And for those ignorant of Billy, have a gander on this,
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1_i9t-qgg6E

Nigel Lipton,
good balanced post. I'm not a natural nationalist but have converted to the cause of Scottish independence over the past 5 or so years. Mainly because the differences between Scottish and UK political opinion have become more pronounced.
I too believe it would probably lead to a healthier relationship between Scotland and England that has become increasingly bitter between some based on arguments around finances.
I also get the feeling that independence is now likely as the SNP will pick their moment carefully. Interesting point about English identity and wouldn't disagree though can't claim to fully understand that issue.
Looking forward to developments that will be the start of a positive change for both countries.

...or, should I say an ill-informed and petty man.
No, Lox, neither. Rather well informed and rather generous, actually. Stuart has kindly provided but a small sample of the over-whelming evidence that English taxpayers subsidise a standard of living in the barking, vote-providing Celtic fringe that they themselves do not enjoy. But enough is enough. Patient simmering irritation with the self-applauding Scottish conspiracy of mediocrity is becoming exasperated anger, which will overwhelm you. If you do not leave, you will be despatched. As the Euro protected the Greeks from their own incompetence and profligacy, so the Barnet formula and the Scots. So, buy a decent text on economics (a clue: oil and whisky will not be enough if you don't work hard, pay tax and live within your means, rather than the means of others). Then leave: the first useful thing you will have done for yourselves in a millennium or so.

Passion, that is the secret, rational passion that is, unlike, cough!, some places in the UK!

@rob c, take your pills and go to bed.

People view the SNP as being more 'labour' than Labour.

I'm gutted that Galloway never made it though.

Jean Freeman, ex adviser to Labour first Minister eloquently explained on BBC Scotland today that Labour has failed to take defeat in 2007 seriously, took its electorate for granted and used scare tactics which assumed the whole electorate were stupid.

The SNP stand up for Scotland, the Unionist parties have failed Scotland time after time after time.

Cameron says 'Broken Britain' - rich coming from the man who just ripped the union jack apart.

Time to get rid of Miliband. He has made too many mistakes and has all the charisma of a wet fish. I voted for him but I am severely disappointed. Labour will not win with Ed Mil.

Norway can with 5 millions inhb.
so come on scotland we norwegians are waiting for your independence.

Yes Scotland, please declare UDI. 1st you will lose Faslane and Rosyth Naval Dockyards. Then all UK Government offices will be transferred back to England. There's a nice little rise in your unemployment rate for starters.And it will get worse. By the way, can anyone explain why Scotland has 129 MSP's but only 72 (I think) Westminister MPs who are doing what appears to be the same task?

Denmark also can with approx 5 million of a population. The break up of the union might get the English to really take a look at how they are treated by their government.

The answer is of course "AV".

Labour opted for the guy who came 2nd. Labour chose not to be lead by a winner.

The public don't vote for losers.

Ehtch Tee

Touchy? Not at all, quite calm asking you sensible questions all you can answer,in your hatred of my country comes shining through because you know your country would go bust very very fast without our handouts.

Creative Accountancy? just what does that mean? give me "your accountancy" which shows in any way Wales making a net contribution to the British economy. You can't and you know it, it's always been the same since Edward gave you some work to do building Castles.

Benjamin and Nigel Lipton

Still waiting for your replies!

Yep. smell the coffee England, Scotland has all the wealth and for a long time. Bernard Ingham did his nest to hid it from Little Englanders, but that is the simple truth.

By the way, at the moment, us Wales has fuck all, even with suppossed unsuccussful gas and oil exploration between us and Oireland, wink-wink.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FYdx-vcRmVc

Please now go. But a few things before you do. Send back the taxes paid by hard-working English private sector taxpayers to the Scottish workshy public sector; and all the mal-located State infrastructure positioned to buy McVotes and reward the Alban nomenklatura. Take back your corrupt and incompetent politicians and your risibly biassed broadcasters. That should leave you only to say thanks (go on, try it) for six decades of shameless sponging; and to decide on your new national state language. Stick with Gaelic; or switch to Greek or Portuguese.

Once all the UK companies that trade in Scotland start having to pay their taxes in Scotland........What subsidy?
But if only the English electorate wouldn't keep electing these ridiculous Tory governments there'd be no need for any of this unpleasantness. And god help England with a government it's elected by itself.

@mittfh - A study by IFS showed that the "subsidy" to Scotland under the Barnett formula just about balances the effect of sharing the oil revenues across the UK. However, there is a significantly disproportionate amount of UK government expenditure in Scotland, not least on defence establishments and procurement.

Dave; "People view the SNP as being more 'Labour' than Labour."
I think that is a very shrewd observation Dave - actually I would say - that in Scotland - the SNP are seen as being more anti-Tory than Labour - hence their success in this national Anti Tory / Lib Dem atmosphere. That's a wake up call for Ed Milliband but an obituary for the Cameron clan (Eton branch). The Tories and the Tory media may well sneer at Labour's failure north of the border - but it is the empty sneering of the utterly vanquished. (in Scotland anyway - for the time being)

So if Scotland does become independent, you can take Gordon Brown and the Scots MPs.

You can take your share of RBS and the rest of the UK will let you have what's left of the oil.

We'll be rid of Labour for two generations and also won't have to fund Scotland at 118% of its tax receipts.

Best of luck with independence, you'll be doing the union and the remainder of the UK the world of good.

An England, although I do not wish to see the union broken up, if the referendum takes place, so be it.

England will have to deal with the influx of impoverished migrants heading over the border a fear years after that, I fear.

Andrew Neil too? Franie Boyle? That bird fron Newsnight? Bay City Rollers? Christ, England would be barren if they all left.

Go on, Scotland, go for independence. The English are fed up with handing over a big, fat cheque to you year on year, please go your own way.
And take all that "oil revenue" with you, you can keep it. Just go.
It is high time you stood on your own two feet, leave, leave. If the English had ever had a say in a referendum to break up the union you would have been booted out years ago, please go.