Scottish independence: Yes camp hails 'momentum'

[nontabury]

Well nontabury....you know I am in Jersey....so where are you?

Oompah oompah land?

Decent city KL....and a fine break in the Cameron Highlands when the weather gets unbearable.

Well I have a friend lives near me who is from Jersey and as he says yes it's in the Channel Islands but still in the UK, and he would't want it any different.

I take it geography was not your strong subject at school. Thailand is a very large country, the gateway to issan,"Korrat" and Malaysia is approx 1000k by air, by car approx 1260 k

Much,much further than the distance from Jersey to the Northumbrian city of Edinburgh.

You could just answer the question.....or are you a retired Tory politician?

Never voted Conservative, as I've told you repeatedly, my family were ardent Labour supporters, except for those who were members of the Communist Party.

[smokie36]

Well nontabury....you know I am in Jersey....so where are you?

Oompah oompah land?

Decent city KL....and a fine break in the Cameron Highlands when the weather gets unbearable.

Well I have a friend lives near me who is from Jersey and as he says yes it's in the Channel Islands but still in the UK, and he would't want it any different.

I take it geography was not your strong subject at school. Thailand is a very large country, the gateway to issan,"Korrat" and Malaysia is approx 1000k by air, by car approx 1260 k

Much,much further than the distance from Jersey to the Northumbrian city of Edinburgh.

You could just answer the question.....or are you a retired Tory politician?

Never voted Conservative, as I've told you repeatedly, my family were ardent Labour supporters, except for those who were members of the Communist Party.

Haha Hat Yai then.

[rajyindee]

Got to love the sectarian idiots getting in on the act. Pity no-one marked "This way up" on their union flag.

[smokie36]

Got to love the sectarian idiots getting in on the act. Pity no-one marked "This way up" on their union flag.

These guys are an embarrassment to all but a handful of supporters in Scotland nowadays.

Funny I only watched my first Orange march a couple of days ago on YouTube... Excruciatingly funny to me....outdated and laughable.

A Sideshow Bob incident.

[The Fat Controller]

Whatever happens on Thursday, because it will be such a small majority, Scotland will be a severely divided nation on Friday morning.

I am English and have lived here in Scotland for more than half of my 55 years and am seriously worried that if there is a "yes" vote, during the period of transition the property market and inward investment will collapse as we will have at least 18 months of uncertainty.

The degree (and cost) of unravelling that needs to be done is pretty frightening.

Edited September 14, 2014 by The Fat Controller

[smokie36]

Whatever happens on Thursday, because it will be such a small majority, Scotland will be a severely divided nation on Friday morning.

I am English and have lived here for more than half of my 55 years and am seriously worried that if there is a "yes" vote, during the period of transition the property market and inward investment will collapse as we will have at least 18 months of uncertainty.

The degree (and cost) of unravelling that needs to be done is pretty frightening.

Not really. Much will be over a timescale that will soften things.

Its an amicable divorce we will see....not the acrimony you now see during the voting.

[wilcopops]

That's your description of a nationalist Scot

What's a "real Scot" ?

To me a real Scot is a guy that wears a kilt when he gets married, a guy/gal that would not give up their accent for anything, proud people.

Studies have shown the ladies love our accent .....heh heh

Shit, I got it wrong then, better chuck the kilt back in the wardrobe then...........

Finally TA sees the light!

[smokie36]

That's your description of a nationalist Scot

What's a "real Scot" ?

To me a real Scot is a guy that wears a kilt when he gets married, a guy/gal that would not give up their accent for anything, proud people.

Studies have shown the ladies love our accent .....heh heh

Shit, I got it wrong then, better chuck the kilt back in the wardrobe then...........

Finally TA sees the light!

I hear he is off to his cinema room with a bottle of Martini and a handful of old Bond movies......

[transam]

That's your description of a nationalist Scot

What's a "real Scot" ?

To me a real Scot is a guy that wears a kilt when he gets married, a guy/gal that would not give up their accent for anything, proud people.

