Party outlines 'independence plan'

Scotland is today getting a good look at plans to break away from the UK.

The government in Edinburgh, which currently has powers over some of the laws in Scotland, has unveiled its proposal to go all the way and become completely independent.

If the Scottish National Party (SNP) plans for a national vote get the go ahead, then Scotland could get its own government, own prime minister, maybe even its own army.

Trevor - a Scot who used to live in England - owns a tattoo business in Langholm.

"There would be a lot more national pride if it was independent, away from England, away from Britain itself," he says.

He also thinks it'd be better if Scottish taxes were spent exclusively on Scotland and its people.

"I'd rather it was kept here than being shipped off to support London and all that," he admits.

Limited support

The country having control over its own money is one of the big arguments for independence. However, so far it doesn't have big backing.

The polls suggest that support for independence is lukewarm - about 30 or 40% in favour, but not a majority.

Support for independence was higher two years ago when the Scottish nationalists won control of Scotland's parliament in Edinburgh.

But then the economy hit a rough patch and Scotland felt the effects. Big Scottish banks, like RBS and HBOS, were almost wiped out.

Tracey, who recently got laid off from her job in Langholm, says that now is the right time to go it alone.

She says she's a proud Scot, but admits she usually identifies herself as British when filling in forms.

"I used to work in one of the mills here but was made redundant due to the way things are with the textiles and things.

"I'm open to persuasion if they've got a good enough reason, but as things stand I would be quite happy with things staying as before."

However, a vote on Scottish independence is unlilely to get the go-ahead in the near future because the other main Scottish parties don't think it's a priority.

They say that at the moment it's more important to help the country deal with the recession and strengthen its parliament.