It's crystal clear now

[medsec222]

I realise she is only interested in independence and will take the easy option, but surely it is the birthright of every Scot to have the chance to vote. She has no right to exclude them because they are working away from Scotland at the time of the vote. Why cant they vote by post.

[Suff]

The Scottish Government decided who could vote.

It was a farce then and is a farce today. It has nothing to do with residents and everything to do with nationals. Something the SNP mistook when they had the last vote. Or it would have been much closer than it really was. However that factor would play into their hands on another vote, but still would not overcome the numbers who want to be out of the EU.

May can let her have another one or not, as she chooses. If Sturgeon drops the EU membership as a goal of Indyref, then she has to forgo the referendum, as this is her prime reason for having one. If she does not she will lose...

Fence, straddle, sore crotch..

[Workingman]

If Sturgeon drops the EU membership as a goal of Indyref.........

Allegedly that is exactly what she did last night while aiming for EEA membership (Via EFTA) instead.

Commentators were saying that this was a cynical attempt to woo Leave voters who are also for independence, but that it could also put off Remain voters who demand full intergration in the EU for an independent Scotland. They also pointed out that membership of EFTA, the only route of access to the EEA for independent countries, is not a given.

The hilarious thing about all this Scottish independence stuff is that nobody actually wants a truly 'independent' Scotland. They all want the security blanket of being a (ruled) member of a club, any club, so long as it is not the Union club.

[Suff]

The hilarious thing about all this Scottish independence stuff is that nobody actually wants a truly 'independent' Scotland. They all want the security blanket of being a (ruled) member of a club, any club, so long as it is not the Union club.

Not true, I, along with many people I know, want a truly independent Scotland. I could have wangled a vote on IndyRef, but I felt it was totally unfair to push my views on the people who were actually living there. Something the EU voters clearly didn't feel, to the total rage of many Scots who would like to be out of both the UK and the EU.

Although you are right, there are not enough like me to swing the vote and, today, I would vote NO to give Sturgeon a serious slap around the face.

[Workingman]

Not true, I, along with many people I know, want a truly independent Scotland.

My bet is that you are in a massive minority. OK. I know that is an oxymoron, but you get my drift. I will also bet that if it was made clear to the Scots that an independent Scotland would be out of the UK and the EU and EFTA and the EEA, all of which could be arranged, the 'independent' vote could collapse.

What Sturgeon wants is independence from England - not necessarily the UK - and she is selling it on the back of staying in the EU. Most Scots, even though they did not get a direct Scottish referendum on the matter, want to remain in the EU and that is the audience Sturgeon is playing to.... to good effect.

BTW I have a Scottish grandfather. Can I have a vote? If not, why not. If I was good enough at football or rugby I could play for the Scottish teams based on that fact.

BTW2 I see that May has just told the leader of the SNP in Westminster that Scotland will be leaving the EU, referendum or not.

Scotland will be leaving the European Union, it will leave the European Union either as a member of the United Kingdom or were it independent.
It's very clear with the Barroso (doctrine), it would not be a member of the European Union.

I hope May holds true to that.

[Workingman]

Is this the beginning of Sturgeon's 'Romantic Vision' of a Scotland independent of England starting to unravel?

May could play this very cleverly... and nastily. She could allow indyref2, but only make it advisory and then sit on the result. She could approach EFTA during A50 negotiations with an indication that the UK wanted to join even though no negotiations could take place until the day the UK exits the EU. However, the paperwork for a request to join could be prepared and ready for delivery. EFTA would snap up the UK as a trading partner, so no worries there. Then, and before the UK joined EFTA, May could tell Nicola: "You know what, Nicola, you won? Go on. Sod off, sling your sporran." That would put Scotland out of the UK, the EU and out of EFTA and also unable to join the EEA because you need to be a member of one or both of the others to join. Scotland really would be truly independent and I am still not convinced that is what most independence supporting Scots want.

Hopefully that kind of crap will never happen, but if Sturgeon keeps on being the poisoned and divisive harridan she currently is then who knows. May appears to have a side of steel to her not seen before.

[AliasAggers]

If it was up to me, I would kick Scotland out of the U.K., and then close the border. Amen.

I don't know why the UK Parliament allowed them to have their own 'parliament' anyway,
and to do so and still let Scotland have MPs in Westminster is just plain crazy. Why do we
have to put up with such stupid politicians? Perhaps we would do better if we only allowed
women to stand for Parliament.

[medsec222]

Nicola is a women obsessed. She is now having second thoughts apparently about remaining in the EU (if the press are to be believed). If this is true she has no mandate for a second referendum. I dont blame the Scots for not wanting to be ruled by London, but neither does London want to be ruled by Edinburgh. I think Theresa May is right when she says she wants a good deal for the whole of the UK. The SNP needs to see what the deal is before trying to divide our nation.

[Workingman]

If it was up to me, I would kick Scotland out of the U.K., and then close the border. Amen.

Aggers, I am convinced that had a nationwide poll been taken a year or so before the Scottish referendum the collective result, and those within all four nations, would have been for Scotland to stay in the family and for us all to work for the common good.

Now I am not so sure.

If the pendulum has not already swung it is well on the way to swinging to the view you have expressed. I find that sad, but totally understand.

The SNP needs to see what the deal is before trying to divide our nation.

She, Ms SNP, might already have done that.

[Suff]

Salmond I could deal with. Sturgeon? Not a chance. I was a SNP voter for a decade, right now they'd have to beg for my vote in bended knees and when they got down there I'd kick them in the teeth.

BTW, as half a Scot, 20 years resident in Scotland for voting and was within the threshold when the referendum came up, I could have forced the issue. However, I felt it was not up to me as I had left. Should I come back again I would fully expect a vote again.

I believe that it is a matter of being honourable. Which is why we didn't ask for voting papers for the Brexit vote. That would not have been right even though I was for Leave when living in the EU (unlike all the spineless simps living around me).