Alternatively, you can find temporary jobs through Scotland's job agencies, which sometimes provide accommodation in conjunction with employment. If you love live theatre and festivals, youve got to check out Edinburghs Festival Fringe the largest arts festival in the world. As part of the UK, Scotland does not run a separate system of public finances. In the 25 years I lived in the States, I could list on one hand the number of vehicles I remember being in that werent automatic. From missing big events to planning every visit around weddings and holidays; from phone calls at odd hours due to time differences to watching the little ones in your life grow up from too far awayliving in Scotland if your family lives in the US can be a struggle. Scotlands natural larder creates some game-changing produce. WebThe potential breakup of the United Kingdom following departure of Scotland (and Northern Ireland) is mentioned in media and by think tanks with regard to potential Scottish independence.The union of the Kingdom of Scotland and Kingdom of England into the Kingdom of Great Britain was formed in 1707.The union of the Kingdom of Great Britain That walk takes us through neighborhoods or along the fenced farm fields where cows or horses take their turns grazing. Public transport in big cities is great. In the US, youll find dishwashers, tumble dryers, coffee makers, air conditioning, and a variety of modern conveniences everywhere you go. I have heard they have considerably better machines now, but chances are you won't have them in your rental flat. You can visit doctors at any time, and the prescription charges are free. By the year 2015/16, the last time that the figures were assessed, that revenue had been virtually wiped out by the global fall in the price of oil. In Scotland, Ive yet to get my license. The UKs clout on the global stage Sport isnt the only arena in which the UK (and thus Scotland) is definitely punching above its weight. WebWhat are the pros and cons of Scotland leaving the UK? If I didnt have a screen on my window in Canada, Id be constantly plagued by spiders and other bugs in my bedroom because there wouldnt be a barrier between the inside and the outside world. Ive been living in Scotland on and off since 2015. Like many policy areas explored at the Economics Observatory, the Covid-19 crisis puts an imposing backdrop on debates around Scottish independence not least on the timing of any referendum. Mostly, these are infrequent and harmless encounters. As with anywhere in the world, there are certainly pros and cons to living in Scotland. Even now, with a Labour collapse, Scotlands 59 MPs, with just one Tory, can still have an impact in parliament, forcing debates and amendments that wouldnt come to the floor if we left the UK. Scotlands first minister has announced the intention to hold a second Scottish independence referendum by the end of 2023. Its become a popular refrain that after Brexit, and successive Tory Governments, that Scotland is fundamentally divergent politically from the rest of Britain. Meanwhile, Americans had to sue their government in 2020 for similar access during the pandemic. No matter where you are in Scotland, you never have to go too far to find an incredible place to spend your time. The Pros include the fact that we will be able to vote for a government for our country, and get what we voted for, unlike most of the last 50+ years, when we have instead In the US, comparable jobs would give me 2 weeks of vacation time, plus federal holidays. It argues that its electoral success - coupled with the Brexit vote - mean it has a "cast-iron mandate" to hold another referendum. The UK Supreme Court has ruled that the Scottish government cannot hold an independence referendum without the Westminster government's consent. Because of that, I am in the process of getting just an automatic license. Nearly half a million English people were resident in Scotland at the time of the last referendum would we really want them to have to produce passports to visit their family back home? Wagering can be addictive, and you must be disciplined. The first minister has already started publishing a series of papers setting out the case to break away from the UK. And with Scotland and Northern Ireland packing up to leave the UK, the rationale behind separate sporting teams will continue to diminish. Sport isnt the only arena in which the UK (and thus Scotland) is definitely punching above its weight. The Pros Of Living In Scotland Free Health Care Work-Life Balance Stunning Scenery The Cons Of Living In Scotland Culture Shock Taxes 2. When moving to a new country as a temporary worker, you dont want to live in an empty apartment. When telling stories, its common to reference people by their relations, many of whom you will not know because you didnt grow up here. WebScottish people eat haggis and have it at least once a year on Burns Night, a celebration honouring Robbie Burns. I absolutely loved it! Youll see relationships shift. How important is economics in the debate on Scottish independence? Crystal wants to inspire you to move to Scotland. But thats the value of informed debate. People from all over the world travel to Scotland to attend classes at the University of Edinburgh. So be prepared to dash outside often to pull your clothes off the line and dry them inside on a clothes drying horse instead! I also love that every government announcement, debate, or formal interview (like the daily Covid briefings throughout 2020) is accompanied by a sign language