Studies have shown the ladies love our accent .....heh heh

Shit, I got it wrong then, better chuck the kilt back in the wardrobe then...........

Finally TA sees the light!

I hear he is off to his cinema room with a bottle of Martini and a handful of old Bond movies......

Not me, sitting here with a beer, her extended family are here from down south talking crap for hours but leaving tomorrow. .

Thankfully I have a sing song tomorrow night to really fugg folk off and leave you lot alone........

[Richard W]

They should take another currency. Back it with Scottish oil. Pound has had it anyway, look at the debt!!!

If Salmond is so confident in an independent Scotland, why does he want the Westminster Pound?

Probably because he doesn't want Scottish resources to be expended in currency hedging. Having a different currency to England makes trade with England more difficult.

[smokie36]

They should take another currency. Back it with Scottish oil. Pound has had it anyway, look at the debt!!!

If Salmond is so confident in an independent Scotland, why does he want the Westminster Pound?

Probably because he doesn't want Scottish resources to be expended in currency hedging. Having a different currency to England makes trade with England more difficult.

Its a whole can of worms this debate can't answer.....it has to be negotiated after the vote.

The currency issue will be a key issue for competing parties if there is a YES vote.....along with a host of other things.

[MJP]

They should take another currency. Back it with Scottish oil. Pound has had it anyway, look at the debt!!!

If Salmond is so confident in an independent Scotland, why does he want the Westminster Pound?

Probably because he doesn't want Scottish resources to be expended in currency hedging. Having a different currency to England makes trade with England more difficult.

Its a whole can of worms this debate can't answer.....it has to be negotiated after the vote.

The currency issue will be a key issue for competing parties if there is a YES vote.....along with a host of other things.

Thing's need to be answered before the vote.

My brother said he had a coach load of Scots in the shop yesterday (we're in South West England, seaside). They were heading back to Scotland so he asked them if they're going back for the vote. Oh yes! They most definitely were! And it was a resounding No! almost exclusively because of Alex Salmond. They were rather vocal about this and had nothing good to say about Salmond.

Independence is the right idea. But it needs details and it needs planning and what it doesn't need is uncertainty.

Edited September 14, 2014 by MJP

[BKK Blues Brother]

They should take another currency. Back it with Scottish oil. Pound has had it anyway, look at the debt!!!

If Salmond is so confident in an independent Scotland, why does he want the Westminster Pound?

Probably because he doesn't want Scottish resources to be expended in currency hedging. Having a different currency to England makes trade with England more difficult.

Its a whole can of worms this debate can't answer.....it has to be negotiated after the vote.

The currency issue will be a key issue for competing parties if there is a YES vote.....along with a host of other things.

Why not sort the can of worms and have the ducks lined up in a row before a vote?

Takes away all the uncertainty

More bluff and bluster from the second best salesman in the last hundred years.

The first best was a painter with a funny tache and was partial to scouse birds.

[BKK Blues Brother]

Oh deary...Scotland with no Bank of Scotland...laughable...

Alex Salmond goes to war with BBC over RBS 'leak' The First Minster accuses Nick Robinson of heckling him and demands the Corporation cooperate with a leaks inquiry over RBS's announcement it would move its headquarters to England following a Yes vote

The First Minister dismissed the economic significance of announcements by RBS, Lloyds Banking Group, Tesco Bank, TSB and Clydesdale Bank to re-domicile south of the Border, saying they only meant moving “brass plates” instead of jobs.

He refused to accept it was a damning verdict by some of Scotland’s largest employers over his plans for the country’s currency after separation. The banks’ share prices increased after their announcements but Mr Salmond suggested this was a coincidence.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/scottish-independence/11089702/Alex-Salmond-goes-to-war-with-BBC-over-RBS-leak.html

