The referendum is creeping up on us and is just over a year away!

 

In the medium term, I don't think independence will actually change Scotland that much. But I'm leaning towards Yes simply because it will allow Scotland to make their own decisions, which is important when they often vote differently to the rest of the UK.

 

What frustrates me is the Yes camp seeming to have a disproportionate number, judging from their Facebook page and forum comments, of Grimly Fiendish-esque, hysterical conspiracy theorists that believe the UK is turning into a one-party authoritarian state with every media outlet colluding against them. And both sides seem to get a huge kick out of gleefully tarnishing the other's campaigns when they seem to be missing the bigger picture. I can't fully identify with either side. An independent Scotland would outlast any person alive today so I fail to see how Alex Salmond, Alistair Darling or anyone else should really come into your decision.

 

I've yet to see any decent argument for the union but I feel myself always on the lookout for one. Breaking the union would be a historic occasion and I think the psychological aspect is holding people, me included, back, rather than any concrete/economic/factual reason. Is simply feeling a sense of Britishness on top of the nationality of the four countries you come from a decent reason to vote No? I'm certainly open to changing my mind.

 

I don't think it'll happen anyway. Momentum is going towards Yes and away from No, but when it comes down to it, the undecided voters will vote for the option giving the least change, which is No.

 

And I've added two extra options for those living outside the borders!

Edited August 7, 201311 yr by Harve

The only way that I would agree to this is so I could laugh, I think it would be incredibly stupid for Scotland to become independent! Although having our own iTunes etc would be quite cool!

The only way that I would agree to this is so I could laugh, I think it would be incredibly stupid for Scotland to become independent! Although having our own iTunes etc would be quite cool!

Can you imagine our own Eurovision entries too? <3

 

But why Lee?

Can you imagine our own Eurovision entries too? <3

 

But why Lee?

 

Our own eurovision entries *.*

 

It would be interesting to be independent, although I don't see it doing us any favours in the long term.

I had been wavering for years but have now landed on the side of yes. The key thing for me is that Scotland votes against the majority in England that leaves us with policies we don't want and didn't vote for. The current government doesn't have a mandate this side of the border (1 Tory MP on the English Border does not a mandate make).

 

Like a lot of Scottish voters I am Pro-EU (There's more people for Europe in Scotland than in England. I'm fairly sure I've seen the statistics to back this up) and I find myself agreeing with the SNP and their policies more and more these days. They have done a lot of good for this little country but their hands are tied so much by Westminster. I'm not concerned about Oil money, I think the UK government has wasted ours thus far, as I think that our future is in the renewable sector. With the governments commitment to Green Energy I think that if we could control our own budgets we would be able to invest more in this sector to truly become a world leader in the provision of Green Energy and an Energy exporter.

 

The more ridiculous hyperbole that I see come out of the No camp the more certain I am that I am going to vote yes.

I support Scottish independence

 

It would mean a hell of a lot less Labour MP's in parliament and would probably result in permanent tory rule which sounds good to me

 

 

I still think that Scotland would be better off in the union (and if not then thanks for all the oil) and statistically you're a far nicer lot politically than everyone round here. I fear for the UK if we lose not just Scottish MPs but support for things like renewable energy and the EU, although short term it would be disastrous for Cameron.

At the moment there are so many unanswered questions that I suspect Scotland will vote No. I think Salmond - who is a very shrewd politician - may announce at some point that the referendum is on the principle of independence rather than a definite Yes or No. He can then say that, if Scotland votes Yes, there will be a negotiation with the UK government to settle the terms of independence followed by another referendum to endorse the deal. That may help to swing some of the more nervous voters behind a Yes vote.

 

The question of EU membership is an interesting one. If Scotland votes No - or Yes in a referendum on the principle as above - then they will have a vote in any referendum on EU membership in 2017. At the moment it is likely that England will vote to leave with Scotland voting to stay. Wales and Northern Ireland are also likely to vote to stay. That could result in a vote to leave but with three of the four constituent nations voting to stay which could have all sorts of repercussions.

I support Scottish independence

 

It would mean a hell of a lot less Labour MP's in parliament and would probably result in permanent tory rule which sounds good to me

What a wonderfully coherent and well thought through argument :rolleyes:

I can't see Scotland voting for independence. It seems as if Scotland stands to lose a lot more financially than it can ever hope to gain from being a single entity. I'm personally not fussed either way, but would lean slightly towards the no option.

 

Although if it does happen, it will definitely have repercussions on the other side of the Irish Sea.

