If Scotland does vote for independence will that mean the Union Jack will be obsolete? will it have to be redesigned without the scottish flag?

Probably.....they can't expect to have our currency and flag!!

will they re-classify Jaffa cakes as a biscuit and not a chocolate confectionery?

I have a feeling that there is a flag already in the design process incase they do vote for independence, the problem then lies with the australian and new zealand flags as they would in theory also have to be changed unless its kept as a sovereign state.

You would also have the same situation as with southern Ireland.......ie postage will be Europe rate  97p not 62/53p for a letter and also the cost of passports ....somewhere over £70 I think.
would Scottish Police be excluded from accessing the data-base for car tax/insurance/MOTs and then there is the TV license database, Tax records, Customs & Excise etc. etc.

All countries comprising the UK already have their own flags. http://www.flags.net/UNKG01.htm

yes but the union jack or flag is made up of Englands St Georges cross,  SCOTLANDS St Andrews cross and Irelands St Patricks cross all over laid. Hence the question if Scotland becomes independent what will happen to the most iconic flag in the world?

>All countries comprising the UK already have their own flags.

Yes, but the possible new combination of England, Wales and Northern Ireland will need a new flag, because the Union flag will be redundant if there's no Union!

> the Union flag will be redundant if there's no Union!

As will the .uk suffix on all the websites - unless the England/Wales/Northern Ireland combination rebrand itself as the Un-tied Kingdom ;) .

Wherever you look there will be lots of unexpected changes to almost everything - if your English dog wins at a Scottish show, will he be an International Champion?  It'll become more exaggerated as time goes by, too.

Without a Union, there will be NO NEED of a Union flag, which I prefer to call the Union Jack still btw.   It would just mean removing the Scottish X in any case.

Personally I still hope sanity will prevail up there.   They are not voting as in a General Election, for starters and for only Scottish residents to have the vote (note not Scottish-born people) seems idiotic.   And further, if the Scottish people are using 'them in Westminster' as a reason to separate, split up this tiny island into even smaller countries, then what makes them so sure 'them in the Scottish Parliament' are any different?   Do you trust Salmond?  I sure don't.   This is about HISTORY and once done, if there is a Yes vote, it cannot be undone.

Already people who have sent in their Postal Votes are regretting how they voted either day.   I don't know how any of them can vote because quite simply, they don't have all the facts - so much hasn't yet even been decided, apart from the Monarchy, which I gather Presidet Salmond still wants.   So as for the flag, if it goes that way, no. the Union flag will have to be revamped.

" if your English dog wins at a Scottish show, will he be an International Champion?"

Now there's a thought - will it compete under European show rules rather than the KC rules ......... so much of this hasn't remotely been thought about, never mind a decision made.

I believe that this is one man trying to make a name in history and I hope that all of those with a vote see through him.

As will the .uk suffix on all the websites

New domains have recently been released and some are about to be. You can now have .scotland if you so wish -although that really is rather cumbersome, isn't it. The .uk is also a new one (existed since June or July), shorter and easier than the old .co.uk -but yes, I see your point! It would affect a LOT of websites. Maybe they will release something like .en and .wa  and .ni or whatever letter combination is still available and suitable for England, Wales and Northern Ireland.

>Without a Union, there will be NO NEED of a Union flag

We'll still need a flag to represent the remaining three nations. (Of course technically it's only the Union Jack if it's flying on a ship.)

Here are some suggestions

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/scottish-independence/11091805/Scottish-Independence-New-flag-for-UK.html

And there is the reason we want a split, how rude referring to 'up there' and 'them'

Seems to be a big risk to take, to vote yes because you don't like being referred to as "them up there" when we frequently hear ourselves called "them in the south". Seems a very shallow reason to launch your country into the unknown.

Don't think we (Wales) are represented on The Union Jack are we?  :)

Wales wasn't a country, but a principality without a national flag, at the time.

yes but the union jack or flag is made up of Englands St Georges cross,  SCOTLANDS St Andrews cross and Irelands St Patricks cross all over laid.

