Scottish independence plans dismissed as a ‘work of fiction’ as Alex Salmond insists…

Daily Mail (UK) ^ | 19:30 EST, 26 November 2013 | Jason Groves and Gerri Peev

[Olog-hai]

Alex Salmond was accused of producing a “fantasy” manifesto last night as he tried to shore up faltering public support for his dream of Scottish independence.

The Scottish National Party leader unveiled a 670-page “blueprint” setting out the case for independence ahead of next September’s landmark referendum. …

Opinion polls over the last year have consistently shown a majority in Scotland are against independence, although a significant number of voters remain undecided, making the outcome uncertain. Mr. Salmond said an independent Scotland would keep the pound, the Queen and popular BBC programs such as Strictly Come Dancing, EastEnders and CBeebies. …

[Olog-hai]

Full Daily Mail title:

Scottish independence plans dismissed as a ‘work of fiction’ as Alex Salmond insists he wants to keep the pound, the Queen and CBeebies

Sounds like this bid for “independence” is DOA—not that the EUSSR would let any piece of land within its grasp suddenly become independent.

[GeronL]

Isn’t Scotland even more welfarish than the rest of the UK? Or is that a myth?

[LiveFree99]

Interesting. In May a London-based friend assured me the referendum would pass and Scotland would become independent. We’ll just have to wait and see.

[BfloGuy]

Conservatives in upstate New York [I'm one!] would love to separate from New York City. But to do so would mean our giving up the lavish welfare that is provided to a growing cohort of upstaters by the tax dollars generated by Wall Street.

I am all for it. A substantial number of upstaters will not agree. I suspect the same holds true in Scotland where London supplies the dole that supports so many of them.

[RginTN]

It took our founders 1 page to declare independence and Scotland...670 pages...goodness!

[Olog-hai]

You’ll have to become independent of Albany first, and Cuomo’s gun/bullet bans.

[Olog-hai]

Ironically, “Albany” is an archaic term for Scotland (from “Alba”, its Gaelic name); the Duke of Albany is a character in Shakespeare’s play “King Lear”.

[DJ MacWoW]

I disagree. The rest of the state supports NYC. They wouldn’t survive without our money and resources.

[Cronos]

the difference is that upstate NY is more rightist than NYC. In contrast, Scotland is much more leftist than S-E england

[BfloGuy]

The rest of the state supports NYC.

That was true once. I don't think it is anymore. Upstate, except for the suburbs surrounding the 4 largest cities, are economically dead and poverty-stricken.