You take the high road...

[Montreal Wanderer]

I'm a bit ignorant of the details of how this would work constitutionally and have a probably naive question. Is it intended that Scotland will be an independent country with a constitutional monarch (like Canada or Australia) or will it be a republic (like Eire)?

[mummywhycantieatcrayons]

I'm a bit ignorant of the details of how this would work constitutionally and have a probably naive question. Is it intended that Scotland will be an independent country with a constitutional monarch (like Canada or Australia) or will it be a republic (like Eire)?

The former is the option under discussion.

[Lost Leopard Spot]

I'm a bit ignorant of the details of how this would work constitutionally and have a probably naive question. Is it intended that Scotland will be an independent country with a constitutional monarch (like Canada or Australia) or will it be a republic (like Eire)?

So far, like a lot of the SNP policies, that is open to question. The consensus seems to be a constitutional monarchy - but, and here's the rub, what about the fecking Jacobites (Bonnie Prince Charlie and his descendents)?
We (they/the Scots) could end up with a different royal family.
Nobody knows.

[Montreal Wanderer]

I'm a bit ignorant of the details of how this would work constitutionally and have a probably naive question. Is it intended that Scotland will be an independent country with a constitutional monarch (like Canada or Australia) or will it be a republic (like Eire)?

The former is the option under discussion.

It has worked for us but it is controversial, though more so in Australia I think. There will no doubt be a party who want to bring back the current Stuart pretender, who is I believe Franz, Duke of Bavaria.

[Worthy4England]

I'm a bit ignorant of the details of how this would work

You could be a Scottish politician, with form like that.

They'll probably want a figurehead, but want rUK to pay for it off the Civil List, after all they've contributed.

It's a bit like my 11 year olds tenner. It exists, but gets spent on about 40 quids worth of stuff every time he says can I pay for X out of my ten pounds,,

[William the White]

I'm a bit ignorant of the details of how this would work constitutionally and have a probably naive question. Is it intended that Scotland will be an independent country with a constitutional monarch (like Canada or Australia) or will it be a republic (like Eire)?

The former is the option under discussion.

It has worked for us but it is controversial, though more so in Australia I think. There will no doubt be a party who want to bring back the current Stuart pretender, who is I believe Franz, Duke of Bavaria.

Is he a French speaking Catholic with a stutter?

[Montreal Wanderer]

I'm a bit ignorant of the details of how this would work constitutionally and have a probably naive question. Is it intended that Scotland will be an independent country with a constitutional monarch (like Canada or Australia) or will it be a republic (like Eire)?

The former is the option under discussion.

It has worked for us but it is controversial, though more so in Australia I think. There will no doubt be a party who want to bring back the current Stuart pretender, who is I believe Franz, Duke of Bavaria.

Is he a French speaking Catholic with a stutter?

I assume his native language to be German, but I think he is polylingual. No idea about the stutter but that can only help in the Highlands I would have thought.

[Dujon]

Yes, Monty, the 'republicans' amongst us wax and wane over the years. They have been quiet for a few years (since their propaganda - like Scotland all hot air and no concrete proposals - were resoundingly defeated in a referendum) but will undoubtedly a subject of nationalism/jingoism/patriotic fervour and associated navel gazing in due course. Of course, like Canada, Australia is virtually an independent nation at the moment. The sticking point which the 'republicans' have yet to overcome is the change of Australia's Head of State from the ruling GB&NI monarch (QEII at present) to someone or something else.

Both Australia and Canada are quite different though from Scotland. To all intent and purpose they are independent. They both have their own currency and laws, they have no common boundary with any of the GB&NI states, nor do they accept or pay monies from or to the 'mother country'. I have no advice to toss to the Scots but I'll be interested to see what transpires from the current and complex machinations.

[Harry Genshaw]

An early, muted, booing of the national anthem aside, the games came across as really friendly with the English competitors getting great receptions from the locals throughout.

Will a successful games turn out to be good or bad for the independence movement?

[Hoboh]

An early, muted, booing of the national anthem aside, the games came across as really friendly with the English competitors getting great receptions from the locals throughout.

Will a successful games turn out to be good or bad for the independence movement?

With a closing ceremony like that when you get outshone by the next games holders, I would seriously worry if I was a Scot and the vote went yes!

[thebish]

so... the upshot of all that was that England won?

[Gary the Enfield]

so... the upshot of all that was that England won?

Yes. Rebellious Scots, crushed.

[thebish]

so - the big debate tonight..