So nothing for Wales on the flag then? Ive allways wondered this.

I was born in England, married a Scot, and moved to Scotland 12 years ago - will I become an asylum seeker, foreign national or just an alien?

Wales wasn't a country, but a principality without a national flag, at the time

Ah u sjut answered my question as I was posting it lol. Wonder why they have never updated it to include wales in it

That's O.K. Jo, we have our own flag!  :)

>Wonder why they have never updated it to include wales in it

They wouldn't want a big Red Dragon slapped in the middle now would they?  :-D

YES PLEASE .....................from a Welsh exile now in Suffolk

If that is the only reason you think it is a good idea then I feel really sorry for the fallout of this emotional reaction reaction rather than a well informed intelligent decision based on fact rather than a mis placed predujice fueled by egotistical politicians.

I do hope sense prevails and our lovely Scots fellow friends remain part of what is a united and prosperus union .

Samsmum lol

Don't know if your reply was directed at me but my comment was said somewhat 'tongue in cheek' - partly because OH (English) regularly flies his Cross of St George flag when England is in some sporting event and I keep promising to get a Welsh dragon to fly especially during the 6 nations rugby games.

As to devolution I think it needs far more consideration of all the large and small implications than it has had so far before any rational decision could be made.

> As to devolution I think it needs far more consideration of all the large and small implications than it has had so far before any rational decision could be made

Well said tatty-ead

No it was at Flattiesmums comment :-)

Ditto, so was mine

And there is the reason we want a split, how rude referring to 'up there' and 'them'

Really?   And how often do Scottish people talk about 'them' and 'down there'!!    This is the reason people in Scotland want to change history and potentially ruin something that has been 'good' for 300 years now?  All I can say is I hope it all works out for Scotland, IF there's a yes vote because once there is a separation, that's it.   No turning back.

BTW I am a quarter Scottish.

Just reading  back over some of the posts. I hadnt realised that my query would trigger such a debate.

>would Scottish Police be excluded from accessing the data-base for car tax/insurance/MOTs and then there is the TV license database, Tax records, Customs & Excise etc. etc.

Presumably yes they would be excluded and I presume the databases would have to be split somehow. Or would the Scots just be deleted from the database and leave the Scotts to set up their own records? and what would that cost them? There are so many practicalities and details to sort out. Things that have probably never even occurred to a lot of the people voting. Look how complicated a divorce can get and that is just two people. The arguments between two countries could be horrific. And for what? Just because people dont like being called "them up there"?

> Just because people dont like being called "them up there"?

Anyone who objects to something like that isn't mature enough to run a country!

Which quarter MamaBas ?

Of course you didn't smithy.

LOL - my paternal granddad was Scottish.

I honestly didn't mean to offend with 'up there' and 'them'.   However, I'd not expect anybody to get their knickers in a twist over what is a geographical fact.   Scotland, to me, IS 'up there', just as compared to Scotland, England etc. is 'down here'.   I have no problem with being described as being 'down here'.   But again does this whole separation thing hang on something as trivial as that?   Because to me, it shouldn't.

OP - feelings are clearly running high in all of this - suddenly people have realised a Yes vote may be on the cards when it was probably assumed the Nos would prevail.   Interesting.

If I had a vote I would want a third 'time out' option as I don't think people have had enough information to be able to make a decision on such an important topic.
I think people need more time to have ALL the facts explained.

I think that ios a good idea I must admit I hadnt been taking very much notice of the whole affair and my original question was rather tongue in cheek. However over the last few days I have started to seriously consider the implications and tbh I am sure that a lot of people like me havent really thought about what it would mean to lose Scotland.

Money is obviously a big consideration these days and I wonder just how much the referendum is taking out of our already stretched budget. How much will it cost to make the changes for both countries should the vote be for separation? Why is the vote only for scottish born people living in Scotland. Shouldnt every resident of Scotland should be asked for their opinion?

If there are advantages to splitting up the union perhaps it would be better to separate all the countries.We already have different laws in different parts of the UK. Different entitlements to benefits etc. Why not just complete the process and give each nation its independence?

