I feel that the Scots are being required to vote on an unknown quantity.

The details will only be worked out after the break has been agreed.   How can they conduct business this way ?

There is no indication of how this is supposed to work or anything, so how can this be an informed referendum?

And YES!   I also agree that this is something the whole of the UK should be asked to vote on.   Since it will affect us all.

Talking to a Scottish friend at Darlington her thoughts were better the devil you know and Mr Salmond is only interested in what he wants, no good answers have been given to any agruement in fact he never gives answers to any questions he is asked he answers with a question of stating Westminster is scaremongering

There's much that the people of Scotland (and the rest of us) either don't know about, or are choosing to ignore...

Sleepwalking into an Authoritarian Scotland

Big Brother Scotland Part 1

Lawyers warn against Big Brother plans to give every Scottish child a state guardian

Hi Dill I found the article on Effie's pubic hair totally absorbing keep up the good work.

Celtic Lad, seems you prefer to read about long past doings of long past dead people, rather than what's happening right now.

That's your choice. 

Perhaps you feel that what is happening regarding named persons etc. doesn't affect you.   You aren't the first person who felt like that.  Too late to complain after it's all become the norm.

Well ... I don't know about the WHOLE of the UK being allowed to vote on this, but the 800,000 SCOTS who are living in England should be allowed to vote.

The reason they are not allowed to vote, is because Salmond knows they would vote no.

There's only 5 million in Scotland itself. 

Obviously it is not the only reason, just an annoyance, and I'm sure most of us yes voters have thought long and hard about the future. I am not a lover of the current leaders of the Yes campaign but you have to look beyond them as they will not be around forever.

We as a country always vote differently to the south but due to the size difference we are usually outnumbered and have to have a government that we did not choose. I'm sure this also applies to some of our cousins in the North of England but we have the chance to go it alone so why not give it a go.

>we have the chance to go it alone so why not give it a go.

Because there is no going back if you dont like it.

I heard one of the news reports say that Scotland already spends more than it brings in. On your own there will be no-one to bail you out.

> xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">Because there is no going back if you dont like it. <br />

Exactly! 

Neither myself or any of my 'no' voting friends/family would put our life savings on the roulette wheel, so we're not taking a chance with this fantasy.

It is entirely up to the Scottish people even if the rest of us are bound to be disrupted for a while. However, l, like others in the UK, did not think the Scottish population would dream of taking such a leap into the abyss. Up to now I have not heard anything explained and it seems that it is just one man's ego trip - just what will happen if they are not allowed membership of the EU will all those now living in other parts of the UK or in Europe become aliens, the whole idea frightens me and I am not even to be allowed to voice an opinion

What really disturbs me about this yes/no referendum,  is that everything seems to be riding on it.   And as usual,  those who 'run things'  are treating the general population like mushrooms -  keeping them in the dark and feeding them sh*t

And this is what passes for democracy.

What I would like to know is what we (without Scotland) will be called ?? We can't be the United Kingdom as we aren't and we can't be Great Britain as Scotland is part of Great Britain (ie the larger of the two islands, Ireland being the smaller).

The Divided Kingdom may be ?? Or Better Off Apart ? :) :)

Just 'Britain', I suppose. After all, we'll still be part of the British Isles (which still includes the island of Ireland).

I don't care about what we will be called or what sort of flag we have but I do care about the Scots and my Scottish friends. No one knows or have even suggested what will happen to the people, those who are encouraging the head long rush into cutting the population adrift do not seem to know what will be involved and although it may well be what these few politicians have set there heart on separation no matter what the future may hold, the only thing for certain is their place in history, I am staggered that, it seems, that at least 40% of those now living in Scotland no matter what their nationality are being lead by the nose into a dark alley with no idea when they will emerge or even if they will.

> I am staggered that, it seems, that at least 40% of those now living in Scotland no matter what their nationality are being lead by the nose into a >dark alley with no idea when they will emerge or even if they will.

Same here :(

And all in the name of Nationalism :(

Historically Scotland was a very poor nation at the time of the Union (the nursery rhyme "Hark, hark, the dogs do bark, the beggars are coming to town" was written about them); the English were amazed that their staple diet was animal feed (oats). The Union was marvellous for Scotland, and England as well - it'd be a crying shame to destroy it for no reason other than racism.

> I don't care about what we will be called or what sort of flag we have

It's not a major issue, but just one of the many, many changes that will have to be made (most not even evident yet) if there is a 'Yes' vote. Maybe we will have to have a referendum to decide ......... :) :)

" Historically Scotland was a very poor nation at the time of the Union (the nursery rhyme "Hark, hark, the dogs do bark, the beggars are coming to town" was written about them); the English were amazed that their staple diet was animal feed (oats)."

This is indeed true, what's missing is the reason why Scotland was so poor at the time, it's probably not a well know part of history in England, it's not even that well known in Scotland.

[url=].http://www.historic-uk.com/HistoryUK/HistoryofScotland/The-Darien-Scheme/   [/url]

Just watched yet another program about the upcoming referendum, I never knew Salmond ( or Wee Eck as he's known up here ) had proposed a third option at his meeting with Cameron when the agreement to hold a referendum was signed.
He proposed a " Devo Max " option with increased powers for the Scottish Parliament which Cameron rejected .

