UK, Ireland /
Polish Families Moving to Scotland or back to Poland [23]
You left for Poland under unexplained circumstances.
Unexplained? That's a new one on me, particularly as I tell anyone that wants to know that I left because I was fed up of having to fly everywhere to visit anywhere interesting. Now I can jump in a car and go to Prague, or Vilnius, or Berlin, or Warsaw, or Vienna for the weekend. Nothing unexplained about it - just a desire to see more of the world.
I imagine millions more would leave too once Scotland goes through its own exit and the long process of having to start its own currency and sort out its economy in the world.
Why would they? Scotland wouldn't be a poor country, and with the resources available, wouldn't need to be poor as well. The whole emphasis on renewable energy suits Scotland perfectly - vast amounts of empty space in which to generate it, and the price can only increase as the EU carbon limits continue to bite. It's already well known that England pays handsomely to access Scottish hydroelectricity - and the capacity for it in Scotland is incredible.
Own currency? I think it's pretty obvious that Scotland would retain the Pound at par - it suited the Irish for over 50 years, and it wouldn't be difficult to peg the Scottish Pound to the Euro if needs be - again, many smaller EU countries did just that successfully for years and still do.
As you should know all accession countries need to meet specified conditions. You can rely on Westminster cutting the umbilical cord and making a real move for independence extremely difficult and certainly to the disadvantage of Scotland.
Not really, because Scotland would be a major trading partner from the get-go. Cameron has already made it clear that they won't stand in the way of Scottish independence should it be so decided, and England isn't known for playing petty diplomatic games at the European level. As for the specified conditions - Scotland already would meet the criteria because Scotland already applies EU law.
Did you know that the Crown currently owns all mineral rights (which includes oil and gas) under British soil?
What relevance does it have? The Crown would then become part of the Scottish Crown - and with it - mineral rights. But if you want to get technical - the Crown is more or less what is owned directly by the State. If the State splits (as has happened many times previously to the UK) - then the property splits too. It's really a non-issue - anyone with an understanding of the British constitution knows this. In fact, the Scottish Parliament was recently handed some rights relating to the Crown as part of the Scotland Act 2012.
I don't see Scotland becoming an independent petro-state without a serious fight for it; either in a court room or even by military force.
England has already made it clear that Scotland is free to pursue her own path. There has been absolutely no mention of mineral rights, simply because they wouldn't have a leg to stand on in terms of international law.
If any Poles want the prospects of a lower standard of living and uncertain future they could certainly go to Scotland.
Of course, it could go the other way, as an independent Scotland goes towards a Nordic model. All major parties in Scotland support Nordic-style social contracts, and it's pretty much certain that the country would go down that path.
