The Welsh will be wanting to be a kingdom next !

We Welsh already have a kingdom. Our hearts and our minds forever live in the land of my fathers.<BR><BR>In a purely "celabration of our national identity" kind of a way of course !<BR><BR>

'scot', parts of the western isles form some of the poorest areas of Europe, making them eligible for large funding grants. Can't really say this is progress.

Tony - to expand on your point further, it's not just the Western Isles which falls into that category. I don't have the up-to-date info, but Objective 1 status (to give it its full title) applied to all of the Highlands and Islands, and Objective 2 (the next level up, in terms of prosperity) applied to most of the rest of the country. Effectively, most of Scotland then falls into the most deprived areas of Europe.<BR><BR>I don't think that most Scots are particularly concerned about independence. To some extent, it doesn't really matter if the government is in Edinburgh, London or Brussels if you've lost your job with a Japanese manufacturing firm in Livingston. However, I also think that a proper referendum on independence - ie one where non-SNP voters can vote for independence - might surprise us all. Personally, though, I think there's some merit in the argument that we should stay in the Union to milk England for all they'll give us! ;-)<BR><BR>BTW - there's only one Henrik Larsson / Claudio Cannigia / Nwankwo Kanu (delete as appropriate)

Re the Highlands being deprived, we are both deprived, us of the scenary 365, them of urbanisation, dirty heavy industry etc....<BR><BR>We did try to make sure that no one lived in the area a few years back, when it was realised that the area would be poor, but obviously people just slunk back.<BR><BR>Kanu I can go with (but only in red and white). Maybe we should give in to UEFA and agree to one football team ? Oh maybe not, we would want to deprive the Scots a chance to play

Wales is a principality. We had our own prince until Edward 1st pulled a fast one on us. He promised us a prince who spoke no English and then brought out his newborn son.

Why no Yorkshire category? Home rule for Yorkshire. The Scots can't even play cricket.

Keith - I agree however the Scots SHOULD care. If they did it may have prevented us from changing from a country that produced to a servicing country and a country pathetically dependant on foreign industry to survive. <BR><BR>I find the apathy the saddest aspect.

Aye there mateys...let's raise a toast!<BR>For damn sure Scotland should have its own designation...it stands far and away above the whole lot o'em. I place my registered name in vote. What say the rest a ya?

Hi there... glad to see your first post since the beta test period!<BR><BR>Planning our first trip for all three daughters (and the two of us) this May.<BR><BR>Gonna make it to Vienna, Prague and Poland, if not to Budapest.<BR><BR>Best wishes,<BR><BR>Rex<BR>[email protected]<BR>