Scottish independence: Barack Obama backs 'strong and united' UK

Scottish independence: Barack Obama backs 'strong and united' uk

Barack Obama has said the interest of the US in the Scottish independence referendum issue was to ensure it retained a "strong, robust, united and effective partner"

All I can say to Obama is TAKE YOUR INTERFERING RED WHITE AND BLUE AMERICAN OPINION AND SCREW OFF!

This is a internal UK issue. NOT a American Issue. I think I speak for most Brits on here when I say the US government shove off!

Keep out and bloody stay out!

Hell I even agree its a mistake for the UK to break up. But 0bama is not a freaking UK politician and he should keep out of a persona and delicate UK issue.

Flip I can see why you Americans are so fed up of him....... least you got to elect him...we didn't.

He will be issuing his stupid red lines next.

a reply to: crazyewok

And to add the nerve..

But the US president told reporters in Brussels the decision was "up to the people of Scotland".

He should not even have to state that! It goes without saying!

Will NATO be involved?

Maybe if things get "sticky Wicked".

What are the bank repercussions?

a reply to: xuenchen

To point out there seems to be many in the white house slamming 0buma for sticking his foot in it too.

Seems most American officials wanted to stay neutral too.

i'd be surprised if he even knew where the EU was as a whole so i'd say he's just following orders

a reply to: crazyewok

That will teach you to send Piers Morgan over here.

originally posted by: VictorVonDoom
a reply to: crazyewok

That will teach you to send Piers Morgan over here.

Heyyou guys could have just refused him a entry visa....but then we would not have got a break from him

Well duh, of course the US would prefer the UK remain strong and united instead of divided into less powerful states. Scotland seems to think it will jump right into NATO and the EU but, that is not a sure thing. That alone invites the US and all of NATO and the EU into the fray.

He was asked a question at a press conference and answered it...

The president was speaking alongside UK Prime Minister David Cameron at a media conference following the G7 summit.

Mr Obama was asked what the decisions on Scottish independence and the UK's membership of the EU meant to him and the American people.

Referring to the independence debate, Mr Obama said: "There is a referendum process in place and it is up to the people of Scotland.

"The United Kingdom has been an extraordinary partner to us. From the outside at least, it looks like things have worked pretty well.

"And we obviously have a deep interest in making sure that one of the closest allies we will ever have remains a strong, robust, united and effective partner.

"But ultimately these are decisions that are to be made by the folks there."

After being asked a direct question his answer does not seem that terrible, should he have said "I won't answer you, next?"

a reply to: crazyewok

An American president is against "independence" of a nation ruled by the British throne.

Oh the irony!

BWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA

Would Obama have been of the same opinion in regards to the USA fighting from its freedom from the UK ? and if not then why Should Scotland listen to him

Scotland is currently suffering under mismanagement from Westminster

Renewable Energy Investment being crushed and powers stripped from Scotland by the UNELECTED House of Lords
The Bedroom Tax evicting the very poorest from there homes
Austerity cuts to the welfare system taxing the poorest to make up for the 1%'s mismanagement of the banking industry

Some facts about Scottish Independence & Scotland's ability to stand on its own 2 feet

1) Scotland has a rich and diverse economy Scotland’s economy includes £21.4 billion in construction which employs 170,000 people, £11.6 billion in tourism which supports 292,000 jobs, £39 billion yearly turnover in manufacturing with a value added of £12.7 billion and 127,000 people employed. Scotland also has world leading expertise in life science, world class universities (5 in the world’s top 200), a multi-billion pound creative sector and vast energy (oil, gas, tidal, wave, wind and solar), fishing and agricultural resources.

2) Scotland is a net contributor to the UK Last year Scotland provided £800 more in tax per person that the UK average. This means Scotland would have been £8.3 billion better off as an independent country over the past 5 years. We could have spent that money investing in our economy with the same debt levels as the rest of the UK or saved it and had £8.3 billion less debt.

3) Scotland generates far more tax than the UK average Scotland generated £800 more in tax per person than the UK as a whole in 2012-13. Scotland has generated more tax per head than the UK every year for the past 33 years. The graph below is for a shorter time period but produced by the UK Government. Even in the years where oil prices were lowest, Scotland tax generation was always been considerably higher than the UK average and England in particular.

4) Westminster has cost Scotland £64 billion in the past 30 years Scotland has paid £64 billion in UK debt interest that Scotland didn’t need. An independent Scotland would have been far better off economically. This was reported recently in the Sunday Times after bespoke Business for Scotland research showed that Scotland has been subsidising the failings of Westminster economic mismanagement.

5) Scotland has a lower deficit and lower public spending than the UK Over the past 5 years Scotland had lower deficits than the UK. Scotland’s average deficit has been 7.2%, while the UK deficit has been 8.4%. Scotland only spends 42.7% of Scotland’s GDP on public spending. The UK spends 45.4%. (also over the past 5 years) This demonstrates that Scotland’s public finances are in a stronger position than the UK as a whole.