The Yes campaign are the most hypocritical bunch of liars I have ever seen in politics. You can't have it both ways i.e. create a socialist country and expect to retain all of your former capitalist heavyweights. All these financial institutions are lying are they? They all want to do Cameron a favour do they? There's no need to lie, an independent Scotalnd would be hell to them: higher taxes, no traction in international level, no listing on London Stock Exchange....THEY DON'T WANT TO LOSE MONEY AND THEY KNOW THAT THAT IS WHAT WILL HAPPEN IN SCOTLAND AFTER A YES VOTE. There is no need for Cameron to pander to them, they are all capitalists anyway. The inconvenient truth for the SNP is that anyone in that country who would make you any money is, unsurprisingly, not up for creating a socialist country which fundamentally opposes their idealogy. This day of reckoning stuff is a load of cobblers. All the institutions will simply move before Scotland is able to bring in the aforementioned laws (they will have 6 months to do so) and avoid any legal proceedings. And even if they did get hit with a lawsuit they would simply throw money at it until it went away. Is that what Scotland really wants? You can't just stick your middle finger up at the rest of the UK and expect us to give you an easy ride.

[MAJIC]

http://wingsoverscotland.com/and-then-my-heart-went-boom/

What the BBC have been doing this week is disgusting.

Yes the BBC have shown themselves to be the publicity machine of the establishment over and over again.......disgraceful when you consider their remit.

Hopefully BBC Scotland's chiefs will be losing their jobs if not their heads soon enough!

Have a closer look at the Alleged bias of the BBC Smokie,the whole of the BBC has more than it's share of Scottish Presenters,hardly Bias eh! and we are not talking of solely BBC Scotland!

[MAJIC]

Oh deary...Scotland with no Bank of Scotland...laughable...

Alex Salmond goes to war with BBC over RBS 'leak' The First Minster accuses Nick Robinson of heckling him and demands the Corporation cooperate with a leaks inquiry over RBS's announcement it would move its headquarters to England following a Yes vote

The First Minister dismissed the economic significance of announcements by RBS, Lloyds Banking Group, Tesco Bank, TSB and Clydesdale Bank to re-domicile south of the Border, saying they only meant moving “brass plates” instead of jobs.

He refused to accept it was a damning verdict by some of Scotland’s largest employers over his plans for the country’s currency after separation. The banks’ share prices increased after their announcements but Mr Salmond suggested this was a coincidence.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/scottish-independence/11089702/Alex-Salmond-goes-to-war-with-BBC-over-RBS-leak.html

The Yes campaign are the most hypocritical bunch of liars I have ever seen in politics. You can't have it both ways i.e. create a socialist country and expect to retain all of your former capitalist heavyweights. All these financial institutions are lying are they? They all want to do Cameron a favour do they? There's no need to lie, an independent Scotalnd would be hell to them: higher taxes, no traction in international level, no listing on London Stock Exchange....THEY DON'T WANT TO LOSE MONEY AND THEY KNOW THAT THAT IS WHAT WILL HAPPEN IN SCOTLAND AFTER A YES VOTE. There is no need for Cameron to pander to them, they are all capitalists anyway. The inconvenient truth for the SNP is that anyone in that country who would make you any money is, unsurprisingly, not up for creating a socialist country which fundamentally opposes their idealogy. This day of reckoning stuff is a load of cobblers. All the institutions will simply move before Scotland is able to bring in the aforementioned laws (they will have 6 months to do so) and avoid any legal proceedings. And even if they did get hit with a lawsuit they would simply throw money at it until it went away. Is that what Scotland really wants? You can't just stick your middle finger up at the rest of the UK and expect us to give you an easy ride.

Salmond is the Classic example of the whinger,always blaming someone else,when things are not going his way,but he makes sure he puts the boot in,when they are going his way. When not going his way he starts blubbering about Bullying by Westminster,whinge whinge whine whine! media bias,blah blah! Business bias, Bank of England dirty tricks,whine whine! all the financial institutions are supposed to leave their reserves available to sink with Salmond! rather than ship it out and protect the customers,and their share holders!

Mark my words,if Salmond loses the Referendum to the NO Vote he will not be short of Scapegoats,and ready made excuses!

Edited September 14, 2014 by MAJIC

[MJP]

Oh deary...Scotland with no Bank of Scotland...laughable...

