Connery: Scots independence close

BBC ^ | 24 February 2008

[Peter Libra]

Thought I was going to get a rocket on my little homily..... So it was great to get your post. Worked for a year up at Brora, Sutherland, as radio operator in the early fifties- just out of the British Army.

Fairly sure Elizabeth's father was John Duncan of Kennoway, Fife.(born 1822). Still working on it.

[Antoninus]

Just in time to be conquered by Islam in 20 years.

[SnarlinCubBear]

Don’t tell anyone but my Scot connection is my ggf, out of Edinborough - a Reid. He landed in Missouri. I’m just so proud - Reid ack!

[Uriah_lost]

Great, so they can quit sending their North Sea Oil money to London and start sending it straight to Brussels. Most of the best of Scotland got out to the colonies.

[sushiman]

All this talk of oil and Scotland reminded me of a great Burt Lancaster film entitled LOCAL HERO . If you have never seen it , by all means check it out . 8 out if 10 stars .

[americanophile]

Well, Scotland and England have been working on their relationship for a good thousand years, so I'm not sure I would hold my breath for anything radical to happen, but you never know. They built that dreadful Scottish parliament building...that was radical.

I'm not sure that it benefits Scotland economically, but what the hell, they want a Scotland of Scots, by Scots and for Scots. It's understandable, and who knows, perhaps it will allow England to regain a sense of pride in being English rather than the always ambiguous and lately rather Muslim "British." It would be rather strange to lose the term "British" from our lexicon however. Of course Wales may stick with England.

It's fascinating to watch Europe devolve into ever smaller states. Belgium may not survive either.

[Young Scholar]

I’ve heard claims that were it not for the socialists in Scotland, the UK could be nearly as economically conservative as the US. Anyone know if this is really true?

[ARE SOLE]

this may be the case of being careful what you wish for. England may be the ones getting the better deal in the bargain having the heavily welfare-dependent Scotland cut loose

Big bump to a man who knows what he is talking about.

Scotland gets more back from London than they send in. A lot more.

Years back Indendence would have been a different story perhaps. Back when the River Clyde was full of shipyards. And when the yolk of socialism hadn't affected the souls of Scotlands sons and daughters.

Before the Heroin and the daily knifings. Back when the North sea was full of oil.

Besides, who do you think has been leading Britains government all these years? Scottish Socialists

Regards

[Winniesboy]

yolk of socialism

Beat the eggwhite of nationalism till stiff enough to stand in peaks, mix in the *yolk of socialism, place in a hot oven for 1000 years and you get the souffle of the Scottish National Party.

*n.b. eggs must be organic

[ARE SOLE]

Aye, right you are.

[expat_panama]

"Scotland gets more back from London than they send in. A lot more...."

It's a tradition. The Scottish Parliament voted itself out of existence in 1706 when England paid Scotland ₤398,085 which was supposed to be the Scot's share of English debt.

[ProCivitas]

All of Britain is One Nation under God, consisting of Scotland, England, Ireland, Wales, the Channel Islands and Isle of Man. Everything else in the United Kingdom is a conditional Protectorate.

They should conduct themselves accordingly and make common cause, while preserving, developing, and applying their regional cultural traditions. Much as I like Connery, I would have thought he could maintain and advance a decent allegiance to both Scotland in particular and Britain in general.

Scotland and other parts of Britain need more eco-industry and a national trade policy of Britain being 'its own best market first', while finding a strong market for its exports to America.

[ProCivitas]

What does the ‘PPK’ acronym stand for? police something or other?

[hellbender]

I really don't know much about Walther firearms, but here's what Wikipedia says about "PPK":

Walther PPK. Its German acronymous name stands for Polizeipistole Kriminalmodell (Police Pistol Detective Model - implying it was more concealable than the original PP model and hence better suited to plainclothes or undercover work)

[patton]

Actually, that is Police Pistol Criminal Model.

[fieldmarshaldj]

BTW, I’m apparently related (maternally) to the head of the Scottish Conservative Party. Goldie is a fairly obscure surname, and we’re all related. I’ve never contacted her to find out exactly how close a relation she is (probably a 2nd cousin). My Scot grandfather (whom I’m presuming would be either her uncle or granduncle) always had a strong anti-Socialist streak. He was a tool & die maker in NYC who fought like hell to keep labor unions out of his workplace.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Annabel_Goldie

[Clemenza]

I have friends who remember when you heard Scottish brogues around Kearny, NJ as late as the 1960s. Now, you need to Farla Portugues in Kearny, at least in the portion closest to Newark.

[bert]

I doubt it.

The commercial and business entities are too closely tied to permit a parting.

[Mac1]

“> One wonders exactly what Scotland would gain from independence <

Maybe pursue the Laborites’ dream of a socialist utopia?”

it is a socialist utopia.

[Charles Bronson Forever]

Ah, go eat some cubby broccoli.