Salmond vs Darling: The Debates

[barcode]

Why would Scotland want to use the pound? were going to get screwed once the interest rates go up, but if were had our own currency the rate wouldn't be going up as fast.

Because extending the Euro to Scotland would be politically toxic both for Scotland joining and the rest of Europe allowing them to, and creating a central bank/currency would be a nightmare - economic instability is an understatement.

WAIT A Moo, I never said I wanted the euro, and dam to be hell I aspect that aswell. I said we would be better off with our own Currency.

[WillPS]

Why would Scotland want to use the pound? were going to get screwed once the interest rates go up, but if were had our own currency the rate wouldn't be going up as fast.

Because extending the Euro to Scotland would be politically toxic both for Scotland joining and the rest of Europe allowing them to, and creating a central bank/currency would be a nightmare - economic instability is an understatement.

WAIT A Moo, I never said I wanted the euro, and dam to be hell I aspect that aswell. I said we would be better off with our own Currency.

You wouldn't. Even the key proponent of independence doesn't believe so; so you can take it as read that it is definitely a bad idea.

A much worse idea than taking the Euro.

[thegeek]

I think her implication was re: his earlier "I didn't vote for you Mr Salmond" comment, trying to suggest he's actually a London stooge when of course as an MP for Edinburgh he's obviously going to have a Scottish address and actually have voted in elections there.

Idiot.

I did wonder where she was going with that one.
He's also got a holiday home in Lewis - the Guardian once took this entertaining photo of him fishing there. (He's also one of the few people to have done a down-the-line interview onto network news from the BBC's studio in Stornoway, though that factlet is probably better suited to TV Forum.)

[barcode]

Because extending the Euro to Scotland would be politically toxic both for Scotland joining and the rest of Europe allowing them to, and creating a central bank/currency would be a nightmare - economic instability is an understatement.

WAIT A Moo, I never said I wanted the euro, and dam to be hell I aspect that aswell. I said we would be better off with our own Currency.

You wouldn't. Even the key proponent of independence doesn't believe so; so you can take it as read that it is definitely a bad idea.

A much worse idea than taking the Euro.

This whole debate of going it along is utterly pointless then.

[barcode]

Because extending the Euro to Scotland would be politically toxic both for Scotland joining and the rest of Europe allowing them to, and creating a central bank/currency would be a nightmare - economic instability is an understatement.

WAIT A Moo, I never said I wanted the euro, and dam to be hell I aspect that aswell. I said we would be better off with our own Currency.

You wouldn't. Even the key proponent of independence doesn't believe so; so you can take it as read that it is definitely a bad idea.

A much worse idea than taking the Euro.

This whole debate of going it along is utterly pointless then.

[WillPS]

The point is that Salmond hasn't thought it through.

Until now the Yes campaign has almost abjectly refused to entertain the possibility that anything other than the pound will be used - which leaves them looking like fools when it's routinely pointed out how certain/plausible/legal that would actually be. The other option is to accept a national currency and a central bank but they wont do that because it would properly mess up the economy.

It's a political impossibility which no nation seeking peaceful separation from an economically prosperous country will ever be able to solve. For my mind, Salmond would be better acknowledging this than pretending it isn't a risk.

[martindtanderson]

If Alex Salmond wins this independence vote, and he wants a currency union, I think it should be for the rest of the UK to decide if Scotland gets that right. Why should the rest of us take on Scotland as a potential future risk to us?

[robschneider]

I'm massively against an independent Scotland continuing the pound's usage. Cake, eat, etc. like you say, Salmond ain't thought this through.

[Alexia]

I'm massively against an independent Scotland continuing the pound's usage. Cake, eat, etc. like you say, Salmond ain't thought this through.

Presumably you have a problem with the Isle of Man, Falkland Islands, Gibraltar and St Helena all using the pound then? They're not in the United Kingdom either.

[martindtanderson]

I have more of a problem with Scotland, who are voting to leave the UK, then getting to dictate terms after the fact to the rest of us. If they want independence, then be independent!

[barcode]

Do found it strange, Salmond want a divorce, yet keep everything. Its suppose to be a clean break from everything. If Salmond want to spend more money then he can by raise taxies, unless he thinks of borrowing more money is the only way...