Alex Salmond goes to war with BBC over RBS 'leak' The First Minster accuses Nick Robinson of heckling him and demands the Corporation cooperate with a leaks inquiry over RBS's announcement it would move its headquarters to England following a Yes vote

The First Minister dismissed the economic significance of announcements by RBS, Lloyds Banking Group, Tesco Bank, TSB and Clydesdale Bank to re-domicile south of the Border, saying they only meant moving “brass plates” instead of jobs.

He refused to accept it was a damning verdict by some of Scotland’s largest employers over his plans for the country’s currency after separation. The banks’ share prices increased after their announcements but Mr Salmond suggested this was a coincidence.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/scottish-independence/11089702/Alex-Salmond-goes-to-war-with-BBC-over-RBS-leak.html

The Yes campaign are the most hypocritical bunch of liars I have ever seen in politics. You can't have it both ways i.e. create a socialist country and expect to retain all of your former capitalist heavyweights. All these financial institutions are lying are they? They all want to do Cameron a favour do they? There's no need to lie, an independent Scotalnd would be hell to them: higher taxes, no traction in international level, no listing on London Stock Exchange....THEY DON'T WANT TO LOSE MONEY AND THEY KNOW THAT THAT IS WHAT WILL HAPPEN IN SCOTLAND AFTER A YES VOTE. There is no need for Cameron to pander to them, they are all capitalists anyway. The inconvenient truth for the SNP is that anyone in that country who would make you any money is, unsurprisingly, not up for creating a socialist country which fundamentally opposes their idealogy. This day of reckoning stuff is a load of cobblers. All the institutions will simply move before Scotland is able to bring in the aforementioned laws (they will have 6 months to do so) and avoid any legal proceedings. And even if they did get hit with a lawsuit they would simply throw money at it until it went away. Is that what Scotland really wants? You can't just stick your middle finger up at the rest of the UK and expect us to give you an easy ride.

Salmond is the Classic example of the whinger,always blaming someone else,when things are going his way,he makes sure he puts the boot in! When they are not going his way,he starts blubbering about Bullying by Westminster,whinge whinge whine whine! media bias,blah blah! Business bias, Bank of England dirty tricks,whine whine! all the financial institutions are supposed to leave their reserves available to sink with Salmond! rather than ship it out and protect the customers,and their share holders!

He's the wrong character to lead Scots into independence. They can do and will do better.

In the meantime damage will have been done. In the event of a No vote I think business will move away from Scotland in anticipation this will happen again, uncertainty leading to instability. In the event of a Yes vote it seems big business has already confirmed its intention to move away and will relocate before independence due to . . . uncertainty leading to instability.

If all the ducks had been in a row before this, if they knew and had agreed exactly how the transition process was going to be managed and exactly how Scotland was going to work after independence no damage would have been done. This is all down to Mr. Salmond.

[smokie36]

http://wingsoverscotland.com/and-then-my-heart-went-boom/

What the BBC have been doing this week is disgusting.

Yes the BBC have shown themselves to be the publicity machine of the establishment over and over again.......disgraceful when you consider their remit.

Hopefully BBC Scotland's chiefs will be losing their jobs if not their heads soon enough!

Have a closer look at the Alleged bias of the BBC Smokie,the whole of the BBC has more than it's share of Scottish Presenters,hardly Bias eh! and we are not talking of solely BBC Scotland!

Its YOU who should take the time to look.

[smokie36]

Oh deary...Scotland with no Bank of Scotland...laughable...

Alex Salmond goes to war with BBC over RBS 'leak' The First Minster accuses Nick Robinson of heckling him and demands the Corporation cooperate with a leaks inquiry over RBS's announcement it would move its headquarters to England following a Yes vote

The First Minister dismissed the economic significance of announcements by RBS, Lloyds Banking Group, Tesco Bank, TSB and Clydesdale Bank to re-domicile south of the Border, saying they only meant moving “brass plates” instead of jobs.

