Windwalker

George if nothing else, your consistent. A large proportion of U.K. citizens could be foreign, a lot of us may be descended from foreigners. Why do you think this is an issue. Does not being classed as a foreigner make us better? I can’t see what your point is.

If I’m wrong I’m wrong, but I’ll not hold my breath that it will not be a condition at the time.

What’s where people are born got to do with anything. Personally they could both be born In Timbuktu. It doesn’t matter.

That’s a bit ironic, blame wee Boris for giving it away, but alright for wee Nicky to do it.

Not true they have already said new joining countries, especially those with large deficits will have to join the euro. It allows them to control the countries finances. Look what happened to Greece. anyway, I don’t think we need to worry, it’ll just take one more of the bigger countries to leave and the EU will collapse.

But it’s not going back to what we had before. The U.K. had some clout, Scotland on its own doesn’t. On its own Scotland will be a small fish, that’s assuming that the EU would ever allow Scotland to join on its own with its current debt etc. they may do it to get at Scotland’s fishing waters, but I can’t see it.

Agree with a lot of what you’re saying BigMouth, I’m just failing to understand how becoming independent will improve anything. All I can see is it will make things much worse. The problems with the EU border will be nothing if we become independent and re-join the EU, as to the problems this will raise with a border between Scotland and England, our biggest Trading partner by far. We would have to convert to using the euro and so many other issues. It just doesn’t make sense.

I notice that despite asking if any of our staunch SNP supporters can educate me on the benefits of independence, I’ve had a couple of digs, my spelling corrected, but nowt on the pros of independence. What I’m reading from that is, it’s seems to be more about sticking the finger up to Westminster, England or perhaps the English and to hell with consequences for the country. I’m hoping that we don’t get another independence vote for a long while, we did it 6 year ago and should accept the outcome. But if we are to go down that road again will Sturgeon fully inform us of all the consequences, somehow I doubt it.

George, it’s a shame that you seem to feel it’s your job to correct everyone’s grammar and spelling as this can discourage other from participating in the discussions.

As far as I can see the U.K. is developing jabs (another 2 today) looking great, and it’s is the aim to get as many of these out to other countries as soon as possible. To suggest that I’m against other countries getting the jab is a bit much, but not unexpected as I dared to challenge Sturgeon. When you can’t justify her actions, let’s make the person look bad, this is typical SNP tactics. As for the Empire, I think it’s time to look at where we are today, move forward. completely agree with you regarding our death rate, the whole thing has, in my opinion been handled poorly. Johnson has made slow and poor decisions. Of course it easy for me to criticise when I don’t have all the info and I don’t have to make decisions during an ever evolving epidemic. Whilst I’m not keen on the Tories, I note you forget to mention that whilst Sturgen has been very good at informing the public every day, often using it for political point scoring, per head of population has the death rate not been worse in Scotland. Why would she say a few month back that she will put independence on the back boiler to deal with the fight against COVID, then within weeks kick it all off again. I think they are all liars. Hopefully neither of them will be around for too long, but let’s hope they can put aside their differences and fight COVID, because when things start opening up, many families, individuals, businesses etc will be in dire straights and a huge amount of money has to be found by the whole U.K. to pay back the unprecedented borrowing.

Ahw come on, let’s start with the threats to cut off the UK’s electric supplies, block supply links etc. Macron is still at it. They don’t want the U.K. to succeed, why do you think they are causing issues at the borders. Now they want the UK’s supply of jabs and sturgeon is threatening to give them information to help them do it despite the government saying this information is classified. They are not happy the U.K. got out the block first and is leading the way, after they dithered for 3 months. Of course they still remind us they are our friends. it’s pretty clear they will do what they can to hinder the U.K. succeeding.

Your right that a majority of Scots voted to remain in the EU, but it was a U.K. wide vote, the majority voted out. Similar to the independence vote last a few years back, SNP supporters seem to have an issue with democracy, unless of course it goes their way. for the record, I voted to remain in the EU, but fully accept democracy. Mind you the way they treated and continue to treat the U.K. now, has changed my mind. I’m glad we’re out.

Like it, but, if Scotland becomes independent the “national” level ceases to exist. Maybe your more informed about the benefits of independence than me or is being aligned more important than the outcome for the country ?

Any views on the best provider, I’m with o2 and the coverage isn’t great in lots of places throughout the isles. someone suggested EE, does anyone have any experience with them or is the likes of vodaphone better. Grateful for any thoughts

Davie P. As well as updating to a new phone, make sure your supplier allows you to use Wi-fi. If I mind right the likes of GiffGaff doesn’t.

