Brew

Not sure I follow you Rob. Once out of the EU we can pursue trade agreements with whomsoever we choose. Post Brexit and sans agreements, goods imported from the EU will be treated the same as any other non EU member. I've not really got my head round all the ramifications of leaving without a deal. As I understand it we will not be members of the WTO once we leave and will need to re-join as an independent nation. This raises an interesting conundrum. The EU as a whole is jointly and severally a WTO member state and therefore bound by the same rules as virtually al

And that is evidence of what exactly? It's history? Having 2 more universities than England 400 years ago? It gives Scotland kudos and bragging rights but are of little use today. The fact that England had a university (Oxford) 400 years before Scotland had one ( St Andrews) and Cambridge had its charter circa 200 hundred years before, proves what? Absolutely nothing.... Natural resources? Coal, Whisky, Peat, Timber, Agriculture and a rapidly dwindling North Sea oil and gas. No one is denying anyone their fundamental rights. You seem to have taken

A good point notty, I quite agree. Why should we follow Europe's directive and install a 'hard' border? If the Irish want to do it on their side that's up to them

You may well be right. I expected post Brexit to see Johnson pour billions into the economy and create a surge much like the Tiger we spoke of but Covid has rather put a damper on that. His gleeful 'I told you so' when it comes to election time is now in serious doubt. Post Brexit borders will prove a flashpoint for both crooks and nationalists, especially nationalists if Scotland gains independence, for reasons I'm not going to explore. The borders and the various machinations are worthy of a treatise all its own.

We are wandering off topic with Ireland (what thread drift on NS! who would have thought), but I was making the point that gaining independence was not the universal panacea they thought. It's taken nearly 100 years to reach this point and they still needed support from their neighbour along the way. Of course Al... of course. You said you teach others to ask questions, perhaps you'd like to answer a few? Simply saying "Yah boo so there" doesn't really count ... These pages are about politics and political thinking. We argue on these pages, we expl

True but I wasn't considering how they became part of the UK but the effect independence had on the country. They thought they could make their own future, and they did, but it was not the success many said it would be. Weren't they so short of money at one time they defaulted on loans we gave their farmers? The lessons of history can only enlighten those who look. You're quite right with analogy about Brexit., obviously there are still those who build castles in the air..

You said it made no difference notty but in fact it did. I'm not that hot on Irish affairs but it seems to me that even though they went through the 'Celtic Tiger' stage they are still broke and have been since 1922. Independence didn't stop them needing the English to bail them out to the tune of almost 4 Billion pounds. Could it have been foreseen? I don't know. Economic predictions are notoriously difficult but as time passes we have more data and garner more experience on which to base decision making. Will Scotland go it alone? I don't know but I do wonder how muc

And sometimes you see more from outside looking in than inside looking out. You still have not given a single cogent point in support of your position. Of course they are capable no ones is arguing they're not - the question is whether it's in their best interests. So far you're not making a very good case and rationalisation seems an excellent way to cut through the hyperbole and misinformation. I spent some time wandering round the Fort William area not too long ago and my impression was somewhat different to yours- perhaps I only sound silly to you?

And the danger is over simplifying what is extremely complex. You can't wave a magic wand and undo 300 years of union. I said earlier we should take Brexit as an example and that's less than 50 years of entanglement. I have not, so far, heard or read of of any convincing argument that Scotland would benefit from independence. There are plenty of people waving the cross of St Andrew and banging on about the subject but, like Corbyns half baked spending plans, it's long on rhetoric, short on detail. Economically it will be difficult, Scotland as it is does not have the tax revenue to maint

I too am well balanced, I have an equal chip on both shoulders.

The problem is people have too much skin. It is the largest human organ and therefore an easy target to get under. It’s not difficult to tell when something is under ones skin, the symptoms are, in no particular order: indignation – hurt feelings – grumpiness – and immediate condemnation of anything and anyone we didn’t like. Something I entirely relate to... We are turning being offended into a fine art. A shake of the head, careless word, even a look can do it. Everyone can join in being offended, it’s not exclusive and you can even be offended by the lack of something to

In the 80's I had a Range Rover, on my last car change I looked seriously at them again but quite honestly the build quality left a lot to be desired...

Hmm gave that some serious thought but sadly Yorkshire tea didn't have the same effect. Looked in the bathroom cabinet earlier and there is a suspiciously large number of bobbles. I shall sleep with the clothes basket against my bedroom door tonight...

My hair now gently cascades over my collar and is heading determinedly for my shoulders. I can't be doing with buggering about making hair appointments but herself says if I don't I'll wake with a bobble and a pony tail...

I always took steps to avoid that Carni... large ones in any direction away from me dad"

As a youngster I never understood what I did to warrant my mam telling dad "he's been a bogger up the back".

Never had a mother in law but I know what it's like when you lose someone close ... Condolences Ben...

Looks like you're wearing it..

I had heard of the Kalergi conspiracy, strangely enough it was after Gadhafi claimed that Muslims had no need to fight, they would eventually outbreed us. Anyone who reads right wing fascist political theory can hardly claim the moral high ground and be offended by posts expressing views on immigration. I am a firm believer in free speech, even those I take exception to but sometimes... The closed minds comment I though was quite a good example of a closed mind in itself. "I know what I know and I know I'm right and don't want to be offended by any other point o

I didn't say higher tax payers should have any sympathy but as you point out they have already paid the same as everyone else (their fair share?). Due to hard work or just dumb luck they become successful - and then punished for being so by paying a disproportionate amount of tax.

Yup I was right... I shouldn't ask!

Hmm seems I have... Like all the free love of the 60's I'm sure some bugger beat me to it and took my share.

Who the hell is Sticky Vicky... or shouldn't I ask..? and why do I get the feeling there's a whole section of life I've missed...?

We're sailing pretty close to Dens famous giant bold font here. I strongly object to the sanctimonious tone of some comments but will go no further - we should be on the political pages by now...

Hopefully it won't become the norm, Shops and especially supermarkets work on quite small margins and rely on quantity to maintain profits - the old 'stack 'em high, sell 'em cheap model'. The slow pace of customers through the checkouts are bound to force turnover down which in turn may mean we pay higher prices for our shopping. I'm not sure if online shopping will ameliorate their profit margins, there is very little impulse buying online.