Welcome to r/Scexit!

This subreddit has been created as a place to discuss Scexit, the potential separation of Scotland from the United Kingdom and what it could actually mean in practice.

Scottish independence is one of the biggest constitutional questions facing the UK, yet much of the discussion surrounding it tends to revolve around opinion polls, electoral politics and whether independence should or shouldn't happen.

Here, we want to focus on a different question: what would actually happen if it did?

What would an independent Scotland look like? How would separation work? What challenges, opportunities and uncertainties would arise, both for Scotland and for the rest of the United Kingdom?

What is this subreddit for?

We welcome news, analysis, questions and discussions covering all aspects of a potential Scexit, including:

• The economy and public finances: Currency, taxation, national debt, government spending, pensions and the economic implications of independence.
• Trade and borders: The future of trade between Scotland and the rest of the UK, potential border arrangements and the movement of goods and people.
• Public services: What independence could mean for the NHS, education, welfare and other public services.
• Politics and government: How an independent Scottish state might function, its institutions, legislation and relationship with the remaining UK.
• International relations: Scotland's potential relationship with the EU, NATO and the wider international community.
• Defence and security: Military arrangements, defence spending, nuclear weapons and the future of existing UK defence infrastructure.
• The process of separation: How Scexit could be negotiated, the division of assets and liabilities, transitional arrangements and the practicalities of establishing an independent state.

This is by no means an exhaustive list. If it concerns the practical realities or potential consequences of Scottish independence, it probably belongs here.

What makes r/Scexit different?

This is not an independence polling subreddit.

There are already plenty of places to discuss whether independence is popular, which party is ahead, or how people might vote in a future referendum. It has gotten to the point where discussion about what Scexit would actually look like, is put to one side and forgotten.

The purpose of r/Scexit is not to track the popularity of independence, but to examine the event itself and its implications.

We also don't want discussions to become endless exchanges of political slogans. Claims about the potential benefits or costs of independence should be open to scrutiny, ideally supported by credible evidence.

That doesn't mean speculation is off-limits. Much of what an independent Scotland might look like remains uncertain, and exploring different possibilities is an important part of the discussion.

Everyone is welcome

Whether you support Scottish independence, oppose it or remain undecided, you're welcome to participate.

We encourage constructive disagreement, challenging assumptions and examining arguments from different perspectives. There is room here to discuss both the potential opportunities and the potential difficulties of Scexit.

All we ask is that you engage in good faith, respect other users and follow the community rules.

Getting the discussion started

As this is a new community, we'd love to hear what people think deserves more attention.

What do you think is the biggest unanswered question about how Scottish independence would work in practice?

Is it the currency? The economy? The border? The EU? Or something else entirely?

Feel free to introduce yourself, share your thoughts or suggest topics you'd like to see discussed.

Welcome to r/Scexit!