The Scottish referendum debate...

us5.campaign-archive1.com/?u=36889d82a90d38e0b25c84b47&id=8544e1184a&e=9d235c0378

Sorry, that's just the campaign to sign. This is the article.

I watched the Andrew Neil programme last night about the possible effects on the UK. Did anybody else, and if so what did you think?

Yes papaoscar and for me anyway it was an eye-opener, with regard to the nuclear deterrent capability and how that will probably be impossible to maintain if Scotland is independent.

I agreed too with Andrew Neil that the London press have been negligent in virtually ignoring this issue.

Yes, JaneA, according to Andrew the rest of the UK should WAKE UP to the consequences of possible Scottish independence before the little Westie's tail starts to wag for the grand old British bulldog!

But there's nothing we can do about it, given that we have no say in the matter .

And that, Tegan I find most unsatisfactory, and in respect of which I hold the Tories and their collaborators completely responsible. That could be an omission which comes back to haunt them at the UK election next year.

Of course there is Tegan. You may not have the one single vote that those based in Scotland have, but there is nothing to stop you campaigning for YES or Better Together, by writing to the papers, posting on-line, donating money, coming up to Scotland to campaign in person. I have 2 friends, one half Scottish/half German, one Scots born but living in London, neither of whom has a vote, who are coming to stay with relatives to take part for the last month of the campaign.

Having a voice isn't the same as having a vote, Granny23.
Would you have told the suffragettes that they should satisfy themselves with campaigning on issues, rather than striving for their own vote?

One commentator on the programme last night said that if Scotland becomes independent, the country of Britain would no longer exist. I think we should all be able to vote on such a momentous change.

But I don't want a 'yes' vote and , if I did it would only be because I want closure on the matter as my fear is that a 'no' will just result in years and years of resentment . I wouldn't support a 'yes' vote because it's a vote into the unknown. I don't understand why, with an election coming up, there isn't more effort being put into a 'united kingdom' fairer to all [which is what I shall work towards].

Too late now to change the referendum rules. Personally, I would have been quite happy to extend the franchise UK wide. However, the Tories (and Labour)want Scotland to remain in the Union (because they NEED Scotland's resources and Labour need Scottish votes to regain power at Westminster). They knew full well (having seen numerous opinion polls) that a large majority of voters in the rest of the UK would vote YES to rid themselves of the 'whinging Scots' and thought that their best chance of a NO vote was to confine the vote to Scotland and then frighten everyone with scare stories e.g. the oil is going to run out tomorrow, about the apocalyptic consequences of a YES vote.

Sorry - we are all being manipulated. It is the Westminster political elite - the poodles- who are wagging the British Bulldog's tail.

I don't think the rest of the UK would have voted YES if they'd been granted a vote - quite the opposite, in fact!

We could have our own GN referendum where we all have a vote - but the problem is at the moment I can't see the wood for the trees.

What facts relating to Scottish independence do we know for sure and what is only probability?

I feel that most people wouldn't have voted at all because they found the issue far too complicated. I also find it desperately sad that the people of Scotland want to separate themselves from us .

I am really concerned because if Scotland votes 'Yes' then what is going to happen in Wales? Will they be campaigning for more powers of devolution, or even independence? Without the resources that Scotland has.

The S.O. says that a 'yes' vote could lead to us losing our UN vote.

Yes, I think that was said on the programme last night Tegan. Like you I am very about all this.

Tegan and other Jane - Please don't assume that all "the people of Scotland" want to separate themselves from the UK. I sincerely hope that will be clearly demonstrated by an outright NO vote on 18th Sept. What could be a risk would be if the vote was close. Whatever the outcome there will be a group of very pissed off people from one side or the other depending on how it goes. Certainly we`re not the only ones of our acquaintanceship who would consider moving to England. I`m furious that we should have to think of that at all. The financial side is so unclear that all we can think of is "who`s going to pay for it all?" The squeezed middle? ie us!

Jane I think you have put your finger on at least part of what makes me feed - the thought that whatever the outcome, there are going to be a lot of people feeling very unhappy with it - either their hopes and expectations will have been raised only to be dashed, or they are faced with a great deal of unknowns that none of them asked for, and the possibility of many unintended consequences.

I had certainly never thought that frustrated no-ers might emigrate to England, but Northumberland is a beautiful place to live, and although Newcastle cannot boast Edinburgh's history and gravitas, it is still a great city

feel (!)

Malcolm Chisholm demolishes the SNP on the NHS. 23% increase in the use of private health service in the last year. www.scottishlabour.org.uk/blog/entry/the-big-lie …

Malcolm Chisholm is a former Health Minister in the Scottish Government.

This rebutts what he says about the TTIP in that article, bags.
nhap.org/nhs-safe-ttip-despite-headlines-contrary/

In which case how do we know what he says about the rest is true.

Looking forward to getting this referendum business behind me. Its becoming distinctly boring and increasingly petty and silly.

That is talking about the NHS in England, durhamj. Chisholm is talking about the NHS in Scotland. The Scottish Govt has full control of Scottish NHS funding.

The NHA Party doesn't apply to Scotland either.

Though I expect one could still become a member of it from Scotland.