Scottish Independence

[Nemo]

The bookies aren't wrong normally. No is roughly 1/4 and yes is roughly 7/2. Across a number of bookmakers on oddschecker. So using those figures its gonna be roughly 70% NO....... 30 % YES.

Chance of happening is not even close to share of the vote. Ask a bookmaker what odds they'll give you on 70% yes and you'll get a very different answer.

[OrangeTransits]

Chance of happening is not even close to share of the vote. Ask a bookmaker what odds they'll give you on 70% yes and you'll get a very different answer.

http://www.oddschecker.com/politics/british-politics/scottish-independence/yes-vote-percentage

Willhill only ones with a price for that @  50/1.

[Reg Smeeton]

Never had you down as a Tory, Reg.  Realignment down here (after a Yes vote) would mean centre of gravity shifting to right. 

This article by Billy Bragg, pretty much sums up my thoughts....

http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2014/sep/16/scottish-nationalism-british-westminster-class

[Ardiles]

Blimey.

http://www.edinburghnews.scotsman.com/news/politics/scottish-independence-betfair-pays-out-on-no-vote-1-3543266

[Nemo]

Ballsy.

[ghanimah]

This article by Billy Bragg, pretty much sums up my thoughts....

http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2014/sep/16/scottish-nationalism-british-westminster-class

To my mind Billy Brag is a hypocritical twat, yet in this article I would agree that he touches on the fact that the real wall in this country is not Hadrian's but the wall universally known as the M25. Out-of-touch London is the real issue...

The biggest party in this country has been for some time none of the above with not a dash of anger. It's a shame Mr Bragg can't bring himself to acknowledge one of the real reasons why - outsourcing much our legislative powers to an unaccountable bureaucracy.

This though I really agree with:

If, during the constitutional settlement that will follow the referendum, we in England can rediscover our Roundhead tradition, we might yet counter our historic weakness for ethnic nationalism with an outpouring of civic engagement that creates a fairer society for all.

[Honkytonk]

Out of touch London is the real elephant in the room, which simply isn't discussed or covered enough, because every organisation/business/body of any import is based there, because if you're not based there anyone who is looks down on you. House prices rose 20% there this year I notice, and the average price is now well over half a million.

Appalling really that it's gone on this long and that it will continue to do so until the near future.

[Ardiles]

Billy Bragg is a well known English nationalist/patriot...which he manages to combine with socialist principles.  It's a fascinating combination that he pulls very well.  I have a lot of time for him.  Haven't got around to reading the article, but I will.

To my mind Billy Brag is a hypocritical twat, yet in this article I would agree that he touches on the fact that the real wall in this country is not Hadrian's but the wall universally known as the M25. Out-of-touch London is the real issue...

I don't think it's necessarily London's fault, or the fault of anyone who lives there.  It's just that London is so completely different to anywhere else in the UK.  It's a truly global place with a global outlook.  The 'unaware of anything outside the M25' criticism is, basically, true.  London has so much more in common with Paris or Chicago than it does with Birmingham or Glasgow.

How you get round the problem is to give proper devolution to the English regions in the same way as has been given to Scotland and Wales.  One thing that we will have Scotland to thank for, regardless of the referendum result, is that the genie is now out of the bottle - and that meaningful devolution across the UK is now going to be unstoppable.  This will probably mean, in time, that some of the decisions affecting Swindon being taken in Bristol instead of London...which may have issues of its own.  But I think it will happen eventually.

[penhillbilly]

Billy Bragg is a hypocritical cunt,bangs on about the benefits of diversity  and moves his family to the whitest village in Dorset,typical champagne socialist...

[Peter Venkman]

Billy Bragg is a hypocritical cunt,bangs on about the benefits of diversity  and moves his family to the whitest village in Dorset,typical champagne socialist...

Billy Bragg is a bit up himself but I wouldn't call Burton Bradstock "the whitest village in Dorset" don't believe everything you read in "The Mail" because it doesn't always report the whole truth.

[sonicyouth]

Billy Bragg is a hypocritical cunt,bangs on about the benefits of diversity  and moves his family to the whitest village in Dorset,typical champagne socialist...

[jonny72]

I don't think it's necessarily London's fault, or the fault of anyone who lives there.  It's just that London is so completely different to anywhere else in the UK.  It's a truly global place with a global outlook.  The 'unaware of anything outside the M25' criticism is, basically, true.  London has so much more in common with Paris or Chicago than it does with Birmingham or Glasgow.

How you get round the problem is to give proper devolution to the English regions in the same way as has been given to Scotland and Wales.  One thing that we will have Scotland to thank for, regardless of the referendum result, is that the genie is now out of the bottle - and that meaningful devolution across the UK is now going to be unstoppable.

I don't get the London out of touch argument. Sure it's different but the same applies to Bristol vs Swindon vs Chippenham.

There won't be devolution to the regions in England as no one wants it, the majority vote against regional assemblies and mayors when given the chance. But I think that highlights our real problem - we're all sick of politics mainly due to ALL politicians being a bunch of wankers. Though we're as much to blame for continually voting for them.

Think people are reading too much in to the Scottish vote. Reason so many are in favour is their need for being independent and stepping out of the shadow of their draconian rulers (us). There is no logic to it, just the way it is. The same for us thinking we're superior to everyone else.

[kerry red]

Ah well, Sweaties Big Day.

Hope enough of them vote YES

[Abrahammer]

Hope for their sake common sense prevails and they vote no.

Whatever ever happens the country will be divided tomorrow morning and that's not a good thing for anyone.

[Sir Pissalot]

Hope enough of them vote YES

I don't think it's going to happen, Audrey.  Because Alex Salmond and that dreadful Nicola Sturgeon (it seems you have to be named after a fish to run the SNP) have left too many important questions unanswered, and so will have failed (but only just) to convince enough people to follow them into the unknown.  Either way, there are going to be a lot of unhappy people up there when the dust settles.