General Chat

If Scotland go independent I feel it will be Scotland biggest ever mistake :-(

Florence - rules have changed since your Austrian friend moved here. Now that we are both part of the EU she has an automatic entitlement.

If an independent Scotland can negotiate EU membership, then any EU citizen resident in Scotland would be able to vote.
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I wasn’t born in Scotland – Can I still register to vote in the referendum?

It doesn’t matter where you were born but you do need to be living in Scotland now. You also need to be a British, Irish, other European Union or qualifying Commonwealth citizen. Qualifying Commonwealth citizens are those who have leave to enter or remain in the UK or do not require such leave.
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To be able to register to vote at the referendum you need to be resident in Scotland. This means that your permanent home address is in Scotland.

http://www.aboutmyvote.co.uk/the_independence_referendum/
faqs_for_young_voters.aspx

None of which answers the question of what would happen after a Yes result!

PS. forgot to say I'm in the "no" camp too, better together.

Florence
in the hebrides

Thanks for your comments. I truly hope that Scotland remains part of the uk. Alex Salmon is so set on getting his own way, he just doesnt have a plan B if things dont work out!(ie what currency will be used?)

In a recent poll in my daughters sec school. the result was 52% against. These were 16/17 yr olds!

I love living here and am proud to be british, but when push comes to shove, would I give up being English and become a Scottish citizen, no I dont think so!

Florence
in the very wild hebrides today!

Florence61 - not sure about non Scottish people, I myself wonder if people born and bread in Scotland and who had left Scotland and return after say, Scotland voted for independence, would they need to do the same.

The reason I ask is that although I was born and brought up in Scotland and lived there for the best part of 45 years I cannot vote in the referendum on independence nor any national or local election pertaining to Scotland - because I have disenfranchised myself by moving to live in England, so where do I stand if I return to the country of my birth.

Just for the record I am in the "No Camp"

I used to travel to Scotland on business on the train, and during the American tourist season there was one train conductor who, on leaving Berwick on Tweed would announce over the PA that we would soon be approaching the border an that he would be round to check passports. Many took him seriously too.....!

On a serious note, though, these are the type of issues that need to be sorted out now. My view is that when a country becomes independent, it does just that, and people shouldn't expect the status quo will continue.

It's all a bit complicated for me Florence, I did wonder if Scotland became independent, would we need passports to visit?
I hope it stays a part of the UK, I love Scotland, the people and love being a part of it

Can anyone please tell me that if scotland should become independant from the uk, then does this mean any non scottish people will have to apply for citizenship afterwards so they can vote at future elections?

I had a friend who was Austrian who came here and married an englishman. In order to be able to vote, she had to give up being Austrian and become a british citizen, which she refused to do. So she never could vote in any election.

Would this apply to scotland? I am English but have been living in Scotland for 20 years. my oh and children are Scottish but where would this leave me?

Your thoughts please.

Florence
in the hebrides :-S