Comments by "Andy Monaghan" (@229andymon) on "CaspianReport" channel.

  1.  @Alastorm8  And who’s stopping you having that vote, and why? Not us Scots, that’s for sure. Whether we leave UK, or UK leaves us - fine by me.
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  2. As someone who has followed both UK and Scottish politics, I reckon you’re dead wrong. Yes, Labour will probably take more Westminster seats at the next UK GE, but given those seats are virtually useless to the independence cause we won’t miss them. Meanwhile, support for independence is still too close to call and Westminster is still running so scared (oh yes they are…) of Indyref2 the Tory cowards are preventing it happening because they know they’ll be beaten. Over in soon to be United Ireland Sinn Fein are steadily gaining in both the North and South, with an SF First Minister in Belfast for the first time in history and even in Wales support is growing for an Indy referendum. Your union is finished, and good riddance to it. Who wants to be in a union of 4 nations where only one (guess which) can leave whenever they choose?
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  3.  @gbrown546  Meant to add that while I agree Germany is in trouble at this time, that’s due to other factors, like the rise of Chinese auto industry and the effects of no more cheap piped gas coming from Russia. Germany’s travails are nothing to do with the EU. In the long term UK will suffer badly from Brexit. Why? Because the whole ethos of the EU is to promote inter-EU trade and where possible avoid external trade. Unlike UK, which has no “members”, there are 26 other EU members each nation in the EU can trade with and will in time want to replace UK trade with. There is (almost) nothing positive about Brexit and I believe my country (Scotland) needs to Foxtrot Oscar out the union before we get dragged along with the isolationist, xenophobic Brit state to the decline it’s heading to.
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  4. The “Spanish veto”. Number 3 on the list of unionist BS bingo…..
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  5.  @gbrown546  in truth I’m not saying anything is inevitable, nothing is, but I’ve been watching the rise of Indy support in Scotland since the 70s and Irish unification for as long, and I disagree. Indy support goes up and down, but if you look at it over the long term the trajectory is pointing one way only. Sure it may stop where it is now, and what a horrible prospect that would be, eh? But, why assume it will stop, at 50/50? No, I think UK will split and I also believe the UK nations will be the better for it.
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  6. Support for Indy before 2014 was under 30%. It went to 45%. The Brit Govt did it’s own polling on Scots opinions about Indy and refuse to publish the results. I’m totally up for Indyref2. Bring it on..!
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  7. @macflod  Quite right. I'm not an SNP supporter, I'm an indy supporter. Frankly I don't give a toss how it comes, so long as it does.
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  8.  @ivancho5854  It won’t take anything like 15 years. The EU will be really keen to get Scotland in and will assist as much as reasonably possible. It makes huge sense for them that they do. Don’t let the Mail and the Express fool you otherwise. As it happens I’m not sure whether I’d advocate the EU or EFTA, but either of them beat the unequal, crap deal we have in UK hands down.
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  9.  @sacredgeometry  Sentiments every Soviet leader would agree with. What you’re describing UK just left. It’s called the EU, a union that (for the most part) respects the sovereignty of its members and treats them with respect. Compare that with the dysfunctional and unequal UK union where it matters not one iota what Scotland, NI or Wales wants, because they’re ignored in it. As for quoting 300/400 year old history - I reckon we’ve moved on a bit since, surely? Another way of saying Scotland will be “misaligned” is that Scots will (finally) be able to run Scotland they way we want, as opposed to having it run for us by people we never vote for and to suit other agendas than our own. I reckon that kind of misalignment is sorely needed, personally. Many Scots are by now heartily sick of being “aligned” to the extent we’re ignored and overruled at every turn.
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  10.  @bcanuck  There’s a world of difference in membership conditions. Not all unions are bad. Especially ones you can choose to be in, a privilege currently denied Scots.
