Should Scotland stay in the UK?

[Britkid]

I vote for the Green party not Labour. Salmond is saying lots of things but they are all lies.

The Green party though is in alliance with the SNP over Scottish Independence though...

And?.....

on this they are mistaken.

It is quite Ironic that a poster with your moniker should think the break up a good idea.

I did not, still with my 'heart' do not. But although I suspect it will be no, it will be a very close no, and within a decade there will be another vote that will probably have more voting yes.

We are going to be in a horrible situation in the Union tomorrow, when we find out nearly half of the Scots voting, want their independence. So let us just get Independence out the way, and sort out our relationship from there. And give the Northern Irish and the Welsh their chance too.

[Dia bando]

I vote for the Green party not Labour. Salmond is saying lots of things but they are all lies.

The Green party though is in alliance with the SNP over Scottish Independence though...

And?.....

on this they are mistaken.

It is quite Ironic that a poster with your moniker should think the break up a good idea.

I did not, still with my 'heart' do not. But although I suspect it will be no, it will be a very close no, and within a decade there will be another vote that will probably have more voting yes.

We are going to be in a horrible situation in the Union tomorrow, when we find out nearly half of the Scots voting, want their independence. So let us just get Independence out the way, and sort out our relationship from there. And give the Northern Irish and the Welsh their chance too.

The chance for independence I hope the Scots thinking long and hard, will nationalism pay the
bills, NHS , roads , housing, etc.!!!! Wales could be next one thing we would be rid of the Conservatives, but there is more to it than this, Westminster has let people down all the party's
have people feeling they are alienated. So if the Scots VOTE YES, in a wave of nationalism the
job cuts in public services, north south dived in standards of living, Cameron you have fucked it
up you tory twat.

[superheavyrhun]

Negative campaigning isn't just on the side of the Yes campaign, did you hear about the no campaigners telling Polish immigrants that they'd be deported if Scotland voted Yes? That's absolutely ridiculous and the worst form of trying to convince voters with any means or lies necessary.

Nationalism won't pay the bills, but cut out the expense of Trident and give Scotland the full income that their country generates, and I think they'll be in a much better place than the remains of the UK.

As a child I remember running around playing and pretending to be a soldier in Owain Glyndwr's army stabbing the English and getting them out of my country. While politics and growing up may have changed how I'd go about gaining independence from England, that desire to have an independent nation hasn't changed for me, and I doubt it ever will.

[walrus]

Is it true a law was changed to allow sixteen year olds to vote for this election.

[superheavyrhun]

Is it true a law was changed to allow sixteen year olds to vote for this election.

Yup, 16 and 17 year olds were given the vote, and based on the 97% registration, I suspect thousands of them will have voted too. No doubt this is one of the most interesting and engaging political campaigns in British politics for centuries.

[Britkid]

Is it true a law was changed to allow sixteen year olds to vote for this election.

Yup, 16 and 17 year olds were given the vote, and based on the 97% registration, I suspect thousands of them will have voted too. No doubt this is one of the most interesting and engaging political campaigns in British politics for centuries.

And so they should be allowed. I was 17, working full time and paying my taxes when the 1992 Election came around, and yet was not allowed to vote...

[walrus]

Having the youngins vote was a smart move by the pro side. They will easily fall into a Nationalism vote without looking for the big picture. Whichever way it goes I hope it is best for the Scotts

[Beanz]

Negative campaigning isn't just on the side of the Yes campaign, did you hear about the no campaigners telling Polish immigrants that they'd be deported if Scotland voted Yes? That's absolutely ridiculous and the worst form of trying to convince voters with any means or lies necessary.

Nationalism won't pay the bills, but cut out the expense of Trident and give Scotland the full income that their country generates, and I think they'll be in a much better place than the remains of the UK.

As a child I remember running around playing and pretending to be a soldier in Owain Glyndwr's army stabbing the English and getting them out of my country. While politics and growing up may have changed how I'd go about gaining independence from England, that desire to have an independent nation hasn't changed for me, and I doubt it ever will.

The whole of the westcountry used to be called West Wales so what is your point? You have your own parliament as does Scotland, as an Englishman I do not. You both have a say on how money is spent in England but we have no say on what happens in Wales and Scotland. So who is under the yoke?

[superheavyrhun]

Negative campaigning isn't just on the side of the Yes campaign, did you hear about the no campaigners telling Polish immigrants that they'd be deported if Scotland voted Yes? That's absolutely ridiculous and the worst form of trying to convince voters with any means or lies necessary.

