Guest 1342- Registered: 10 Sep 2014
- Posts: 7
Yes to the first, David, but no to the second. I live in Devon where I hope we will benefit from more devolution after the Yes vote in Scotland. As you will know there are already many local authorities in England seeking more localised power to be devolved to the English regions.
I found your Forum quite by chance and think Dover is lucky to have such an interchange of thoughts and ideas.
Guest 714- Registered: 14 Apr 2011
- Posts: 2,594
A Scotsman in Devon contributing to Dover Forum? Blimey
Guest 977- Registered: 27 Jun 2013
- Posts: 1,031
It's a slippery slope we're now sliding down after Blair started the process with devolution of powers. It was slipped out quietly a few months ago that the government has granted minority status to Cornwall, this quote from April but it happened over the summer -
"Danny Alexander, the Chief Secretary to the Treasury, is to announce that Cornish people will for the first time receive the same rights and protections as other "national minorities" in Britain.
The Cornish will be added to a Council of Europe agreement governing how minorities should be treated, meaning the government must agree to "combat discrimination and promote equality".
Now we've got a Scot living in Devon hoping for more of the same. It won't be long before we can clamour for a Free Kent so we can divert all the HGVs to Tilbury Docks and become the Garden of England again - where's Alexander when you need him!
howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
Tom Austen was one of our most prolific posters up until a year ago and he was a London based Scot.
Whichever way the vote goes next week Britain or what's left of it will never be the same and parts of Europe too. Groups representing Catalans, Corsicans and most regions of Italy seem to want to be separate.
The EU don't want this and are hoping for a no vote to avoid any future complications.
Jan Higgins- Location: Dover
- Registered: 5 Jul 2010
- Posts: 13,658
Yet another Scot who has chosen to live and I presume work in England and then complain about us.
I believe all areas of the UK deserve more freedom from Westminster than they get now even this area has little in common with London.
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I try to be neutral and polite but it is hard and getting even more difficult at times.
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Guest 698- Registered: 28 May 2010
- Posts: 8,664
Having lived abroad for much of my life I can honestly say that the most vocally nationalistic of fellow expatriates have always been those of the Scottish diaspora. I can clearly remember an incident at Jeddah airport in 1979 when a gentleman from north of the border was incarcerated for a few days following his (totally sober) reaction to the question from a Saudi passport official: 'Ah, you English?' Glasgow kiss, anyone?
I'm an optimist. But I'm an optimist who takes my raincoat - Harold Wilson
howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
In a hotel bar in Tangier the barman asked a Glaswegian where in England he came from, the reply came back "I am from Scotland" to which the barman added that he thought the two were the same. The Scot then patiently explained that he was Scottish and British. The barman looked across at me and asked what i was, I came back with English and British which left him shaking his head.
howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
The latest poll with 5 days to go shows an 8 point lead for the unionists but many undecided.
Bob Whysman- Registered: 23 Aug 2013
- Posts: 1,919
With no chance of a vote for anyone outside of Scotland, perhaps this is the way forward?
Overheard in church, a lady praying:
"Dear Lord," she said, "This has been a tough two or three years.
You have taken my favourite actor Richard Attenborough.
My favourite pop singer Michael Jackson.
My favourite Blues Singer Amy Winehouse.
My favourite actress Elizabeth Taylor.
My favourite football manager Bobby Robson.
My favourite golfer Seve Ballesteros and now
My favourite singer Whitney Houston.
My favourite comedienne Joan Rivers
I just wanted you to know that my favourite politicians are:
Alec Salmond, Tony Blair, John Prescott, Ed Balls, Gordon Brown, Harriet Harman, Nick Clegg and Ed Miliband (in no particular order).
Amen."
Do nothing and nothing happens.
Guest 653- Registered: 13 Mar 2008
- Posts: 10,540
Love it Bob - thanks.
Roger
howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
The whole referendum has got very unpleasant with trolls on Twitter and Facebook haranguing people who want the union to remain, many scottish sporting heroes have been targeted.
I don't think that English celebrities going up to Scotland to stick their oar in has helped matters.
Guest 745- Registered: 27 Mar 2012
- Posts: 3,370
I wonder if the new Scotland will go for proportional representation ?
I can also see them calling for land division, considering the land is mainly owned by non Scottish people .
Mr Cameron's family have 19000 acres ,no wonder he was crying on tv
howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
Result expected between 6 and 7 am on Friday, the bookies have the no vote at 5 to 1 on.
howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
The exit poll suggests an 8% win for the no vote, no surprise there.
Guest 698- Registered: 28 May 2010
- Posts: 8,664
Exit polls in our 1992 general election were off beam by 10% allowing John Major a surprise 5 year contract.
I'm an optimist. But I'm an optimist who takes my raincoat - Harold Wilson
Guest 1103- Registered: 3 Nov 2013
- Posts: 759
hmmmhhh I hope it stays as a Greatbritain and not become Littlebritain ...
with all the young voters, I think it is more likely to be a YES vote.
Try to be a rainbow in someone's cloud. Maya Angelou ☺🌈🌄🌌🌏🌍🌎
Jan Higgins- Location: Dover
- Registered: 5 Jul 2010
- Posts: 13,658
55% vote No, so we can still call it a United Kingdom.
Downside we are stuck with all those Scottish MPs.
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I try to be neutral and polite but it is hard and getting even more difficult at times.
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Guest 653- Registered: 13 Mar 2008
- Posts: 10,540
But that is supposed to be sorted out too Jan. The West Lothian question is soon to be answered.
I'm pleased we still have a United Kingdom.
Roger
howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
Quite a wide margin in the end with people living on islands or near the border with England tipping the balance, I felt the yes campaign was based on emotion rather than pragmatism. Scotland would have been worse off as an independent country in my view.
Jan Higgins- Location: Dover
- Registered: 5 Jul 2010
- Posts: 13,658
Only 4 out of the 32 areas voted Yes, which shows the vast majority of Scotland wanted to stay in the UK.
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I try to be neutral and polite but it is hard and getting even more difficult at times.
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