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  11.  @pixhammer  May I make a serious and respectful suggestion? Try to understand that not every issue that’s happening in UK has UK, Westminster, London, or England as it’s basis. Not all of us view what’s happening thru Union Jack specs. The cause of Scottish independence has been growing for long before Brexit, or any other specific Brit issue. What’s happening in N Ireland is as much about Dublin and Brussels as London. When Scotland leaves the UK union, it will be more about us carefully choosing the best path for our country, as assessed thru many factors, the present Tory chimps tea party UKG, Brexit and the iniquities of our membership of the UK being merely some. Even if UK miraculously comes to its senses and rejoined the EU, that wouldn’t mean we Scots could get rid of Trident from the Clyde or decide whether we want to participate in Brit military adventurism. In the unequal UK union, we can’t even classify movies..!We need independence to be able to run our country the way we want. In fact, given the growing divide between us and an England apparently hellbent on a suicidal right-wing crusade that has become an imperative.
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  12.  @ThePilgrimLad  Like Norway, you mean, or Denmark, New Zealand etc. I can’t wait for that kind of backwater. And if you don’t have enough faith in England to hold its own in the world without us, then I’d beg to differ. England will cope absolutely fine without us. I really don’t see what your problem is with Scottish independence, but I’m fairly sure your concern isn’t about what’s best for Scotland.
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  13.  @sacredgeometry  You appear to be missing entirely what it is I, and those like me, actually want and why we want it. We don’t want a “better deal” from the UK, we don’t want anything about the union “fixed”, our primary concern isn’t what will happen to UK after we leave. I want it to be essentially no direct business of yours (other than as a neighbour) what our attitude to the EU or anything else is. That will be our business, frankly. We want our own country, not to be part of yours or anyone else’s . Try to get your head round that. You can do as you please with the UK after we leave. I find this time and again when talking to unionists, they just can’t see apart from thru a Brit prism.
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  14. I’m a committed independence supporter and have been for decades. I voted YES in 2014 but never, ever during that process believed we would win. We started too far behind with support at 30/70 against. This time we go in roughly even and I believe next year we will rectify the 2014 mistake.
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  15.  @ivancho5854  I disagree. Regarding UK exports in particular, what does UK sell to EU that the EU won’t be able to (and want to) source from within its own membership, given the ethos of the EU is to encourage inter- EU trade (and vice versa). UK on the other hand has no “members”, but is faced with having to exponentially increase its exports via other markets, which is never an easy task and where in many cases they’ll be starting from a low or very low base? No, Brexit is straight loss.
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  16. It’s got ZERO to do with “sticking it” to anyone. It’s about choosing the best path for our country. I’m wondering what part of ex-Yugoslavia you come from - Surrey, perhaps?
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  17.  @sacredgeometry  What about the list of reserved powers the SG suggested should be transferred to Holyrood that has been ignored. Then our vote to remain in the EU, then our suggestions for immigration policy to try to stem the UKs rampant Londoncentrism, and end with the SGs wish that UK remove their nuke WMDs from 30 miles away from our biggest city? There are plenty more, but will that do for starters? Incidentally, what would you think the soon to be UK PM meant by saying she would “ignore” the democratically elected and popular leader of the SNP (something Truss has yet to achieve) and First Minister of Scotland. You don’t think that might point to the merest hint that Westminster doesn’t give a flying fandango what Scotland wants? Truss only voicing what previous PMs didn’t say, but did.
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  18.  @pixhammer  Well, the problem with your comment is - it’s not what the polls are saying now that counts, it’s the poll called Indyref2. Before Indyre1 polls had support at less than 30%. That grew to 45% and is now roughly even. I suppose the acid test is - which side is confident and which running scared of the voice of the people?
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  19.  @ivancho5854  I despair of and completely reject your logic. I’ve noted that during indy debates with unionists, if the word hate comes up, it’s invariably the unionist raising it. Usually to, without substance, accuse us Scots of “hating the English”. It’s got nothing to do with hating anyone, and far from engendering hatred between us, our independence will remove the resentment we feel about Westminster and the unequal UK union. Transforming us from surly tenants to good neighbours. Unionists that talk about hate simply can’t otherwise understand (or want to understand) that Scots just want a different future. We’re not going anywhere, Scotland will be exactly where it is now, we’ll just no longer be in a toxic political union with you.
