Scottish view of the SNP?

[Donkmeister]

Today I read this article which quotes an SNP spokesman:

I welcome the fact that the Treasury has buckled in the face of the outcry from the whisky industry and the SNP over the last 48 hours.

"Buckling" seems a bit emotive... I'm not sure that Famous Grouse sales are particularly vital to the UK economy, but there y'go!

It got me to thinking... every time I read something from an SNP spokesperson or indeed Mr Salmond himself, they put themselves across as far-right loonies, frothing at the maw and ignoring any bigger issues or logic. Media spin notwithstanding, of course

Can any of our Scottish members, or indeed non-Scottish members living north of the border, tell me if that is a commonly-held view up in Albion, or are they viewed as a fairly normal sort of group?

 

[ub7rm]

Firsty I wouldn't be so dismissive of the importance of whiskey sales, not so much the likes of famous grouse but the good stuff. I think far more is exported than is consumed in the UK.

As for the SNP.......they actually have a lot of sensible policy's and I think are a good party to run the scottish government. The only policy they have that I'm not in agreement with is of course the biggie....independance. But they are a very pragmatic party otherwise without too much spin or bullshit. IMO

 

[craig51]

£2.5billion is the amount of revenue the whisky guys bring in, so a good amount for one drink.

Compared with the other partys, the SNP are MILES ahead. They might have some things wrong, but they certainly fight for Scotland, unlike the North British Branch of Labour which we endured for too many years!!!

Re independence, the SNP want to hold a referendum, as would any other democratic party would. The other partys however dont, becuase they seem to know better!! Mmmm.....

If they are so sure, and they are the majority in government, what have they got to be worried about, and they could then, with authority, claim to speak for the poplace and the SNP would be confined to the bin. To qoute Bendy Wendy "Bring it on!!!"

I personally would like Scotland to be independent, in terms of being able to decide what it does with its own money, raised by itself, BUT, staying in the Union for mutual benefit ie Defence, trade etc etc.

 

[joe-90]

With just 5 million people Scotland should be ruled by London. Waste of money they are.

 

[Alison556]

Waste of money they are.

Bit like yourself then?

Is your life so empty that you've got to come away with these random, argumentative comments?

Do you get some kind of perverse enjoyment out of causing trouble and having people arguing?

I'm not rising to the bait because really you're not worth the energy, but I do feel sorry for you that you come across as such a sad individual with a boring life, only spiced up by whatever trouble you can cause.

Either that, or you're so completely hen-pecked, that this is the only place that you can try and act like a man.

 

[Donkmeister]

So to summarise, in Scotland the public view of the SNP is that they are generally a good thing. I suppose that makes sense as Alec Salmond won his current position democratically.

I've done some more research to expand my knowledge, and having reviewed their policies I find it illogical that the SNP doesn't want Scotland to remain in the UK, but DOES want Scotland to remain in the EU... seems like a strange view of independence to me - "out of the frying pan and into the fire" comes to mind.

To me, it sounds like they don't believe Scotland can't thrive as an independent nation, and it really is just a ploy to "get rid of the English". However, is it really advisable to leave one union with a country on bad terms, just so you can join a different union with the same country? Just look at the Eastbloc states who join the EU and then get all in a tizzy with each other!

From reading the SNP website it appears that the SNP centres around promoting a them-and-us attitude, which is always a poor show if good relations are desired.

For too long Scotland has been forced to look on while other nations gather to discuss and tackle global issues.

It is indisputable that Scotland is represented in the same way as England, Wales and Northern Ireland in that regard. In other words, as the United Kingdom.

The above quote makes it sound like the English turn round and say "Right, all you lot can stay at home, we're off to the UN summit. Back in a week!". When in reality, the UK sends a Scot to meet all those dignitaries!

That Scot is free to appoint as many other Scots as he likes to the cabinet. Countless famous and influential statesmen have come to Westminster from Scotland over the centuries, and Scottish politicians abound in Westminster.

I started this venture to expand my knowledge on the SNP and broaden my view, but I'm sorry to say that my opinion of the SNP is far lower than it ever was before. Salmond is a bitter man and the SNP is a hate-party. Wasn't there another party in recent history that claimed to be "nationalist" and "socialist"?

All politics aside, I think they need to update their website...

Off our north coast lies Iceland, the sixth most prosperous country in the world.

These independent countries represent an arc of prosperity - and Scotland has every bit as much potential as any of them.

 

[str]

Born and bred in scotland, I dont agree with all teh SNP policies, although they do seem to have the scottish people in the forefront of everytning they do, rightly or wrongly.

The use of Iceland and Ireland as examples of independant countries doing well and as an example of what Scotland could be if independant was obviously an error in judgement!!

Not that I follow all the policies of the SNP or other parties to the full, I do think it would be a mistake for Scotland to become fully independant from the UK (i don't think Scotland could afford it!), although I do think the SNP do have some point in that Scotland should benefit more from the income it produces.

I am sure that there will be plenty of other people who dont share my opinion though!

 

[Donkmeister]

I am sure that there will be plenty of other people who dont share my opinion though!

I think it's the same situation with any party that has the words "National Party" in their title. They will fervently support the rights of those they aim to represent, but often by overlooking the big picture they will fail in their ultimate aim. The BNP's main "send 'em all back where they come from!" policy would fail to enrich my life, despite my being a Brit at the paler end of Dulux's colour chart! I don't think "independence at all costs" would do wonders for Scotland's inhabitants (unless the SNP managed to blag all the North Sea oil rights at the negotiating table)

 

[str]

problem with the rights (and cash generated) by the north sea oil is we are too late

In that I mean to make proper use of it, as the SNP claim they can, they want to follow Norways lead, who have been investing a proportion of the income from their oil fields and then using the income generated from this investment within their economy - only issue is that they started doing this 25 years of so back, when they first started pumping oil and gas out.

for scotland to do this now, they would have to take a big slice of the current cash generated and invest this for future years, but how do they replace the chunk of cash they are investing for the present time?!

Independance might be a nice idea but I'm not sure its the right thing for Scotland!

 

[billyo]

if they want to go it alone so be it, if it works out fine, if it's ti#s up hard luck keep on your own, someone once said ,when it's gone it's gone , it's only the labour party at westminster that will miss them as the scotts run the place now, dont they, dear, darling, brown they wont miss the english, and the english wont miss them in the new world order

 

[mark vincent]

Without the Scots who is going to run the country for us? Without Scotland England would just be another failed state.

 

[billyo]

tosser. you cant half tell em, failed state scots doing it for the english keep taking yhe pills