"Independant Scotland & the hobby? What happens?" Topic

It seems like a good question.

The financial markets already seem to be a mite nervous:

link

Guess that's good news for US shoppers of UK wargaming products, but what about Scottish based figure manufacturers and the like? Any thoughts?

PS: Let's keep this strictly to the hobby and effects on it. No politics please?

The pound will quickly shoot back up where it was (or nearly so). No long term effect. Short term for the US, BUY BUY BUY!

well if it stays in the EU, there should not be too much of a difference mailing wise. Production wise depends on economic policies.

You take your passport to Claymore.

Scotland won't be allowed to stay in EU, they must reapply for membership. I've read various reports stating a 5 to 9 year wait. So, import and export taxes.

Buying British in future won't mean buying Scottish.
So long Scotch eggs, haggis, shortbread, salmon and whisky. Oh, I'm a teetotaler so scrub the last one.

There is only one whiskey and that's Irish thank you.

I never noticed before but in currency converter's we have the British pounds sterling, not the United Kingdom pound sterling. It's already prejudicial against Scotland and Northern Ireland. Or is Scotland part of British?

While I have the highest respect for England, and appreciate all the help they've given us in the world wars and Middle East wars, I look forward to a huge crash in the pound as I stock up on figures that I've been waiting to buy.

I'm already planning covert dashes down south to Triples etc, to bring illicit white metal products up north to sell to punters on the streets of Glasgow.

Alternatively, no real change.

So let's clog up the thread with misinformation and condescension. But no references to inferior beverages, please.

I don't think Scotch eggs are really Scottish -they'd be Scots eggs.

Hi,
If Scotland becomes independent then the effects on rUK wargames would minimal. However, since most of the wargames industry would be located in the rUK the effect on Scottish wargamers would be considerable.
Postage between Scotland and the rUK would be international. This means it could triple or more. Then there's the possibility of duty or import tax of some sort being imposed by the new Scottish government. We Scots also don't know for sure what currency we'd have to pay for it. There is no certainty we'd have a currency union and who knows what a new Scottish currency would be worth against the pound. So all in all the basic posts of our hobby would rise a great deal.
Another ( all be it trivial) reason I'm voting no!
All the best,
George.

'I never noticed before but in currency converter's we have the British pounds sterling, not the United Kingdom pound sterling. It's already prejudicial against Scotland and Northern Ireland. Or is Scotland part of British?'

Yes, Scotland is part of Great Britain. They also produce their own bank notes on par with Sterling, but good luck exchanging them in foreign countries – something to do with lack of security checks on them.
Most wargames manufacturers are in England. It would be interesting to see how they would stop cross border traffic for customs, as currently there is no border. You wouldn't notice today that you'd left England and walked/drove into Scotland. Another Hadrian's Wall? Currently, you would pay EU VAT at purchase, then apply for a refund upon leaving the EU (England), then repay import tax when you land back in your home country (Scotland).

I for one welcome our new Nordic brothers.

I am going to the store for Scotch tape to stock up!

For wargamers, it could mean new units, new insignia, lots of painting.

What will happen:

Import and export taxes
Higher delivery charges; extortionate delivery charges to remote areas (Highlands and Islands)
Southern whisky drinkers switch to Penderyn from Wales, which is actually very good
Scots left to drink own whisky lake owing to absence of TV as entertainment because BBC funded by English, Welsh and Northern Irish licence payers
Scottish pensions industry collapses as funds withdrawn to south of border companies

Just for starters… :)

Problem is we just don't know what will happen. Despite all of the Yes campaigns white papers we don't know what the how an independent Scotland will look, – voters are being asked to vote for something without knowing what it is. It's as close to a pig in a poke as you'll ever get. Hence the uncertainty.

If the vote is Yes then the pound will fall and will stay down, – the costs of setting up an independent Scotland will be considerable and the rest of us will have to pay for it as well. So, uncertainty & extra taxation. The markets are loving it. Not. There could be a good prospect for buying from the UK for a while, but Dynaman's advice is good. The pound could bounce.

