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David Moir / Reuters
A teacher and schoolgirl run in front of a sign indicating the date of Scotland's independence referendum outside the Scottish Parliament in Edinburgh on Thursday.
Scotland will hold an independence referendum on Sept. 18, 2014, its First Minister Alex Salmond said Thursday — a vote that could see it split from the rest of Britain.
The announcement of the date was the latest step in the process toward possible independence for the nation’s 5 million citizens.
Voters will be asked a single question: "Should Scotland be an independent country?"
Scotland has a government, in Edinburgh, but remains under the ultimate authority of the United Kingdom. It elects lawmakers to both its own parliament, which handles most day-to-day matters, and the House of Commons in London, which controls defense, immigration and UK-wide taxation.
David Moir / Reuters
First Minister Alex Salmond answers questions at the Scottish Parliament in Edinburgh, Scotland, on Thursday.
Salmond's pro-independence Scottish National Party, or SNP, won a majority in the Scottish Parliament in May 2011 elections, providing what he called a "once-in-a-generation" chance for Edinburgh to break ties with London.
His deputy, Nicola Sturgeon, said the event would be a "momentous day for Scotland."
But the SNP faces an uphill battle to win the referendum, Reuters reported, with opinion polls putting support for independence at about 30 percent of the electorate in Scotland, while about 50 percent favor the status quo.
Announcing the date as he unveiled the Scottish Independence Referendum Bill in the Scottish Parliament, Salmond said: “I believe it will be the day we take responsibility for our country, when we are able to speak with our own voice, choose our own direction and contribute in our distinct way,” the BBC reported.
The vote is slightly earlier than had been expected and will take place slightly before the Ryder Cup golf tournament is staged at Gleneagles —one of the events that people had assumed would be used to build up a feel-good factor in the run-up to the plebiscite, The Scotsman newspaper reported.
However, The Herald newspaper noted that having the vote earlier allowed independence supporters “to hope for a feelgood bounce” from Glasgow’s Commonwealth Games, which take place in July and August, as well as from the build-up to the Ryder Cup.
The SNP complains that the British Parliament, where members representing Scotland are a small minority because England has a much bigger population of 53 million, does not have the particular interests of the Scottish people at heart.
Reuters summarized the independence debate, shortened to 'indyref' on social media:
The SNP argues that North Sea Oil revenues combined with the local farming, fishing and whisky industries would enable an independent Scotland to prosper.
But other parties in Edinburgh and the London government say both Scotland and the rest of the United Kingdom would lose out.
Critics of the SNP say oil reserves are dwindling and Scotland would lose the disproportionately generous share of taxpayer money raised across Britain that it currently receives.
Scottish secession would pose serious challenges to the remainder of the United Kingdom, such as what to do about its Trident nuclear submarine fleet which is based in Scotland.
Reuters contributed to this report.
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Freeeeeeedooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooom~! - William Wallace
Time to return Northern Ireland as well.
.
Give me liberty...or give me death
God saves the Queen!!
Now the Queen really needs this GOD, now more than ever!
That's like saying we should return Alaska
No...
Northern Island was conquered against the will of Ireland - it's unfair & illegal.
Alaska was sold to us willingly by the Russians (for money) - it's a fair transaction.
Do you actually read what you write? Northern Ireland (not, "Northern Island"), was created as a Protestant refuge from the majority Catholic Irish. Alaska, and the people who lived there, was sold by the Imperial Russian Czar thousands of miles away in St Petersburg, to a new foreign power not so far away. Yet, Northern Ireland is "unfair & illegal", while the sale of Alaska is "fair".
typo...sorry
Are you really comparing the sale of Alaska to the conquering of Ireland? England invaded Ireland hundreds of years ago, and The Republic of Ireland has only existed since 1949. If the people in the north had it their way, they'd still control the whole island. "Refuge", my azz. How about doing some research before saying something so dumb.
Kenny - you took the word right out of my mouth! Kudos!
Hawai'i would have been the better example. We overthrew the local government, installed our own, then annexed it.
Would be happy to give Hawaii back and let them form their own country.
It is a land that pretty much dislikes Whites anyway so good riddance. Maybe the Hawaiians can run thier new country better, but I doubt it. But let them try.
Puerto Rico establish their own nation as well.
Dennis, so is Texas. The only reason Jim Bowie and the rest fought was to keep slavery which Mexico had outlawed.
You should give America back to the Cherokee, white devils. Also, France is technically Germanic, and China is really five different countries. Arizona belongs to Mexico, which belongs to the Maya. And the Portuguese need OUT of Brazil right now.
