British Expatriate Network

"It probably wouldn't stop the whining though."

I love stereotyping. But I'm not what the Aussies call a "whinging pom".

"What about the Act of Union? Wasn't that signed by a scottish monarch? Didn't see no referendum asking us Eengleesh if we wanted a bisexual humpbacked scottish godbotherer smoking nazi midget for king..."

You're right, there was no referendum in England.

However, you are confusing two different things here. The Union of Crowns (1603) and the Union of Parliaments (1707). For most of the time in between we shared the same nutcases for kings, plus over a decade of Cromwell. Scotland was more or less independent for the 18th century, apart from the Commonwealth period, and even had its own (unsuccessful) overseas colony.

England had a Union of Crowns with a German state for a long time. You don't hear much about that now.

I say go your own way, if the majority agree .
wont stand in the way of anyone who doesnt want to be * one of us *

it may take some time to achieve since the interwinning of many social programes like NHS and such but it could be done .

dont want you whinning after achieving independence and holding out you hands for financial help like some of the other * independents nations * do .
cant have it both ways if you leave home your on your own .

"dont want you whinning after achieving independence and holding out you hands for financial help like some of the other * independents nations * do .
cant have it both ways if you leave home your on your own ."

What like all the grants the UK receives from the European Union? Or all the support that the UK once received from its empire? Did well out of the empire, so we all did...

Scandinavian living standards are higher than those of the UK. More people can read and write properly in these countries, and there's a smaller gap between rich and poor. Where are their handouts from?

Where's Danish and Swedish handouts from? The EU probably.

Anyway the richer countries pay much more into the EU machine than they get out in grants.

As for the gap between rich and poor being smaller, you may want to swing to the other end of the swingometer, as the Danes and Swedes have very high income tax to pay for social support such as subsidised housing for just about anyone.

Lets settle this. I hereby grant Scotland it's independence. Problem solved.

insert Bob The Angry Flower Its / It's picture here

:mrgreen:

Let us settle this -> Let's settle this X

Grant Scotland it is independence? X

Tut, tut. Two in one(-ish) sentence... :mrgreen:

I say we campaign for English independence. Wales, Scotland and N. Ireland can all bog off and stop having a say in our matters (for instance, why are there Scottish MPs at Westminster deciding what should happen in England when they also have their own parliament???)

:oops: :oops: :oops: :lol:

Guess what? The Scottish independence movement has no interest in sending Scots to vote on purely English matters, why should we?

England becoming "independent" is about as logical as Rome becoming independent from the Roman empire. It was and continues to be the origin and core of the political set-up.

England becoming independent is about as likely as India, Canada and Australia leaving the British Empire.

Oh wait, they already did.

Some of us did better out of the Empire than others.

White Man's Burden regards.....

I'd vote for Scottish independence.

I heard some experts saying, that Japan is producing some superb single malts.
I did hear that there were only two good things coming out of Scotland, whiskey and the roads running south.

I guess I'm in trouble now. razz

Why? Just needs to become the origin of its own political setup. I'm sure you boys are able to manage your own stuff along with Wales and Ireland. You lot are big boys now.

You're still not going to qualify for the World Cup though.