He refused to accept it was a damning verdict by some of Scotland’s largest employers over his plans for the country’s currency after separation. The banks’ share prices increased after their announcements but Mr Salmond suggested this was a coincidence.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/scottish-independence/11089702/Alex-Salmond-goes-to-war-with-BBC-over-RBS-leak.html

The Yes campaign are the most hypocritical bunch of liars I have ever seen in politics. You can't have it both ways i.e. create a socialist country and expect to retain all of your former capitalist heavyweights. All these financial institutions are lying are they? They all want to do Cameron a favour do they? There's no need to lie, an independent Scotalnd would be hell to them: higher taxes, no traction in international level, no listing on London Stock Exchange....THEY DON'T WANT TO LOSE MONEY AND THEY KNOW THAT THAT IS WHAT WILL HAPPEN IN SCOTLAND AFTER A YES VOTE. There is no need for Cameron to pander to them, they are all capitalists anyway. The inconvenient truth for the SNP is that anyone in that country who would make you any money is, unsurprisingly, not up for creating a socialist country which fundamentally opposes their idealogy. This day of reckoning stuff is a load of cobblers. All the institutions will simply move before Scotland is able to bring in the aforementioned laws (they will have 6 months to do so) and avoid any legal proceedings. And even if they did get hit with a lawsuit they would simply throw money at it until it went away. Is that what Scotland really wants? You can't just stick your middle finger up at the rest of the UK and expect us to give you an easy ride.

Salmond is the Classic example of the whinger,always blaming someone else,when things are going his way,he makes sure he puts the boot in! When they are not going his way,he starts blubbering about Bullying by Westminster,whinge whinge whine whine! media bias,blah blah! Business bias, Bank of England dirty tricks,whine whine! all the financial institutions are supposed to leave their reserves available to sink with Salmond! rather than ship it out and protect the customers,and their share holders!

He's the wrong character to lead Scots into independence. They can do and will do better.

In the meantime damage will have been done. In the event of a No vote I think business will move away from Scotland in anticipation this will happen again, uncertainty leading to instability. In the event of a Yes vote it seems big business has already confirmed its intention to move away and will relocate before independence due to . . . uncertainty leading to instability.

If all the ducks had been in a row before this, if they knew and had agreed exactly how the transition process was going to be managed and exactly how Scotland was going to work after independence no damage would have been done. This is all down to Mr. Salmond.

Ducks in a row blubbering scapegoats fascist leader......socialist blah blah.....

We are voting for independence....not a politician or any political party.

At least WE understand that.

[sustento]

There was a letter in the Times today by someone who'd been born and brought up in Scotland and who now runs a company in Oz. The company has a £50 million order to place and was going to place it in Scotland where it would have generated quite a few jobs. He said that his board is unwilling to tolerate 2 years of uncertainty so they're now looking to place it elsewhere. Sorry I can't post a link. The digital version of the Times is behind a paywall.

[MJP]

Oh deary...Scotland with no Bank of Scotland...laughable...

Alex Salmond goes to war with BBC over RBS 'leak' The First Minster accuses Nick Robinson of heckling him and demands the Corporation cooperate with a leaks inquiry over RBS's announcement it would move its headquarters to England following a Yes vote

The First Minister dismissed the economic significance of announcements by RBS, Lloyds Banking Group, Tesco Bank, TSB and Clydesdale Bank to re-domicile south of the Border, saying they only meant moving “brass plates” instead of jobs.

He refused to accept it was a damning verdict by some of Scotland’s largest employers over his plans for the country’s currency after separation. The banks’ share prices increased after their announcements but Mr Salmond suggested this was a coincidence.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/scottish-independence/11089702/Alex-Salmond-goes-to-war-with-BBC-over-RBS-leak.html

