For Scottish Expats living abroad | ExpatWoman.com
 

For Scottish Expats living abroad

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EW EXPERT
Latest post on 13 September 2014 - 18:18

If Scotland votes Yes (for Scots living abroad).

http://www.ctvnews.ca/politics/scotland-votes-what-the-referendum-means-...

[i] Citizenship

If Scotland votes to separate, any British citizens born in Scotland and living abroad will be considered Scottish citizens as of the date of Scottish independence. Any children born outside the country to at least one parent with Scottish citizenship will also be considered Scottish citizens. Births must be registered in Scotland for that citizenship to take effect.

Anyone living abroad who has a parent or grandparent with Scottish citizenship will be allowed to voluntarily register as a Scottish citizen.

For example, a man born in Scotland and living in Canada would automatically become a Scottish citizen. Any children that man has now or in the future will also be automatically considered Scottish citizens, but the births must be registered in Scotland to be official.[/i]

[i] Passports

Scottish independence would not invalidate Scottish citizens’ current U.K. passports. For Scottish expats, that means you can keep your U.K. passport and the EU membership that comes with it – until it expires. After that, things are still unclear.

Scotland will have its own passport for Scottish citizens on the first day of independence, but there's no guarantee it will bear EU status. If Scotland applies, it could take months or years to be accepted as an EU member state. Scottish citizens will not enjoy EU membership perks during that waiting period, unless they already hold EU membership through another country's passport.

The U.K. Parliament will have to rule on whether it will allow Scottish citizens to renew their U.K. passports going forward.

Scottish passports will not be mandatory for Scottish citizens, and dual citizenship is allowed in Scotland.[/i]

