British party leaders head to Scotland as vote tightens

I blame Mel Gibson - Braveheart was the beginning of this movement.

@Wakarimasen...

Hahaha... yeah that evil Mel guy....

Scottland, maybe soon it will finally get her long (almost 1500 years old longing) dream of freedom!!!

I am not a Scott, but if that happens, I will celebrate along with them with a lot of whisky laddies!!!

'I blame Mel Gibson - Braveheart was the beginning of this movement.'

Maggie and Mel have a lot to answer for.

Scottland, maybe soon it will finally get her long (almost 1500 years old longing) dream of freedom!!!

Scotland was its own kingdom just 4 centuries ago - and it was a Scottish King who united both kingdoms.

"British party leaders head to Scotland as vote tightens"

Isn't this counterproductive to their purpose? Would Scotland be less or more likely to vote for independence if three British guys show up to push the vote?

Would Scotland be less or more likely to vote for independence if three British guys show up to push the vote?

At the moment, everybody pushing the vote on both sides of the debate - including Alex Salmond - are British.

The SNP say Scotland would keep the pound

All other aspects of the debate aside, this reminds me of the surly teenager who claims his parents don't understand him: he didn't ask to be born, he demands his independence, and from now on he'll have his meals served in his room. And of course he still expects them to come up with his pocket money.

cleo: At the moment, everybody pushing the vote on both sides of the debate - including Alex Salmond - are British.

Would Scotland be less or more likely to vote for independence if three English guys show up to push the vote?

Cleo writes: ||All other aspects of the debate aside, this reminds me of the surly teenager who claims his parents don't understand him: he didn't ask to be born, he demands his independence, and from now on he'll have his meals served in his room. And of course he still expects them to come up with his pocket money.||

Interesting simplification. Myself I'm more mindful of parental figures fretting over the loss of an elder daughter who has suddenly eloped with someone they did not choose for her; and this just when they had lately realized she might actually have been secretly seeking a better life than they had imagined for her for some time. Reconciliations post separation inevitable.

Would Scotland be less or more likely to vote for independence if three English guys show up to push the vote?

With those particular three English guys - more likely, I should imagine.

horizon360 - yes, definitely a simplification. Just one image that comes to mind. Can't say I've ever thought of Scotland as a daughter of the UK.....who is she eloping with? It sounds like the EU isn't straining at the bit to jump into bed with her, and will demand a stiff, legally-binding pre-nup. If the 50-50 vote slips towards separation, I also see lots of patching-up going on.

As a willing partnership between two parties, the correct analogy is divorce of course.

Yes, of course. And a divorce involves both parties. Strange then that only the Scots get to have a say in the referendum?

Three Sasanachs rescuing the Scots from themselves? What's the punchline?

“A currency union is incompatible with sovereignty,”

So with a currency union, Scotland could only aspire to the same lack of sovereignty as France, Germany, Italy, Belgium, Holland, etc.

So with a currency union, Scotland could only aspire to the same lack of sovereignty as France, Germany, Italy, Belgium, Holland, etc.

The 'etc' includes such sovereign fiscal powerhouses as Greece, Ireland, Spain, Portugal, Cyprus.

Cameron should shut up and hide until a week Friday unless he's happy to sacrifice himself to give the Tories the massive electoral advantage they will gain by Scottish independence. It's now pretty much accepted that whenever he opens his mouth, he is the yes campaign's best asset. Clegg isn't worth wasting more than a sentence on. Miliband has all the charisma of a pork chop although his left credentials did endear him to the unions and the core Labour vote. The Labour vote in Scotland was a hard nut to crack for the yes campaign but many seem to have moved towards a yes vote. Cameron and Clegg are living, breathing reasons why the Scots should vote yes. Salmond is hardly endearing, but the bedfellows in the coalition stand for everything many Scots despise - a southern, privileged Westminster elite who look like they'd suffer from nose bleeds if they ventured as far north as the Midlands.

I like the Englishmen, but their government is a neoconservative, politically correct police state. A more socially liberal pacifist Scotland is certainly a nice addition to the EU!

The Scots are revolting!

Jimizo: Cameron should shut up and hide until a week Friday unless he's happy to sacrifice himself to give the Tories the massive electoral advantage they will gain by Scottish independence.

He wins either way!

Is anyone watching closely ... does he seem sincere, or just trying to screw it up as much as possible, while appearing sincere?

I hate Cameron, but he gave an impassioned, genuine plea for the union and probably signed his own leadership death warrant today, as he put his belief in the union over his career. What he said was true "It isn't abut getting rid of the f-ing Tories, or the next five years, it's about the next century.' Salmond, on the other hand, was making crass comments comparing Scotland to apartheid era South Africa and telling journalists asking about the SNP's stance on an iScotland refusing to take on a share of the national debt 'What would they do - invade'. Companies have already announced they will relocate to the UK if the vote is Yes.

Companies have already announced they will relocate to the UK if the vote is Yes.

And the SNP has said that it will retaliate against any company that tries to influence the vote. Real classy guy, that Salmond. All hyperbole and no fact.

Westminster and the Tory media laundry machine are now in a heated frenzy to get the vote closer to 50/50 in the hopes of mounting a legal recount campaign. Political pollsters know that most undecideds are chronic undecideds who select their choice for almost anything on a last minute impulse (like buying a packet of gum at the checkout). Serious efforts towards promoting NO on a rational basis have ceased. Now the battle is for the "I went against YES because I didn't know how to vote". It won't matter. YES will prevail with a margin significantly over 5%.