Everyone who is registered to vote in a general election in Scotland , has the right to vote in the referendum, you don't have to be born in Scotland to vote.

It seems sad that none of the details seem to have been worked out first, all these things about currency and so forth should have been agreed by discussion months if not years ago.  The Scots are expected to vote for something so vague and imprecise, it's crazy.

Also, I think the other parties to the United Kingdom should have a voice of some sort, since we will all be diminished if Scotland becomes independent.  For a start, what about all the international bodies on which "the United Kingdom" has a seat - from the UN Security Council down - how will those seats be divided up between us?  Will the voice of the remainder of Britain (whatever it's called - Englesnire?) be as strong internationally?

>For a start, what about all the international bodies on which "the United Kingdom" has a seat - from the UN Security Council down - how will those seats be divided up between us?

They won't; as Scotland (assuming a Yes majority) will have left the Union then they'll have left everything associated with the UK, and will have to renegotiate as an independent state. At least we'll be shot of all the Scottish MPs in Westminster, influencing and voting on issues that don't apply to their constituents!

Everyone who is registered to vote in a general election in Scotland , has the right to vote in the referendum, you don't have to be born in Scotland to vote.

This, for me, is the problem....... people who live in Scotland get a vote.   They don't need to be Scottish, just to live up there.   On the other hand, Scottish-born people, not living in their country of birth, DON'T get a vote.   A General Election is not what's going on here - with a GE voters get a chance to switch the next time round.   This this vote, this is IT.   Scotland either separates, or it doesn't.   And if separation is voted for, then the population of that country are stuck with that decision.   So much of it hasn't been thought through yet either - and I totally agree, a third option might have been a sensible idea.   I think that was vitoed.   As would be the case with an in or out of Europe vote if we get that chance!

I suspect there are loads of Scottish-born people not living in Scotland, who'd love to have a say in all this?

Personally, I don't think that Scottish born people who no longer live there should be allowed a vote.   If the outcome of the vote is for Scottish Independence, they will be affected only in the same way as the rest of us.

>BTW I am a quarter Scottish.

Me too, Scottish grandfather.

I'm bordering on three quarters Scottish. My mum was a scot and my dad's family go back to scots with two generations, grandma was a Campbell.
I would rather we all stay together, it's going to be a nightmare sorting everything out.

More of a pleasant dream Jodi.....in Alex we trust....bring it on !

Personally, I don't think that Scottish born people who no longer live there should be allowed a vote.   If the outcome of the vote is for Scottish Independence, they will be affected only in the same way as the rest of us.

I understand this reasoning, BUT don't you think this idea goes way further than just living there?   Or politics?   This proposed separation is far more than either.   It's HISTORY and as such, I'd be seriously worried about people who have no connection with Scotland other than to be living there, having the ability to be involved in such a huge decision.  We, the UNITED Kingdom have been a tight unit for 300 years now, and I thought, maybe wrongly, it worked?   Far better to be united than a fragmented collection of small countries in an equally small island?

Personally as English, living now in England, I'd liked to have had a say in all this because it affects more than just Scotland!!   As will be shown should the worst happen and a Yes vote wins.   Not nearly enough information has been given, or decided on, for anybody to vote on such a huge matter.   My view.

"More of a pleasant dream Jodi.....in Alex we trust....bring it on ! "     If you can remotely 'trust' that man, heaven help you!!

Lets not look too deeply into the trust issue  Mamabas.....expenses????.This is not about individuals anyway.As I say bring it on.

>Personally as English, living now in England, I'd liked to have had a say in all this because it affects more than just Scotland!!

Absolutely; this affects every one of us, both sides of the border. The fact that only those on one side are being allowed a vote on something that affects others just as much (global financial uncertainty means investors get nervous and share prices fall, meaning pensioners lose out etc etc) shows how outrageously unfair it is.

Exactly JG!  But if all Scottish born people now living outside Scotland whether in the rest of the U.K. or overseas were allowed a vote, all of us living in the U.K. should be allowed one!  As most of us have said, the outcome will affect us all!