Nationalism won't pay the bills, but cut out the expense of Trident and give Scotland the full income that their country generates, and I think they'll be in a much better place than the remains of the UK.

As a child I remember running around playing and pretending to be a soldier in Owain Glyndwr's army stabbing the English and getting them out of my country. While politics and growing up may have changed how I'd go about gaining independence from England, that desire to have an independent nation hasn't changed for me, and I doubt it ever will.

The whole of the westcountry used to be called West Wales so what is your point? You have your own parliament as does Scotland, as an Englishman I do not. You both have a say on how money is spent in England but we have no say on what happens in Wales and Scotland. So who is under the yoke?

Well, I hate to disagree, but as the budgets for the independent parliaments are decided in London, I'd say that England has a rather large say on what happens in Wales. I'm surprised they don't have to switch off the streetlights around the Assembly it gets such a bum deal on the budget.

Again, England already has a great parliament building, you use yours, we'll use ours and we can get through the painful divorce and start rebuilding links as equals.

[Gandalf]

I don't like that first result. I knew something was wrong yesterday with my tingling spider senses. Now the second result and another overwhelming No. These are only small regions, but the numbers are horrible. I'm not sure I trust voting systems anymore. For instance, who ever votes Conservative? Who? Who? If we were to do a poll here, they would be lucky to get 2 out of 10 votes! Yet they run our country and do only bad things to people. The elite run a Scottish campaign based on threats and intimidation and people vote for that? To be bullied and threatened? If they vote no, then we are going to see Syria and Iraq ripped apart very soon. The health service will be gone. It will be a wasteland and you don't want to work on minimum wage? Well, here's another 300,000 who will! It doesn't bear thinking about. Scotland, what are you doing? What are you doing?

[superheavyrhun]

Hate to say it Miles, but I agree the early results are discouraging to say the least. Nonetheless, one big city vote for Yes and that lead could easily be overturned. The question is, are there any big cities that have overwhelmingly gone one way or the other.

[Gandalf]

7 results in and all No. It doesn't sit right with me that you can ignore a campaign, then wade in with threats about currency etc, then in the last few days make promises that were NEVER on the table. Plus the media that was assaulting the Scottish people day in day out with fear and nonsense. 'Ooh Isis will get you, Asda will raise your prices'. I mean, what? That isn't a fair referendum. You know the despicable Westminster crew will now try and teach Scotland a lesson like they do everyone else. More cuts, more burden, more immigration, more fear, but bigger budgets for them and lobbyist firms and the secret services. I said in the other thread that people are typically not outspoken and fear will keep them quiet, fear will make them reject change. Most people don't get vocal, they watch the fear box, and stay safe.

Still, first vote for yes has just come in.

[Andre]

Oh well, its only short boat trip from there over to Northern Ireland.

[Gandalf]

The No's are racking up and up and it seems to be over. 56 No, 44 Yes with 17 declarations. BBC with more Middle East fear mongering too. God, I hate the BBC.

Edit: The result is what it is. Still 46% of the people are so annoyed that they have rejected the political system of the UK entirely. That is significant. The problem with the UK is still the FPTP voting system and it will marginalise people and keep voting turnouts low. There is no alternative to vote for in a national election though and if you would only give people a direct proportional vote, then the system is more representative. I think fear of change has won out here, but by a couple of percentage points alone. I sense a lot of unrest in the future. I am sure that 46% of the people nationwide reject Westminster and that gives me hope.

[Gandalf]

55-45 for the No's is my prediction.

This is why we need you in such a key position within the party. A splendid call worthy of Mystic Meg herself. I had my own portents of doom yesterday too, despite my prior Castro visions, and I think the difference was probably old people worried about their pensions. Fear was the barrier and considering the history, would you trust the English elite? Suffer less if you stay, but if you leave, we will really play nasty. Then the last minute bribery. I don't know how that is even allowed. How can you have Brown running in with proposals written on the back of a beermat? The fact that he speaks to Cameron privately sums up Westminster and the Lab/Lib/Con monopoly. 'We all say vote No or else......oh go on then some extras too!'. Is that how ad hoc it all is? I guess the fact that the Chancellor has no mathematics/economics qualifications sums the establishment up. A bunch of clowns mostly in it because they are rich and little else.