Scotland looking for independence and they will make referandum September 2014, However if Scotland is independent will be one of Europe’s poorest countries.

lenty of questions simply cannot be answered until the voters decide to make Scotland an independent nation.

Of course, a degree of informed speculation is taking place across the UK – so with the above in mind, here’s what Scotland might gain or lose after the referendum on Thursday, September 18:

Scottish Independence Referandum 2014 :Scotland Gains A National Anthem

Officially, Scotland doesn’t have one. Then again, neither does England. God Save The Queen is the British anthem, although it was long ago purloined by those south of Gretna Green, and sung with lusty glee at Twickenham and Wembley. Flower Of Scotland, by beardy Scottish folk heroes The Corries, was adopted by the Scottish rugby team back when they won things and is a strong contender, although references to sending the English home again might be considered a bit thirteenth century. A new anthem might well be commissioned, but having watched Eurovision over the past few years, few would bet on it being any good.

Scottish Independence Referandum 2014:Scotland Loses BBC 

Nope, this isn’t just a chance for me to lay into Auntie. Again. Obviously the BBC would retain a presence north of the border and Eastenders isn’t going anywhere (unfortunately) but Alex Salmond has proposed a Scottish Broadcasting Service, a joint venture with the Beeb. It would initially be set up using BBC Scotland’s facilities and staff, although one wonders what they would think of that. The SNP says it would have an annual budget of £345m, which would mean doubling the amount spend on public service broadcasting in Scotland. River City (Google it, Englanders) will continue … to annoy me.

Scottish Independence Referandum 2014:Scotland gains Passport and border but they lost worlds most powerfull passport

Well, there will certainly be a Scottish passport after a ‘Yes’ vote, and borders seem increasingly likely. Theresa May has said there would need to be improved checks as the SNP intends to pursue a more liberal immigration policy. Any government would be able to do that, in fact, so some form of control would appear a necessity. Goodbye to the “Welcome to England” sign, hello annoying spot checks and cavity searches.

Scottish Independence Referandum 2014:Scotland lost EU Membership and again when they want to become a member will be faced with of Britain’s veto

For now at least. No one really expects an independent Scotland wouldn’t ultimately gain EU membership, but it might be a rather time-consuming process given the other member states would have to agree – and there are a few with their own issues around self-determination (see Spain and Catalonia) that might wish to make it rather difficult.

Scottish Independence Referandum 2014:Scotland gains own Armed forces of course, this requires a big budget

As with the BBC, Alex Salmond seems intent on a bit of a land grab (don’t worry, people of Durham, not literally), and there has been the suggestion that forces based in Scotland could switch allegiances. Defence secretary Philip Hammond says that is “laughable”. In any event, the plan is to have a Scottish Defence Force, with a standing army of as many as 12,500 troops, close working relations with Scandinavian countries and between 20 and 25 ships. No word yet on whether any of those will be called Dignity.

Scotland Lose North Sea Oil Based on the geographical location and population of Scotland if the law only 8%

Bit tricky, this one. At stake, there’s as much as 24 billion barrels of oil and gas worth £1.5 trillion waiting to be extracted – and HM Treasury’s coffers aren’t exactly overflowing at the moment. Geographically, Scotland could claim up to 90% of this and one could argue the UK’s position on the Falklands strengthens the SNP case. But the Government in Westminster could also argue it should be recompensed for decades of infrastructure investment. Frankly, I don’t know. Sorry. Told you this was going to be difficult.

Scottish Independence Referandum 2014:Scotland looses worlds most powerfull money Pound

Undoubtedly there will be a currency used in Scotland called the pound. The question is, whether or not it continues to be backed by the Bank of England. It would essentially mean a currency union between an independent Scotland and the remainder of the UK – and whilst the First Minister thinks it’s an absolutely smashing idea, funnily enough that’s not a view shared by, for example, the Chancellor nor the Governor of the Bank of England. True, a separate currency would make trading between the nations that bit more difficult, and that’s got to be a factor when the recovery is so fragile. But the Governor, Mark Carney, is fond of pointing to the Eurozone crisis. One thing’s certain – those funny-coloured banknotes so loved by London taxi drivers aren’t going anywhere anytime soon. Which is a good thing. No trip to London is complete without a wizened driver turning up his nose at your purple twenty quid note.

So, in short, we don’t really know. And we will only get to know in the passage of time after a ‘Yes’ majority in the referendum.

Some will vote with their heart, some with their head.

Some won’t vote at all – and with so many unanswerables, who can blame them?

At the end of the day is independent Scotland as one of Europe’s poorest and most heavily indebted countries to start life.

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