Now to address the real issues that have come to light from the independence vote

Public spending in Northern Ireland and Scotland is over £2000 per head higher than in Yorkshire. That's £billions. Every year. The money comes from the same pot and the people of England put in far more per head than their Scottish and Northern Irish counterparts. More in, less out.

This is not a race to the bottom. We should not be taking from Peter to give to Paul. But it's about time the people of Barnsley and Rotherham and Doncaster and Sheffield - deprived areas who have had their industry ripped apart - are valued as much as the people of Scotland and given the same financial help to improve their lives. We've been short changed for years and it needs rectifying. Immediately.

 

boils my piss this does... im suprised that this hasnt been seized upon sooner

 

I'm not arguing with your point, [MENTION=6655]Jay[/MENTION], but funnily enough I read this just before it:

Chris Ship, Deputy Political Editor, ITV News tweets: I see the #indyref story is very quickly moving to England. I can imagine the reaction in Scotland to that is "what's new?"

 

Agree.

Also, 16 and 17 year olds are valid members of our society and should be allowed to vote. If we expect them to pay taxes, they should be franchised.

 

A feeling of relief this morning. I supported the concept of independence for Scotland, but feared the effects for the remainder of the UK - that we would be more likely to have Tory rule. That may still happen if we now have more devolved powers, including to England, as is being suggested. We can't just say that Scottish MP's cannot vote in Westminster on issues that only affect England (that is racked with so many issues, what if a Labour government is elected based upon Scottish MP's? The Government would effectively have no power to pursue its mandate, or the PM could be from a Scottish constituency), so it has to be a separate English assembly, perhaps with the election being 2 or 3 years after the General Election so you aren't almost guaranteed the same makeup.

 

Agreed

 

It's very difficult for me to have any sympathy at all with that kind of view. Just take this BBS as an example. It's essentially a football forum for a small town in the heart of England. The biggest single discussion point on this forum for the last year has been Scotland. Not Danny Wilson, not Stephen Dawson, not the 4-4-2 system, Scotland.

Scotland likes to think it is ignored yet it dominates news items both north and south of the border, Scottish people pay less tax yet receive more public spending, they have their own parliament plus MPs in a UK parliament who vote on issues that do not effect then in the slightest. They are represented at every level so Scotland gets and we go without.

Scotland isn't ignored, it's the top of the agenda and receives benefits that we can only dream about. It's about time that communities like our own that have been left to rot since our industries were destroyed become top of the agenda. Until we have the same social and economic benefits as the people in Scotland then let's talk about us for a change.

 

Or indeed London MP's voting on issues that have been devolved to the London Mayor.

This is going to be really messy and the promises made by the 3 not so wise men from Westminster when they realised that Scotland might have voted for independence can't be delivered in the sort of time scale they implied the other week will turn round and deservedly bite them on their rear end.

With a future Conservative government promising the referendum on EEC membership we still haven't done with the turmoil.

Enough of the negatives. It was great to see 16/17 year olds with the power to vote and taking part in the debates. It was great that older voters actually thought their vote counted. Lots of positives for progressives all over the UK to hold on to and take forward.

 

Don't worry, give it a year.

The Scottish independence issue will become a deep and distant memory. The promises will be swept under the carpet and the status quo will return.

The attitude will be 'well they had their vote and chose to stop with us' voter apathy will return

It will be taken off the front page by the burning question as to what name Katie Price will give to her next sprog.

 

A cynical view Dave, yet accurate.

 

I think it's fair to say that Alex was probably off the table even before last night's vote.

 

Now to address the real issues that have come to light from the independence ...

Agreed

 

Bugger I thought this was going to be a thread demanding a new Jesus and Marychain album or the immediate reformation of Orange Juice. As you were

 

I'm going to see the JAMC in Manchester in November if that's any help?

 

On the 20th? Me too. Psychocandy. Should be fannytashdick.

 

They've reformed?? Was only listening to their greatest hits on Tuesday

 

Doing a Psychocandy tour not sure if they are doing owt new

 

Yup.

In their pomp I saw them live about 15 times. If I add up all I spent on tickets for their shows during the 80s and 90s I reckon it would be less than it's cost to see them now they're old and knackered. £66 for two tickets including all the stupid add ons. For the Jesus and Mary Chain??? kin ell.

I sort of hope they do a 15 minute set with their backs to the audience producing just a wall of feedback. I think the ensuing riot would kick the North London Poly gig in to touch.

 

YES Jason Scotland!

 

Spot on.