I'd bid a few euro on the Mannequin Pis

Faina, especially not if it includes Prince Philipe in the deal.

"What do you do with interest rates if Scotland is in an inflationary boom and Northern Ireland is dying on its arse?"

A valid point. The point has even been raised between the north and south of England, who have very different economies.

There is a movement for Newcastle to become independant....

"What do you do with interest rates if Scotland is in an inflationary boom and Northern Ireland is dying on its arse?"

You set a rate that's right for the country as a whole. If that doesn't suit one part, they can ultimately- if they all agree - secede.

That's precisely the debate Scotland's going through right now. It's not an option for the countries who've destroyed their economies by cementing themselves to the euro, since they've agreed adherence to it is indissoluble.

As it is, Scotland has more control over its future than Germany.

Someone has yet to explain to me why the euro is a good idea.

I don't know much about economics, but from the little I do know, its daft. Germany and Greece with the same currency????

It's not at all daft, and it's typical of the little Englander mentality of so many people in Britain. Especially in Hampshire.

With the euro, a Greek can draw out his own currency from a bank and spend it in Germany. It's wonderful.

Who cares if that means the Germans have to ruin their economy? Or if countries like Italy and Greece, who've run their economy on perpetual devaluations, can't anymore, so their unemployment is now going through the roof? Sweden and Britain (whose economy has consistently grown faster than the Eurozone since the day the euro was introduced) can bale everyone out the way they always do. And there are far wider issues at stake. Like solidarity, and the glory of Europe. What's more, we'll have the satisfaction of seeing the euro more widely used than the dollar. Surely that's the most important thing of all?

It's typical of the anglo-saxon view that you bring everything down to money. Even money.

You see, daft. I am in the Eurozone and use my UK debit card...the advantage is minimal, other than the hand-holding bit, which there won't be much of on Saturday.

Anglo-Saxon? As far as I can work out I am from Strathclyde Celtic stock with a smattering of Jock, Mick and Taff.

I guess that makes you BRITISH? Or a BRIT?