Scousers split over vote for independence

"In an ideal world it would be great if Liverpool could be independent. However, in the real world Liverpool might struggle financially to do it, especially as at the moment whole countries are struggling to keep stable financially, with some on the brink of bankruptcy."

"No, it should not be a republic! If we were left to our own devices negative Scousers would bring us right down!"

Scroll down for a selection of comments gathered on the streets of the city during JMU Journalism's exclusive 'Liverpool independence' poll (April 13th to 23rd, 2010):

“Yes, I think it would be more interesting if we were in control.”

“No, I wouldn’t vote for that – I’d rather the whole of England became Scouse.”

“Yes, because I remember the days of Maggie Thatcher and what she did to us.”

“No, I don’t see the point. I think the country should be united.”

“Yes. If they opened up the port and got industry going again, we could make it work.”

"I’d vote no because it’s a silly idea, Liverpool wouldn’t work as its own state."

"There are too many reasons why I'd vote yes. There's a divide already there, it goes back to Thatcher who destroyed this city in the 80s."

"It's a farcical idea! How would it work? I am Scouse but I am English too and I am proud of that."

"I would vote yes because we've never been favoured by the government in the South and we're a very unique city."

“Yes, any Scouser who has lived outside Liverpool would say the same. You are stereotyped and treated as scum.”

“Yes, we are treated like a separate state, so why not just become independent?”

“No, that would just divide us more from England. What’s the point?”

"Yes, Scousers would do better than any Labour or Conservative government.”

“No, it sounds like a daft idea that only hard-core Scousers who know nothing about politics would go for.”

“Yes. Liverpool has been let down by previous governments, we’d do better off alone.”

“Yes, why not? I’ve always laughed about it so I would definitely consider it.”

“No. That is a daft idea, I don’t see how it could work.”

“Yes! Get out of England, we could have our own flag with the Liver bird on it and our anthem could be ‘You’ll Never Walk Alone’. I can see it now.”

"No. It's a nice idea but in reality, it's far too insular - there isn't enough variety in terms of opinions to make sufficient progress."

"No. It's too small so we'd just get invaded by countries like America."

"No. There would be too many issues with imports and exports – we have home-based goods, not branded goods that wouldn't sell on an international scale."

"I haven't seen anyone in Liverpool capable of having a sustainable electoral manifesto to move the city forward, or how they could fund it."

"I am actually baffled that anyone would want this."

"Yes. All the rest of Britain tend to have the same trends , accents etc. Liverpool will always be different – it's wrong to classify it as England; it's like another world. In England, not of it."

"I don't know. It would depend on the changes that would be made."

"Yes, because I reckon it would improve Liverpool and make it more respected."

"Yes. It would make it better and I reckon there would be less crime."

"Yes. Merseyside gets bad reviews - if we were separate that would stop."

"No. It just sounds like it would bring more problems to Liverpool."

"No. I don't see the point because Liverpool works well as it is."

"No. It would seem like a waste of time... Liverpool is already quite separate."

"No. There's no point, it wouldn't change anything."

"No, I would say that it's ridiculous... it's not like we are not different enough already."

"No, it would be a disaster. I don't think it would work or be any benefit to Liverpool. Maybe it would ruin the city, people would fight for control and we could end up like Ireland was."

"Yes, because I would hope that they would represent the people of Liverpool and what they want may it, or may it not be the same as the rest of the country."

"No, I don't believe Liverpool could sustain itself. It'd need money to do this and would probably still need support from the rest of the UK, so it would be as if it was never set apart in the first place."

"Yes, I think we would be looked after better under a government that's only looking after one city rather than the responsibility of the whole country."

"Yes, Liverpool has deteriorated over the years so it could be worth a go implementing a big change."

"Yes, independence could mean a break from hearing countless lies from MPs."

"No, local politicians are a disgrace as it is. Imagine if they were asked to run a country!"

"No, if we consider crime levels in the city right now, segragation from the rest of the UK could see us become Britain's version of Alcatraz, or 19th century Australia where all of the criminals were sent."

"Yes, it would be easier to get a well paid job in the city of only Scousers could apply!"

"No. With the recent success of the Capital of Culture and Liverpool One renovation, the city is on the rise. We don't want to spoil it now."

"No. I wouldn't trust the people in Liverpool making decisions. There needs to be consistency with other places."

"No. We need national control."

"No. We'd be cut off from the rest of the country and wouldn't benefit from others."

"No. Electoral turn out is so low the official [elected] would be incompetent."

"No. We couldn't sustain ourselves."

"Yes. People from Liverpool understand what people in Liverpool need and want."

"Yes. Empathy hopefully engenders more motivation and care."

"No. I believe we are all one country and positive things can happen in numbers."

“No. We've been a part of the UK for so long, it wouldn't feel right to suddenly be independent.”

“No. I think we'd fail miserably looking after ourselves.”

"Yes. Fantastic city, fantastic people. I think we'd be successful on our own."

"Yes. Then we could take over the world!"

"No, because we're still better being part of the whole United Kingdom."

"No. We need all the help we can get."

"No. I don't have any faith in any politics."

"Yes. It would be better than what we have at the moment."

"Yes, because central government isn't doing anything for us."

"Yes. It would mean more would come into the city, meaning local work for local people, for example."

“No, because we’re one United Kingdom!”

“No. It’s a silly question.”

“Yes. We’re Scouse, not English.”

“No. It’s good as it is. We’re not having any problems.”

“No. I think we should maintain our unity with the rest of England.”

“No, the way that the council is run, it would not be a good idea.”

“Yes. People from the city would be bound to care more about it.”

“Yes, I think this would be a better place if it's not involved with Westminster.”

“Yes! I think that with the present government, the North has been forgotten about. Liverpool used to be one of the most affluent cities in the country outside of London and the money that was made by this city in earlier days has not been ploughed back into the city. I’d vote to be rid of the North/South divide.”

“No, because you would have all the cities going the same way if we started it.”

“No. The economy is bad enough being part of the UK, it would be worse for us if we weren't."

“No. What with the recession and people losing jobs whilst being in the UK, it would be even worse if we weren't in it."

“No. It’s easy to say you would want to be separate from the UK, but you have to think long-term. It would take too long to become half of what places like Ireland or Scotland are now.”

“Yes, why not? We’re clearly the best city in the North West. We should get it before somewhere like London tries for it."