4) Westminster has cost Scotland £64 billion in the past 30 years Scotland has paid £64 billion in UK debt interest that Scotland didn’t need. An independent Scotland would have been far better off economically. This was reported recently in the Sunday Times after bespoke Business for Scotland research showed that Scotland has been subsidising the failings of Westminster economic mismanagement.

6) Scotland has strong exports Scotland’s top export markets are USA, Netherlands, France and Germany, which are worth a combined total worth of £9.5 billion. (Table 9.1) Scottish whisky exports are valued at £4.27 billion last year. This is because Scotland exports 40 bottles every second! The food and drink market is key to Scotland’s exports across the world. Other key industries include chemical manufacturing, computer products, finance and insurance and other forms of equipment. (Table 9.1) With the powers of independence combining with the Scottish Government gaining direct control over international relations, there is a target to increase exports by 50%, which would create over 100,000 new jobs.

7) Scotland’s oil fields remain a massive financial asset The oil in the North Sea is worth over £1 trillion. There are at least 15-24 billion barrels of oil remaining which will continue long into the 21st century. Over 90% of the tax revenue will go to an independent Scotland which can help to establish a national oil fund for future investment. Recently, Business for Scotland explained the potential for a West coast oil boom that is currently blocked by Westminster. Independence could revitalise the economies of Ayrshire and the Strathclyde region as a whole. Most oil price forecasts are upward, with one of the exceptions being the UK Government’s OBR which has a political motivation to underestimate oil revenue.

8) Scotland has huge potential in renewable energy Scotland has 25% of Europe’s total tidal energy potential, 25% of total wind energy potential and 10% of total wave energy potential. This has the power to reindustrialise Scotland bringing more jobs and greater prosperity. Key examples include the Pentland Firth – the Saudi Arabia of renewable tidal energy – and the Moray Firth - a substantial offshore wind energy project. Small scale and often community owned renewable projects also have huge potential to provide low cost energy to revitalise Scotland’s rural communities.

Scotland is one of the top UK locations for inward investment Inward investment into Scotland’s economy has hit a 15 year high. Last year Ernst & Young ranked Scotland as the most popular UK destination for global investment outside of London. Scotland secured 11% of all UK Foreign and Direct Investment despite being only 8.4% of the UK population. The report confirmed that far from uncertainty over Scotland referendum causing a slow down in inward investment that “it seemed to have the opposite effect”. A combination of tax incentives combined with a raft of other economic measures such as significant government investment in fast growing sectors should ensure FDI continues to be a strong contributor to Scotland’s economy. Indeed evidence suggests that newly independent nations enjoy significantly increased FDI. inward investment

a reply to: Elton


If he did say that then the op couldn't find an excuse to complain about America.

a reply to: Elton

Found this part a bit curious from your quote....

From the outside at least, it looks like things have worked pretty well.

Mhmmmm....so what's going on behind closed doors that's worrying him so much it is at the forefront of his mind to come out with that??

Rainbows
Jane

originally posted by: MrSpad
Well duh, of course the US would prefer the UK remain strong and united instead of divided into less powerful states. Scotland seems to think it will jump right into NATO and the EU but, that is not a sure thing. That alone invites the US and all of NATO and the EU into the fray.

Its does not invite anyone, especialy a un elected foreign power.

Britain is a SOVERIGN nation and we will do as we see fit!


Usa has NO right to interfere.

a reply to: crazyewok


Nobody is interfering dude, they asked him a question and he gave his opinion.

a reply to: thesaneone



Your sad excuse of a president dares weigh into a UK issue,

Then hes going to get flak!

Same way as if our PM or queen told you to give your guns up.

You stick your dirty nose in a hornets nest you get stung!

What uou expect us brits to do bow before obamas whims? Prase the USA ?

originally posted by: thesaneone
a reply to: crazyewok


Nobody is interfering dude, they asked him a question and he gave his opinion.

Againt most of his white house advisors advise.

Most obamas officials wanted him to remain netral on this.

a reply to: beezzer

An American president is against "independence" of a nation ruled by the British throne.

I understand the point you are making but Scotland is not ruled by any throne and at present Scotland is a full and active part of Britain.

Scotland is ruled by Westminster where the UK Parliament is situated and it comprises MP's from all constituent parts of the UK - England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.

Scotland also has a considerable power of its own in the Scottish Assembly which comprises MSP's from Scotland alone.

The current BritIsh Prime Minister is of Scottish descent and the previous two PM's were both Scottish.

Scotland is not some sort of subjugated land, it has a powerful say on what goes on both inside Scotland itself and in the rest of the UK.

I don't like the thought of the US President interfering in UK domestic issues - but to be fair to him he was asked a direct question and he gave his opinion - nothing wrong with that at all.

Scotland will decide as Scotland see's fit - as is only right.

a reply to: crazyewok

Like I said it was only an opinion dude.
Just like you, he's allowed to have one.

originally posted by: thesaneone
a reply to: crazyewok

Like I said it was only an opinion dude.
Just like you, he's allowed to have one.

And he can as such recieve flak on it.

You give him enough flak on his stupid opinions at home, so us abroad can give him flak when he trys putting his incompetent nose it.