Every nation was formerly someone else's nation. Grow up.
I don't know enough about modern day politics and apparently Pigs don't either, where do Pigs go to school miss piggies school for swine. I trust that the people that vote on the issue will look at both the advantages and disadvantages of the outcome and will vote approperatly, I leave it in the hands of those effected most, the UK would be better of if Scotland stayed, and I think Scotland would be Better of doing what they think is best. they cant lose either way because England has been f'n up for the past half Century to many liberals calling the shots and killing the country. a couple decades ago the sun never set on the English empire, now it depends on weather or not there is a cloud cover over London.
Pigotry, were the Russians invaded and colonized Alaska. It was no more theirs to sell than Northern Ireland is to keep or return.
@jayare2020
If I recall my history correctly, most of the Protestants in Ireland were motivated to resettle there by the English government in an effort to intentionally dilute the native population.
It is highly unlikely that they would face persecution as citizens of a unified, modern Ireland. Regardless, it is the wish of the majority of Northern Ireland residents to remain part of the UK. That remains the deciding factor, like it or not.
ACTUALLY The Scottish King inherited the throne of England. In other words England is part of Scotland. The Russian conquered and colonized Alaska. The US won independence from England. We bought the Louisiana from the French. Texas won their independence from Mexico. Which won their independence from Spain. Who conquered the Aztec. The Aztec conquered other natives and skinned them. When they needed more bodies they went to war again.
Just make sure my 18 Year Old Glenfiddich Scotch Ancient Reserve is available whatever you do.
I'll raise me glass and have a wee dram of scotch and drink to the clan Campbell.
Independent-384094
Would be happy to give Hawaii back and let them form their own country.
It is a land that pretty much dislikes Whites anyway so good riddance. Maybe the Hawaiians can run thier new country better, but I doubt it. But let them try.
My God man! As one of those "Whites", who fled the USA for the freedom and social, political and economic equality of Hawaii, I can only hope that you keep your ignorant haole self wherever you currently are located! lol
"Every nation was formerly someone else's nation. Grow up." True, and virtually every nation has a history of killing, raping and conquering land.
I once had a beet with a Native American. I asked what is like to be Cherokee. He says “don't know, go ask one”. It was near a Cherokee reservation in NC. I apologized and said I thought he grew up there. He says I did by I’m no Cherokee. I was confused and it showed. So he tells me the Cherokee were a tribe that grew by conquest. They were driven out of the great lakes region by another tribe and ended up in the mountains of North Carolina. Over the next few hundred years they waged war on other Indian villages and expanded the tribe to cover most of the Carolinas, a good part of Tennessee and Georgia and went as far west and Alabama. The man I was talking too was not Cherokee, he was a Cherokee tribe member but was descended form a group called the Catawba. Seeing that there is a Catawba tribe in the center of the state I asked why he did not go there. “Because our ancestors are from here” was his answer. See he was part of the tribe but he maintained his link to the past and he still considered the land to be conquered, first by the Cherokee and then by the white man. What surprised me was how passionate he was about it. Of course I had to point out that we were a long way from the Catawba river and valley so how had his tribe gotten up to the mountains. His answer was “we took it form a lessor tribe.” He did not see the irony.
Point being I think every patch of dirt on the planet has some past claim to it. If we tried to resettle everyone we would be moving for centuries and likely never find our place of origin.
Why not all of Ireland? Chicago Southside Irish.
Zero problem giving Texas back!
I say we let Texas leave the union and take their 38 republican electoral votes with them.
Phil-673730, we paid for Alaska, fair and square. Now don't ask where the receipt is, that might be a problem.
Without Texas, how would California pay its bills? You may not like the truth, but its there for all to see. Texas is a net contributor and is one of maybe three states that can be self sufficient.
Then you sure don't need us...have a nice day.
Actually, both TX and CA are net contributors. But I stand on the side that says we should not tear apart the greatest nation on Earth. I stand with those who believe in Lincoln and what he fought for.
Dennis....."greatest nation on Earth"? Give me a break. I understand your patriotism but let's not get silly. The way each nation is
trippingstumbling along, not one of them is great at much these days.Back to the original topic at hand....it'll be interesting to see what the people of Scotland vote for. I have family there and am curious as to how they feel about this potential move. It all seems scary and exciting all at once. A year and a half will go by quickly for them!
how did this morphed into what the usa should do? the article is about what Scotland wants to do, leave the usa out of it.