Well said Muckle Oxters, it seems that the SNP supporters are always telling folk that we should vote for independence. But I wonder if most or any actually know how such a vote will effect us in years to come. There is so little information on the actual outcome of becoming independent. These are huge issues and I for one will not vote blind. I would rather stay with what I know, than take a gamble that things will be so rosy in Nikkinoo land. it seems that those on here telling me to vote SNP to save the world ! And the constant hatred of anything Westminster really don’t have a clue of the outcome either or wouldn’t they be informing us of all the positives of ‘independence. The William Wallace “Freedom “ attitude doesn’t answer the questions of how an independent Scotland will manage in the future, finance, borders with England, whether or not the EU were to allow Scotland back in etc. The E.U, will strip Scotland of its assets and have it sitting at the door with the begging bowl, dancing to its tune. That’s not independence. So let’s hear from the staunch SNP people on here as to what the advantages are and what they think the negatives are, how we will survive financially, maybe you’ll convince me.

I really wish folk would stop thinking that they speak for all Scots when they make statements. ”independence can’t come soon enough” ha ha, if you get your independence, she will hand it straight to the EU. Scotland will be shredded by them. But keep believing all this guff about being independent.

I ordered some washable ones of Amazon several weeks ago at an extortionate price, still waiting for delivery. If proper masks were readily available the government would likely make wearing masks, when out, compulsory rather than a recommendation. There has been so much waffle about the pros and cons regarding wearing of masks up to now and it would likely be better for everyone if like some other countries they handed them out and made you wear them. Unfortunately our manufacturing industry is all but non existent and we rely on cheap imports from the likes of China, so its difficult to get hold of good quality masks. Leaving it up to everyone to come up with their own makeshift masks can lead to a false sense of protection and more face touching whilst trying to adjust for comfort. I shake my head every time I see a person on the telly with the mask not covering their nose or hanging around their neck.

A heck of a lot of folk weren’t given the choice, they have been furloughed losing 20%. Some self employed are having to survive in next to nothing, I’m sure some footballer on millions can’t afford to rake a small hit for a period of time. There’s no more to it than that.

Understandably, it must be a worrying time for some of the clubs who could go under without ticket sales and I hope that something can be done soon to help, as there are a lot more staff than just the players who’s lively hoods are at risk. I suppose a lot of folk may look at it as just a game and be more concerned about themselves getting back to work before sport. But each to their own. I have to agree with Claadehol though regarding the small number of well paid players who refused to take a pay cut to help their club. When your on silly money, you seem to lose some morals.

Maybe it came across that way. The issue is that’s it’s not the small local teams that are trying to find a way round lockdown, but the big teams, with many over paid prima donnas on ridiculous salaries. I fully support football at a local level, but I’m not a fan of the money being spent on some players, where it would be better off being put into developing thousands of young up and coming footballers. No one is worth the money some of these footballers are paid every week.

And here I was thinking that police states were all about drumming up hate, not trying to stop it. Any other nuggests of wisdom you'd like to share with us? Best not do to much thinking and try some research

Some good news - Well Captain Tom is number 1 in the charts during the week of his hundredths birthday, the money he had raised for the NHS with the walking is amazing. They don’t make them like this anymore. What a remarkable man. Keep up the walking Captain Tom, the singing not so much

It’s unfortunate that Donald Trump doesn’t engage brain before engaging mouth, some of the stuff this man comes out with would be so laughable if he wasn’t in the position he is. The problem is some people will be daft enough to try this. Now do I try the bleach or the vaccine first ?

Depending on where you get the figures the average deaths from flu in the UK is around 16000, thats with a reasonable uptake of the annual flu jab by people eligible to get it. Mainly affects the elderly and those with existing medical problems. On the news yesterday some ‘experts’ were suggesting that the number of Coronavirus related deaths issued by the government, which are basically only those who died in hospital, around 19000, are way under estimated and they believe the real numbers are nearer 41000. considerably higher than the flu. What would these numbers be if we weren’t in lockdown and keep in mind young, ‘otherwise healthy’ folk are dying from this. Having lost a friend from this horrible virus, I am aware of the hurt the loss causes to close family and friends. My friend was elderly and it becomes easier to deal with. My heart goes out to those who lose otherwise fit young people and in some cases children from this. The idea of let’s get back to normal and take our chances may be fine for some folk, but I would imagine the majority of folk would not want to take that 1 in 10 risk with their family members and children. I agree, it’s unlikely we can continue with the current lock down indefinitely and our businesses are suffering, but this will take a bit of time to work out the best and safest way forward. I would think things will change in the foreseeable, where more movement will happen with folk having to wear masks. The reason this isn’t happening now, is masks are scarce and must be kept for our front line workers.