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Darling warns of 'no quickie Union divorce'

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Published Date: 20 January 2007
TRADE and Industry Secretary Alistair Darling has led a fresh attack on the SNP, warning there would be no "quickie divorce" if Scotland sought independence.
The Edinburgh South West MP warned prolonged uncertainty would have a damaging effect for business. He said: "There will be wrangles over pensions, defence, the allocation of public spending and who knows what else."

Mr Darling also challenged the SNP to say who would become citizens of an independent Scotland. "There are two and a half million Scots with relations in England," he said. "Are these family members to become foreigners in their own land?"

In a speech to an Institute of Public Policy Research event in Edinburgh, Mr Darling further challenged the SNP over its stance on the currency to be used in an independent Scotland.

He said the SNP's policy of keeping the pound until it was economically advantageous to join the euro meant interest rates would continue to be set by the Bank of England.

An SNP spokesman dismissed Mr Darling's attack, saying: "Another day, and another Labour minister is up from London spreading fears and smears about Scotland."



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1

rab, glasgow,

20/01/2007 12:03:45

Dariling spews'There are two and a half million Scots with relations in England," . "Are these family members to become foreigners in their own land?" Too late darling' broon and joke mcnumpty have allready spouted this nonsence' no one is listening to labour drivel anymore.

2

Davie M,

20/01/2007 12:22:48

Many of my best pals are English. My sister lives there. My brother-in-law is English. A fine bloke too. And my nephew and godson, one of the people I care most about, is a born Englishman. I love the English. However, I don't like my country being ruled from London. There is no reason why Scotland should not become an independent sovereign state once again. I also have friends in Ireland, in Europe, and in America. There is no Iron curtain preventing me from seeing them, nor will there be one preventing me from seeing my family and friends in England. All I am asking for is for self-determination for my country.
Most people realise that the fears New Labour are playing on are ill-founded. If they want to save the Union they are going to have to do a lot better than appealling to fear. Or is that all they have left to play on?

3

Callum,

Edinburgh 20/01/2007 13:17:34

It time Scotland stand-up for it's self and Govern it self. Labour has done nothing for Scotland.

Vote SNP

4

bikerider1,

20/01/2007 13:29:07

it would be interesting if labour could maybe actually fight the snp on policies, rather than stick to the usual scare mongering,slander and lies. sorry i think lies are called spin nowadays

5

Bill, Dunblane,

20/01/2007 13:33:43

So, Mr Darling, there will be no 'quickie divorce'?

Regardless of how Scotland votes?

You won't really have anything to do with it as you probably won't have a seat in parliament.

Keep scaremongering! You're doing our job for us.

6

Eve,

Scotland 20/01/2007 13:42:30

Englands is another country to most people in Scotland. Maybe no foren but diffently another countrry.

What does Alistair Darling really know, Possibly spends more time in Westminster than in Endiburgh just like, Gorden Brown, Adam "useless" Ingram and John Reid.

This may make a few folks laugh but before I read this artcle I thought Alistair Darling was a Tory (was the only Consevtive MP in Scotland)

7

Bill, Dunblane,

20/01/2007 14:24:26

Eve - there's quite a few 'Tory' MP's in Scotland - they just call themselves New Labour. ;)

8

fatboyslim,

not here 20/01/2007 14:28:30

how many more scare stories must we hear it would be different if they were not all the same it seems. labour are determined to scare people into vote no. they realise that nobody buys the economic arguments for not leaving the union.
they try the fear agrument that it will split families infact it will make no difference the question is are the masses of scotland going to fall for the progaganda and lies again. scotland to me is a nation that does not read the paper enough and just listens to the headlines and does not think for itself.
listening to the headlines is not understanding what is happening in the world. it means you cannot be bothered finding out what is happening in the world are happy to be lied too.

9

Allan (Glasgow),

20/01/2007 14:51:46

The Labour party are playing a very dangerous game here. There really is only so much of this kind of talk that can be effective before we all start saying that they doth protest too much.

When will one of these politicians state a positive for the Union? Why is it always always full of threats and negatives?

It is exactly this type of drivel which has turned me from a passionate believer in Union to now passionately believing in cessation. The most troubling aspect is that it is overwhelmingly Scots who seem to be the ones most vociferous on these attacks on our copuntry. Very sad.

10

Eve,

Scotland 20/01/2007 15:02:31

#6. Bill, Dunblane: Thats what I suspected.
Thanks for the calrfication.

11

Messalina,

20/01/2007 16:45:57

What Darling is saying is that no matter how big a majority of Scots vote for Independence, New Labour will continue to ignore them. As would the Tories and Libdems.

And you wonder why there is much apathy amongst voters. It's this kind of thing that breeds non-interest .... You KNOW they're going to stick two fingers up at you and do what THEY want instead!

12

Edward,

20/01/2007 16:56:49

Alistair Darling's comments are breathtakingt for there arrogance and stupidity!
It is yet more scramongering replaying the rubbish that came from John Reid during the Labour conference in Oban, who came out with the same rubbish.
I find it incredible that he should actually believe this stuff. I have family members all over the world, so whats the differance, between having family in England or Canada or France or Germany or Ireland
the answer is simple, it makes no blind bit of difference!
Come independance, Scots residing in Scotland will be entitled to have there own passport, Scots living overseas will also be entitled to a Scottish passport.
But this will have no effect in the way they are treated or work abroad or even in England

To think we have another 3 and a bit months more of Labour's bilge!