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EW MASTER
Latest post on 17 September 2014 - 09:14
pollydxb1 my laptop doesn't have the thumbs capability, but I would give you a thumbs up ten times over. At long last a non emotional view and hopefully some people will read this and see sense :)
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EW MASTER
Latest post on 17 September 2014 - 09:02
Thought this was interesting ... A few things to bear in mind before voting Yes on thursday: 1. A Yes vote doesn't guarantee you what Salmond and Sturgeon have promised. Please remember a settlement with the UK will have to be agreed. After a Yes vote, the rUK won't require to have any interest in us. They will want the best deal for them. Do we seriously think that will mean we take all of the UK's oil, none of the debts, their currency, but give them no control over our fiscal policy? Given the anti EU majority down south, why would they want another layer of political constraint? 2. Larger economies are more robust and better equipped to deal with problems. Scotland could not have coped with RBS going bust. We already have a projected £400m shortfall on the NHS. How will an independent Scotland cope with that? Even if we do, our markets and economy will be more volatile and our lives will be plagued with uncertainty for a generation. 3. Social Justice policy comes from our collective values, not the badge we put on our nation. We may be disillusioned with the Tories' policies, but the reality is that we in Scotland have largely been protected from those because the key social justice issues (other than welfare) are devolved. We may be divided about independence, but we have a huge liberal/socialist cross-party majority in Scotland who will use the increased powers our parliament gets to protect what we value. 4. Remember that the SNP have a partisan interest here as well, not just the Westminster parties. Salmond and co have craved independence for a generation, long before they claimed there was an economic or social justice case for it. That's called verificationism. If you want an outcome so badly, you can view even the most oppositional fact in a way that supports that. 5. We're not being offered independence in any tru sense. We are being offered Devo Max v Devo Max plus. Even if we vote Yes, Scotland still wants economic ties to England. On Salmond's vision we will use their currency, their bank will set interest rates, we want no borders. None of these things are consistent with a sovereign nation. Those who desperately want independence are being given cheap answers to serious issues without realising those answers are undermining the very thing you're fighting for. <em>edited by pollydxb1 on 17/09/2014</em>
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EW EXPERT
Latest post on 16 September 2014 - 10:23
Vivienne Westwood doesn't even have a Scottish bone in her body (DM quote) and yet has the cheek to say she hates England!!!!!! Well Ms Westwood go live somewhere else!!!!!! The whole thing is now become laughable! ;) edited by Nomad on 15/09/2014 Sorry i meant has not is...........arh
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EW MASTER
Latest post on 16 September 2014 - 08:56
Interesting article in the independant on this. Littlejohn in the Fail has a very funny take on it all, well worth a read for anyone with a British sense of humour. Amusing :)
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EW OLDHAND
Latest post on 16 September 2014 - 08:47
Interesting article in the independant on this. Littlejohn in the Fail has a very funny take on it all, well worth a read for anyone with a British sense of humour.
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EW MASTER
Latest post on 16 September 2014 - 07:21
Interesting article in the independant on this.
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EW EXPERT
Latest post on 15 September 2014 - 22:57
Vivienne Westwood doesn't even have a Scottish bone in her body (DM quote) and yet has the cheek to say she hates England!!!!!! Well Ms Westwood go live somewhere else!!!!!! The whole thing is now become laughable! ;) <em>edited by Nomad on 15/09/2014</em>
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EW EXPERT
Latest post on 15 September 2014 - 22:50
No lolacat, I don't have any trouble understanding peoples concerns it's a worrying time for everyone, wither you live in Scotland or have friends or family living there. Everyone is entitled to their own opinion, I just take exception to some peoples ignorant, self indulgent & downright rude comments! How on earth can a comment be self indulgent? Everyone is entitled to an opinion as long as they don't disagree with yours perhaps? When did everyone become so nasty to one another?! Shame on the lot of u! Always good to remember it is an open forum there will always be those who disagree with another's POV.......for a political discussion this one has been very tame. Some posters living in Scotland have shared just how badly it has affected their own normally happy families. I am of the view that if you take a particular stand be prepared to defend it .Maybe the arguments on the other side annoy you or don't gel with what you feel but that is their opinion. From the outside looking in IMHO there has been way too much decision making on a purely emotional basis with the lack of good old common sense. I think my Grandad is turning in his grave.......:(
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 15 September 2014 - 22:07
It's a pleasure - please pass them on.
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EW OLDHAND
Latest post on 15 September 2014 - 21:13
Scaralex, thankyou for posting two such eloquent, cogent and well reasoned arguments for the Union.
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 15 September 2014 - 21:05
No lolacat, I don't have any trouble understanding peoples concerns it's a worrying time for everyone, wither you live in Scotland or have friends or family living there. Everyone is entitled to their own opinion, I just take exception to some peoples ignorant, self indulgent & downright rude comments! How on earth can a comment be self indulgent? Everyone is entitled to an opinion as long as they don't disagree with yours perhaps? When did everyone become so nasty to one another?! Shame on the lot of u! Scottishbambi - maybe you meant self absorbed? A preoccupation of ones own thoughts or interests
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 15 September 2014 - 20:35
No lolacat, I don't have any trouble understanding peoples concerns it's a worrying time for everyone, wither you live in Scotland or have friends or family living there. Everyone is entitled to their own opinion, I just take exception to some peoples ignorant, self indulgent & downright rude comments! How on earth can a comment be self indulgent? Everyone is entitled to an opinion as long as they don't disagree with yours perhaps? When did everyone become so nasty to one another?! Shame on the lot of u!
