 7

I think it is incredibly unfair that university is free in Scotland and charged thousands a year in other UK 'states'. There is absolutely no chance that Scotland would take further land if it became independent. Scots each get £1,600 more state cash a year spent on them than the English.

Answer 8

I'm sure Salmond is drawing up his new map of Scotland going as far south as Berkshire as we speak, with an elaborate story to justify it.



It is highly likely that many of the currently "free" things would disappear in an independent Scotland.