13

robert SHIVAGO,

LIVINGSTON 20/01/2007 18:10:36

DARLING,DARLING-WE ARE BIG ENOUGH TO SORT THIS OUT OURSELVES.WHY ARE YOU TRYING TO FRIGHTEN US.WE DONT NEED ANY OF YOUR STUPID REMARKS.WHEN WE DO GO IT ALONE WE CERTAINLY WILL NOT INCLUDE YOU.YOU AND YOUR CORRUPT GOVERNMENT HAVE ALREADY BROUGHT SCOTLAND TO ITS KNEES.WE WILL CERTAINLY DO A LOT BETTER THAN YOU LOT.WE DONT EXPECT YOU TO COME BACK ACROSS THE BORDER.WE ARE LOOKING FOR SCOTS WHO HAVE SCOTTISH BLOOD IN THEIR VEINS.YOUR P 45 WILL BE WITH YOU SHORTLY

14

fiferjohn,

benbecula 20/01/2007 18:40:40

basically if Scotland go for it we are going to have to fight for our rights as we have none .self determination does not exist for the Scots

15

Derick fae Yell,

20/01/2007 19:08:27

Excuse my ignorance but
who is 'Alistair Darling'

I mean is he MP for something or an MSP or has he ever had a proper job?

It is really quite pathetic, the way these 'unionists' have no positive arguments.

OOOH, you'll not be able to afford oatmeal. Porridge with no oatmeal and cold water. Eaten out of a docken leaf. A wilted docken leaf.

Yeah right.

16

Lord Lucan,

20/01/2007 21:05:30

It amazes me that Darling was ever given a position of power.

17

Eve,

Scotland 20/01/2007 21:46:39

http://scotlandonsunday.scotsman.com/index.cfm?id=101282007

Thers a poll on the page above which has some very intersting result


Out of 100 Votes the Scotsman Opinon poll: What is the best way forward for Scotland?

88% want to Become an independent country


11% Remain part of the United Kingdom


1% Other

This looks promising most people I know who are pro-indpendence don't read the Scotsman.

18

Patrick Harris,

Portsmouth 21/01/2007 11:47:28

I have heard a lot about a "debate" over whether or not Scotland should divorce itself from the United Kingdom, indeed one such "debate" was aired by Newsnight last week, correct me if I'm wrong but I thought a debate consisted of points of view, from all those with an interest in the subject, the Newsnight "debate" was a Scottish wish list sprinkled with 30 seconds worth of the English view point. EXCUSE ME, I AM AN ENGLISHMAN AND A CITIZEN OF THE UNITED KINGDOM. I see devolution here, devolution there, independence over there and independence around the corner, when will the English be heard??? Only when there is an English Parliament. I also add a word on behalf of the Welsh and Northern Irish, who, on this subject also get ignored.

19

Eve,

Scotland 21/01/2007 13:13:20

#18. Patharris: The Welsh and Northen Irish have nothing to do with Scottish Independence.

If the opoin polls are right and most Scots want Independence (Which I Suspect to be true and hope to be true) then we're hardly going to change our minds because the Northen Irish or Welsh opoin on the subject (Thats if they want Scotland to stay within the Union)

The same insadently kind of goes for England in that matter of the fact of if the SCOTS want OUT the SCOTS WANT OUT there shouldn't have to be anyone form any where else going against the wishes of the people of Scotland.

Scottish Independence is mostly to do with the Scots, write to the BBC and ask for a programme to be made on English Independence debate, then it will be mostly about England.

20

Fairfax,

21/01/2007 13:30:32

19: "we're hardly going to change our minds because the Northen Irish or Welsh opoin on the subject"

I agree, but the ramifications of Scottish independence do imply that other parts of the Union should speak. For example, might Northern Ireland petition to join the new Scottish state, given its strong historical links? I really don't know, but it would be interesting to hear their views too. For England, with a GDP and population exceeding the rest of the Union by a factor of roughly 12 (even including oil), the dissolution of the Union would have little economic effect, but the effect on Wales and N. Ireland would be dramatic.

21

Eve,

Scotland 21/01/2007 15:36:38

#20. Fairfax: Scottish Independence is about Scotland.

We'll I sapose it would be intersting to know there opions, but in the end it's not there chioce.

Northen Ireland wanting to be part of the New Scottish state.> That seems odd After reading about Jack McConnells vist the N.Ireland Assembly, It was reported that niver side where impersed with Jack. In fact one of the unionist made fun of him. And I take it when you say Northen Ireland you mean the unionist might. So Why would they want to be part of the Scottish state.>

Does N.Ireland not have the Rupulic to fall back on, or do they not want them anymore. (MostScots belive that Northen Ireland should be given back to the Irish, haven't met many Scots that think any diferently.)

As for Wales they are the Country which is furvist away form Scotland. And many of the member of Plyid Cumbrian (NOT the correct spelling I know, but an etempt) Suport Scottish independence as well as Welsh independence.

22

Eve,

Scotland 21/01/2007 15:37:56

Divied by opions
Independence for Scotland
Victory (Power to the people)
Over the worst
Relif
Claim, time to start planning a better future
Equality for all

Spells Divorce

23

Ian G,

Edinburgh 21/01/2007 16:40:14

So The South of Ireland is Independent.
Many of its people lived in the U.K many still do.

They carry an Irish passport.
The Irish sea is split down the middle.
They are Independent in Europe.
They have the Euro.

And nothing those Unionist creeps said stopped it happening. The world still revolved around the sun.

I don't use a passport to go there.
Sorry Darling I don't understand your thought process.

24

Eve,

Scotland 21/01/2007 17:16:13

#23. Ian G: If you want to fly from Glasgow to London, you need a passport, all ready (So He can't be refeing to flights, ither)

25

shooter,

22/01/2007 00:29:28

GOOD BYE DARLING STAY IN LONDON DONT COME BACK


 

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