Senate The UK Politics discussion

It's effective... I was just looking for the story from yesterday, in which Sturgeon was called out for failing to deliver on a bunch of election promises on issues like waiting times for health procedures, education etc. Basically accusing her of failing to deliver for Scotland while spending all her time swanning around. Can't find it, all I get is a bunch of 'OMG REFERENDUM' stories.

 

Sturgeon needs permission from May to have that referendum. I can't see her getting it at this stage.

 

Sky are reporting it was Salmond and "other senior figures" in the SNP pushing for a referendum. Interesting to see if Sturgeon is actually in favour of one, or is doing this to save her job.

 

I wouldn't mind seeing her gone. I can't stand the woman. She's second on the list after Diane Abbott that make me lunge for the TV remote when they are on the news.

 

Had to chuckle today. My team won the 'team of the year' award for three years running, (2013-15). Today I found out that we've received more nominations than any other team for the last two years but were not shortlisted because we've 'won too many times'. I also found out I received more nominations than anyone else for staff member of the year last year, and came in second this year but wasn't shortlisted for either year! (It may sound improbable given how blunt I am but I'm good at my job and provide useful things to a lot of people working to short timescales).

Why this thread? The link is tenuous but my employer is about as left wing as you can get. Exec/senior management call to mind the bureaucrats from Baron von Munchausen.

This is why I love strength sport. No amount of talking or interpersonal politics will get you any respect whatsoever. Only walking to the platform and lifting the weight. S/he who lifts the most takes the medal. It's beautifully meritocratic

 

So, my fellow liberals are taking a nervous breakdown on social media right now...

 

yeurgh it actually sounds dangerous. What about the people who aren't as strong but shouldn't feel victimised or inferior? Shouldn't the competition be capped out at their level?

 

And how likely is this to change if a Scottish independence referendum passes?

 

It won't. There are rules and criteria to meet; Scotland passes none of them.

 

Which rules does Scotland not pass?

Isn't it really because the other European countries, especially Spain, don't want their own separatist movements at home to succeed?

 

Economic criteria. Scotland as deficit of 10% of GDP. It is essentially Greece, without the lovely weather.

That as well. Plus, France and German do not want to subsides another poor country.

 

You're right, of course. Gold, silver and bronze should be decided by a 'representative committee' made up of people who are representative of people who volunteer for committees. The weights should be metaphorical and it would be wrong not to leave the competition open to those who couldn't make it on the day because they've taken 6 months of fully paid sick leave for 'work stress'. In fact, they should probably win it. To boost morale.

 

Legally, given that the U.K. Hasn't yet withdrawn from the EU, if Scotland separated wouldn't it already be a member?

 

No. The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland is a member of the EU - not Scotland.

 

Scotland would have to apply as a new country wanting membership - as would Catalonia if it were to split from Spain.

 

As with Flemish independence, too.

 

Hmm...

 

Even though the SNP are unlikely to get another referendum to at least 2025 (which is what they probably desire), this is a win-win for them (and the Tories, too). Westminster is likely to tell them to politely sod off, which gives Nicola "the English are being mean to us!" mantra to use and (more importantly) in her hand are the final nails to hammer into Scottish Labour.

It is going to take, maybe, another two Scottish Parliamentary elections until the Tories unseat the SNP in Holyrood and the Tories are pretty much untouchable in England. Another fight for the union pits the SNP and Tories against each other; no room for anyone else. Both have ripped Scottish Labour to pieces. Thanks to Corybn's "why can't the Scots just shut up?" speech, the socialists are likely to be no more after this new fight.

Nicola is fully aware May doesn't give a **** what the SNP does in Scotland, as long as they stay in the union, and the SNP feel the same about May in England. From my time working in politics, the SNP and Tories get on very well behind the scenes. Salmond is admired and has many friends within the Conservative party; a lot of Osborne's tax ideas came from talking to senior members of the SNP. So yeah, don't be fooled by the public disagreements. This is a beneficial relationship.

 

One of my friends in England said if the EU won't take an independent Scotland, they should petition to join the Republic of Ireland instead.

He's got to be joking, right? That sounds ridiculous.

 

He's your friend, Ghost, so yes it sounds ridiculous.

 

Nicola seems to have got herself in a mess over all this.

She started off wanting to keep Scotland in the EU by leaving the United Kingdom. Then she seems to have changed her position (probably because the EU have said Scotland will have to leave the EU and reapply for membership) got leaving the EU but staying in the single market. And then the position seemed to change again this morning and she seems to want an EFTA arrangement which may or may not include membership of the single market but would include access.

In 48hrs she essentially seems to have arrived at Theresa May's position (leave the single market and then negotiate for access) so why take Scotland through the trauma and division of another independence referendum which polls are currently showing most Scots don't want anyway?

I think she's too canny to have gotten herself in this position and suspect Alex Salmond has done her up like a kipper.

 

See has walked into a perfectly laid trap.....by Salmond. Nicola position is unattainable; her referendum push is so destined for death, you'd think Hirohito inspired her to do it.

Sarcasm is an English trait. Your friend is a master at it.

 

He was talking about Cromwell having the last laugh, as an isolated England eventually agrees to join the Republic too.

 

Your friend either likes the ol' wacky backy, or is quite mad.