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Listed below are comments made by Fit Like between Monday, 12th October 2009 and Tuesday, 1st December 2009.

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Taking it to the max 3:53pm on 01 Dec 2009 348 John

One unintended problem of the Scottish Parliament's tax varying powers is the effect it would have on pensions. Currently, if you pay into a personal pension, you get tax relief on your contributions, ie, for every 78p you pay in, the treasury round it up to £1 (if you pay higher rate tax, you claim the difference via your tax return).

If a Scottish government raised income tax by 1p in the pound, it would mean that Scottish tax payers would be entitled to a further 1p in the pound tax relief on their pension contributions. Who would pay for this? The Treasury? Can't see people in the rest of the UK being happy about what would ultimately be seen as yet another Scottish subsidy. The Scottish Goverment? They'd just have to pay the extra penny they'd raised into everyones' pensions so the net effect would be, well, extra revenue raised, not very much.

OK, so not everyone who pays tax, pays into a pension plan so there would be some difference between the tax raised and the tax relief paid out but, given the bureaucratic difficulties (not to mention extra cost) of collecing and admistering the extra tax, it probably isn't worth the effort.
Taking it to the max 2:47pm on 01 Dec 2009 343 Usually

"I realise some will suggest I am contradicting myself by suggesting Independence is a Parochial act while devolving more responsibility to local authorities is not but I think democracy would be better served and retaining a UK level of governance should mitigate against that parochial inward looking mind-set."

I think you will find many (even amoung the pro-independence posters) on this ite who, in principle, would agree to an extent, there are quite a few people here who, as their first choice, would prefer a federal/devo-max alternative soulution that would, in an ideal world, achieve what you suggested.

Unfortunately, none of the main political parties want that. A truely representitive government, voted in by a form, of PR that devolved power down to where effectice decisions could be made on the ground is just simply not an option as far as the centralist Labour/Conservative parties are concerned - it would destroy their 2-way hegemony, created by the UK's outdated FPTP electoral system that they have 'enjoyed' for the last 100 years. Lets face it, the way our system works, we could do away with elections altogether and just have someone toss a coin every 5 years with Heads being Labour and Tails being Tory and we'd pretty much get the same government as we do now (now, think of the saviongs that would bring to the nation).

I think what drives many in the independence movement is the fact that, as long as the system in the UK continues, we will never get that kind of government, in an independent Scotland, there is the chance that we could develop the kind of government that actually serves the electorate rather than their own, outdated, party-political dominated ends.

Isealism? Yes, very probably. Given the level of self-interest that has permeated the ranks of our elected (and non-elected) representitives pretty much since the begining of time, there is every chance that in an independant Scotland the 'son' would inherit the sins of the 'father'. At the same time, however, there is a chance, slim as it may be, that actually, with a suitable level of oversight and accountability to the electorate, they might actually get it right.

It'll never happen in the UK as it is, there is a vested interest on the part of the Labour and Conservative parties to maintain the status quo. We've already seen minority government in action here in Scotland; it isn't ideal and it certainly isn't pretty but is suspect no single party will ever achieve a comprehensive majority so that it can bulldoze its policies through. Wish the same could be said for the UK/Westminster.
Taking it to the max 1:18pm on 01 Dec 2009 286 Expat

"The UK border with Ireland is a unique situation purely to do with NI!"

Understood. However it is not entirely unique. Most of mainland Europe allow freedom of movement between states with no passport control. I recently travelled between France and Italy and the only way to determine that I had changed countrries was that the road signs were in a different language.

Granted the NI/RoI situation is a historical relic given the island's unfortunate history but there is absolutely no reason why a similar arrangement could not opperate between an independent Scotland and the remainder of Britain.
Taking it to the max 1:05pm on 01 Dec 2009 262/265 NCA999

"Another example would be that of Kosovo. When Kosovo left Serbia, Serbia maintained their status as a state, Kosovo formed a new state."

Interesting example, however, when Croatia/Slovenia/Bosnia/Macedonia split from Yugoslavia, Yugoslavia did cease to exist. Granted, it carried on as Yugoslavia until Montenegro also split away but the state that was Yugoslavia no longer exists. Similarly when the Soviet Republics declared independence, the Soviet Union also ceased to exist (althogh 12 of the former 15 republics did form the Commonwealth of Independent States).

All I'm saying is that there are examples to demonstrate both scenarios. I'm not a legal expert but, I suspect, there would be some justification in saying that the UK might still exist if Scotland became independant but, again, pure speculation on my part, it would become the United Kingdom of Britain and Northern Ireland as Great Britain (formed by the Union of Scotland with England & Wales) would cease to exist.
Taking it to the max 09:55am on 01 Dec 2009 206 Helmsda

"Whether in an independent Scotland I would need one to cross the border into England I do not know, but, while it would not, as you say, be the end of the world, it would be a pity if it were so, given the close family and commercial ties between the two countries."

It would be sad but I suspect it to be unlikely. I suspect the arrangement would be something similar to that with the Republic of Ireland where, as a general rule, there is no requirement to show your passport for travel between the two countries.

In my student days, I made any number of trips to visit friends in and around Dublin and the only ID I had was my student matriculation card.
Taking it to the max 4:34pm on 30 Nov 2009 51 acynicwrites

"What's the nationalist's position on the ownership of the Royal Bank of Scotland and on what used to be HBOS (Halifax Bank of Scotland)?"

No idea what the SNP's position is, but it's pretty much irrelevant whatever it is. RBS and Lloyds Banking Group (the now 'owners' of HBoS) are publicly listed companies and owned by their shareholders and, I imagine, will continue to be owned by their shareholders should Scotland become independant. Granted, UKFI are currently the largest single shareholder in both Institutions (71% RBS and 43% LBG) but it still doesn't change the fact that they are listed companies and, as such, shares in them can be bought (and sold) by pretty much anyone who wants to.
Taking it to the max 4:15pm on 30 Nov 2009 #14 Expat

"Strange how federalism, which would bring autonomy but also retain mutual social/economic/defence support and international influence, barely gets a sideways glance from the SNP, let alone any sort of debate.

True, but then it doesn't get much of a mention from any of the other parties either. Labour don't want it, your tories don't want it and even the supposedly federally inclined, hone-rule advocating lib-dems don't want it.

I know you like to bash the SNP at every opurtunity, but all parties can equally be tarred with this brush. Ironically, it may just be the SNP, with their drive towards independence, that actually brings a federal UK into being.
It's FMQs, stupid 11:51am on 30 Oct 2009
The Salmond strategy 4:35pm on 26 Oct 2009 Personally, I'd like to see pretty much all of them hung...
The plebiscite to end all plebiscites 9:26pm on 12 Oct 2009 JRMacClure

Apologies for spelling your name incorrectly in my previous posts. I will try harder in future...

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