Alex Salmond

[Spelly]

I note he's in Auld Reekie today on the anniversary of the birth of Robbie Burns, talking about a referendum as to whether the Scots should withdraw from the Union.

What's the thoughts of you mob on this? Yes? No? Couldn't give a swear filter?

Perhaps there are even some Celt Haltonions amongst us who can offer us their opinon?

Spelly.

[rayvon]

Oh what a sleekit horrible beastie
lurks in yer belly efter a feastie
Nae matter whit yi try an dae
Abody`s gonnae hiv tae pay
Even if you try to stifle
Its like a bullet oot a rifle
Haud yer bum tight to the chair
to try an stop the leakin air
Shoogle yersel fae cheek to cheek
An pray tae god it disnae leak
Oot it comes like a clap o` thunder
Ricochets aroon the room michty me like a sonic boom
God aw michty it fairly reeks,hope I huvnae spangles ma breeks!!!!

 

[rayvon]

My curse upon your venom'd stang,
 That shoots my tortur'd gums alang,
 An' thro' my lug gies mony a twang,
 Wi' gnawing vengeance,
 Tearing my nerves wi' bitter pang,
 Like racking engines!
When fevers burn, or argues freezes,
 Rheumatics gnaw, or colics squeezes,
 Our neibor's sympathy can ease us,
 Wi' pitying moan;
 But thee-thou hell o' a' diseases-
 Aye mocks our groan.

Adown my beard the slavers trickle
 I throw the wee stools o'er the mickle,
 While round the fire the giglets keckle,
 To see me loup,
 While, raving mad, I wish a heckle
 Were in their doup!

In a' the numerous human dools,
 Ill hairsts, daft bargains, cutty stools,
 Or worthy frien's rak'd i' the mools, -
 Sad sight to see!
 The tricks o' knaves, or fash o'fools,
 Thou bear'st the gree!

Where'er that place be priests ca' hell,
 Where a' the tones o' misery yell,
 An' ranked plagues their numbers tell,
 In dreadfu' raw,
 Thou, Toothache, surely bear'st the bell,
 Amang them a'!

O thou grim, mischief-making chiel,
 That gars the notes o' discord squeel,
 Till daft mankind aft dance a reel
 In gore, a shoe-thick,
 Gie a' the faes o' Scotland's weal
 A townmond's toothache!

[luckylady]

Being of Scottish extraction I say let the penguins go. They need us more than we will ever need them.

My family have a lovely green and gold tartan with a red stripe which I hope to persuade my son to wear when he gets married.

I now consider myself 100% English and btw haggis is disgusting. Yuk.

[J20]

I quite like the moaning about Westminster influence on it considering it is the British parliament and also Scottish MP's have always had a lot of influence in English only issues.

Not sure Salmond really has the bottle to go for independence so soon and it being brought up in Westminster has really started to force his hand. It like to see them vote against tuition fees on their own though 

[Peter]

Does independence mean that all the Scots in England have to go back?

[luckylady]

I do hope so Peter, also they should be barred from Blackpool, that'll sort 'em out.

[kendunne nagasaki]

Does independence mean that all the Scots in England have to go back?

First one to go should be the Jock that does  voice over on  the Co-op ads and then Alan Hansen

KEN

[Peter]

I once had to speak to a Scot in a call centre and could not understand a single word he said. In the end I had to ask to be transferred to someone who spoke English.

Having said that, my secretary for 12 years was a Scottish Lady who was impeccable in her speech, and who became a great personal friend of both myself and my wife.  Sadly, she died two years ago aged 79.

[Rafe Wrench]

First one to go should be the Jock that does  voice over on  the Co-op ads and then Alan Hansen
KEN

I hate that 'gerd with furd' rubbish!

Alex might pull it off y'know, especially if Westminster politicians fall into the trap of telling them how much better off they are with the Barnett formula. The fact is that even if he can scrape a vote over the 51%, the English will screw them in the withdrawal negotiations - we'll get 90% of the oil and gas taxes, bill them for our Navy and Airforce cover, their banking & insurance losses etc etc. They'll end up with no more revenue than the council tax from their only two cities of any size. If they fancy moving to an Irish-style set up then their free-for-all social system will have to disappear overnight.

Having lived north of the border for a  dozen spendid years, I love the place but would say: be careful what you wish for.

[luckylady]

I'd have said it was more gud with fud. 

[rainviking]

First one to go should be the Jock that does  voice over on  the Co-op ads and then Alan Hansen

KEN

Its John Hannah I think.

[so jah seh]

It's a funny one this isn't it? Full independence? I know from my family up there that the SNP MP Angus MacNeil makes a point of visiting every school and college on the island where they live and stresses the importance of voting and politics in their lives. He also has a very good track record when it comes to getting things done for them. The big thing as I see it is the profits from "their" oil reserves. If they can't guarantee that they will get it all then I can't see the point. They have nothing else to sustain their country on of any great worth. The thing that MAY impact me personally is the placement of the UK's nuclear weapons. Currently, I believe at HMNB Clyde but the Scots have said they will not store them if they gain independence and one of the proposed locations for their storage is here in Barrow. Well we do make the nuclear submarines so makes sense I suppose? Also, some of their nuclear waste is stored at Sellafield so will they have to find an alternative OR pay "rent" to store it there?
Despite their un-paralleled fervour and nationalism, I just can't see them surviving as an independent country for very long. We all know where they will come knocking if it goes womanly-curves up. As Billy Connolly says on the subject of nationalism, "If you look at the history of nationalism, you will see the history of horror and war!" Indeed the Big 'Yin has emerged as the Scottish Labour party's alleged prime target to help them de-rail the anti union SNP.
Interesting times ahead.......

[kendunne nagasaki]

Its John Hannah I think.

Yeah thats the tool , and add Lorraine Kelly and Andy Murray to the list aswell.

KEN

[Aldos Gnome]

Alex Salmond is far and away the best party leader in Britain bar none. I'd love to see him take Cameron on in a debate, he'd run rings round him. He's shrewd. He made the SNP electable first, basically by not talking about independence. Now we have no tuition fees, free care for old folk, no tolls on bridges etc. And of course now we like Alex Salmond.

There is noone to touch him here. I'm interested but i couldn't name any of the other scottish party leaders. Cameron may think he's forcing Salmond's hand but 2014 would suit him fine. 700th anniversary of Bannockburn amongst other things, he'll be seen as a latter day William Wallace. Mel Gibson will be playing him in a film before you know it.

If there's one thing we hate up here above all else it's being dictated to by a Tory Toff at Westminster when they have no MPs up here - reminds us of Thatcher. Bally hell, i'll be voting for him if i'm not careful! And so might many others. Of course if we do you lot will have perpetual Tory or Tory led coalition governments. Good luck with that...