Scotland, Northern Ireland, England and Wales...

[Robbie.Crow]

Just a thread to see what people think.

Recently an article in the Daily Telegraph said this about Andy Murray (a SCOTTISH born and bread tennis player);

"Moreover the Scot is only the third English player to reach the last four of the tournament since 1967."

Confusion? Yes!

So many of the world today see Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland as part of "England" when infact - although i hate to admit it - they are all parts of The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, NOT England. Many people dont see there being any difference between these countries and just lump them together as England. This is wrong. I'm going to comment on Scotland because it is the main one of which i know most about.

For one, Scotland has it's own judicial and legal system which is different from the rest of the UK and England. We rule on certain issues and our laws are different from the rest of the UK. For example you can get married at the age of 16 in Scotland, whereas in England you h ave to wait untill you are 18. Also, The Smoking Ban was first implimented in Scotland because the people wanted it. If Scotland was truely part of England, we couldnt have got this.

Scotland also has it's own Education System which is better - by and large - than the english one. We sit different exams, we answer to a different exam body and we sit our exams at different times. Also, much to the dismail of English University Students, our University Fees are paid for us too encourage us to go into further and higher education.

Scotland also has it's own Health Service which in many ways IS better than the English one. A law was recently passed that saw all OAPs in scotland getting their prescriptions free of charge, can this be said for England? No it cannot!

And besides all this... we have our own Football League and Church ... but the less said about that the better as we dont want to get into a forum argument.

Besides all this, we still cannot speak for ourselves on many issues which effect scotland the most. For example, we are not allowed to sit on the board for EU Fisharies because that power is held by Westminster, even though 80% of all fishing industry is in Scotland.

I think that the reason people do not see Scotland as Scotland but as part of England is because in many cases we are not allowed to speak for ourselves as Westminster does this for us. Is this wrong? I wont comment... but i think you know my opinion by now!

okay so this has been a long post... but i just want to see.. do you consider Scotland, Northern Ireland and Wales as part of England.. or do you consider them their own independent country? Or in fact.. do you consider them as something else...

i welcome your comments...

[Tubbs]

Okay, I was born in England, but I don't see myself as being English. Rather, I see myself as being British, and therefore I see Scotland as part of The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.

This being said, I can understand the frustration that Westminster must cause North of the Border and you have my sympathy for that...

[Pete Walen]

What's that one line? Oh Yeah -

"Rebellious Scots to crush!"

No wonder some folks have a complex...

[Daz Gregory]

ahhhhhhhhhhh...Robbie Robbie Robbie......don't go down this road fella.

[Pete Walen]

c'mon Daz, let's see if we can get that wee vein on the side of his head to bulge out...

[Vikki]

touchy ground here Robbie.

I won't start on a rant from the Northern Ireland point of view. However, likewise we are neither part of England of the Republic of Ireland for that matter. I consider myself British. We also have a slightly different school system and slightly different laws. Although based on the English laws, many are in place under Orders - e.g Criminal Justice Act 2003 is the relevant legislation in England & Wales, but the equivalent in Northern Ireland is the Criminal Justice (NI) Order 2004.

Like I said... touchy ground on a number of levels

[Steve]

Just my view on this.

Firstly.. i consider myself Northern Irish..

Now.. This statment is not directed at the English members of this forum.. Its directed at the English media..

OK.. Andrew Murray.. Self declared Scottish (born in Scotland).. Through and through.. The English media insist that he is british..

Now.. Tim Henman is English (born in England).. and the English media insist that he is English and not British..

Moral of this story.. ????

English media claim that british sports stars are anything other than English.. The English media jumping on the band wagon to say.. Jeeze.. Arn`t we fecking brilliant..

Again.. This is aimed at the English media.. not English people in general..

[getawaytae]

At the battle of Trafalgar Nelson sent the message "England expects............" The England he referred to was the whole of the landmass of the British Isles. That was how we were seen globally until the Tartan Army started knocking off the second I on post boxes.
As for the rest, when the time comes vote SNP!

Note: The battle of Trafalgar was won (Nelson dead) by Admiral Collingwood (Scottish).

[AlistairFyfe]

Originally Posted by Robbie.Crow

Scotland also has it's own Health Service which in many ways IS better than the English one. A law was recently passed that saw all OAPs in scotland getting their prescriptions free of charge, can this be said for England? No it cannot!

Not quite correct on prescription charges for Old Age Pensioners Robbie!


The situation in England is as follows (lifted from government website) :

NHS Prescriptions You do not have to pay for prescriptions if you:

•are under 16 years old;
•are 16, 17 or 18 and in fulltime education;
•are 60 years of age or over;
•have a valid medical exemption certificate;
•have a valid maternity exemption certificate;
•have a valid war pension exemption certificate and the treatment is for your accepted disablement;
•have a valid prescription prepayment



Ps As a Scot living in England I certainly agree with the rest of what you say!

[Deadbeat]

Originally Posted by Pete Walen

What's that one line? Oh Yeah -

"Rebellious Scots to crush!"

No wonder some folks have a complex...