to wonder how Scotland's decision will affect england?

[LEMmingaround]

Just that really? If they do go their ownway how will it affect england?

Also will it open a can of worms with wales and northern Ireland?

OddBoots not sure how the electoral commission is funded. Both governments are spending money on sending us leaflets (generally a few on each side complain vigorously about their tax being wasted on the leaflet they don't like but don't mention the other one), political parties have spending limits based, I think, on their share of the vote at previous elections, and campaigns raise money - both sides have had big donations (initially more to Yes but at the recent declaration of funding there'd been significant donations to No - it is reported to the electoral commission and published online) and smaller (I have made several donations to No) plus fundraising.

Election Day - this is going to be an in service day where I am, not sure if the cost is calculated. Polling stations, count etc - I'm guessing local councils refunded by Scottish Government? Cleaning stickers off lamp-posts, replacing bus shelters with slogans scratched into them (by both sides) - who knows? Our council here is pretty poor, so unless any of that is in tourist areas it will probably be left.

Late November, but it's twins, I'm the size of a house already! Postal vote might actually be the way forward.

No one seems to know who's paying

oldlady, yes I know the last Labour government were lickspittles on the NHS, but the Tories are a whole different ballgame. Labour would never have dared to pass the Health Act, opening the NHS up to privatisation by stealth and bit by bit.

PlasticPinkFlamingo, did you miss the "letter" from 200+ slebs, fronted by Dan Snow, that was issued today? Total lovebomb! David Starkey doesn't want us to go...

Be careful filling it in and verifying your identity - apparently lots of postal votes end up rejected. Do you have anyone you would trust to be a proxy?

Good luck for November (and September )

I think more of the opinions of Dan Snow and Stephen Hawking than I do of Alan Cumming.

I must look into it more, although I really enjoy going to vote

Thanks Getting a bit overwhelmed by it all, we'll be going to England if it's a yes so it's a bit worrying.

So, people in England, Wales and Northern Ireland - how much are you currently paying to use the NHS? If your child is, like mine, diagnosed with Asperger's, did it take a year for an Occupational Health referral? Did your parents have to pay for private physio because the NHS (Scotland) waiting list was too long?

www.theguardian.com/society/joepublic/2011/nov/22/nhs-bill-privatisation-stealth Edam, Labour started the process. Andy Burham has asked that it be "slowed down", probably in the hope that there'll be some left by the time they get back into WM. They're no more trustworthy than the Tories in that one.

(Burnham also wants to make the devolved Scottish NHS more like rUK's... More to sell off.)

My husband refuses to discuss whether we will move, despite the fact I'm the main earner and my job is likely to move.

Sorry, should have said Occupational Therapy not Health

It's not a proper love bomb unless people from all over the UK show up in person to say please don't go. Ain't much commitment in writing an open letter.

effort I mean.

Alas - many people cannot tell the difference between free at the point of use and vertical integration. The NHS doesn't have a cotton mill - they buy sheets - is this privatisation?

Why the concern of ownership of specific elements anyway - isn't free at the point of use the key point?

The myth of privatisation is pushed by self interest groups pushing their agenda which quite rightly is members interests. The RCN, the BMA are interest groups - only interested in the members interests. They dress it up in interest in the patients - but it is a fig.

Ask who set up PFI to cripple the NHS wit eye watering debts?

Still those who think they dont need a central bank and cant tell the difference between vertical integration and point of use also get a vote. This is why the country gets into a mess.

There are ordinary people (with a bit of celebrity endorsement) building a cairn near Gretna to celebrate unity ( think that's how they phrase it) Plastic. What do you want people to do - all take the day off on the 18th (I am, but I'll be doing campaign stuff) to come and tell us in person?

OldLady what do you think of the Scottish NHS outsourcing to the private sector?

Corey The other, much less pleasant legacy will be a heightened awareness which will take ages to subside of the ill will and animosity held against the Scottish people by many south of the border

That's a very personal viewpoint. I've noticed the opposite - a shocking attitude towards the English from some Scots, and also a rather pathetic victim mentality from a few. And a tendency to treat fellow Scots as a bit thick if they do not wish to vote Yes.

The other "legacies" are damage to business confidence and investment and the constant depiction of Scotland as a high tax, socialist country which is more concerned about paying benefits than attracting business.

I think theres a lot of vested interest in "poverty" as a business. How can there possibly be 1 in 5 of Scottish children actually living in poverty (a Yes campaign populist poster)? Unless you calculate it as a certain percentage of average income, in which case its undefeatable, unless everyone earns the same no matter what job (or not) they do.

I also remember how discouraging teachers, careers advisors, etc. were at school if you showed any ambition or intention to train for a career that might actually be well paid. It was all about Scottish schools keeping you in your place, which was some person's vision based on your parentage, I think.

I digress. tbh I'm sick to the back teeth of hearing about the bloody thing.

I'm not wanting anything in particular. I'm curious to see whether something similar will happen a la Montreal 1995 on the eve of the Quebec referendum. The UK is a much smaller country than Canada...

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Unity_Rally

Despite the controversy around the event itself, am sure a lot of the participants were heartfelt in their desires in asking Quebec to stay.

Why would a Tory government want Scotland to stay in the UK?

Is this a serious question? Scotland leaving would seriously lessen the UK's international reputation. The UK does remain a big hitter internationally.

Scotland might contribute only a small part of the UK's population, economy and wealth, but it contributes an essential part of the identity that the UK presents to the world.

Losing influence at Brussels, in the UN, the Commonwealth, and in other trade and diplomatic arrangements is generally bad, isn't it?

Electoral Reform Society has for 2010 General Election result in Scotland 412,855 votes. 16.7% of vote, an increase of 0.9%. Interestingly Lib Dems at 465,471, 18.9% (3.7% decrease) and 11 seats. So yes, more pandas than Tory MPs, but vote share very different from constituency seats.

Very true. Heck, London is considered the epitome of right-wing evilness, but it also doesn't get the government of its choosing.

PlasticPinkFlamingo I'm up visiting Scotland at the moment, I will turn up in person for you with a placard saying 'in person love bomb, please don't go Scotland (and plastic in particular)'.

Will that do?

Interestingly, in 2010 SNP got 491,386. 19.9% of votes and 6 seats. Makes me almost want to go and pore over boundary maps - interesting comparison between vote % and seats. Lib Dems appear to be benefiting from first past the post.