tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4169740113013066976.post7180563022319106363..comments2024-02-10T12:12:06.028+00:00Comments on The Real Blog: My one little niggle about Scottish independenceDavid Boylehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11410159311875228620noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4169740113013066976.post-25920838612675262732013-08-20T10:55:25.312+01:002013-08-20T10:55:25.312+01:00Recent opinion poll evidence indicates that only 8...Recent opinion poll evidence indicates that only 8% of islanders are keen on independence from Scotland, so I wouldn't bother much about something that boils down to a figment of Tavish Scott's imagination.KelvinKidhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01118042006400401585noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4169740113013066976.post-67286505305765432092013-08-19T13:27:37.752+01:002013-08-19T13:27:37.752+01:00David. I think you (and all Liberals) should have ...David. I think you (and all Liberals) should have another niggle - based solely on a debt of gratitude. Without the support of the Orkney and Shetland Isles there is a very real chance that the entire Liberal Party would have fallen into oblivion in the 1950's. They were our only safe seat. The only other seats Liberals retained between 1951 and 1962 were held due to the absence of a Conservative Candidate and it seems highly debatable that this arrangement would have been sustainable if it was all the kept Liberals in parliament. It may seem odd, but I think we are all in debt to these tiny islands and, if they don't wish to be governed from Edinburgh (and I understand that they overwhelmingly do not) then we must stand up for their right not to be so. At present there is no opt out for Orkney and Shetland and no guarantee that they could seek independence from Scotland if they so chose. I don't think this gives all Liberals a reason to oppose Scottish Indipendence out right, but it is surely worth a niggle.Simonnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4169740113013066976.post-26799633659344985002013-08-19T13:06:35.502+01:002013-08-19T13:06:35.502+01:00My worry is that it will leave England with a perm...My worry is that it will leave England with a permanent Tory majority. <br /><br />And that if the Scots sense the Tories going to the right to incorporate the UKIP tendency, then they are more likely to vote for Independence and we are going to be left with the mess! Then I really would want to emigrate.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12225476589722336008noreply@blogger.com