dougiedanger

There have been referendums on devolution but this is the first on Independence. But the point here is that there has not been one before simply because the level of support for Independence in the past has always been so low. Far from being the case that if we don't vote for Independence now we will never get another chance, I think the very fact we are having a referendum when the historical support for independence has been so low is actually quite revealing. It is actually quite extraordinary that not only are we having a referendum, we are having one which simply requires a majority of votes cast to make this major constitutional change. Compare that with the requirements common within businesses and other organisations for constitutional changes! We are also having a referendum without first having a lengthy procedure to develop a package for separation for putting to the electorate at the referendum. In these circumstances, in the event of a "No" vote and a continuing sustained level of support for independence then it is inconceivable that the UK Government would not allow a further vote. I think we have moved on a bit from William Wallace (at least we in the "No" camp have ). Following the "No" result on Thursday there will be no public execution of Alex Salmond or any other form of retribution. The better together camp is of the view that we are better together. That means that Scotland is better off in the Union and that the Union is better off for Scotland being in it. Any kind of backlash against Scotland for having dared to consider leaving the Union would be totally counter-productive as it would only serve to add fuel to the nationalist fire. As for fair play - I am sure the UK Government could always introduce that and remove the extra £1200 per head public funding Scotland currently gets. Uh-oh, mask slipping again. The inner Nigel.

That's right, 'cause the poor are really high on the list of priorities of the Westminster government. The glorious UK is the most unequal of all 'developed' societies, and 1 in 4 people in Scotland live below the poverty line, do we really think we can do no better for the poor in our society?

No, he's inside getting his daily swirly.

It is indeed a highly competitive market, but if ALL the major retailers are faced with the same upward cost pressures then sooner or later they all have to pass those costs on to the customer, that's just how it works. Are you really going to base your vote on the prospect of paying a couple of quid more or less for your messages?

We will not be b##gering of anywhere, don't worry. Yes, where would Scotland be without the wonderful union, where would we be without the clearances, the wars, the land broken and in the hands of absentee landlords, loss of language and culture, mass emigration, poverty, Margaret Thatcher, the poll tax, Tony Blair, disastrous interference in the Middle East, Cameron, the bedroom tax, tax cuts for the rich, the social fabric of the nation in tatters?

Because Scotland is where it is as a result of 300 years of a very successful political union. The YES campaign's desparation to maintain a currency union with the UK is evidence that the leadership knows that to be true, even if they won't admit it. This is more pompous nonsense--how can anyone know where Scotland would be without the union? The suggestion is, as it has been all along, that we are not capable of looking after ourselves, when in fact we are and always have been a dynamic, entrepreneurial, hardworking nation, with a social conscience. Weren't you the guy that said the Scots MPs in Westminster should b**gger off back north? One bad poll for No and the inner UKIP quickly rose to the surface.

How can anyone defend the Westminster government after it has been exposed that they broke city rules to leak the story (actually a non-story) about the RBS headquarters and that Cameron orchestrated the scare stories about supermarket prices (again, a non-story that has subsequently debunked?? Whose interests are they fighting for here? Certainly NOT those of the Scottish people who are looking for reliable information on which to base their vote, but all they get from Westminster is lies, half-truths and scare stories. How can anyone trust Westminster to do the best for Scotland when they have shown that all they are concerned about is self-preservation and narrow self-interest? The whole idea of British 'fair play' has been exposed as a myth--the British elite are the most conniving, self-interested group you could imagine. Are we really better together with this lot?

Well in Jock, the expats know the score.

In a nutshell, and that is their fatal flaw. In focusing on one man they have neglected the 5 million others whose future this vote is about. In the end they just don't get it. Doofer, Yngwie and conservative types like them will have much to offer an independent Scotland, indeed their voices will be heard far more prominently than they are now.

Is there a single person of substance advocating no? Blair, Cameron, Clegg, Johnson, Darling, Brown…who would choose to be subject to their rule?

