Let's talk about Scotland

[Velar Fricative]

Yes, I know it's the Friday before a three-day weekend but whatever.

First, here's the obligatory Braveheart shoutout:



Second, here's information about the independent referendum on September 18th:

www.bbc.com/news/uk-scotland-scotland-politics-26550736

So what do YOU think? FREEEEEEEEEEEEDOOOOOOOMMMMM or no freedom?

[meggers5]

I really hope it's no.

[redheadbaker]

I'm going to go check my family's pages on FB who live there and see what they think.

[pescalita]

Aren't they always trying to break off? That's what Outlander told me.

[rootbeerfloat]

aurora knows where my head is these days re: Scotland

[Deleted]

Uhm I actually don't care. And the Act of Union was bullshit so

[kapoentje]

Aug 29, 2014 16:03:47 GMT -5 pescalita said:

Aren't they always trying to break off? That's what Outlander told me.

I actually ran in here all excited for Outlander talk...

*kicks rocks*

[eclaires]

My romance novel degree with a concentration on Scotland tells me that England should never be in charge of Scotland. So I vote YES on independence. Also on kilts. And men with long hair who love their English born brides and are very good at sexing.

[hopecounts]

Aug 29, 2014 16:05:58 GMT -5 @helenabonhamcarter said:

Uhm I actually don't care. And the Act of Union was bullshit so

Agreed. BS, as was the whole refusal of Mary and Anne to accept that James III was their brother (baby in the bed warmer  : and sending the crown down the Sophia the Electress line. 

I hope they vote for Independence but also vote to keep QEII as the Governor General (I think that is the term that would be used).

[aurora]

Aug 29, 2014 16:05:30 GMT -5 rootbeerfloat said:

aurora knows where my head is these days re: Scotland

I had to think about this for an embarrassingly long time before getting it.  I think it needs to be the end of the day for me!

[anastasia517]

Aug 29, 2014 16:18:55 GMT -5 hopecounts said:

Aug 29, 2014 16:05:58 GMT -5 @helenabonhamcarter said:

Uhm I actually don't care. And the Act of Union was bullshit so

Agreed. BS, as was the whole refusal of Mary and Anne to accept that James III was their brother (baby in the bed warmer  : and sending the crown down the Sophia the Electress line. 

I hope they vote for Independence but also vote to keep QEII as the Governor General (I think that is the term that would be used).

She would be the head of state if they stay part of the Commonwealth.  The GG is the one who represents her.

[hopecounts]

Aug 29, 2014 16:08:06 GMT -5 kapoentje said:

Aug 29, 2014 16:03:47 GMT -5 pescalita said:

Aren't they always trying to break off? That's what Outlander told me.

I actually ran in here all excited for Outlander talk...

*kicks rocks*

To bring Outlander into the discussion Sam Heughan is Scottish and pro-Independence. 
DG has retweeted some of his tweets about it. 

[elleblue]

This is some messed up ish right here:

People aged 16 and over who live in Scotland get a direct say on the nation's future - as long as they're registered to vote.

There are some requirements, though. Eligible voters must be British, EU or Commonwealth citizens with permission to enter or stay in the UK.

That means the 800,000 Scots who live in other parts of the UK don't get a vote, while the 400,000 people from elsewhere in Britain who live in Scotland do.

[mbcdefg]

I've been reading a bit about this on my royals blogs/twitter accounts, but not much since it's a political issue and they tend to avoid those. Opinions seem mixed. I'm thinking that it won't pass.

One issue I read concerns the Scottish military. There's also the question of whether an independent Scotland would remain part of the Commonwealth and would retain the queen as head of state.

I'm curious as to what would happen to the royals' estates in Scotland ... Sandringham, Edinburgh Castle, etc. And the royals' Scottish titles (Charles is Duke of Rothesay, William is Earl of Strathern, etc.). I imagine they'd keep all that as long as Scotland didn't elect to sever all ties with the UK? I suppose they can't completely break away, because they need the financial and military support, right?

[Cicero]

A bigger question is what this would do to Scotland as part of the EU. I haven't been paying attention but it seems that they would have to reapply for membership of they broke away, no?

Although it is an interesting precedent should Belgium split apart.

ETA: It looks like the most ardent support for the UK being in the EU is in Scotland so it seems like if Scotland goes it's only a matter of time before the UK exits the EU. Or at least that is the theme of several articles I just pulled up trying to find an answer to my question.