Ok, well Greatest in the sense that we have the most powerful military in the world, and very high aspirations. How's that?
We are the most powerful and we are a democracy. We COULD be the greatest nation on Earth, but we seem to be almost afraid to become what we could be. And at the same time, we are letting internal politics weaken us, and drag us down. We are no longer number one in much of anything, anymore, to be sure. But I still hold out hope that one day, we will shine brightly again.
Ditch the Queen!
political ditch hunt?
But seriously, if only for a moment, if Scotland divorces the rest of the UK, who gets custody of Balmoral, the Queen's summer digs up north?
Other complications include the UK military installations, as well as whether Scots living outside Scotland (ie, in England) get to vote on this. My understanding is that only Scots living in Scotland will get to vote, which might make some a little grumpy.
Well England would have to pay or trade something to keep their Military Installations in Scotland... The Queen's diggs up North, she could keep, she would just have to pay whatever revenue Scotland decided upon... Looks like to me Balmoral would be Scotland's...
My Bloodline is more Irish then Scottish, but all the Luck in the World to Scotland in their Endeavors!
England would have to pay for its military to stay in Scotland unless Scotland and England continue to be united as a military nation together. There is also a chance Scotland might allow England to have armies based there but both options are unlikely. Scotland wont have much of an army as most if not all of it is under the UK/England. Scots outside Scotland will not be able to vote as they are not in Scotland, they have to live in scotland to vote. As a Brit/English, i can't vote to say if Scotland should or should not stay with us as its not us thats breaking away
Obviously - it's up to the Scottish people to vote the way they feel. But interestingly they have better Healthcare and better school system than England. And even though the Republic of Ireland is " Independant " they still have freedom of travel anywhere in the UK. So I believe even if the Jocks decide on Independance I don't think much will change. And as far as a United Ireland is concerned, it's the Catholic Church that keeps them apart, why would non-Catholics want to be ruled by the Pope's doctrine.
A euro,
For a Brit, you sure do not know much about part of the UK.
The Catholic Church does not keep Ulster (except for Donegal) and Eire apart. How silly. N. Ireland with its Scots-Irish/Protestant majority, keeps the two entities from joining.
The Catholic Church does not rule the Republic in any way, shape nor fashion now. Why would the Church rule a united Ireland?
Absolute nonsense.
A euro. The healthcare system is currently part of the overall British system. When, and if, they break away into independence how is going to be funded? That also applies to pensions and welfare. How, and who, are going to fund it? As for the military, in particular the Royal Navy, I am sure there are plenty of English ports that would welcome the income they would bring in.
I am Scottish, and English, via my parents, I think that Scotland being independant is a huge mistake. I can't see how they could be self sufficient!
The royal family is both English and Scottish so they can keep their digs up north, hell the royal family might just go with the Scot's and divorce England too. give Buckingham to Fergei or someone related, better yet after the split England can unite with Scotland an default on all English Debt, then Ireland can join the new Scotland and dissolve their debt, sell their interest in the Euro say screw off to the EU and become a prosperous capitalist democracy again, be simple after cleaning the slate and dumping all the blood sucking money hungry dead weight socialist that are nothing but a drain on Europe, if you want to save the bath water you need to leave the plug in the drain. don't say its not so! England is looking very hard at leaving the EU before the whole thing sinks. the only question is what are they going to do with all the Muslims that moved their to colonise the Isles. now the English get to play the part of the Indian, and England can be the frontier. do you think they will have a revolution in the future sort of a Islamic Spring that will change Europe? the final Crusade so to speak. stay tuned for the answers as soon as the Red Head with the Pet Pig fabricate the rest of the story. in their version the left leaning liberals will charge in and rescue everyone on every side and its happy times and sunshine for everyone.
short version= I don't know.
Alba gu bràth
"Jessica Alba go braless!" Aye, now there's a slogan we can all rally around!
What about Northern Ireland?
What about Northern Ireland? England took it in battle centuries ago, the people there want to remain part of England.
no they really do not
On Northern Ireland. Under the treaty which established Ireland as an independant nation each county voted on whether to be part of the Irish Free State or stay part of the United Kingdom. What became known as Northern Ireland were those counties that chose to stay in the UK. Though the demographics may change in the future, at this time a majority of N. Irelanders still wish to be part of the UK. As to the prostestants in Ulster, most of them, including some of my ancestors, though I have catholic Irish in the family as well (Flaherty), came to Ulster as 1: the Norman English invasion of HenryI (my ancestors the Savages) or 2) later "plantations" of English and Scots (my Higginsons and Givens, Moore is supposedly Scots-Irish). Its best to read up on Irish histoy before commenting. As I said I have both sides in the question.