'Buzzeen' surely. :)

For the fearties, even the BBC is saying that the previous capital leaving the 'UK' is not due to the referendum, but due to forthcoming changes in interest rates.

Do you not question the banks' moral authority to lecture anyone on risks and economic meltdowns, given that they caused the disastrous recession we have had for the last 7 or so years? At what point do you think for yourself and see that adhering to the dictates of the banks is rarely if ever the right thing for societies, communities, nations, and individual people? <iframe width="560" height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/Fz4siLZYvLA" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

As said before, it's time to man/woman up and decide whether you want to fall for the tricks and lies of Westminster or take responsibility for our own futures.

I frankly don't know and am not sure how important that would be. We will have banks and money and shops and food and cars and all the sh*t we have just now. The "announcements" by the banks and businesses were little more than desperate scare stories orchestrated by Cameron et al and promoted by the BBC, which failed disgracefully in its duty to report impartially. RBS assured its staff that jobs would not be lost or relocated. If you want to fall for this stuff, go ahead, we have all had enough time to think about it. Personally, I would say it is madness to hand back the power to the Westminster elite.

Has there ever been a country BETTER prepared for independence than Scotland? A stable, diversified economy, centuries-old legal, banking and commercial institutions, a highly-educated population, some of the best universities in the world, rich in oil and gas, incredible natural beauty, strong and diverse culture... More than 60 countries have become independent from the UK, ALL of them have their own banks and shops, and NONE wish to return to being governed by the UK elite. Stay strong Yessers, they will throw more lies our way, but we have the momentum and are on the verge of victory.

Desperation, nothing else. Stay strong Yessers.

That's my mother you are talking about! Hang on a minute, are you and I long lost brothers? This is happening all around the country though where even families relations & friends are divided- it really is amazing /great/ surreal/ unique whatever you want to call it Last night I was shouting in disbelief at the tv news (bbc) and my relatives confused a ever as to why it upset me so political (YES)hat on I had to explain my feelings! Hope we`re not triplets ! Get them converted GG, every vote counts.

The BBC has become the Daily Mail of TV and radio, and it is an affront to democracy. And this is the establishment we are better together with?? Wake up Scotland before you are duped into voting for more of Cameron, Clegg, Boris et al.

How anyone after the disgrace of the past few days can think the BBC is anything other than a unionist propaganda machine beggars belief. We will do it, keep the faith Yessers, and don't listen to these clowns.

Latest poll has Yes on 49 and no on 51. http://www.theguardian.com/politics/...oll?CMP=twt_gu Great news for Yes, 16 point swing since the last poll. It's going to happen Yessers, just keep the faith and pay no heed to the desperate unionists on here, the BBC, or in the papers. Their union is dead. We have the power in our hands--let's keep it and use it to create a better Scotland.

The BBC are a complete disgrace, not even a pretence of impartiality.

Time to man/woman up Scotland--all they have is fear, it is up to us whether we fall back into line or grasp the historical opportunity that we now have in our hands. Are you going to hand back that power to those who have done nothing but try to instill fear and spread falsehoods?

That's your view, and I suspect you may well be right, but it's not what Salmond says. "Three Plan B's!", he proudly proclaimed. And one of them is sterlingisation, or didn't you notice? We all know that "3 plan Bs" means "no plan B". The problem is what his plan A is. It's all a bit like someone saying they're going to vote for Devo-max and ignoring everyone telling them that it's not an option on the ballot paper. Then when they turn up at the polling station next week and discover that it's actually not an option, they won't have a clue what to do. In the unlikely event of a "YES" victory, you think it will be sterlingisation, I think it will be sterlingisation but Alex Salmond insists it will be a currency union. He should be proclaiming the opportunity to create a separate Scottish currency as any proud newly independent country would do. The fact that he isn't should make anyone thinking of voting "YES" think long and hard about the choice they make next Thursday. Sounding very panicky DD, just like your pals that graced us with their presence today, and equally out of touch. You just keep on thinking you've got it in the bag.

No offense, but you're acting like the perfect audience for their nonsense: gullible, naive, and lacking conviction.