And there will be border controls, so those of you visiting from outside will be inconvenienced. And even if Scotland keeps the pound you really won't be able to use Scottish pound notes south of the Border.

mashrewba "I don't think Scotch eggs are really Scottish -they'd be Scots eggs."

I think you will find they are Scotch like the people, they the Scotch, may not like being called Scotch, but it is in the Scottish Dictionary! I don't like being called pedantic but the truth is out there.

Maybe people will start gaming a Scotland vs remainder of UK "what if?" war?

Hi All

Is this another Kickstarter!!!

Ha Ha

Sparki

"the truth is out there."

It was indeed
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scotch_egg

Yes, I can see all English whisky drinkers switching to Penderyn. They will always need paintstripper and something to shift those stubborn stains.

I'm guessing rUK means "rest of the UK". Shouldn't it just be "K"? You know, like the dude from Dangermouse?

I have it direct from Alex Salmond that there will be no import duty on any figures except those representing Home County Regiments.

I know that's unlikely but it's as plausible as some of the above scenarios!

Ah well. Outrageous import tax will give me a chance to reduce the lead mountain. A good reason for a yes vote, what?

'all the help they've given us in the world wars' LMAO

Don't think there is much chance of Scotland voting yes to breaking away (I will soon be proved right or wrong).Besides, I consider all wargamers combined as a nation unto themselves, spanning all other nations. We must cover all the necessary skills?

martin

It's quite simple, we use pounds, they use poonds ;-p

I'm guessing rUK means "rest of the UK". Shouldn't it just be "K"?

No. It'd still be a United Kingdom of England, Wales and Northern Ireland.

From a purely selfish POV, a change in the current pound vs. Canadian dollar exchange for a few months would be nice, it's been brutal lately.

This should be blue fez. This is politics.

Technically Wales and Northern Ireland were never kingdoms. So if Scotland leaves the rest would not be a United Kingdom any more.

Who knows what we will be called. England Wales and Northern Ireland…Ewani? Or be like The Former Yugoslav Republic Of Macedonia and call ourselves The Former United Kingdom?

A very British civil war gets even closer, we will have to invade them again.

I wonder what will happen, really, if the Scots return to the situation in 1703?-I doubt anyone really has thought of all the repercussions of this?

Personally, I am rather hopeful the UK doesnt become the DUK (disunited kingdom)!!!

Its not going to happen.

However if it does it wont effect anything game wise. We'll still go to Albanich and Claymore and our good friends from the North will see us at Triples and Vappa…

Nice one Cerdic – I have no problem being a FUKer

Speaking as one from south of the border who has chosen to live up here for most of the last 44 years (and therefore still an "incomer" and not to forget it)……
This has the potential to turn to a political thread, if I may say so.
There have been isolated instances of low level violence around the country today as tempers fray and we get nearer the dreaded date next week.
If our colonial brethren across the water are having trouble visualising what's unfolding over here, just remember your own episode of grey v blue, and trust that we are able to maintain the blood temperature at a more democratic level.
Even small, apparently tongue-in-cheek comments tend to inflame the hotheads among us at the moment, as I have personally discovered.

The Op was concerning potential independance and the hobby, rather than wider, more contentious issues, and the answer is very little.

I think that there are far more important issues in play here than the effect on wargaming as an industry. I presume that at some stage we'd see a mass exodus as emigre Scots wargamers return in droves to their newly democratically liberated homeland?

I get BBC America, maybe Scotland will get BBC Scotland?

If Scotland goes independent all English wargames figures will now have to be exported there only after being dipped in batter and deep fried.

Alex Salmond will attempt to get his greasy mits on Balmoral as his personal residence.

Everything else will be pretty much the same, as it is in nobody's interest to make it complicated. The UK will work like Benelux. Except for currency. That's going to be the problem north of the border. Valuing a Scottish pound on international matkets could be disastrous for Scotland, and will give English manufacturers a headache sending goods to Scotland. On the other hand Scotland could follow Iceland and the Offshore islands and become a financial/tax haven like Luxembourg.