DG Moore - I think you also need to brush up on Ireland's history before posting. It was the English king Henry II (1154-1189) who first invaded the island, not Henry I. And the invaders were not Protestants back then, as there was no such thing in the 12th century. Every Christian in western Europe was a Catholic beholden to the pope in Rome. Ulster didn't become mostly Protestant until after Henry VIII in the 16th century.
The SNP has about the same % of support for independence as the PQ has in Quebec...not enough to separate. While the question asked by the SNP is very direct in comparison to the convoluted question asked in two non-successful referendums in Quebec, I think the end result will be the same: status quo.
Sons of Scotland.... Vote YES. Many men died to free Scotland..now you have a chance to vote without blood shed... If this vote fails... I will be embarrassed to be a Scot
Look like you are a Marine to me not a Scott. Seems you left them a long time ago.
Scots are a little like Marines, Once a Marine...
Semper Fi
Alba gu bràth
@Joeyfa....
I AM A SCOT.... My Family came over form Scotland to Nova Scotia (NEW SCOTLAND - Canada) and then down through to Maine..
I have the heritage of Warriors in my blood... If not for the Scot-Irish folks during the revolutionary war, you would still be British... So I would suggest you thank every Scot-Irish person you see and remember its a KILT and KILTS have been around much longer then pants..
CLAN Keith and MacIntyre.... I AM A SON OF SCOTLAND
If they want independence, they should have it. In the past, they would simply be re-conquered. In this modern age, I don't think that will happen.
I can more than understand the sentimental reasons behind many Scots wishing for independence, but it's probably not the best idea from an economic or military standpoint.
Vote yes: So long as they understand they will have to support all their unemployed & sick, defend themselves, (from land, sea & air), support build & maintain their own infrastructure, pay all their crooked politicians. etc.etc. and come back to England for Nothing,
They will of course play the "Scottish oil" card which is a jock (sorry) joke in its own right.
No they should be gone from their English benefactors who have provided for them for centuries.
There will always be an England as the song sez.." As long as Scotland`s there to defend it" The Sun never sets on the English Empire!! As was once said...........Reason God didn't trust them in the dark. HeHe!!
the sub base is a good sourse of income for a free scotland......you charge them rent.....the USA pays all the counties rent for using there land..
Paying Cuba 4,000 dollars a year for GTMO is not a good source of income for them...
Well, at least we know what the Scots have up their kilts politically... I'm a Scot, though not a Highlander--(my ancestors come from the Orkney Islands), and am curious where this will ultimately end up.
quovadisusa,
My ancestor was the 'Lil' Lt. General (Sir) Frederick William Traill-Burroughs, of the 93rd Highlanders'... He owned a large Estate Island of Rousay, Kirkwall, Orkney... To get the Estate he had to also take the last name of his Grand Uncle, Sir William Traill, of Castle Bagshaw, Cavan...
My ties reach to Macdonald of Clanranald, albeit through the Irish/German side of my family. A part of me thinks they should vote for freedom, but another part thinks they should postpone a few years and be sure they have a plan for restructuring to be able to support themselves....though, the US here is attempting to support themselves and the plans to do so have been years in the debating....
Happy I'm able to sit this one out and watch.
Let the Scots vote for their independence or not. But let their whisky flow forever.
when Canada sets date to vote on independence from UK and Queen?
When Canada sets date to vote on independence from UK and Queen?
When Canada sets date to vote on independence from UK and Queen?
YES!!! VOTE YES !!!. I pray that the Scot's value their independence over material things. I am a direct descendent to the Throne of Scotland through Robert the Bruce. ( I am sure that this many years later there are many others who can also claim that heritage and some that geneaology). My family was Killed or captured and imprisoned and /or banished from Scotland for supporting James VII at the Battle of Boyne Water in 1690. According to history, when my ancestral grandmother arrived in the American Colonies she was hailed by the Scot's here as the True Heir to the Throne and they vowed to reinstate her to the throne when they could secure Scotland's Independence from England. Now in the 21st century, I find this proposition exciting that Scotland can vote for it's independence from England. I am not naive enough to think that I could ever gain the crown, but for Scotland to finally have it's independence is awesome. Vote YES !!!
Fantastic genealogy! Good luck to you!
So what? I'm a descendant of God......
cs what a great post! I too love genealogy and I wish you luck; my husbands family is from Scotland as well and still have family living there.
