Status of Scotland

[u/Esteban83550]

What should be the status of Scotland?

394 votes, 3d ago

200 Independent

101 Autonomous

93 In the UK (no change)

[u/AnyPlayer23]

Should be another option that'd be something along the lines of "putting it into a democratic vote in Scotland"
As long as they can decide and be happy, but IIRC, the polling is always quite close between the options in Scotland

[u/_Ilobilo_ → u/AnyPlayer23]

there already was a referendum just a decade ago. you can guess what they chose

[u/AnyPlayer23 → u/_Ilobilo_]

Yeah, I know that in 2014 there was a referendum
But personally, I wouldn't see an issue with another vote if the population feels that the current political situation has changed with Brexit and whatnot

That's just how I see it

[u/_Ilobilo_ → u/AnyPlayer23]

brexit is the reason why a referendum shouldn't be held right now. everyone's angry at what happened and would make an irrational choice, because they've been told that scotland would magically survive, thrive and be able to join the EU alone. even if that were the case, there's no reason to assume that uk wouldn't rejoin before it.

[u/AnyPlayer23 → u/_Ilobilo_]

I agree with you that a lot of sentiment in the air could be irrational and even that Scotland would be better off staying with UK
Generally I tend to believe that unification and working together under a democratic system is the best option

However democracy is not always “rational”, but I think it should be respected in case they want independence

[u/NebNay → u/_Ilobilo_]

It was pretty close, and when brexit happened they voted to stay. One can only assume ressentment over brexit would weight a lot in a new referendum

[u/JelIosaurus]

Isn't Scotland already autonomous?

[u/A_Nerd__ → u/JelIosaurus]

Not really. They have their own government, but it's devolved and the UK Parliament could abolish it. There's no legal guarantee of Scottish autonomy within the United Kingdom. As far as I know, at least, I'm not acquainted with British law, nor am I British.

[u/Crouteauxpommes → u/A_Nerd__]

So autonomous would be like if the UK transitioned to a federal state? With a shared parliament and a devolved parliament for each constituent nation.

[u/A_Nerd__ → u/Crouteauxpommes]

Not necessarily. For example, Spain is, de jure, a unitary state. Despite this, some regions have constitutionally-assured autonomy. To be fair, subdivisions having inalienable rights is basically the textbook definition of federalism, however, with Spain this is a case-by-case basis, because not every region has the same degree of autonomy. It's actually similar to the UK, because while Scottland, Wales, and Northern Ireland have their own governments, England doesn't. Federalism is also different from a devolved government because in federalism, a subdivision's rights are enshrined in the constitution, rather than given by the national government.

To be fair, you could probably consider Scotland autonomous to some degree, but it's not the type of autonomy most people think of.

[u/Strong-Search-2301 → u/A_Nerd__]

some regions have constitutionally-assured autonomy

Every region does. Spain is de facto a federation

[u/A_Nerd__ → u/Strong-Search-2301]

Yeah, got that wrong, forgot to go back and change it.

[u/cAtloVeR9998]

That is for the people of Scotland to decide, however polling puts this to around 50:50, and so there isn't a decisive pro-Independence sentiment. The SNP need to prove that they can actually govern things well within their existing remit, which I am personally sceptical of their record. It would be a pretty difficult split to achieve, essentially an extra-hard Brexit within Great Britain. The vast majority of Scottish trade is with the rest of the UK, so to not completely destroy supply chains one would need a pretty extensive customs union to keep businesses running. And their path into the EU would likely take quite a few years to achieve. And it would be difficult to then be forced to restrict trade with your 60% trading partner for your 18% trading partner, so another Brexit hit. And the Scottish economy isn't doing stellar in the first place to be honest. If however the UK were to rejoin, and Scotland would be able to get an exemption to continue membership while in the bloc, it would make less of a fiscal impact.

Just my two cents as someone who's not Scottish but did my Bachelor's in Scotland.

[u/BigManScaramouche → u/cAtloVeR9998]

That is for the people of Scotland to decide

Exactly. Personally, I love Scottish people and wish them all the best. Our countries have a lot in common and I felt just at home when I visited Scotland. Whatever they choose to do, it should be in their best interest in mind, nothing else.

[u/ZapruderFilmBuff]

Whatever the Scots want.

[u/Kinexity]

Unfortunately Scottish independence is on of those issue that look nice on paper but are actually pushed by Russian bot farms as a means of dividing the west further.

[u/Fate_Weaver → u/Kinexity]

Also very important to mention that Scotland is home to the UK's main base capable of servicing it's nuclear submarine fleet, which is exactly why Russia keeps trying to push for Scottish independence.

[u/Kinexity → u/Fate_Weaver]

Now I am pissed even more that I got tricked into supporting it at some point. Russian scum really know how to use our own values against us.

[u/nicman24]

In the EU 

[u/generalisofficial]

Independent from UK, but part of Federal Europe

[u/Kikelt]

4th: EU federal state.

[u/Esteban83550 → u/Kikelt]

of course

[u/maps-and-potatoes]

Why should I vote if I am not Scottish?

Also, the "no change" is autonomous. Autonomy can be many things

[u/GumSL]

Ask the Scots. It's not my decision.