1) Loss of resources. Scotland contains ninety percent of the oil and natural gas of the United Kingdom. And is roughly half of it's land mass.
2) It would possibly cost the UK their permanent place as part of the United Nations Security Council. One that has already been argued to be taken away from them as it is, since the council was designed off the world power stage of 1945. They would be likely to be replaced by an economic power such as Germany or Japan.
3) The UK bases their nuclear weapons in Scotland, so any independence would mean that England would have to find a new home for it's weapon systems and nuclear submarines. Especially as the Scottish National Party has declared that an independent Scotland would have no part in nuclear weaponry. Unfortunately for England, they do not have a port that is as perfect as Faslane for such a base. And creating one would be rather expensive. In fact England might not be able to come up with such a home for them.
4) Great Britain would also lose any troops that are from Scotland. Cutting their military numbers, and making them less able to continue their place in the world.
5) Differences in foreign policy may create tensions between the two countries. In the past Scotland has only once made it's own policy, but it has argued to do so on other occasions as well.
The Scottish National Party has announced the referendum for independence will be held in the autumn of 2014, on the seven hundredth anniversary of the Battle of Bannockburn, depicted at the end of the movie Braveheart, where Scottish forces once won independence from England. Until that time many issues will be discussed by both the Scottish and British parliaments. Both sides will bring about the best or worst parts of such a decision. The Scottish people will likely never have such an important vote.
Curious what the DOWN side is for Scotland. Seems influence, banking and defense might be one.
ReplyDeleteOnly going on this, wonder if they'd become the amalgamated states of GB (incl Ireland)