My ancestors arrived with William the Conqueror in 1066 they were German mercenaries from the Black Forest region.
There is a Village in England; Essex, that has my family name (& is the only all wood church in England).
I am now an American citizen and very proud of that fact
Hi everyone, my name is Land Rover Skywalker and I am a direct descendent of Luke Skywalker and Princes Leah.
but in all seriousness, I want my fellow scots to get their country back!
I am sorry to have to be the one to tell you this Mr. Skywalker...but you are a direct descendant of a union between a fictional brother and sister!
Hopefully it will be a fair vote... with only ethnic Scottish participation...unlike the vote in Quebec..where English speaking settlers were allowed to tip the vote against independence!!! Scotland...with North Sea oil revenues... would be the Kuwait of Northern Europe...let's hope the Scottish people seize this opportunity for themselves..and their ancestors... who fought so hard to keep Scotland FREE!!! Let England continue to drown in the sea of home grown Muslim terrorists and "Commonwealth" freeloaders that make up a large part of English society today!!!
NO FREE TRADE WITHOUT FULL EMPLOYMENT!!!
English speaking settlers? Whoa...I am half Scottish and half Québécois...so should I have refrained from the referendum? English speaking settlers (as you refer to them) were mainly Scottish settlers who emigrated to Quebec in the mid 17th Century and transformed Montreal and Quebec City to prosperous cities through the fur trade. Streets still bear the names of those men: McTavish, McGill, McGregor, Drummond, etc., etc. Even most pur laine Québécois have First Nation ancestors. Before commenting on Canadian and Quebec politics, you should crack those history 101 books once more.
NO independence for Scotland. Its a UK possession and should remain that way. The UK give away to much already which it should have never done. Northern Ireland should be returned back to Ireland. That's absolutely the only worthless land that cost them money to keep. They need everything else to survive as a strong nation.
avenge wallace
Scotland.... Vote YES. The UK and the USA do nothing by lie..... Remember WMD..... God bless.
That's right Scotland, turn into the Upper Peninsula of Michigan!
Czechoslovakia showed the way for "peaceful separation". Maybe the time for smaller social groupings is returning, and may even be useful. Very hard to envision Scotland feuding with Wallonia as a cause for WW III.
"Northern Island was conquered against the will of Ireland - it's unfair & illegal."
And how, dare I ask, was this country obtained?
Bonnie Prince Charlie, you may triumph at last! Remember Culloden!
@Cassandra-854239 - I was referring the the United States.
Scotland should do what the current voters want. Period...
THE Point..Canadian is that if ONLY French speaking residents of Quebec had voted on the question..the province would be free and independent TODAY!!!
Again, your argument does not make any sense: My mother tongue is French, I live in Quebec, although I am not 100% pur laine de souche..am I not Québécoise enough in your opinion to have voted on the referendum? My husband is 100% Québécois, although my children speak English with him. Hundreds of thousands of French speaking Québécois are of mixed ethnicity although not all their ancestors came on the rickety ships from France in 1534 and yet in thousands of cases, some of their ancestors were already here BEFORE Cartier and Champlain. I hope your bleak and racist view is confined to your household only.
RicInCT -
That's like saying if only white males voted in the last election, Romney would be President.
Hold the phone! You may have something!!!
My father would like only white male landowners to be able to vote, like in the good ol' colonial days. Pfttt!
Scottish Borders descendant here - vote yes for Scotland's independence!
And if only American citizens voted. Romney would be president. Look at California where illegals vote. They can say they are citizens. Do not have to prove it.
wow....I'm guessing that you do not live in California? If you take time to research the subject that you decided to reference you might be surprised to find that voter fraud is actually very uncommon, there are systems in place to verify voter eligibility. You might also be surprised to find that there are actually Hispanics in California that are *gasp* LEGAL CITIZENS!! Oh the horror! Judging a person simply by their ethnic background or skin color can make a person who is usually very intelligent sound like they are not using that intelligence to actually think about others as individual people, not part of a demographic. Prejudice is usually based in ignorance, however ignorance does not mean stupid, ignorance is simply forming an opinion based on incomplete and/or false information.
Set Scotland free, Northern Ireland and Falkland Islands. The old days of colonialism are draconian.
Free Hawaii !!!
Would agree with letting Hawaii be independent, but not sure how that would work when 25% of their economy, at least, is tied to Uncle Sam, and 25% tied to tourism. Also - not sure of the % tied to meth production, but that's a story for another day.
Pretty sure the Falklands just voted to remain part of the UK by a 99.9% vote.