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  20.  @ivancho5854  Incidentally, regarding Germany and France “hating” the English, I refer you to soon to be PM Truss’ recent comment that she doesn’t know whether to regard the French as a “friend or a foe”. To quote the bible - “regard not the mote in thy brothers eye, rather the beam in thy own”.
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  21.  @Craigx71  Why would the EU want them back? The UK has nothing positive to offer the EU.
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  22.  @pixhammer  Really? by predicting the Indy vote will rise modestly after the next campaign, considering the last one raised it 50%. If you think another year or so of Brexit Brit rule, presided over by PM Loonytoon Truss, is going to change that, one of us is definitely naïve. Anyway, as I said, the acid test is who’s confident (us) and who’s running scared (UKG). Of course you could ask for the polling on the subject the UKG did not long ago, but good luck with that, they’re refusing to release it. Sorry, but Indyref2 is ours. Incidentally, can I ask why you’re so negative about it? I ask coz I believe there is a case for union, just not a strong enough one vs running Scotland ourselves.
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  23.  @wholelifeahead  You’re entitled to your derogatory and insulting views of my country and people, however ill-informed and unwelcome they are. I never insult the English, because they’re a good people (although their political leaders are abhorrent idiots).
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  24.  @sacredgeometry  I respect, if disagree with your views. Why must we be in a dysfunctional political union to be able to get on well with our neighbours? Why can’t we all get along if Scotland, Ireland and even Wales are independent? I don’t see the problem.
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  25.  @jonathanodude6660  Thanks for your opinion. Mine is different and we’ll see whether Scotland (the nation) agrees with me or you next year at Indyref2. If it’s all just “areas” why do so many unionists get in a froth about my “area” leaving your “area”? It’s just “areas” - what’s your problem?
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  26.  @crowbar9566  Sure. What a wonderful “United Kingdom” that would be, eh? Only united coz England won’t let Scotland leave. Can’t wait. Westminster hasn’t stopped all the other dozens of places leaving Brit rule over the centuries, what makes you think it’ll be successful this time? Places leave UK. They don’t come back. I suggest you get fine with *that*.
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  27.  @comradekenobi6908  Yup. Incidentally, the Tories at this time are in freefall, with some polls predicting a wipeout for them, including ending up with zero Scottish MPs. But are people saying the Tories are finished..? Predictions of SNP demise are unionist wishful thinking.
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  28. UK/English needs will not be paramount in an Indy Scotland, Scottish ones will. That’s kind of the point…..
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  29.  @josm1481  I suggest you try to calm down. I’m supremely confident the EU will be fully supportive of a Scottish application because they’re an evangelistic organisation that wants members, especially one with what will be their largest resources of oil and gas as well as Europe’s largest fishing grounds and access to huge amounts of renewable power in the near future. Unlike UK, the EU thinks rationally, not emotionally. It genuinely puzzles me how negatively Brit unionists like you react to our impending Indy. It appears to make you feel rejected. Which is stupid, incidentally, as I say, it’s about us, not you.
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  30. You omit to mention that the only way the SNP would have arrived at that (2024) position would be if UK had bottled out of Indyref2 due to their being too scared to fight it….. a wee bit of “pure disingenuity” perhaps?
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  31.  @wholelifeahead  Apology accepted, and I’m not here for a popularity contest. Btw I’m not in a minority in Scotland.
