Hell, Glasgow and Edinburgh are only about 50 miles apart, and they are very different in character. The yin and yang of Scotland, one influenced by England, and the other by Ireland. (Well, that’s my theory anyway 
)
A Grand Coalition would be possible but unlikely unless neither party can form a government after weeks and the markets look like tanking. It is quite likely that on current predictions Labour will be able to arrange confidence and supply with Lib Dem, Green, SNP and DUP support.
It is a moot point whether Scotland is a debtor or creditor in UK finances. Different analyses give different results depending on various assumptions.
Do you need a passport to enter the Republic from the UK?
No shopkeeper in England is required to accept Scottish notes.
The rule is that you can travel from the UK to the ROI without a passport if you’re a UK or EU citizen. Of course, the easiest way to prove that is with a passport. In practice, you will need one when flying, won’t when driving from NI, and sometimes do when going by ferry.
In short, legally no but practically often yes. Which is also the answer, IMO, to “Is Ireland foreign”.
Huh, I’ve just checked and you’re right. However, Scottish notes have exactly the same legal status as Bank Of England ones, and shops aren’t obliged to accept them either… Which is strange.
I am surprised at the assertion that the two countries, Scotland and England are not very different. As a relatively recent immigrant I would list the following:
Different licensing hours for in and off sales.
Different shopping hours (we have true 24 hour shopping)
Different school and exam system
Different University system.
Different NHS system
Universal NHS dental care
No water rates or private providers
Different bank notes
Different bank holidays
Different drink drive laws
Different Jury trials
Different Criminal Law
No PACE for police
No local police forces
Different civil law
Different land law and house sales organisation.
No Whole Life tariffs
Different mental health law
PR in local elections
Different competency law
Different child care law
Different age of criminal responsibility
No private land reserved for hunting or private use
No law against rough camping or roadside caravan overnights
Scottish editions of all major papers- the Daily Mail is almost readable.
Separate National Trust
St Andrews rather than St John’s ambulance
Saltire flying everywhere and few union flags.
Tatty scones, clouty dumpling and other foodstuffs
Burns Night
Different Football, Rugby, Cricket and other national teams
Many people speak a non-English language where a North British dialect becomes a completely different language- especially with older people.
Scottish TV, BBC and ITV have many Scotland only programmes.
Newsnight is delayed to give a Scottish news and comment programme.
Apart from that they are identical
A driving licence is adequate at all times as is a personal identity card if you apply for one.
A further difference is that only pound denominated coins are legal tender in Scotland and Bank of England notes, pound denominated coins and limited amounts of other coin are legal tender in England.
They are different in character, but so are Yorkshire and Lancashire, or indeed Liverpool and Manchester.
Different Sales of Goods law
Different Small claims court rules
Different laws on debt and bankruptcy
Different census questions and organisation
Different registration of births deaths and marriages
Different age of majority
Different jury composition
Not Proven verdicts
Different anti-sectarian laws
Curling is a sport not a hair style
Gaelic sports
State provided personal care for the disabled and elderly
Free prescriptions
Free eye tests
Different term lengths and school holidays
No school governors
No OFSTED
No care commission
No magistrates courts
Supreme court has very limited competence in Scottish criminal law
Golf courses everywhere
Charge for plastic bags
Different rules on smoking in buildings
No clamping
Let me think a little more…
I often kid my wife that she’s essentially English given the character of the middle classes of Edinburgh.
You’re right Glasgow and Edinburgh feel different but still Scottish as I can get a morning roll with lorne sausage in either. Can’t do that in London
Nah. What you need is a Haggis, Tattie Scone and egg roll washed down with Irn Bru- that is the real test.
And there’s always the presumption that should Scotland be independent we would spend exactly the same amount of money on exactly the same things.
Which is obviously not what would happen.
People also casually ignore the fact that many people that voted Yes (including myself) suspected that in an independent Scotland their taxes would go up to help achieve the social policies that they would like to see and balance the books - and still voted Yes.
An absolute anathema to Tory voters.
Please don’t.
Getting a proper morning roll in England is test enough.
Especially a well fired one.
Agree totally. The people who should be hit for more taxes are not the super rich who export liabilities and anyway already usually pay considerable income tax if resident, or the poor and disabled, but people like my family who are comfortable and have excess funds for foreign holidays, and other luxuries. This is not possible in ENgland as the two major parties are in a race to the bottom and want to retain the middle class vote. Some of us are more than willing to pay tax at a higher rate- say 5% extra for each extra £7500 of income- 0% below £10000, 10% below £22500, 25% below £30000, 30% below £37500, 35% below £45000, 40% above £45000 and NI to be paid on all wages above £45000.
Might work in Scotland but never in England.
Dark brown to black dome like St Pauls in shape which breaks when you bite into it revealing soft light bread below!
As near as I can tell nobody actually claimed Scotland and England were identical. For one so hot on calling others out on constructing straw-men, you build a fair few yourself. The claim was that Scotland didn’t feel “foreign” to the English, which it does not. The differences between the two countries you’re enumerating are minor compared to the differences between American states, yet there’s no mistaking that Montana and Texas are the same country and don’t feel foreign to fellow Americans in the same way that France and Mongolia do.
Incidentally, if you’re really listing the lack of PACE, different names for St. John’s Ambulance, and differences in anti-sectarian laws as counting towards being “foreign” then you may wish to recalibrate your foreignometer.