The Yes campaign are the most hypocritical bunch of liars I have ever seen in politics. You can't have it both ways i.e. create a socialist country and expect to retain all of your former capitalist heavyweights. All these financial institutions are lying are they? They all want to do Cameron a favour do they? There's no need to lie, an independent Scotalnd would be hell to them: higher taxes, no traction in international level, no listing on London Stock Exchange....THEY DON'T WANT TO LOSE MONEY AND THEY KNOW THAT THAT IS WHAT WILL HAPPEN IN SCOTLAND AFTER A YES VOTE. There is no need for Cameron to pander to them, they are all capitalists anyway. The inconvenient truth for the SNP is that anyone in that country who would make you any money is, unsurprisingly, not up for creating a socialist country which fundamentally opposes their idealogy. This day of reckoning stuff is a load of cobblers. All the institutions will simply move before Scotland is able to bring in the aforementioned laws (they will have 6 months to do so) and avoid any legal proceedings. And even if they did get hit with a lawsuit they would simply throw money at it until it went away. Is that what Scotland really wants? You can't just stick your middle finger up at the rest of the UK and expect us to give you an easy ride.

Salmond is the Classic example of the whinger,always blaming someone else,when things are going his way,he makes sure he puts the boot in! When they are not going his way,he starts blubbering about Bullying by Westminster,whinge whinge whine whine! media bias,blah blah! Business bias, Bank of England dirty tricks,whine whine! all the financial institutions are supposed to leave their reserves available to sink with Salmond! rather than ship it out and protect the customers,and their share holders!

He's the wrong character to lead Scots into independence. They can do and will do better.

In the meantime damage will have been done. In the event of a No vote I think business will move away from Scotland in anticipation this will happen again, uncertainty leading to instability. In the event of a Yes vote it seems big business has already confirmed its intention to move away and will relocate before independence due to . . . uncertainty leading to instability.

If all the ducks had been in a row before this, if they knew and had agreed exactly how the transition process was going to be managed and exactly how Scotland was going to work after independence no damage would have been done. This is all down to Mr. Salmond.

Ducks in a row blubbering scapegoats fascist leader......socialist blah blah.....

We are voting for independence....not a politician or any political party.

At least WE understand that.

That's fine. But in the event of a Yes vote I expect Westminster will immediately cut Scotland off and say 'you want it, you got'.

No guarantee's that won't happen.

[MAJIC]

I was only saying to my pal in Glasgow yesterday that every time an Englishman opens his mouth to speak about this election I rub my hands in anticipation.

Anticipation is one thing, fruition is another!

[smokie36]

There are no guarantees....I think we have established that......beyond if there is a majority who vote yes then we will have a framework set up for the new Scottish Parliament which will be independent.

Nothing else is certain....we agree with this.....move on please.

[MAJIC]

There are no guarantees....I think we have established that......beyond if there is a majority who vote yes then we will have a framework set up for the new Scottish Parliament which will be independent.

Nothing else is certain....we agree with this.....move on please.

I'm sorry to say smokie,that whichever side: YES OR NO are the Victors,Scotland will have many problems ahead,there will be a divided country,that will not heal overnight! and any majorities will be a small one!

[BKK Blues Brother]

There are no guarantees....I think we have established that......beyond if there is a majority who vote yes then we will have a framework set up for the new Scottish Parliament which will be independent.

Nothing else is certain....we agree with this.....move on please.

I'm sorry to say smokie,that whichever side: YES OR NO are the Victors,Scotland will have many problems ahead,there will be a divided country,that will not heal overnight! and any majorities will be a small one!

Indeed, you only have to look across the water to see the problems nationalist separatists have caused.

If it's not broke why try and fix it?

The "whingers over Scotland" have caused more harm than good!

Edited September 14, 2014 by BKK Blues Brother

[wilcopops]

There are no guarantees....I think we have established that......beyond if there is a majority who vote yes then we will have a framework set up for the new Scottish Parliament which will be independent.

Nothing else is certain....we agree with this.....move on please.

I'm sorry to say smokie,that whichever side: YES OR NO are the Victors,Scotland will have many problems ahead,there will be a divided country,that will not heal overnight! and any majorities will be a small one!

Indeed, you only have to look across the water to see the problems nationalist separatists have caused.

If it's not broke why try and fix it?

The "whingers over Scotland" have caused more harm than good!

You mean the Orange men?