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EW EXPERT
Latest post on 15 September 2014 - 20:25
No lolacat, I don't have any trouble understanding peoples concerns it's a worrying time for everyone, wither you live in Scotland or have friends or family living there. Everyone is entitled to their own opinion, I just take exception to some peoples ignorant, self indulgent & downright rude comments! How on earth can a comment be self indulgent? Everyone is entitled to an opinion as long as they don't disagree with yours perhaps?
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EW EXPERT
Latest post on 15 September 2014 - 20:21
Vivienne Westwood doesn't even have a Scottish bone in her body (DM quote) and yet has the cheek to say she hates England!!!!!! Well Ms Westwood go live somewhere else!!!!!! The whole thing is now become laughable!
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EW EXPERT
Latest post on 15 September 2014 - 19:51
I have been following the whole thing more out of interest but also because my grandparents were from Scotland. Scaralex what an excellent breakdown ,lets hope common sense prevails. My pet peeve is all these celebs who jump on the band wagon, I know where I would have told Vivienne Westwood to stick her badge. Wonder what would have happened to the models who disagreed and wanted to wear a NO badge....... <em>edited by Nomad on 15/09/2014</em>
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 15 September 2014 - 19:14
Part 2 "As a Scot living in the midst of a very emotive, albeit admittedly enlivening debate about the future of our nation, here is my two pence on the issues surrounding independence, trying to be as rational and unemotional as I can be. Too many commentators I think deride the other side as "a nonsense" which only helps to entrench views on both sides without any advance in logical discussion. Clearly there are sound arguments on both sides of the debate, so I've attempted to put an exhaustive list of them together, and ranked them for how strong the argument is in each case. So here goes, with conclusions at the bottom: Arguments in favour of independence as I see them: 1. The political spectrum will align to Scotland's will, i.e slightly to the left of the average UK, meaning the system is more democratic. Strength of argument: 9/10 2. We can codify a new constitution from scratch, which will be both therapeutic and lead to a much cleaner political system (without the vagaries of hundreds of years of layered legislation). Strength of argument: 7/10 3. We will get new passports, a new country dialling code, and a new internet URL suffix which could be a nice novelty. Strength of argument: 2/10 4. If crude oil prices stay high and stable for the long term we could be fiscally better off, and even run a sufficient fiscal surplus elsewhere to siphon some revenue into a sovereign wealth fund. Probability-adjusted-strength of argument: 5/10 5. There may be some kind of unquantifiable national boost of confidence from being unleashed as a new country standing on our own two feet. Strength of argument: 6/10 6. In certain devolved functions since 1999, the Scottish Parliament has done a decent job in running things. Certain aspects of NHS Scotland for example are superior to the system in England and Wales, so it's hard to criticise the track record of devolved government. Strength of argument: 6/10 7. The act of independence itself will lead to job creation as new bodies will need to be set up and staffed. Whether this gross addition of jobs is enough to lead to a net job gain from the offsetting loss of jobs in Scotland from leaving the UK is hard to say (see below). Strength of argument: 5/10 8. The proposed cut in corporation tax, if combined with a business-friendly political environment, could attract international companies to HQ in Scotland over the longer term. Strength of Argument: 7/10 Reasons to vote Yes: 8 Average strength of argument: 5.875 out of 10 Arguments against independence as I see them: 1. Large and very important elements of the new state will need to be negotiated with a country that we've just turned our backs on. The likelihood of that being a friendly dialogue is pretty low. Strength of argument: 8/10 2. All options for currency policy are sub-optimal. Currency union is a fiscal straightjacket and very unlikely to happen soon (UK politicians would lose a lot of face); Sterlingisation is plain bonkers; the Euro is a mess (ask Ireland) ; and a new currency would be a very shaky road for a good few years. Strength of argument: 10/10 3. We would be likely to find Spain and other countries with noisy separatist movements being very hostile to easy EU entry. NATO would also have an issue with SNP anti-Trident agenda. Strength of argument: 8/10 4. We would need to spend a lot of money setting up mirror institutions like tax authorities, security services, the DVLA, and overseas embassies that already function fine. Strength of argument: 6/10 5. Uncertainty from multiple areas (currency, legal, political, the regulatory environment) would create a terrible business environment. Companies will withhold or limit investment and expansions plans in Scotland for a number of years (3-5 years minimum). Strength of argument: 9/10 6. We wouldn't spend enough money on defense or benefit from the scale of the UK military and security services at a time when the world is looking pretty shaky on a 5-10 year view. Strength of argument: 8/10 7. We would send a message to our neighbours in Wales, England and Northern Ireland that we don't value their opinion sufficiently to want to compromise our own views within the UK anymore . We would be acting in an inward-looking and parochial way instead of being open-minded and conciliatory. Strength of argument: 9/10 8. Daft threats to renege on national debt + uncertain revenue stream from oil + uncertain currency policy would mean the entire country would likely face higher interest rates. That will act as an economic dampener and ramp up the debt servicing costs of the housing stock (ie mortgages would cost a lot more). Strength of argument: 9/10 9. Crude oil is freely traded in global markets and is prone to periods of extreme volatility. It is unwise to rely on high and stable prices to fund a large chunk of national spending. It is likely an oil-sponsored sovereign wealth fund would only be viable if taxes were increased and/or spending were cut (i.e austerity). Strength of argument: 8/10 10. Voting against independence will lead to increase devolution on areas such as welfare and fiscal policy. We will have a