[hopecounts]

Aug 29, 2014 17:09:23 GMT -5 mbcdefg said:

I've been reading a bit about this on my royals blogs/twitter accounts, but not much since it's a political issue and they tend to avoid those. Opinions seem mixed. I'm thinking that it won't pass.

One issue I read concerns the Scottish military. There's also the question of whether an independent Scotland would remain part of the Commonwealth and would retain the queen as head of state.

I'm curious as to what would happen to the royals' estates in Scotland ... Sandringham, Edinburgh Castle, etc. And the royals' Scottish titles (Charles is Duke of Rothesay, William is Earl of Strathern, etc.). I imagine they'd keep all that as long as Scotland didn't elect to sever all ties with the UK? I suppose they can't completely break away, because they need the financial and military support, right?

Well the only public Scottish holding is Holyrood House, the rest are only privately owned by the family and not part of the royal estate (Balmoral et al, were all purchased by the individual Royals with their own money and therefor their own and not the states so they should maintain ownership though visiting might be trickier if they don't join the commonwealth)
Sandringham is in Britain and privately held (bought by/for Edward VII when he married)
The titles I assume would become defunct? Or I guess the Scottish parliament could choose to honor them?

[secretlyevil]

Lolololol...half this thread is romance novel/outlander. The other half is serious. Awesomeness.

[Velar Fricative]

I tend to be pro-independence for whoever wants it so sure, I'd be cool with Scotland being an independent country.

And, man, so much shit in this world comes down to oil, doesn't it?

[Deleted]

The difference here is that Scotland has always wanted to be independent so if the vote goes, so they should be. That's what England gets for fucking up people's shit all the damned time.

I would think the titles would remain theirs. American cousins can inherit titles so I don't see why the titles wouldn't stay theirs just because they are in another country. Andplusalso, historically, people have held titles that were in different countries at the same time. Unfortunately, I can't think of any examples off the top of my head that are actual real examples and not plot points of a romance novel so you know. Or rather eclaires does.

[hopecounts]

Aug 29, 2014 19:28:30 GMT -5 @helenabonhamcarter said:

The difference here is that Scotland has always wanted to be independent so if the vote goes, so they should be. That's what England gets for fucking up people's shit all the damned time.

I would think the titles would remain theirs. American cousins can inherit titles so I don't see why the titles wouldn't stay theirs just because they are in another country. Andplusalso, historically, people have held titles that were in different countries at the same time. Unfortunately, I can't think of any examples off the top of my head that are actual real examples and not plot points of a romance novel so you know. Or rather eclaires does.

All the Hanoverian Kings upto Victoria had duel titles, one in Hanover and then obviously King of the UK. 

[mbcdefg]

Aug 29, 2014 19:28:30 GMT -5 @helenabonhamcarter said:

The difference here is that Scotland has always wanted to be independent so if the vote goes, so they should be. That's what England gets for fucking up people's shit all the damned time.

I would think the titles would remain theirs. American cousins can inherit titles so I don't see why the titles wouldn't stay theirs just because they are in another country. Andplusalso, historically, people have held titles that were in different countries at the same time. Unfortunately, I can't think of any examples off the top of my head that are actual real examples and not plot points of a romance novel so you know. Or rather eclaires does.

How about the English monarchs claiming the French throne for centuries?

[Deleted]

Aug 29, 2014 19:28:30 GMT -5 @helenabonhamcarter said:

The difference here is that Scotland has always wanted to be independent so if the vote goes, so they should be. That's what England gets for fucking up people's shit all the damned time.

I would think the titles would remain theirs. American cousins can inherit titles so I don't see why the titles wouldn't stay theirs just because they are in another country. Andplusalso, historically, people have held titles that were in different countries at the same time. Unfortunately, I can't think of any examples off the top of my head that are actual real examples and not plot points of a romance novel so you know. Or rather eclaires does.

James Stuart was the VI and I. (6in Scotland, and 1st in England). With Edinburgh as my second home and Parliament built the year I was abroad, I romantically love the idea of an indepedent Alba. But I honestly don't know the financial implications well enough to understand if it is the best idea overall.

[abramos]

I really should know about this since I am half Scottish. I should call my Uncle, who lives in Glasgow, and see what he thinks about this.