[wilcopops]

There are no guarantees....I think we have established that......beyond if there is a majority who vote yes then we will have a framework set up for the new Scottish Parliament which will be independent.

Nothing else is certain....we agree with this.....move on please.

I'm sorry to say smokie,that whichever side: YES OR NO are the Victors,Scotland will have many problems ahead,there will be a divided country,that will not heal overnight! and any majorities will be a small one!

I keep looking at your collection of flags...... No flag for Northern Ireland .......yet the old cross of St Patrick is still in the background of the Union Flag.....of course the Welsh flag never made it on that....

[beautifulthailand99]

Time to suspend democracy , exile Salmond and impose martial law till the rebellion is crushed. None of this Thai pussy footing todh khot stuff - full on English mediaval justice.

http://youtu.be/QiLatwTFUhw

[NanLaew]

There are no guarantees....I think we have established that......beyond if there is a majority who vote yes then we will have a framework set up for the new Scottish Parliament which will be independent.

Nothing else is certain....we agree with this.....move on please.

I'm sorry to say smokie,that whichever side: YES OR NO are the Victors,Scotland will have many problems ahead,there will be a divided country,that will not heal overnight! and any majorities will be a small one!

Indeed, you only have to look across the water to see the problems nationalist separatists have caused.

If it's not broke why try and fix it?

The "whingers over Scotland" have caused more harm than good!

Ireland's separation was driven by a violent campaign and best fit a political expedient at that time. Beyond providing some template for any country considering separation, there's no direct comparison with the current Scottish referendum apart from geographical proximity.

But it IS broke. When Scotland returns a solitary Conservative MP to Westminster but has to toe a line largely dictated by the political party that least represents their populace? Imagine if the shoe was on the other foot and Holyrood was the seat of UK government and the largely Conservative voting southeast of England had to wait for the crumbs to fall from the table in Edinburgh?

The first referendum under Thatcher in 1979 indicated that 52% of voting Scots wanted independence. However, Westminster panned the result on the grounds of low voter turnout and the terminal decline of the Conservative party north of the border was accelerated.

The Labour party had their opportunity to redress this under Blair and in 1997 with an unprecedented 74% voter turnout, the mandate for Holyrood was granted. Unfortunately, the Labour party's own divisions where their Scottish (and even their North and Northeast England) representatives chose largely to distance themselves from their southern-based colleagues, the vacuum enabled the self-styled 'pretender' of Alex Salmond's SNP to prevail.

Regardless of the outcome of the vote, last weeks hugely cynical carrot and stick offer of some form of economic redress IF the Scots vote No just shows the never-ending, self-interest of the current seat of power in the UK. In mid-July, Gordon Brown had no stated opinion in the referendum but with two weeks to go, he has been reinvented as the great, Scottish elder statesman with a cookie-cutter speech delivered north of the border for his fellow countryman to vote Yes. To have anyone who is broadly linked with the UK's fiscal mismanagement as the spokesman for the Better Together campaign is as laughable as the notion that Salmond only seeks to be King of Scotland. To have two of them as the very public mouthpiece shows how the hopelessly unprepared 'big house' in London has absolutely no bloody clue.

Over time, all three major British political parties have in one way or another, totally disenfranchised the 'northern British'. It's not about the Scots reaping what they sew, it's about the Scottish wheat that successive Westminster governments have thrown out with the chaff.

Edited September 15, 2014 by NanLaew

[siampolee]

What would indeed and in fact might well be an interesting situation is the position of the S.N.P.and its leadership if the outcome of this vote is ''NO.''

Will we see Salomd and his friends working together top heal the rift or will we see the birth of a movement dedicated to Scotland's independence and the using of somewhat more forceful arguments and actions to pursue their cause?

In truth the outcome for these people leading this campaign could be a political nationalistic snake pit irrespective of the votes outcome.

A no vote the political scrap heap a yes vote and of course promises have to be kept and policies pursued indeed a rocky road irrespective of what the result may be.

Be careful for that which you wish for, whichever way you may care to vote..