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  32.  @wholelifeahead  Firstly - who’s talking about having lots of referendums? We’re only going to need one more. But, even if we did need 10 or 50 more as long as there’s enough democratic support for 10 more then that’s what we should have. The key is support, which is the bedrock of any functioning democracy. However messy the people’s vote may be, it must be heard. And yes, I’d say that if it was unionists campaigning to re-unify with UK (they won’t, btw). Second - You’ve ticked another unionist BS bingo box with your - it’s an “emotional” decision. It’s bugger all to do with emotion, you’ve been propagandised by the outrageously biased unionist Brit media into believing we all paint our faces blue and have swords above our mantle pieces. Do the SNP strike you as painting their faces blue? It’s a carefully considered (and intelligent) decision arrived at over many years. Give us some basic credit for Christ sake..! Lastly. What is notably absent from the Scottish Indy debate is any feeling of Scottish exceptionalism. Which, let’s face it, doesn’t exactly sit well with your (forgiven) accusation we’ve got a chip on our shoulder, does it? I wish I could say the same for British (aka English) politics right now. We will be content with our status as a small European nation that is part of the EU. like Denmark or Ireland etc. I have zero problem with that. The UK has lasted 300 years. Long enough. Let me ask you a question that I would appreciate if you to answer thoughtfully and 100% truthfully. Is your concern about us leaving because of what the effects will be for Scotland, or UK? Because they aren’t the same.
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  33. Well, let’s see who wins next year, eh, but you’re fantasising about 70% for the union. My prediction is a reversal of the 2014 mistake. As for the EU, they’ll kiss our butts as they roll out the red carpet for us and the EU will be around far longer than the UK. So you’re an ex SNP voter… Really? Ever heard the old Scottish saying “A hae ma doots”…?
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  34.  @AeneasGemini  “Equal rights” in UK in practice means Scotland doesn’t exist. Which of the Home nations picks who will govern UK - every time? Scotland last voted for the Tories in 1955, that sound “equal” to you?
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  35. Scotland will become independent and rejoin a stronger EU. How the Russians and Chinese must have laughed about Brexit, eh?
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  36.  @ThePilgrimLad  I can tell you exactly how the UK military will be separated from Scotland. By our becoming an independent country. Can you understand that concept? It appears you’re struggling. Once we are independent, any UK military on our territory uninvited would be an occupation. That includes Faslane. FOREIGN country……. Not British, foreign….. I find your comment baffling and depressing. You just don’t get it, do you?
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  37. @jackkruese4258  Westminster representation is practically useless for the indy cause. In effect even if every single Scottish MP was indy they still couldnt acheive anything without Westminster approval. So, a rise in Labour MPs in Scotland will only matter from a propaganda POV.. Of course, that doesn't apply to England. They can do as they please.
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  38.  @_blanding  You make many points, but your central argument is the usual one of "basket case Scotland". Apart from being offensively insulting, unsubstantiated and typically Brit unionist, I don't accept it. The subject is hugely complex as opposed to the blithe dismissal you provide and just how well Scotland will do once free of the dead hand of London control is dependent on many factors, some of which can only be estimated. If I asked you to elaborate your opinion regarding our economic hopelessness (be unable to do what many nations have done that have far less than our advantages), I fully expect we'd end up with the notorious GERS unionist mantra. Spoiler is I don't accept that either. But let me rather pick up on a couple of your other mistakes. Firstly, our indy will not "end" Scotland and England (I note you typically forget the other 2 nations). That is frankly absurd. However, it will end the UK, which I expect you are, again typically, equating with England, so perhaps that's what you mean. Secondly your suggestion to try to make the unfair, undemocratic, unequal and now involuntary UK union more tolerable via a bunch of reforms no Westminster regime will make and a "British Council" will neither happen nor is any kind of substitute for Scots running Scotland, which we'll do far better than any London based unionist mob that does not have our best interests at heart. How would you propose this Camelot style "Council" would work anyway? How would you avoid the critical problem of England outvoting the rest of us put together several times over?. You also make a fundamental error directly comparing Brexit with Scexit. The motivations and consequences of both are very different and if you don't understand that I seriously suggest you make a further effort to. The English made a drastic mistake with Brexit, for negative reasons and with drastic consequences, please don't tar us with their nationalistic, isolationist brush. I'm happy to discuss further how each exit will differ, but perhaps you could reflect further on some of the obvious differences first. Lastly, I'll just mention that we will have no need of a UK style defence profile as we won't conduct an aggressive foreign policy bent on "promoting UK interests". Nor will we want your nuclear WMD 30 miles from our biggest population centre. I suggest you rather park them in the Thames, after all, you've been telling us how safe they are for decades. It is UK that will lose in that regard when we leave (not our fault) and if you really need proof, have a look at a map. But, I'll end with a simple, direct question - is your "concern" around what's best for Scotland, or for UK, because I can categorically assure you they are not the same.