I support Scottish independence

 

It would mean a hell of a lot less Labour MP's in parliament and would probably result in permanent tory rule which sounds good to me

 

See, I think of it in the opposite terms - no more Tory rule in Scotland is a real carrot.

Be prepared for a lot of pretty negative campaigning on both sides for the next 12 months. I would be gutted to lose Scotland from the UK personally.

 

I can see this being very close though, but ultimately I don't think that the Scottish will vote for independence. Economically it is very risky, especially given that were they to join the European Union they would have to adopt the Euro currency (either that or come up with their own currency, but I sincerely doubt they would risk that).

 

I suspect like Suedehead a half-way house of more devolved power to Scotland is what will eventually be put on the table and that ultimately they would remain as part of the United Kingdom.

The SNP wanted DevoMax on the ballot but Camoron said no. There is no way in hell DevoMax wouldn't have been passed with a huge % of the vote. It would have seen the Indie bid fail for sure but the Tory's have never particularly given a shit about what people north of Hadrian's Wall think.

Yes, but Cameron isn't exactly known for making good decisions...

 

Anyway, Salmond needs to page from Jens Stoltenberg's book and find out what the Scottish public really think:

 

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-23655675

 

 

Be prepared for a lot of pretty negative campaigning on both sides for the next 12 months. I would be gutted to lose Scotland from the UK personally.

 

I can see this being very close though, but ultimately I don't think that the Scottish will vote for independence. Economically it is very risky, especially given that were they to join the European Union they would have to adopt the Euro currency (either that or come up with their own currency, but I sincerely doubt they would risk that).

 

I suspect like Suedehead a half-way house of more devolved power to Scotland is what will eventually be put on the table and that ultimately they would remain as part of the United Kingdom.

I think the economic risks of the rest of the UK taking Scotland outside the EEA (I'm not sure if you can leave the EU and stay in that) are greater. The obligation to join the euro seems very loosely enforced given that many of the 2004 members seem years off adopting it, and I'm willing to bet that the currency will fare well in the longer term - it mightn't be a bad thing at all. An independent Scotland wouldn't necessarily have to get rid of the pound anyway, although I admit it's foolish to count on keeping it.

I think the economic risks of the rest of the UK taking Scotland outside the EEA (I'm not sure if you can leave the EU and stay in that) are greater. The obligation to join the euro seems very loosely enforced given that many of the 2004 members seem years off adopting it, and I'm willing to bet that the currency will fare well in the longer term - it mightn't be a bad thing at all. An independent Scotland wouldn't necessarily have to get rid of the pound anyway, although I admit it's foolish to count on keeping it.

 

That's a fair point - I didn't say it would be a bad option - just a risky one. Becoming an independent country and then staying with the pound wouldn't work because you'd still have the UK controlling the monetary policy. I think Euro is the most likely option out of the three.

Scottish independence would be a dreadful, dreadful idea - both for the Scottish people (just take a look at the leaked Swinney memo where they basically admitted that taxes would have to go up or services would have to be cut drastically as they couldn't rely on oil) and for the UK as a whole. Scottish identity is a key aspect of British identity - you just have to look at the likes of J.K. Rowling, Andy Murray and the many Scottish Olympians to see that Scotland gives a lot to the Union but also gets a lot out of it - culturally, fiscally, and through the basic bonds of history and family ties.

 

Change for the sake of change is a terrible idea. And thank Christ there's no way in hell this referendum will pass - the SNP plan for independence has been written on the back of a fag packet. Barely any thought whatsoever as to how the process of separating currencies, military, EU relationships et al is going to work. A good plan could've been made - but it wasn't. I'm not in favour of Scottish independence anyway, but absolutely not on these terms.

Edited August 11, 201311 yr by Kanduälska

I support Scottish independence

 

It would mean a hell of a lot less Labour MP's in parliament and would probably result in permanent tory rule which sounds good to me

Without the Scottish Labour MPs, the only election results that would've changed would've been 1964 and both 1974 elections. Labour would lose about 50 MPs.

Without the Scottish Labour MPs, the only election results that would've changed would've been 1964 and both 1974 elections. Labour would lose about 50 MPs.

We both know that's more down to:

 

a) Scotland only really turning soundly red since Thatcher

b) Our only election wins since being thrashings

 

Regardless of the stats, Labour would have a far harder time without Scotland.

We both know that's more down to:

 

a) Scotland only really turning soundly red since Thatcher

b) Our only election wins since being thrashings

 

Regardless of the stats, Labour would have a far harder time without Scotland.

Of course, but it's not as open and shut as Craig's reasoning makes it out to be.