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Irish independence has more in common with Indian independence than with Scottish. Scotland isn't run as a colonial possession to generate wealth for the English ruling class, the inhabitants be damned Scots get votes and civil rights and all those goodies, the situations aren't comparable.

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Compare Scotland with another 5-million strong European country with similar oil reserves which retained independence - Norway - and try and say that with a straight face. Norway is far far richer, with a huge oil fund and more developed economy. Scotland's oil was used to fund thatcherism and inflict industrial damage upon Scotland.

And by the way - Ireland had home rule prior to its independence and also elected MPs and had the vote, on the same terms as the rest of the UK, prior to its independence.

it is British -- not Scottish -- oil.

It is both.

Anyway, so was India or Ireland or the USA, that argument justifies any abuse.

I'd always been skeptical of the SNPs (Scottish National Party) assertion that North Sea Oil means Scotland should be far richer than it is. After a bit of research it does seem like Scotland got screwed here. Also Norway is an excellent example as it does indeed have similar population and oil production.

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