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  39.  @pixhammer  I’m doing neither. Because the polls were saying 30% rising to maybe 40% before Indyref1 and also because I just didn’t “feel” the Scots were ready to take the brave step in 2014, I never thought we had a chance then, so I do give them some credibility. I also don’t believe there will be a “surge” this time (your word). I reckon the vote will increase next year, not by 50% like last time, but enough to get us on over the line. Look what’s happened between 2014 and now, I really can’t see a majority of Scots voting for more of that
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  40.  @josm1481  Can you point me to anything I’ve said to deserve your bitter sarcasm? Because it appears to me all you’re doing is judging others by your own standards. Where have I indicated Scottish exceptionalism?
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  41.  @josm1481  So, we are to believe Westminster is refusing Indyref2 to “protect us from ourselves”? Patronise much..?
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  42.  @josm1481  I have no tears in my eyes, nor do I expect to have any either. it’s incredibly typical of unionists that simply don’t understand the cause of Scottish independence to put it down to “anti- English” or “emotion”, rather than face the fact we just don’t want to be in the toxic, unequal Brit union anymore. It’s politics, not people. I suggest you try to stop taking it personally, or as some kind of “emotional” Scottish reaction against the rest of UK or England in particular. It’s not. In fact it’s about us and what we consider the best path for our country. It isn’t about you actually.
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  43.  @josm1481  You enjoy the rest of your day, OK?
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  44.  @the_grand_tourer  1955, not 1979.
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  45.  @dw620  probably because that’s wrong. The stone cold facts are : 62% of Scots voted to remain in the EU and Scotland was ignored by Westminster because it doesn’t give a continental what we want. Central belt vs rest of Scotland - utter fiction. Orkney and Shetland - what issue? “Budget issue” - Unionist BS.
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  46.  @RenaissanceMan29  It doesn’t matter what he said. In a functioning democracy, nothing can be said that cannot be unsaid, no policy once decided upon cannot be reversed, no position cannot be changed. Which is something we should all be thankful for. Boris Johnson promised to “die in a ditch” if a policy of his didn’t become reality, it didn’t and he’s still the PM. Salmond also said independence was the best thing for Scotland, was he right then too, or do we cherry pick what we want to be true?
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  47.  @fightforaglobalfirstamendm5617  And yet the SNP are still the Scottish govt and hugely popular, having more MSPs than all the unionist parties combined. My explanation for that is that few in Scotland agree with you, what’s yours?
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  48.  @fightforaglobalfirstamendm5617  An empire who’s crimes are abhorrant. Have a read about the Opium Wars and then crow about how “Great” Britain is. I spoke to a Kenyan guy once who told me about his Mau Mau Grandfather who was tortured by the Brits. I spoke to a South African who hated the Brits for inventing Concentration camps and killing innocent Afrikaaner women and children. An empire who’s conquered constituents Foxtrot Oscar’d off at the soonest opportunity never to return. Scotland will be next, but not the last to leave the cold, dead hand of UK misrule. N Ireland will follow shortly.
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  49.  @RenaissanceMan29  I’m totally up to put that union to the test next year, are you?
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  50.  @RenaissanceMan29  But you Tories were last voted for in Scotland in 1955? So no-one wants you? Unlike the SNP that beat all your unionist parties combined? “England” protects your civil rights? I think you’ll find “England” doesn’t exist in a constitutional context, but I know what you mean alright - in effect UK is England with bells on. You unionists may be happy with Scotland being an insignificant bauble on the English Xmas tree, but let’s see what the Scottish people think next year, eh? Or are you not that cocksure? As for “communism”, I haven’t a Scooby Doo what that means, but if Scotland can get the governance Scots vote for, instead of getting governance it never votes for, that’s a plus in my book.
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