left-leaning devolved government in charge of all the "soft" social stuff like health, education and welfare, and a right-leaning UK government in charge of the "hard" national security stuff like the military, security services and embassy networks. This seems like the perfect way to ensure good public services but higher levels of security, without the need to go through the costly and uncertain process of independence. Strength of argument: 7/10 11. Certain key jobs done in Scotland would inevitably move to the other parts of the UK as we would now be a foreign country . It's hard to see important UK functions like HMRC offices, military hardware production, or bank and asset managers with the majority of their customers elsewhere in the UK surviving in their present form. As above, whether this is a net job loss compared to the addition of new post-independence jobs is not clear. Strength of argument: 5/10 Reasons to vote No: 11 Average strength of argument: 7.9 out of 10 To me it's a simple case of cost/benefit analysis. I've thought long and hard about it and tried to absorb as much of the debate as possible when it comes to the REAL issues, taking out all the scaremongering and spin from both sides (for example the discussions of the NHS and Trident I find totally baseless and/or emotional rather than rational). Trying to strip it down to the genuine reasons for and against, it does seem to me that in both the quantity of factors, and importantly the strength of those factors, the arguments against independence are significantly more persuasive. This vote is not about Alex Salmond or Alistair Darling or how many posters you see on lampposts. This is not a protest vote against David Cameron or George Osbourne anyone else, and anyone that convinces of that fact is being reckless and incredibly short-sighted. This is a decision of the utmost importance for several generations of Scots. I will be voting No. "
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 15 September 2014 - 19:13
Please take time to read and forward to any "Yessers" you know. (Not written by me) I make no apology for such blatant canvassing and if it converts just one of you its been worthwhile. As you are property owners or aspiring property owners let me just concentrate on that area now and I have cribbed a comment on the bigger picture which is set out below. Despite what Yes may say there is no guarantee that there will be a currency union with England and as such no guarantee we will have use of sterling,which is different to the "pound". Sterling is guaranteed by the Bank of England and we will only get that with a currency Union which will come with as many strings as we have with devolution but without the benefits. Yes we can introduce a scots pound as we had before 1707 but as was then it will be worth a lot less that a pound sterling because we dont have the Bof E guartantee. So what happens to the value of your home. Simple it crashes,no matter what sector. In Edinburgh especially those employed in the financial services industy will have to follow their jobs south of the border so the top end of the market will have lots of sellers and few buyers. There will be so much uncertainty during the 2 years after a yes vote to actual independence that nobody with any sense will invest sterling into this country and adopt a devalued scots pound. Indeed the smart money will be moving south with all individual cash deposits being transferred to english bank accounts where sterling will remain sterling. The big funds have already started this process. So nobody will be upsizing their property either. And at the bottom of the market no sensible first time buyer will spend their hard earned sterling on property whose value will shortly be calculated in devalued scots pounds when they can continue to rent and wait and see what happens, and indeed that applies across the market. Result, the residential property market ceases to exist save for those that have no choice,much as it was 7 years ago after the crash,but with no obvious exit, and values plummet. The commercial property market will go the same way. Investors big or small will not put their money in Scotland until they know whats going on so you can scratch the property investment and development market for the next 2 years assumng that after that we have the use of Sterling. If not it will be a long slow recovery while the offices vacated by the businesses moving south are filled up and people have enough confidence in the scottish economy to start investing here again.To be fair however tourism should not be affected so we may a few more hotels. The list of businesses that have said they will move is long and they are not just empty threats.Many property lawyers have deals waiting to be done but only after a no vote. If you were setting up a new business would you do so in an uncertain market with an uncertain currency or simply go to england where there are lots of enterprising regions waiting for the fall out,or indeed elsewhere in the world. Please just consider these simple realities which are not empty threats as the yes campaign suggest. Its common sense. If at the very best after 2 years of hard negotiation we get a currency union things might get back on their feet but that depends upon what else has been negotiated in the meantime,Europe/trident/tax rates/oil reserves/public spending etc. During those 2 years however we will be in the financial wilderness and if you thought the last 7 years were tough you aint seen nothing yet! Thereafter who knows as only then will the lies and empty promises of the Yes campaign become apparent,but its not looking good. Thats an awful lot to risk for not very much gain,although I accept thats because in my eyes I dont see a socialist utopia as a benefit. You can still be a scot and vote no,indeed a proud scot in a strong union with the rest of the UK is a smart scot, and respected as such. The bigger picture is set out below in a letter Peter Meiklejohn wrote recently which applied his analytical mind to the issues Happy to discuss any of the above if it helps you Andy Birrell Home 01333340379 Mobile 07718923989
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EW MASTER
Latest post on 15 September 2014 - 16:11
