Scottish independence raises some really practical difficulties.
For example
I
listen to Radio 2 a lot, and every hour they give a traffic report.
These reports include things like - "The M74 is very busy this morning,
due to a crash at junction 2. Drivers should seek an alternative route
where possible."
If independence takes place, I don't think Radio 2
will be broadcasting information about Scottish motorways. After all,
they don't broadcast problems with Southern Ireland's motorways.
Therefore if Scottish folk are listening to Radio 2, they will have to
re-tune to another radio station to get traffic reports.
On "Steve
Wright's Sunday Love Songs" (on at 9am on Sundays, and a regular
listen-to in our household) they often play requests from Scottish
people, from Scottish towns. Again, I don't think they'll be doing this
if Scotland becomes independent. Therefore those Scottish people who
listen to this programme (and others like it - let's call them "British"
programmes) will no longer be able to get their requests read out.
More
importantly, I'm guessing that postage rates to Scotland from England
would go up, as Scotland would, in future be classed by the Royal Mail,
as "abroad". I sell a lot of stuff on ebay, and have to specify more
expensive postage rates for potential buyers living in Southern Ireland.
In future, I'll have to do the same for purchasers from Scotland. This
affects Scotland much more than it does England, simply because of
relative populations. Scottish buyers will be deterred from purchasing
things from English sellers, and English people will be deterred from
purchasing things from Scottish sellers. A lot of my sales currently go
to Scottish buyers. Also, I'm guessing that the cost of phone calls
between the two countries would go up.
What will we call the BBC?
It stands for British Broadcasting Corporation, but if "Britain"
ceases to exist, it may have to find a new name.
Has anyone in Scotland considered these practical difficulties?