Scottish Independence?

I do not want to introduce any controversy or political debate over the issue, but I'm curious ...

IF Scotland does vote to leave the UK, what should we expect in the way of philately and stamp-issuing authorities?

Any thoughts on the impact for collectors?

If they do vote to secede from the UK, it will probably a couple of years for it to formally happen. I'm guessing there would be a transitional period in which British stamps would be still allowed on mail from Scotland until Scottish stamps are fully in stock and available. No more QEII's head on the corner of the stamps or Scottish regional Machins.

I presume the government would be a constitutional parliament and the monarchy will have no part. It should be interesting to see what stamp topics will be picked, especially the definitive stamps.

The Scottish government has stated that the Queen will still be around to lord it over her Scottish subjects... only there is a proposed constitution that will make her a constitutional monarch as already mentioned (we are not Scottish citizens but are subjects of the queen).
The Scottish government has set out a detailed agenda which includes taking the Scottish part of Royal Mail back out of private speculators hands and into proper,public ownership. Stamps will be used as now for more than a year after the referendum vote as negotiations will take that long to finalize. I'd expect any future stamps would be similar to the existing (and probably printed by the same printers) with perhaps a "Scotland " addition. A Scottish Machin series? Probably.

Here's a recent news article on the subject:

http://www.thisismoney.co.uk/money/...t-warns.html

so many scare stories to persuade people not to vote YES. One great story is a German bank has been reported in UK newspapers as saying that the WORLD will enter a financial meltdown if Scotland votes YES.
I enclose the latest prediction for your amusement...

Princess Anne is much loved by the Scots who would, as an independent nation, have the right to constitute their own monarchy. As the King across the Water is no longer with us, Queen Anne ll would do rather nicely.

New country, new Queen, new mail system, new stamps, new stamp albums to buy.

Terry

Great photo, Scotzm.

I do think the global markets will be down on Thursday; I don't know about "collapse" but definitely down based just on uncertainty.

Hard to please everyone: Orkney and the Shetland Islands within Scotland have their own independence movement. I wish all in the UK the very best regardless of how the vote goes on Thursday.

I don't see how independence will be particularly good for Scotland, though I certainly understand the emotion and history behind the move to secede.

Pretty amazing that the UK agreed to abide by the terms of the referendum. There's no way that such an agreement would happen in the US, even leaving aside past history. If each state held a referendum on secession today, I have little doubt that the country would soon be half its size or less.

Yeah let's not have seccession in the US again. Though Texas still has the right to split into 5 seperate states though thats not the same thing. The problem is everyone of those states would want to be Texas.

Although I doubt it will go anywhere, don't forget about the proposal for six independent States that some want for California!



But now we're getting far off-track as this has nothing to do with stamps...

It's not surprising the Scots want to break free. Does anyone know the words to the 6th verse of the British national anthem? It's not sung very often, so probably not, but let me refresh your memory...


Lord, grant that Marshal Wade,
May by thy mighty aid,
Victory bring.
May he sedition hush,
and like a torrent rush,
Rebellious Scots to crush,
God save The King.

Steve

Yes Steve you are spot on, except that verse is never sung. Can't blame today's England for the words of Henry Carey, a long dead songwriter. And for most people "Jerusalem" or "Land of Hope and Glory" would have been better choices. But what still really irks many Scots is the way the Act of Union was decided by William lll bribing Scottish MPs, Lords and ladies, and the gentry with cash incentives to vote to unite the parliaments of England and Scotland. Nothing democratic about that.

Terry

I have to agree with Terry on the song lyrics... it's a very old song and has nothing to do with events today.
A YES vote would be a mandate to continue the work of the present Scottish government but with vastly enhanced powers over policy and expenditure. As it stands just now Scotland gets a block grant of £ XXXXX and is free to do with that money as it feels fit. This current Scottish government chooses to make all medicines free (I believe it is £8 every time you need medicines in the rest of the UK)... the current Scottish government chooses to give free help to elderly and sick people living at home in order that they can wash and dress etc. This current Scottish government is in the process of supplying free meals to children at school to rid this country of young children going to school without breakfast. This current Scottish government chooses to not implement the Bedroom Tax (this penalises people who are deemed to have an "extra" room for any reason....mostly it hits disabled people who NEED that room for specialist equipment or need an attendant to sleep over). All that and more is done from the block grant of £ XXXXX. Just think what could be done with control of expenditure in Scottish hands. No paradise... just a fair society with Scottish decisions in Scottish hands.

I know, just stirring the porridge. LOL

Steve