Scotland's independence; any thoughts, chaps ?

[Harry Basset]

The revolting second hand car salesman is leading Cameron by the nose.

[511Flyer]

On the BBC news this morning, a Scottish person used the argument that they should not be governed by a Tory Party that they hadn't voted for. Well, a lot of English people are in the same position.

They are talking of revenge. For what? If they want to get their own back, I'm sure some of you Matelots will be happy to tell them the best way to go about it?

Me? Welsh Boyo!

[Vancouver]

Seen from afar (and having been raised & educated in Scotland) it seems to have taken a nasty & snide turn. There used to be good natured ribbing between the English & the Scots. Now it seems to have turned on itself and families and friends in Scotland (of which I have many) are falling out over the issue.

The one thing I have yet to discover is the ratio. If 51% of the vote is for YES is that enough, it certainly seems to be the case? Usually the acceptable vote for this type of thing is 60% or higher. I seem to recall the proposed Eu referendum acceptable vote for leaving being proposed as having to be 70%.

I just hope the majority of the Jocks see sense and vote NO.

[steelsporran]

Also from about as "afar" as you can get having left in '72, the infrastructure is integrated and the land is contiguous, so what would be the point.

[rohan]

I'm surprised that some think this referendum has become decisive - that was the whole point of the exercise, otherwise the rest of the UK would have had a say in the result of this poll, since whatever the result may be will have a significant impact on the whole of the UK. Surely, history has taught us that "Emperor" Salmond is using this ploy to seek and possibly gain more and more power.

Also, I haven't been able to check the ToRs for this poll, but I wonder whether the result becomes void unless a minimum turnout is achieved.

When, oh when, are we going to have a truly democratic system of electing representatives of the people ? What happens now is that you vote for an individual but as soon as they are elected all that concerns them is that they follow the dictates of the party they have chosen to represent rather than the needs or desires of the constituents who elected them. Remember the old adage - politicians are the least qualified people for government ...

[ajb]

I'm a Yorkshireman living in the Western Isles, a beautiful place. I echo Eric's view on page 1 entirely and am considering leaving the place after being here for 12 happy years if the YES lot succeed in getting a majority. For information a majority in this referendum will be 1 (yes one) vote!!! The referendum campaign has not become "decisive" but very, very divisive. When this whole thing kicked off properly a couple of years ago I thought that it would cause divisiveness amongst the population and that the vote would narrow to a small NO vote. In these last few days I am quite worried that the YES vote might just do it. If that's the case then God help Scotland. Salmond and his followers have consistently avoided the real issues that a Yes vote would bring, dismissing them as scaremongering. He reckons that independence will happen in 18 months from now if they win. Can you begin to imagine the whole infrastructure change that is required to bring control of everything handled south of the border to Scotland? And as to the currency, despite Salmond's claim that he will keep the pound (cheeky bugger) that cannot happen. He might as well claim to start using the US dollar, after all it's the most recognisable currency in the world. I suggest the Macgroat!

I am very worried for Scotland and for the UK. Maybe a NO vote will quieten things down after all the teeth gnashing is over. In reality I suspect that it has caused a divide that will never heal. I hope that I'm wrong.

Andy

[emfrat]

Well, I was born in Scotland and left there for Australia in 1968 when I was 19, becoming an Oz citizen in the mid-1970s. When I left there was one Parliament, in Westminster. Then a while back the devolution thing started, and I was asking the family, who still live in Scotland, why they wanted their own cesspool of corruption in Holyrood when they already had a fully functioning one in Westminster - nobody had an answer. Since then, they have Scottish MPs in London, MSPs in Holyrood, and MEPs in Brussels, every last one of them sponging on the public purse, not just for their ridiculously excessive salaries but for 'legitimate' expenses as well.
I hope the vote is No, because I just can't see what an independent Scotland could live on. The industrial base is no longer there, the oil/gas resources are unproven, and Tourism is not a reliable cash flow. Whisky is a good export earner, but these days only rich Arabs can afford it, and their religion does not allow alcohol.
One thing I have learned in life is that when politicians want to impose a change, it is not being done for my benefit. Don't ever let them introduce preferential voting.
MikeW

[Harry Basset]

I'm English in England so I can't vote but I understand a straight numerical majority will settle it.

[J0hn]

So, 5 million people vote "No" and 5 million and one vote "yes" - so that's it then, FREEDOM!!!

[SkippyBing]

So, 5 million people vote "No" and 5 million and one vote "yes" - so that's it then, FREEDOM!!!

That would be electoral fraud! There are only about 4.3 million voters in total as I understand it.