Scotland YES or NO

Jane it may not be clear to all, but there is actually a huge groundswell of support for independence. Rightly or wrongly, many Scots are thinking with their hearts (or altruistic idealism) and not their heads (financial prudence ). Many are asking questions and weighing up the available information but for others it's a real gut feeling.

Isn't that rather a stereotypical view of the Scots, jane?

I'd have hoped they'd be giving a bit more thought to the vote than just the financial aspect.

Well Roses I would be interested to hear the Scots GNers (I am assuming you are not one) views as to whether the pro-Independence supporters are motivated by altruistic idealism or financial concerns.
I realise that they may well be motivated by both idealism and the belief that they would be better off financially in an independent Scotland, but I can't help feeling that if it came down to a choice between the two, financial prudence would win the day.

jane It may well prove difficult financially for the Scots to go it alone, but what I'm saying is, if they think that is the right thing to do then they should go for it, and yes, it may affect their pockets but if they really want to rule themselves, that could be part of the cost.

Yes, but in which currency?

So, we get £1000 for voting Yes or £1400 for voting No. Are they going to bring it round in a van? They must all think our heads button up the back.

Anno I think that Charles Kennedy and Ming Campbell - both life long supporters of federalisim, are less than comfortable with the garbage being expounded by the Better Together mob.

I don't know much about Lord Elgin, whose main claim to fame is that his ancestor stole the Elgin Marbles from Greece. All I know is that he is a high-heid-yin in the Masons and gives his home address as Maidia Vale in London. As a Scottish Peer he would lose his seat in the House of Lords if Scotland becomes independent - as would all current Scottish MPs, including Danny Alexander.

I suspect, Newist that you know much, much more about the everyday lives and aspirations of people in Scotland than his Lordship does.

No all I noted was he was voting no and I liked his reasons for doing so.
If you so wish, you can do that simple thing. His whole life story is on Google so I am sure you can find it, then tell us all about him

Sorry, Newist, I thought that as you mentioned Lord Elgin and said you agreed with him, you must know something as simple as that about him.

The 'better together' campaign is fronted by some of the least charismatic politicians you could imagine. Danny Alexander has never been more than a mouthpiece for George Osborne - a fine example of Peter Principle; and has Alistair Darling anything new to say? I am sure that Sir Ming Campbell would bring more gravitas and authority to the cause; and where is Charles Kennedy? His quick wit and TV persona would make people sit up and take notice, surely.

Ana he is a politician!!!!
I have been out to lunch today with old nursing friends and our concern is that we wonder if people realise that this is not reversible if it doesn't work.
Oh and on my table, no-one wanted devolution.

I have no idea durhamjen why don't you look to see

I wonder whether Alex Salmond exaggerated his figures, too?

https://fullfact.org/live/2014/may/scottish_independence_estimates_new_departments-32720

The government exaggerated the figures, believe it or not.

Is Lord Elgin a member of the Lords, Newist? Does he get £300 of taxpayers money every time he shows his face?

bettertogether.net/ I have just signed up to this. I really do not want Scotland to split with the rest of the country. I have chosen to live in this beautiful friendly part of the world, some things may not be perfect but I would rather have the imperfections I know about, than unforseen ones that will come about by voting yes. If Lord Elgin, Robert the Bruce's direct descendant is voting no, and he knows much more than I do about how Scotland will fare, by being independent. I am definitely voting NO.

The problem is that the No-voters have got Danny Alexander fronting the discussion. He looks like an undertaker at the moment, having presumably found out that Oakeshott says he'll lose his seat at the next election

rosesared if the Scots were to disregard the financial consequences, and vote purely from sentiment, it could prove an expensive indulgence.

Good letter in the Scotsman via Twitter.

On both sides of the debate, it seems to be a case of 'think of a number' and double/treble it as the case may be!

It should NOT be about amounts of money [and hardly millions is it?]If you think that Scotland should have independence then vote for it [or not]this should not be voted on for the wrong reasons.I hope the Scots choose to stay with us, but if they don't, then they have chosen, so I hope they do it for other reasons [non financial.] Not everything in the world should be about money.

Both sides are at it - the Scottish government is saying everyone in Scotland would be £1,000 better off a year in the event of a "Yes" vote in September's independence referendum, but UK ministers said people would benefit from staying in the Union by £1,400 per person, per year.

The YES brigade has just posted a newspaper/flyer through my door exalting me to vote 'yes' and claiming that every family in Scotland will be better off to the tune of £5000 a year. . Sorry, don't believe it! (and where is the money coming from in order to honour this claim I wonder?) They also tell me that in the event of independence, Scotland will be one of the 20 wealthiest countries globally - even richer than the rest of the UK....... sorry, just choked on my marmite sandwich

HollyDaze, the idea of DevoMax, as it was known was to give us more power over, for example, raising and spending our own taxes and having more responsibility even over things like the lowering of blood alcohol limits permitted to drivers - currently reserved to Westminster - without leaving the United Kingdom.

Ana and POGS, it seems that if we want more control over our own affairs without leaving the UK you make snide remarks like "gain without pain" but if we want to leave, that's wrong too.

It's people like Boris Johnston who think that we are "subsidy junkies" in spite of the fact that money slides down to the South-East corner. However, wishing to raise our own taxes isn't right either. Hey ho.

There is nothing personal against anyone in my wish to live in an independent Scotland Nfk. I have no intention of turning my back on my much-loved family and friends in England, any more than I would if they lived in Ireland (and it's easier to visit them in England).

Riverwalk, I'm not the only person here who is ashamed that we now have a UKIP MEP. Very disappointing.

With and to all GNers on all sides of all borders.

What annoys me most, is that my SiL,- english, but living in mallaig gets a vote, but I, a scot, living in England, won't, even though a yes vote means i lose my british citizenship...