Mr pompous windbag dick-face vs Mr personality transplant badger-head

and scotes are queuing up to whine and moan that it's not Cameron..

but - excuse me - have not Salmond and co. been parping on for years that they don't want people from westminster coming to scotland to tell tem what to do? cake and eat it???

also - just heard a scottish nationalist woman proclaim that the commonwealth games have "put scotland on the map"!!!

I wondered where the buggery place was - dunno why it never appeared on any map before!!

will anyone on here be watching??

[TANGODANCER]

also - just heard a scottish nationalist woman proclaim that the commonwealth games have "put scotland on the map"!!!

Mel Gibson won't be pleased. He thinks he was responsible.

[Prufrock]

so - the big debate tonight..

Mr pompous windbag dick-face vs Mr personality transplant badger-head

and scotes are queuing up to whine and moan that it's not Cameron..

but - excuse me - have not Salmond and co. been parping on for years that they don't want people from westminster coming to scotland to tell tem what to do? cake and eat it???

also - just heard a scottish nationalist woman proclaim that the commonwealth games have "put scotland on the map"!!!

I wondered where the buggery place was - dunno why it never appeared on any map before!!

will anyone on here be watching??

Sure I'd read we can't coz it's only on TV in Scotland...

[thebish]

so - the big debate tonight..

Mr pompous windbag dick-face vs Mr personality transplant badger-head

and scotes are queuing up to whine and moan that it's not Cameron..

but - excuse me - have not Salmond and co. been parping on for years that they don't want people from westminster coming to scotland to tell tem what to do? cake and eat it???

also - just heard a scottish nationalist woman proclaim that the commonwealth games have "put scotland on the map"!!!

I wondered where the buggery place was - dunno why it never appeared on any map before!!

will anyone on here be watching??

Sure I'd read we can't coz it's only on TV in Scotland...

aye - it was broadcast by STV - and they refused permission to the BBC to broadcast it wider - and then STV feckied it up so half of scotland couldn't see it either!!

fecking amateurs!! why the feck should we let them have the BBC if they are independant - just tell them they can't have Eastenders anymore and they can only watch STV and they'll shut the feck up pretty sharpish...

Folks, it isn't just those outside Scotland who cannot access the STV site. I live in the heart of the Scottish Borders ( so get ITV and not STV ) therefore I cannot view this important debate either. Not happy,

stv player not working in glasgow get a grip stv

Pensions seems to have been a big topic this evening - specifically, an independant scotland not being able to afford to pay them!

[thebish]

general scots opinion seems to be that it was either a score-draw (being very generous to salmond) - or a win to Darling...

this is the kind of occasion you'd expect salmond to excel at - but, from the snippets I have heard, it appears he came seriously unstuck when it came to any actual real substance and being able to actually answer any questions... and at one point was reduced to the hysterical repetition "do you agree with cameron... yes or no" "do you agree with cameron... yes or no" "do you agree with cameron... yes or no" approach... (i did snigger when salmond proclaimed with mock exasperation that he felt like jeremy paxman interviewing michael howard - Salmond says he feels like Jeremy Paxman grilling Michael Howard as he tries to get an answer. Darling's response? You are more Michael Howard than Jeremy Paxman.)

to be bested by Darling on live TV will not help Salmond's cause...

[Bruce Rioja]

and at one point was reduced to the hysterical repetition "do you agree with cameron... yes or no" "do you agree with cameron... yes or no" "do you agree with cameron... yes or no" approach... (i did snigger when salmond proclaimed with mock exasperation that he felt like jeremy paxman interviewing michael howard - Salmond says he feels like Jeremy Paxman grilling Michael Howard as he tries to get an answer. Darling's response? You are more Michael Howard than Jeremy Paxman.)

I was listening to that on the way in. It drives me mad when people do that. I actually shouted aloud "Will you let him fecking finish?"

And yes, I too had a little giggle at Darling's rejoinder. Bravo.

[Lost Leopard Spot]

F*ck it, I've decided to join the party. I'm going to declare my house independent. I shall share the pound and the Remainder of the UKs defence forces etc etc... I'll just have complete control of my tax gathering status and any other issue I feel should be devolved on my independence. I shall of course ask the electorate and shall be polling myself, my missus and my dog on the same date as Alex Salmond has declared his. Like Alex, the rest of you can f*ck off, you've got no say in it.
Unlike Alex, my polling says I've got 100% Yes so far...

[bobo the clown]

I see Alex's "people" have declared him the winner in last night's debate.

No-one else has, but hey.

I'd make sure those ballot boxes are carefully guarded come 18 September.