Scotland YES or NO

The pre-legislative referendum on devolution for Wales resulted in 50.3% yes and 49.7% no.
The turnout was 50.1%

I do hope this coming referendum which will have such far-reaching consequences will not have such a narrow margin either way.

Loved the link, wendylou. Made me feel quite emotional...

I'm a Scot whose family on both sides have been leaving Scotland for well over a hundred years, in search of a decent living. I am not unusual; ask grandparents anywhere in Scotland if they have family working abroad and there will be few who don't.

USA, Canada, South Africa, Australia and New Zealand have all benefited from our young people, trying to make their way.
My two grandchildren have been in South Australia for 3 years now. Both their parents are Scottish graduates with good degrees and skills, but have lost their jobs in the UK recession.
I have been lucky enough to visit them once in this time. Many grandparents can't afford to do this and miss out completely on family contact with the new generation.

Speaking only for myself, Scotland's wish is for parity - to be treated as an equal partner within the Union, with the same opportunities and investment in our country, so that our young people have a choice about where they live and work. I know that Wales and many parts of England and elsewhere in the United Kingdom have similar problems.

I don't know how Scotland will fare in the future, but I believe in the need to take the chance and the risk, because no-one else is going to fix this for us.

I think all the arguments for and against Scottish independence are irrelevant.

If the Scottish people want independence they should vote for it because they want it so much that they do not care about the effects it will have on them and are prepared to hunker down and deal with all the problems independence will bring.

If they are voting for it without that whole hearted determination to have independence at all costs, even if they succeed in winning the vote, the negotiations for the separation are just going to break down into endless bickering between the British government and a Scottish government that breaks down into lots of little factions all arguing over their own petty concerns. The Scottish electorate will loose faith and belief in the capacity of a Scottish government to deliver meaningful independence and will, of course, blame the British government for all their problems.

Just watching Countryfile and they're featuring One Man and His Dog. Four nations. I suppose if there's a yes vote it'll be just three nations.

Yes I watched it too papaoscar not very nice. I am currently in Dumfries on a work/holiday break for a few days. We happened upon a lovely little boating event yesterday that was sadly hijacked by the YES campaigners and I saw with my own eyes what a nasty lot some of them can be. Marching around the town and the waters edge banging their drums and collaring everyone who passed. VerbLly abusing anyone who dared disagree with them, ruining an otherwise lovely day. My suspicions are that if all does not go their way on Thursday there will be repercussions I don't think they could/would admit defeat.

This is my big worry, gillybob. Still virtually no "Better together" stickers in Edinburgh. Am hoping that people will at least take advantage of the secret ballot. Alex the Salmond said today that there is no such thing as a "no" vote; just a deferred "yes" vote. Am very much hoping that he will discover on Friday that there is such a thing as a "no" vote!

Given that the oil in Scotland is due to run out in approximately fifteen years, have the party leaders thought up/mentioned a potential alternative source of income?

Morethanthis I don't understand what you mean by this section of your post:

"Speaking only for myself, Scotland's wish is for parity - to be treated as an equal partner within the Union, with the same opportunities and investment in our country, so that our young people have a choice about where they live and work."

Yes I heard that this morning dodiegale1 the man is crazy and dangerous.

I'm not sure what you mean JessM being treat as an equal partner. In what way do you feel unequal? Unequal to whom? From where I stand (not at this very moment, as I am actually in Scotland) the Scottish seem to get a much better deal of it than we do in the North East of England.

Today the Queen made a neutral remark - as she must. But don't you think she'll be heartbroken if the vote is 'yes'? She truly loves Scotland & if the Scots break up the United Kingdom which - whatever your politics - you must admit she has faithfully served- it will be a severe blow to her.

Ooo sorry jessM trust me! I totally missed the fact that you were quoting someone else's post.

Not sure what you mean morethanthis by not being treat equal?

What annoyed me about the Queen's situation, rozzo55, is that Alex Salmond implied that she supported independence for Scotland and would love to be "Queen of Scots". He said this knowing that she could say nothing in response. Anyone with a modicum of common sense would know that there is no way she would want the United Kingdom broken up at this stage in her reign. What a way to thank her for all her years of service. At the same time I understand why the "Yes" campaign is ignoring this. A lot of them plan to get rid of the monarchy anyway, once they get independence.

The Scots cannot say that the queen cannot go to Scotland; she owns quite a lot of it. She likes going there for holidays, and might be allowed to just do that if it's a yes vote.
Alex Salmond has said there will be a costitution which allows her to still be Queen of Scotland.

Something I found quite interesting about the matter of North Sea oil; Alex Salmond used to be an oil economist. I imagine he knows quite a lot about the oil situation.

I too question Morethanthis's remark about wanting parity. A lot of the UK would like the sort of parity Scotland has - we'd be much better off!

Hey dodiegale1 my friend just texted me to say that she`s just plucked up enough courage to move her NO sticker from her fridge door to her window! So there`s one in Edinburgh anyway! Several mentions in today`s Scotsman about bullying and hectoring by YES campaigners (but the Scotsman has come out as definitely pro NO- probably in deference to its educated middleclass financially savvy readers- business is after all business!)

Good news about your friend, Jane10! I will keep looking for Edinburgh "Better together" stickers. It is extraordinary how few there are. Off to Lanark today by train so I don't know if I will see any "no" stickers there.

An interesting look at what happened when Ireland separated and what happened to their finances.

www.theguardian.com/money/blog/2014/sep/13/pensions-mortgages-scottish-messy-personal-finance

I think the last few posts have completely exonerated what Jane10 said some pages ago and was smartly put down for her comments. It seems to me that the Scots have such a good deal from the rest of the UK, far better than the North East of England, or anywhere else come to that, and are clearly set to get even more favours should they reject independence, killing that particular golden goose seems next door to insanity. Ok they want 'freedom'! what is that they are not allowed to do from wicked Westminster that they can only do if they are free? apart from starve!

Come on, niggly, they are not going to starve. The clearances happened centuries ago. That's a bit of a scare tactic.

What's wrong with them wanting freedom from Westminster?
They want the freedom to set their own taxes, the freedom from paying for Trident, the freedom to make their own mistakes rather than a different government making mistakes and having them pay for it.

Yes, they have been promised more favours if they vote no, but that's all they are. This government has been known to go back on its promises, as has the previous one, and a few more before that. Particularly with regard to Scotland.

I'm not sure what you mean JessM being treat as an equal partner. In what way do you feel unequal?

gillybob I cannot speak for JessM, although I understood she lives in Wales, not Scotland. Apologies, Jess if I am wrong.

Looking at it from the perspective of someone who lives in Wales, the Scots seem far more advantaged than the Welsh. That may be because of the oil which they can use as a lever to get more in return per capita from Westminster than anywhere else in the UK.

Another thought: www.princes-trust.org.uk/about_the_trust/in_your_region/scotland.aspx

What will happen to the Prince's Trust in Scotland if there is a 'yes' vote. Is this Trust just for the benefit of young people in the UK? Would it be dismantled if Scotland becomes a foreign country?

Rosequartz The answer to your question is in the link you provided. The Prince's Trust in Scotland is already 'devolved', as are many other Charities and businesses. Some Charities are totally separate entities e.g. Scottish Women's Aid, RSSPCC, etc. - check out the Scottish Charities Register.

But does 'devolved' mean something different to operating in a foreign country?
Scotland has devolution but not independence as yet.

Apparently at the moment Scotland controls 70% of its spending but only 16% of its revenues. That needs to change.