interpreter. And my appreciation for the larger differences continues to grow. Sites like Gumtree are great when it comes to finding the perfect place. We bought our first electric car recently so theres no real need for me to learn manual now. In Scotland, you can live near all the amenities you might ever want without sacrificing green spaces and fresh air. They backed staying the UK by 55% to 45%. Scotlands many hills, peaks, and hiking trails make it easy to stay in shape. Plus, Scotland is the land of rain. National Institute for Economic and Social Research. For Americans moving to Scotland, a drivers license becomes a nightmare. Another additional tax is TV tax! But Im trying to be more conscientious about my travel choices and encourage you to investigate alternatives wherever possible. They argue that an independent Scotland could be "wealthier, happier and fairer", and that people should have the right to choose how they are governed. At the peak of the lockdown in 2020, GDP fell by over 20%. But she added that Nicola Sturgeon would also face questions about making the next general election a single issue vote on independence: "When we've polled on this recently, the only route that a clear majority sees as legitimate is a referendum that both the Scottish government and the UK have agreed to.". I know, to an American that might sound like blasphemy! Ive chosen to leave the country where I grew up and where my family and friends predominantly remain. Even the cons of living here are still wrapped in a silver lining. Yes! I had to break the habit of stopping at the front desk before leaving the office. At my job, we get 34 paid vacation days each year; they dont carry over so you are strongly encouraged to take all 34 in a calendar year. (or no dryer at all). Like all other parts of the UK, Scotland currently uses sterling, with monetary policy set by the Bank of England. Other ingredients in this one-of-a-kind dish include onion, oatmeal, suet, and spices. 2023 BBC. Phone plans are affordable, unlimited and many companies offer additional perks, like free mobile phones and deals that include a free weekly movie and a meal. Lord Reed said that in the absence of an agreement between the two governments, the Scottish Parliament does not have the power to legislate for a referendum. Okay, I promised to provide both the pros and cons of living in Scotland. Proponents of Scottish independence argue that it would provide greater opportunities for policies to be better targeted to the strengths of the Scottish economy, helping to improve economic performance over the longer term. (but we can still complain!). Scotland has a few unexpected taxes. In 2018, Scotland exported 3.8 billion worth of services in this category to the rest of the UK, 2.3 billion worth to non-EU countries, and 1.2 billion worth to the EU. While this is true for an expat anywhere, Scotland is a particularly small country with especially deep roots for many. How much you pay depends on where you live, what type of accommodation you live in, and whether you have a TV. Against this backdrop, we thought that it would be useful to help to inform the debate by asking leading experts to look at what the evidence tells us and crucially doesnt tell us about important economic issues that lie at the heart of the discussion on Scottish independence. Increase in addiction levels: Remember that you can play anytime or anywhere with online gambling, and it might be difficult to control how you gamble or spend time in the casino. In the US, you could drive out of a city and into the suburbs, and then onto a highway and eventually, perhaps, reach more rural areas. Scotland is home to some of the most stunningly beautiful landscapes in the world. Such a model has not been tried in a country with such a high income as Scotland and has typically been the chosen regime in countries like Panama. Scotland is the land of deep-fried food. One of the most obvious benefits of living in Scotland is the NHS. Having easy access to fully furnished flats makes living in a country temporarily much easier. Dr Emily Gray, head of polling at Ipsos Scotland, said it was clear that the issue of Scottish independence was not going away. Be sure to check out the websites of places youd love to work to see if theyre advertising any career opportunities you can take advantage of. For now, lets dive into some of the pros and cons, shall we? Nonetheless, in non-pandemic times, a license is not wholly necessary in Scotland at all. Thanks to my patriotic friends, I learned so much about Scotland during the time I lived there. The court rejected the Scottish government's argument that any referendum would be "advisory", and would have no legal effect. Speaking of vacations, holiday time is a precious and ardently protected thing here in Scotland. At the same time, onshore tax receipts per head are slightly lower than in the UK as a whole (by approximately 380 per head in 2020/21). But, of course, there are always other considerations! food, great opportunities, and amazing people. Here are six pro tips. Thats an unfortunate reality for any expat. Britain is a member of the G8 and G20, representing one of the biggest economies in the World even after a recession. But with such a slender lead in the polls, the pro-UK side also cannot be confident of victory, and will be mindful of how support for independence increased before the last referendum. We hope that this series proves informative for readers. But I am still on that steep learning curve, even