Will Scotland Leave the UK?

[Osem]

If Salmond's Tartan Twits lose the vote the Scots may well have cause to blame them for stirring up a whole lot of anti-Scottish feeling amongst the English. I'm sure Salmond believes this cross border angst serves his purpose but it could backfire very badly.

I'm not sure, so far the English have been led to believe there is a big demand for independence and that independence = hate England. Come the announcement of the results, a convincing defeat for the seps may well come as a welcome surprise down south.

[TheDaddy]

Originally Posted by Derek

Barring Mr Salmond suddenly finding a couple of million yes voters down the back of his sofa we aren't going anywhere.

He should look for them in England, we'll give him what he makes out he wants.

[colin25]

Originally Posted by Chris

I'm not sure, so far the English have been led to believe there is a big demand for independence and that independence = hate England. Come the announcement of the results, a convincing defeat for the seps may well come as a welcome surprise down south.

Not sure why people would think that.

It's not as if we hear so much about BMP etc, and think everyone in England is racist

Or do we

[Osem]

Well of course nobody can be sure of the long term effects at this stage which is why I used the phrase 'could backfire'. The point is that this debate is exposing a whole lot of argument much of which, from the SNP side, is designed to denigrate the English and the relationship with England in one way or another and stir up nationalist sentiment. As these arguments are more fully exposed people in England are not only going to be made far more aware of the how they are being represented but of the counter arguments which seek to show how well Scotland does out of the union - by definition at the expense of English taxpayers. These subjects are going to be exposed in more detail than ever before in the next couple of years and a great many more English folks might just resent this and form the impression that something must be done about things like the West Lothian question. I think there's could be a whole lot more resentment and nationalism south of the border for Holyrood to contend with if Salmond's Tartan Twits don't win.

Originally Posted by colin25

Not sure why people would think that.

It's not as if we hear so much about BMP etc, and think everyone in England is racist

Or do we

Being an Englishman living in Scotland, with both Scottish and English family, I see things from a different angle than many. Also, running a B&B we get lots of English visitors here, and whenever the subject comes up, they all think Scotland is going its own way next year.

This really isn't surprising, because all they ever hear about the matter on their telly boxes is from Fat Aleck or Angus Robertson, who if possible is even more smug than his boss.

Oh, and it doesn't help that Scotland's sporting anthem is a folk song about the longing for independence, likening the Union to an English occupation that needs to be sent homeward to think again. After a "no" vote next year, that choice of song is going to look pretty incongruous.

The balance of the panel on QT last week should have gone some way towards correcting that, seeing as it has presented the balance of views for and against separation broadly in line with the consistent evidence of the opinion polls. That will be why the SNP was so miffed by it.

[Cobbydaler]

A funny take on things...

http://www.thespoof.com/news/magazin...h-independence

Now Alex Salmond has threatened to use his McNavy to blockade the North Sea if he doesn't get EU membership on favourable terms for a separate Scotland.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/ukne...embership.html

[colin25]

Originally Posted by Cobbydaler

A funny take on things...

http://www.thespoof.com/news/magazin...h-independence

If we get independence, we are shipping glasgow to the south. That will allow rangers (who were always quasi-english) and celtic (who are only going because they want to beat rangers) to play with english teams.

We haven't worked out the terms for the exchange, but we definitely don't want millwall, and I refuse to accept any team below the championship

[Uncle Peter]

Originally Posted by Chris

Now Alex Salmond has threatened to use his McNavy to blockade the North Sea if he doesn't get EU membership on favourable terms for a separate Scotland.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/ukne...embership.html

Once again acting like a drunken bum spoiling for a fight when the barman decides it's time for him to go home to bed.

[Derek]

Originally Posted by Chris

Now Alex Salmond has threatened to use his McNavy to blockade the North Sea if he doesn't get EU membership on favourable terms for a separate Scotland.

So now the EU, whose membership for an independent Scotland is very much up in the air, will provide billions of pounds to plug the budget black hole.

[Ghost_Dancer]

In the current economic climate, I think there is more important things to be thinking about than separating. Plus, look at all we've been through together in history, lets just leave things the way they are. Some of us for whatever reason don't like each other, some of us do. But one thing I do believe is that we're all stronger together whether it be any of our home countries. Just my opinion.

[Derek]

Some good news for the Yes campaign.

Finally they have managed to get a poll to show something other than a crushing defeat for the separatists.

A poll commissioned by the SNP has put support for the Yes Scotland campaign one point ahead of no in the independence referendum.

The survey of 1043 people over 18 years old was conducted by Panelbase last month and found that support for yes was 44% compared to 43% in favour of no.

Obviously the question would have been very balanced and the people questioned weren't grabbed outside the SNP conference.

Meanwhile back in reality.

SUPPORT for independence has slumped to its lowest level since the start of the referendum campaign, according to a new poll which also suggests a growing number of people say they do not know how to vote next year.

The TNS poll, published today, puts backing for independence at just 25 per cent – down fully 8 per cent on the company’s last poll in February, when the same question was asked.

http://www.scotsman.com/news/politic...-yes-1-3073754

The most amusing thing about this is that all the cybernats have been queuing up to quote the Homebase Panelbase poll on any open comment thread anywhere on the entire Internet ever since it came out. Some of them actually believe that it shows a trend towards 'yes', which takes an impressive degree of mental discipline. Or maybe just an exceptional ability to stick your fingers in your ears and go "Laaaaah!".

Loved the bit at the bottom of the SNP page on the poll.

Consistent Panelbase methodology is to report independence referendum voting intentions on the basis of those in the categories (8-10) who are most likely and certain to vote in the referendum - a base of 908 - and the other findings above are also from this base.

Among the full sample of 1,043 - including those less likely and certain not to vote - the figures are 41 per cent Yes, 42 per cent No, 17 per cent Don't Know