The Core

If Scotland votes for separation I'm going to hoard stock up on The MacAllen sherry cask just in case there is a bureaucratic SNAFU on imports and exports between the USA and independent Scotland. Purely for medicinal purposes.

I see no problems in us keeping the full name (even if Scotland leaves)

The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.

Scotland is voting whether to become an independant nation by leaving the UK. The rest of Great Britain isn't voting to change and will continue to be all it is, within it's formal name.

The reason that is contentious is that "Great Britain" is a geographic term that describes the chunk of land we sit on and have arbitrarily carved up into England,Scotland and Wales.  We can change political borders, but geographical boundaries are physical.

That said, my money would be on "The United Kingdom of England, Wales and Northern Ireland" - everyone will just need to fight over the order.

I'm still hoping for a no. My family connections to Scotland and Wales are more distant and I don't feel especially connected to either.  I have though always identified with being British over English. 

Gurtie:  Why do you NOT want this?

Can I answer that too?

Because Together we stand divided we fall.
our Standing in Europe will diminish.
Our standing in dealing with the USA will diminish.
Because it will cost a hugh amount.
Because Alex S is talking about opening the boarders while at present it seems we are trying to control the boarders.
because there will be problems with Trident.
Because our standing in Nato will be diminished.
Because when it goes wrong they will just blame the English.
Because it will go wrong when they spend spend spend.
There is not much oil left, but they insist there is to fuel the spending.



Thats just off the cuff, half asleep, there are loads more.Its a stupid idea, and the only winner will be one man, and he will make a fortune out of it.  I think the people of Scotland are being pulled along by the heart strings and ultimately played for mugs.
He cannot deliver everything he promises, and i believe he will deliver not a lot.

Can I answer as well?

Because the whole thing seems to be being conducted on a wing and a prayer - 'Vote Yes for independence, worry about the details later, it'll all be brilliant honestly'. I've no problem with independence per se, but being so cavaliar about something that will also have huge consequences for the 92% of the UK population who don't even get a vote is both dangerous and disrespectful.

Oh, I wouldn't expect to get a vote, I'd just like to see the whole thing conducted in a more grown-up manner (on both sides) seeing as it affects millions of other people.

sorry Sugarkane.  No mean to you, I agree.  That bit was to proceed the War of Independence . 

good article that. in the NY times. 

In his view, Britain has failed to give the Scots and Welsh proper representation in Parliament,

A view that is disassociated from reality.  The Scots get more air time/money than the rest of England. (In my view .

>think of England rather than Britain.

I shouldn't say this, but people over here consider that whole group of islands to be "England."  Meaning, we kind of see it as the "generic" word for "Great Britain.

>Because Alex S is talking about opening the boarders while at present it seems we are trying to control the boarders.
Uuuuum....what boarders?  And to whom?  Can nobody immigrate to GB?

>because there will be problems with Trident.

Who/ What is Trident?