Scotland YES or NO

Have to register to read that article, bags, so as I am not going to, I cannot comment on the article.
However, if it hadn't been for Alex Salmond, there would not have been a referendum and Scotland would not be getting more from the government. So whatever you think of his politics, you have to admit that he did what he said he was going to do in that respect.
And I do think he wants to spend more time with his wife. She is 77, and they have no children. She has purposely kept out of the limelight.

I'm not interested in a politician's personal charm but in their politics and actual implemented policies. If this article from the Herald Scotland is anything to go by, and I suspect it is, there is nothing to attract me to Salmond's politics at all, or to him.

In my years as humble spear-carrier in the Queen's army of civil servants, fate decreed that I met quite a few Ministers, senior politicians, minor royalty and so-called celebrities. Face to face most of them were pleasant enough people, whereas often their public persona was completely different. Something to do with the corrupting effect of power, I expect. I never thought that Salmond was a natural leader, far too moody and introspective.

I have found that almost everyone who has actually met AS, heard him speak or spent time in his company, has been completely won over. If all you see of him is through the prism of his rivals and the press then you will get a very distorted view. Over the last few years as First Minister and the MSM's nominated head of the referendum campaign he has shouldered an unsustainable burden of hopes and responsibilities, whilst coping with a constant barrage of foul personal abuse - no wonder that at times he has looked tired and not shown his usual sparkling wit.

I am sure I have said on these threads on several occasions that the game plan was always for Alex to step back from the front line after the referendum. With a YES vote he would have fronted the negotiations with RUK, now he will withdraw from the limelight but still be fighting for whatever is best for Scotland. In Nicola Sturgeon we have a more than worthy, experienced, respected successor, who was always destined to be First (or Prime ) Minister. I have had the privilege of watching her develop from a modest, shy 16 year old, who was transformed into a firebrand whenever she stood on a platform, into the unchallenged, most powerful woman in Scotland, who still has time to show genuine concern to old friends and acquaintances. It is time for her to come out from Alex's shadow and shine in her own light.

There *

DC refused to have the Max devo question on the ballot paper. Alex salmond brought Scotland to a referendum vote and should be proud of that. Maybe if people would stop refering to Scotland as a region instead of giving it the dignity it deserves their would be more respect all round

He`s left before and returned again. Maybe he`s waiting for poor wee Nichola to do all the hard work then make a star return appearance. We`ve noticed over the years (and long before the referendum) that if there`s bad news or a difficult issue its her that has to front it but if its a high profile good news story he`s the one in the middle of the pictures............
Never liked or trusted him.

I don't know how many of us have actually met AS. Jon Snow has quite often from the sound of it.

I am usually reluctant to have firm opinions of someone based on their media image only, especially is I suspect they are deliberately being portrayed in a less than flattering light for propaganda purposes.

Maybe he is waiting for everyone to plead with him to return?

I am
Was Jon Snow talking about Salmond? Personally I find nothing charismatic about him, nor dignified about his leaving.
Although I suppose he did resign after doing his very best which is more than one can say about some in public life who refuse to resign despite abysmally failing in their jobs.

That seems unlikely, dj, as he would certainly not be leaving if the result had been yes.
As there is a comparatively short time until the next General Election, maybe he wanted to avoid the SNP possibly being perceived as a party with a loser for a leader, and to give time for people to get used to the new leader.

Another reason Salmond might have decided to stop is that his wife is 17 years older than he is. Perhaps he does just need time to be with his family.

I was thinking more about her presentational skills, rq, and not the content of her offerings or her Toryism. She seemed to more than hold her own in the cut and thrust of the debates.

This was what John Snow had to say about AS on his blog:

'He was by far the most charismatic and colourful of the UK’s main party leaders.

The dignity of his going describes the man. History will mark what he achieved in Scotland. Within that achievement was that of enabling a people to become politically engaged, on whatever side, to indulge in sophisticated argument, discourse, and commitment within the independence debate.'

I am sure many of those 'don't knows' had already decided but preferred not to say.

If I am asked before an election by a person with a clipboard and a meaningful gleam in their eye which way I intend to vote I say 'don't know'. Saves a lot of hassle.

I wouldn't attempt to define it, petallus! This is what I hate about nationalism - trying to divide people into boxes. The Guardian should know better than to stir things up in this way. At least Alex Salmond had the sense to say that anyone who lived and worked in Scotland had the right to vote. My husband was born in Wales but has lived and worked here in Scotland for over 40 years. It wouldn't surprise me if the Guardian has him down as English!

Dodiegale1 i was quoting a comment fron The Guardian which said just under 50 percent of people livimg in Edinburgh were English. I'm not sure how they defined 'English' and 'Scottish'.

How would you define 'Scottish'?

What a nice post Thistledoo. Scotland IS a beautiful place, and as I've previously said we have had some lovely holidays there, Fort William, Arisaig with it's fantastic white beaches, Stirling Castle, with all it's history and much much more. Wonderful people, and a lovely lovely country, and I am SO glad that Scotland chose to stay with the rest of us. Lets face it nothing in life is perfect, but when you look round the rest of the world, I think we are all lucky to live in these islands, warts and all!!!

What is your criterion for being Scottish, petallus?

I can see that those who had already made a firm decision to vote 'no' would not be influenced by last minute promises of devo max.

However, it seems plausible to me that people who were still undecided might have been influenced.

It's not surprising that there was a high vote for 'no' in Edinburgh when nearly 50 percent of people living there are not Scottish.

Given all the circumstances, I am amazed that 45 percent of people living in Scotland voted 'yes' for independence.

Well said Elegran

Am sure there would have ben a "no" victory without these last minute promises. But the Westminster politicians panicked. Now they have problems.

Nicola Sturgeon is a very astute politician; can't see anyone else in the SNP taking on Alex Salmond's mantle. What does worry me is what opposition the other parties can offer. Yes, Ruth Davidson has come over very well in the campaign but her support is limited. Likewise Willie Rennie from the Liberal Democrats. Main opposition has to be from Labour. Much as I admire the way Johann Lamont has tackled Alex Salmond in recent months, we do need hard-hitters against the divisive scourge of nationalism. Very much hoping that people of the calibre of Gordon Brown, Jim Murphy or John Reid might be persuaded that their future lies in Holyrood, rather than Westminster...

Oh dear, I thought Salmond was a bad loser after he vanished in the early hours and left it to Nicola Sturgeon to handle the media. It was clear at that point that the votes were not coming their way. She needs to distance herself from him now.

the three stooges (Cameron, Clegg and Milli) should have kept out of trying to influence the vote either way - it was the decision of the Scottish residents/citizens and they (c,c and m) certainly should not have made promises 'in my name' (as a citizen of the 'rest of the United Kingdom' who would be affected by said promises).
It was just plain wrong and I am sure most 'no' voters are more astute than to be influenced by such vague 'promises'
of course, this gives Salmond et al another stick to beat the 'rest of the United Kingdom' over the head with allegations of bribery.

I think anyone thinking that the they changed their mind and voted no after the panic promises from Westminster must really think again. Perhaps a handful of people is feasible, but not enough to turn the vote round in favour of a yes vote. My mind was made up long before the eve o polling and so we're family neighbours and friends. The no vote won, end of story.
Time to move on. Scotland is already a fair place to live, we have quite a few benefits that English Welsh and Irish neighbours envy, let's count our blessings an be thankful we live in such a beautiful place.