Caption competition - Scottish referendum thingy

[shaunbhoy]

Take a look and the bottom left, if that is continued half the oil fields go to England.

Yes, but that is the half that are now almost empty.

HTH

[KimberleyChris]

Also, a strange assumption that the remaining UK will be obliged to buy 'Scottish Oil'.

If the price is right, we will, otherwise we'll just buy it somewhere else.

[Incognito]

There is a misconception that Scottish oil would be everything above the longitude of the boarder. Most international divisions in the sea are a countenance of the boarder. Take a look and the bottom left, if that is continued half the oil fields go to England.

I can't see what your image is, but I'm assuming it's referring to the maritime 'boundary' drawn up by the Scottish Adjacent Waters Boundary Order 1999.



There was a study done still taking this into account and it shows that Scottish waters will still deliver > 60% of North Sea Gas and > 90% of North Sea Oil.

And we really don't need the English to buy our Oil.

Papers reveal oil fears over SNP

Oil revenues would have made Scotland a powerful player in Europe

A secret Whitehall dossier written 30 years ago has revealed that Labour ministers were concerned about the case for Scottish independence.
The information was kept confidential at the time to keep Nationalism at bay.

The paper was obtained by the Scottish National Party under freedom of information legislation.

Written by a leading government economist in 1974, it sets out how oil would have given Scotland one of the strongest currencies in Europe.

The report by Professor Gavin McCrone also stated that Scotland would have had "embarrassingly" large tax surpluses.

But Dr McCrone's projections for independence were kept secret because of Labour's fears about a surge in SNP popularity.

The report shows officials advising ministers about how to take "the wind out of the SNP sails".

Kenny MacAskill, of the Scottish National Party, said the report was proof of 30 years of official lies, cover-ups and betrayal.

He added that it showed how much Scotland would have benefited from independence and oil.

He said that in the 30 years since the report, Scotland had suffered low economic growth and manufacturing decline while at the same time oil wealth had "transformed" Canadian provinces and Arabian shiekdoms.

"Some have chosen when they've discovered oil to make the desert bloom and the tragedy was that in 30 years in some areas of Scotland, the UK Government has created an industrial desert," he said.


Mr MacAskill insisted that, with prices rising rapidly, oil was now "on the agenda" and he claimed an independent Scotland "would never be richer".

He added: "I would first of all like to have an apology from the UK Government for lying to us.

"We're not talking about something that's negligible.

"This is a fundamental lie that the people of Scotland have been spun for 30 years - that we were too wee, we couldn't do it, that the oil was going to run out - when they knew for 30 years that Scotland was sitting on a bountiful presence that would have transformed our economy for the better."

However Scottish Secretary Alistair Darling dismissed the document.

He said: "This is typical of the Nationalists, looking back to the past. This document is 30 years old.

"The fact is that all recent figures show an independent Scotland would have a fiscal deficit even if oil revenues are taken into account. That would mean cuts in public services."

BBC NEWS | Scotland | Papers reveal oil fears over SNP

Here is the report.

[Incognito]

More like the uncertainty of referendum is damaging DC's career rather than the economy. It seems to me every time DC opens his mouth he helps AS take another step closer to his goal.

It's amazing how much this actually plays into the hands of el Presidente.

Alex Salmond has been given the green light by David Cameron to pursue a referendum on Scottish independence after the first minister swept back into power with a commanding majority in the Scottish parliament.

The prime minister spoke to Salmond hours after the Scottish National party won a dramatic victory in the Holyrood elections, and guaranteed that the UK government would not put any legal or political obstacles in the way of an independence referendum.

Ministers in London will also speed up the introduction of new borrowing powers for Holyrood, which will be worth at least £2bn, and allow communities in Scotland to earn more money from charges on offshore green energy projects currently paid to the Crown Estates.

Cameron's concessions finally clear away any prospect of the UK government challenging the legality of a referendum: senior figures in the last Labour government believed a referendum was barred under the Scotland Act because changes to the British constitution are the preserve of Westminster.

Michael Moore, the Scottish secretary, said: "As a government, at a UK level, we won't put obstacles in their path." He added: "It entirely depends on how this is structured. The prime minister was entirely clear with the first minister yesterday: we will not stand in the way of this happening."

Moore chose his words carefully, admitting that, as a Liberal Democrat MP, he would join with Cameron in campaigning vigorously against independence.

Scottish independence: Cameron gives green light to referendum | Politics | The Observer

Changed his tune pretty quick hasn't he. Must be seeing the writing on the wall. Trouble is he's only serving to highlight it to the rest of us now.

[DodgyAgent]

It's amazing how much this actually plays into the hands of el Presidente.



Changed his tune pretty quick hasn't he. Must be seeing the writing on the wall. Trouble is he's only serving to highlight it to the rest of us now.

If Scotland gains independence most of the English will be very happy. The Conservative party especially so despite what Cameron "says"

[Incognito]

If Scotland gains independence most of the English will be very happy. The Conservative party especially so despite what Cameron "says"

Yeah, but with the rate with which your economy will collapse without us Jocks propping it up, you'll be a Socialist council house sink estate of a nation within a decade.

Us Tartan Tories will have to make sure our overflowing coffers pays to rebuild that wall and electrify it this time as well to keep you chavs out of our country and off of our roads paved with gold.

[DimPrawn]

I'd love to see Scotland try to survive without all the English tax money.

It'll be like a very cold Somalia within months, only not as friendly.

[Alf W]

Let us have the referendum ASAP. The English will vote for Scottish independence and the Scottish will vote against it. Then we can put all the noise to bed and get on with things.

Freedom for Cornwall .. Yawn!

[Incognito]

I'd love to see Scotland try to survive without all the English tax money.

It'll be like a very cold Somalia within months, only not as friendly.

I'll let you wash my car.

[AlfredJPruffock]

If Scotland gains independence most of the English will be very happy. The Conservative party especially so despite what Cameron "says"

Indeed England would be - Forever Blue - well you know what I mean ?

And why not if they are so inclined ?