And if you can get the BBC in expat Spain they will get it in Scotland too. Of course Sky might need to adjust it's business model.

As for Claymore, it will be just like going to Crisis in Antwerpen from Amsterdam.

We would still be UK BTW. And if we still recruit armed forces personnrl from Eire and Nepal we will certainly keep the Scots brigades. And if Irishmen have the vote in England, why not Scots too?

Not much will/would change. Mainly the Bravehearts would have to find someone else to blame and winge about…..

It's going to give the Tea Party here a bunch of ideas.

Mainly the Bravehearts would have to find someone else to blame and winge about…..

…can't think why the Yes vote is doing so well when our neighbours are so friendly.

I assume you're a Scot Alastair, but your profile says you live in England, so the English can't be so bad. Just checked and an estimated 800,000 people of the current generation live outside of Scotland in various parts of the UK. Will they now need visas as they are not part of any union, British or European? Will Scotland be part of Schengen?
The point is, for visitors to shows in Scotland, you would now need a visa/visa waiver program to travel from EU, and a separate visa if you want to visit the rest of UK (if you're not EU) while you're over there. Sounds like a lot of confusion to me.

I rather like the idea of calling the rest of us Former UK. What a great acronym, although it would better apply to Scotland. A small country adrift on the ocean of globalised capitalism, well good luck with that.

Perhaps Scotia will relocate to FUK like all the Scottish banks and insurance companies are planning to do?

Jez…i am indeed a Scot living down south. There are a lot of economic migrants who've headed south over the years.

I'm actually in the 'don't know' camp, and don't have a vote anyway, but it's an emotive and confusing subject with a lot of misinformation around (especially, I'd say, from the No camp).

Either way its interesting how the English media seem to have just realised that there's a vote!

With all those pipe bands, at least the Scottish Air Force won't be short of drones…

Regarding Scottish independence and its relationship to the hobby, I can't see how it would affect it in any negative way. Regarding every other issue, I think the same. No newly independent country has turned out poorer than before. Not belonging to the EU does not have to be negative; after all diecting own economical policies seem much preferable to have the German government dictating what you have to do with the money you have. People should start looking at these issues as chances to become good neighbours and friendly with another nation, instead of looking at it as a territorial struggle or a question of national pride.

Failed the OP's request (which given the nature of the subject was impossible).
This is nearly all politics.

(and its independEnt – not …Ant)

Thanks Martin, you made me laugh. I quite fancy living in the Former UK.

Q. What nationality are you sir?
A. I'm a Former UKer. Though the 'ormer' bit can be omitted for clarity!

As an Englishman with a Sottish name and linage how has worked off and on in Scotland over the years,we are blamed for just about ever think that goes wrong in Scotland.
Independence or no I don't think that will change.

Has any one heard from the House of Stuart ?

If Scotland pulls this off, I'm going to see if I can get New England to split off from the US as well! Those of us that live in the rocky northern outcrops should support each other!

Most of information above seems to have been acquired from less than accurate sources. It can be difficult to resolve competing claims – but most of the wilder statements have been firmly put to bed in the last two years of debate. I expect there would be little immediate change in the event of a Yes vote.

For a start actual Independence would be not until 2016 following a negotiated settlement. I expect that there will be economic impacts – but the extent and direction are very unclear. One camp is suggesting utter disaster, the other suggesting that things will eventually be better. The Scots will be using the pound – whether pegged to the pound sterling or in a CU is still very unclear, and wont become clear till negotiations are done – if Yes wins.

Very little chance of not being in the EU – it took 5 years for Greenland to leave, and they wanted to leave! Anyway- modern politics. I will leave it at that.

No chance of being in the EU for several years. Scotland would have to apply for membership and it has been made very clear that Scotland will have to wait. Spain will certainly oppose any special treatment. A separate Scotland will have to negotiate trade terms with the EU and the UK will be bound by these terms.