SO why does scotland want to leave?
to have more power over itself
Pretty much this.
It's also because they were given devolution of powers and allowed to establish their own Scottish Parliament. (which isn't a bad thing).
But, there's now a large Scottish Nationalist Party, keen on independence, and for the most part, their view is based on the fact that they don't like the Government in Westminster, because they don't represent the views of the majority of Scotland.
But, they do represent the views of the majority of the UK.
Although, this current government isn't quite true of that, since it's a coallition government, because we had a hung parliament in the last elections (the Conservatives had most votes, but not majority, so they formed a coallition with the Liberal Democrats).
So really, the large majority of the country is upset at having a coallition government. Not just Scotland.
All the people who voted Conservative did not vote Lib Dem.
All the people who voted Lib Dem did not vote Conservative.
All the people who voted Labour did not vote Conservative or Lib Dem.
All the people who voted Independant/Minor Party did not vote Conservative or Lib Dem.
Doesn't scotland already have some power over England?
From what I've heard, the scotsmen can vote on English laws, but not the other way around?
The United Kingdom is controlled from Westminster, London, in the Houses of Parliament.The House of Commons is full of MPs (Members of Parliament), and they represent the people of the UK.
Every 4-5 years (5 officially, but often called in at 4) there is a General Election, and all the constituencies of the UK (there are lots in England, Wales, Scotland and N.Ireland) vote for an MP to represent them in Parliament.
The person with the most votes in a constituency enters Parliament.
That person may be a member of a political party.
Finally, once all the MPs are elected, the party which has the majority of seats (MPs) forms the Government, and the head of that party is the Prime Minister.
The Prime Minister and his Cabinet are the Government, and with the rest of the MPs from all over the UK in Parliament they vote on laws and such, which are applied across all of the United Kingdom.
Scottish Parliament, Welsh Assembly and the Northern Ireland AssemblyScotland, Wales and N.Ireland all have their own Parliament/Assembly.
Westminster, in various Acts of Parliament,
devolved power to these Parliaments/Assemblies, which gave those Parliaments power over themselves in certain areas.
These Parliaments have their own Elections where they choose MPs through the same means as the General Election.
These MPs sit in the National Parliaments/Assemblies.
And they represent political parties too, and the majority is the 'Government' of those Parliaments/Assemblies.
England has no devolved ParliamentLaws in England are only made by the Parliament of Westminster, which represents England and the whole of the UK.
MPs in Westminster who vote on laws for England, can come from Scotland/Wales/N.Ireland, and have views mostly on the benefit of their consituents in those countries.
In this way there are Scottish/Welsh/N.Irish views/MPs who get to vote on English law.
However, the Parliaments/Assemblies of those countries only have MPs from those countries, representing people from those countries.
So, the people of England aren't always represented by English people, in the areas where Scots/Welsh/N.Irish are represented by their own respective people.
Since it's not a true Athenian Democracy the Scots as a whole don't vote on things in England.
But they choose a representative from their country for them in Westminster who votes on laws which affect England.
But, in the Scottish Parliament there are no MPs who represent English voters.
The Shetland Islands have given their votesThe Shetland Islands (18516 total registered voters), has voted the following;
"No" - 9951 votes (63.71%)
"Yes" - 5669 votes (36.29%)
Turnout of 84.44%
Rejected Ballots - 15
FunFact: The Shetland Isles is the historic home of the Shetland Pony, one of the smallest pony breeds in the world.
Comhairle nan Eilean Siar (Western Isles) have given their votesComhairle nan Eilean Siar (22,908 total registered voters), has voted the following;
"No" - 10,544 (53.42%)
"Yes" - 9,195 (46.58%)
Turnout of 86.25%
Rejected Ballots - 19
This is an SNP zone, so it's surprising that they're a NO vote.
Poll