Completely agree with u there & I for one have come home to vote I'm pretty sure you have to actually be a resident in Scotland to vote and can't just pop back to vote. Or am I wrong? Yes, I do still have residency in Scotland & I'm entitled to vote, would nt miss this for the world! do you live in the uae?, if so, then you dont have residency in scotland, i have a scottish voter registration form at home in scotland but as i am not resident in scotland i didnt proceed with it. you are not entitled to vote if you do not live there, it clearly states that, even if you have property there or family or whatever. if you have a residency visa in your passport for another country its simples.... you are not resident in scotland then. edited by busybee2 on 15/09/2014 Thank you for sharing that information busybee, that's correct, however my personal circumstances are not that straight forward & they are just that . . . Personal! Suffice to say, i live part of my time in Dubai & I have come home to Scotland to vote, which I am perfectly entitled to do! yes there are a few that commute between the two, but technically if you have a resident visa from another country then technically you cant be resident in scotland too.
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 15 September 2014 - 14:21
Completely agree with u there & I for one have come home to vote I'm pretty sure you have to actually be a resident in Scotland to vote and can't just pop back to vote. Or am I wrong? Yes, I do still have residency in Scotland & I'm entitled to vote, would nt miss this for the world! do you live in the uae?, if so, then you dont have residency in scotland, i have a scottish voter registration form at home in scotland but as i am not resident in scotland i didnt proceed with it. you are not entitled to vote if you do not live there, it clearly states that, even if you have property there or family or whatever. if you have a residency visa in your passport for another country its simples.... you are not resident in scotland then. edited by busybee2 on 15/09/2014 Thank you for sharing that information busybee, that's correct, however my personal circumstances are not that straight forward & they are just that . . . Personal! Suffice to say, i live part of my time in Dubai & I have come home to Scotland to vote, which I am perfectly entitled to do!
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EW MASTER
Latest post on 15 September 2014 - 11:43
Completely agree with u there & I for one have come home to vote I'm pretty sure you have to actually be a resident in Scotland to vote and can't just pop back to vote. Or am I wrong? nope you are correct you have to be resident in the country to vote.
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EW MASTER
Latest post on 15 September 2014 - 11:39
Completely agree with u there & I for one have come home to vote I'm pretty sure you have to actually be a resident in Scotland to vote and can't just pop back to vote. Or am I wrong? Yes, I do still have residency in Scotland & I'm entitled to vote, would nt miss this for the world! do you live in the uae?, if so, then you dont have residency in scotland, i have a scottish voter registration form at home in scotland but as i am not resident in scotland i didnt proceed with it. you are not entitled to vote if you do not live there, it clearly states that, even if you have property there or family or whatever. if you have a residency visa in your passport for another country its simples.... you are not resident in scotland then. <em>edited by busybee2 on 15/09/2014</em>
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 14 September 2014 - 23:41
No lolacat, I don't have any trouble understanding peoples concerns it's a worrying time for everyone, wither you live in Scotland or have friends or family living there. Everyone is entitled to their own opinion, I just take exception to some peoples ignorant, self indulgent & downright rude comments!
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EW EXPERT
Latest post on 14 September 2014 - 23:32
Completely agree with u there & I for one have come home to vote I'm pretty sure you have to actually be a resident in Scotland to vote and can't just pop back to vote. Or am I wrong? Yes, I do still have residency in Scotland & I'm entitled to vote, would nt miss this for the world! So if you can still vote in Scotland you would by definition have trouble understanding those who have been expats longer and have concerns about some of the policies?
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 14 September 2014 - 23:11
No, if I was in that situation I doubt I would, it's important but it would obviously be irresponsible to move your entire family to vote!
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EW MASTER
Latest post on 14 September 2014 - 22:59
What would you have done if you'd been gone long enough that your residency had lapsed? Just curious, I plan on moving back to my home country at some point but I wouldn't move my entire family back now with no job and no home there just to be eligible to vote in the same situation. Good for you if like mannikat, you would.
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 14 September 2014 - 22:53
Completely agree with u there & I for one have come home to vote I'm pretty sure you have to actually be a resident in Scotland to vote and can't just pop back to vote. Or am I wrong? Yes, I do still have residency in Scotland & I'm entitled to vote, would nt miss this for the world!
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EW MASTER
Latest post on 14 September 2014 - 22:52
How about you Scottishbambi, have you moved back to vote?
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EW GURU
Latest post on 14 September 2014 - 22:43
No offence to anyone but seeing as you all feel so strongly about the issue how is it none of you have made provision to be there to vote? If it was the future of my home country you can be d*mn sure i'd have my say. People fought and died for my right to vote and I would be hard pressed to not exercise it. There are lots of reasons not to be there but as many of you have said this is a forever deal. You need to be a current resident with your permanent home address in Scotland to be eligible to vote. If it were your country facing this would you really move back to your home country in order to vote? I know I wouldn't. I intend to move home after my time in Dubai so yes I would actually go home, if there was something this big that would affect my future and that of my family.
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EW MASTER
Latest post on 14 September 2014 - 22:43
Completely agree with u there & I for one have come home to vote I'm pretty sure you have to actually be a resident in Scotland to vote and can't just pop back to vote. Or am I wrong?
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 14 September 2014 - 22:39
Livelytrish- you just gave me a good laugh at this last comment ? Not partronising eh? Do you actually read your posts before you add them? I'm not easily patronized but I can spot it a mile off so if you ever need some 'cuddly banter or a wee hug' apparently I'm your women ? My post has been removed, but i disagree with you completely. Perhaps your post was removed for a good reason!
 
 

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