I wish them well what ever they decide, but it would seem, if the polls are to be believed, whatever the results they will be close and whatever way it goes I fear the path will not be smooth made worse by what threatens to be an almost equal spilt.  The entire thing appears to be down to one man's vision and ego, some of us have seen the results of this before and it frightens me.

Probably what they, Cameron and friends, are in their panic  offering now as a lure for the NO vote. Either way now we are set to get more powers of our own, if the promises of the government are kept,  to go with the free prescriptions, eye test, dental checks, tuition fees and old age care.

It strikes me as funny when we are now part of Europe regardless of what may think and that has got bigger since its original number of members that setting Scotland apart from the rest of the united kingdom is seen as better? surely there is benefit for all in being Great Britain not single parts.

>There's only 5 million in Scotland itself.

And per capita one of the richest countries in the world.
It's the very fact that the 'so few who sit upon so much'... that will impact on the remaining members of the union.

They will lose only 5 million draining their economy yet lose a great deal of 'relative income'.

I think it will badly affect the economy of the remainder ....IF...there was a Yes vote....thankfully I don't believe my country will actually go through with this pipe dream.

Think perhaps the biggest problem should they decide to go it alone is that they are an unknown entity. No record of their dealings, no diplomatic system or property, they may or may not be accepted in the EU, they have to sort a currency for themselves and then persuade others that currency is sound. That is after the knots that bind us together have been untied and debts and pensions have been sorted. I never thought the cannie and capable Scottish population would go for this step into the unknown and hope in the end they do not, as I said before I am worried for them.

I believe we will do just fine ladies.However we really appreciate your concern.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/newsbysector/retailandconsumer/leisure/11098848/Betfair-pays-out-early-on-Scottish-independence-No-vote.html

Looks like a very good indicator of the result

Have ten pounds sterling on it for me LJS.After all that will be our currency come independence.

> After all that will be our currency come independence

Maybe, maybe not. It hasn't been decided yet, so you are only guessing :)

If you get independence it is highly unlikely that you will get automatic EU membership. All other countries in recent years have had to go through 'the hoops' to get it. If this is the case then trading between Scotland and other EU countries (including the rest of the UK) would be far more difficult and there would need to be border controls etc because paperwork would be needed to import/export between countries.

Aye Daisy but surely they will make an exception for us Jocks.

Probably not :

Long wait for Scottish EU membership ?

Don't fret Alex will pull in a few favours and it will be just dandy.

Hey Daisy.....Viva Catalonia !

> Don't fret Alex will pull in a few favours and it will be just dandy

LOL :) :) :) Of course :)

> Viva Catalonia

Is that where Alex Salmond is going when he loses ?? :) :) Giving them the benefit of his expertise ??? :)

Have a read of this

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/scottish-independence/11099167/Spanish-warn-independent-Scotland-would-get-euro-not-pound.html

No no Dearest Daisy he is far too fair skinned for that.It will be a cheeky wee weekend for him and the wife in Rothesay to recharge his batteries.

Come on suejaw try and keep up to speed with things.Dearest Daisy kindly posted that earlier.

> Dearest Daisy

Much as I like this, do you think that you could call me Daisy Dearest :) Dearest Daisy is a brand of somewhat downmarket party stationery and I'm a bit more refined than that - thank you so much :) :)

Whatever the result I can see trouble brewing, one-half of a population wanting something different from the other half, it could be nasty the first sign that things are not as promised whichever half win the referendum, particularly as it seems most people have heard what they want to hear ignoring anything they don't like and that includes the politicians.

Read elsewhere that if the yes vote wins they will have Stirling, less tax, better pensions, free NHS, in fact, free pretty well everything and will be welcome to join the EC. Do hope they are prepared for all the visitors they will get who will no doubt wish to share in their good fortune.

>Read elsewhere that if the yes vote wins they will have Stirling, less tax, better pensions, free NHS, in fact, free pretty well everything and will be >welcome to join the EC

Oh Aye, and will they all win the lottery too?  :-D

This smacks of "Tell them what they want to hear, it'll be too late once the truth is known"

Which is only a step away from "It's for the good of the children" 

And look where that one ended up.

if they do vote yes when does it start from? Friday? or is there some time to sort out the details?

> xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">if they do vote yes when does it start from? Friday? or is there some time to sort out the details?

LOL!   March 2016.

Just relax.  It's not going to happen. 

After the winning yes vote on Friday will the people in Scotland revert to speaking their own language?

LOL! I don't think they want to be as Scottish as that! ;-)

A great many countries have declared independence from the Empire..many have kept the language of their 'masters'. A useful language these days because of finances and technology so tyranny and oppression has got it's up side...lol

> xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">will the people in Scotland revert to speaking their own language?

<img title="Quote selected text" class="qButton" alt="Quote selected text" src="/images/mi_quote.gif" />

LOL!

Excellent idea! 

Lets do it anyway, that'll sort the wheat from the chaff. 

Monee o oo dae the noo onywi so ee wudnae ken the difference wud ee

That's not Gaelic. ;)

Never said it was but it is the tongue of my home town, a dialect all of it's own as we are 'southerners' and never were big on Gaelic. Still get blank looks from most English people when we talk fluently between ourselves in it.