after all these years! I wonder where my dryer horse is now. The simple reason for that is that Brexit hasnt happened yet once we leave the European Union the economy is expected to take a huge hit, in Scotland and in the UK. Im not sure why people in Scotland dont put screens on their windows. Economic issues continue to be at the forefront of arguments for and against Scottish independence. Its a long process and it can get expensive if you need multiple lessons. And I will not pretend to know how others feel about the pros and cons of living in Scotland. Scottish taxpayers already make a contribution to UK-wide institutions. This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License. This would be a little less than a decade since the 2014 referendum, in which nearly 45% of voters were in favour of Scotland becoming an independent country and just over 55% were against. Usually, the machines are one washer-dryer combo, with a definite quality compromise on the dryer side. Not having that weight anchoring us down, weve had the privilege of an incredible adventure for the early years of our relationship. A few days a year, the weather is so warm Scots all around exclaim that its taps off weather! Scotland is home to the infamous haggis ground-up sheeps heart, liver and lungs stuffed inside a sheeps stomach. During the two years I lived there; I never felt like I was in danger. Ministers also say Ms Sturgeon and her government should be focusing on recovery from the Covid pandemic and improving public services like health and education. Wagering can be addictive, and you must be disciplined. Its also wise to be aware of your surroundings when out in public and keep your wallet, mobile phone, etc., in a secure place out of reach of potential robbers. There is some evidence that the Scottish economy might be coming out of the Covid-19 recession slightly more slowly than the UK as a whole, but it is difficult to reach any firm conclusion at this stage. The nation, on the whole, is welcoming. The Biden administration has been the first to offer interpreters during their daily news briefings. The first few appointments I ever had in Scotland were a bit of a culture shock. There are trains and buses connecting even the most remote parts of Scotland. This was put in place ahead of the 2014 referendum. As historians Dan Snow and Tom Holland recently wrote: When nationalists both north and south of the border claim that they embody the future, they ignore the proven capacity of the union to evolve.. Want to try some Irn Bru and see how great it is? It was not a right-winger, but an avowed Socialist, who powerful raised this spectre, when George Galloway urged Scots in 2014 not to leave the rest of the UK facing permanent Tory rule. The weather takes some getting used to for nearly every newcomer to Scotland. Can a landmark bill transform healthcare in India? What we call summer is just the same weather as in winter, but 5-10 degrees warmer and with long hours of daylight. As Nigel Farage is keen to point out, the worst of the predictions by the political establishment after Brexit havent yet come to pass. I used World Nomad's Travel Insurance for the two years I lived abroad. WebOne of the most obvious benefits of living in Scotland is the NHS. WebPros and cons of buying a lodge. Another issue is fiscal sustainability. Read about our approach to external linking. Theres something I absolutely adore about the geographical layout of Scotland. I miss the snow in winter and the hot sunny days of summer, but its nice not to I highly recommend checking out my packing list for Scotland to know what to bring to keep you warm. There are several different council tax bands, from Band A (the cheapest) to Band H (the most expensive), which dictate how much you need to pay. Its also readily available throughout the year in restaurants. Sir John Scarlett, former Mi6 chief, said of the SNPs intelligence proposals in 2014 that in my view the Scottish government proposals will not offer the level of protection and support currently, We arent that different politically from the UK. WebEngland voted for Brexit, by 53.4% to 46.6%, as did Wales, with Leave getting 52.5% of the vote and Remain 47.5%. Supporters of independence have been hoping for a new referendum since 2014, Rishi Sunak is opposed to an independence referendum. WebNow that we have left the EU, the UK government could choose to change any law that existed at an EU level. Crystal moved from Canada to Scotland. Issues of uncertainty (good and bad) and how they might affect businesses will be a source of discussion in an article by Brad MacKay (University of St Andrews). Those are certainly all pros of living in Scotland! Crystal is a history fan with a fondness for dark history. I went through a few temp agencies before ultimately deciding to work at one of Edinburghs major attractions. Nevertheless, the weather in Scotland is not everyones cup of tea. And what is left unknown? Yes, in September 2014, when Scottish voters were given the choice of staying in the UK or becoming an independent country. I know I am very privileged as a white American woman. Yet opinion polls show that most Scots do not want another referendum next year while support for independence is at similar levels to 2014, when 55% voted to remain in the UK. Started publishing a series of papers setting out the case to break the habit of stopping the. Im not sure why people in Scotland is a precious and ardently thing! 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