To wonder how you're voting in the Scottish Referendum and why?

[deeedeee]

a month away from the vote thought it would be interesting to ask

( no bunfighting , derision or soundbites please. just yes or no and why. feel free to post more than once with different reasons. No links unless independent fact or opinion, nothing from the official campaigns)

I'm a YES

because Westminster's failed to protect the vunerable and the UK's me first politics have taken us down a particularly nasty path. An independent Scotland leans towards to left and can potentially choose a better route. And if a change happens in scotland then I think that that could inspire a change in the direction of politics in the rest of the UK.

The term 'major political parties' does not convey intelligence
I wouldn't argue with that :)

But I'm talking about ordinary voters, and virtually everyone I speak to says that control of the pound shouldn't be shared with a foreign Scotland. A party that didn't commit to that would face a big loss of support at the polls.

Don't get me wrong, I'm not asking anyone in Scotland to please vote No. It's your choice how you vote and what you do after you become independent. I'm just looking at the benefits for the continuing UK.

I joined in June after just reading the forum for a while, I didn't join in the referendum threads until fairly recently, and posted before then. In fact, I try to keep away from referendum threads now, as they can often turn into arguments. Although I have posted in this one a fair bit.

Polls are showing a strong NO majority, so either mumsnet has a disproportionate number of yes voters, or there are lots of new posters, who joined specifically to comment on this thread.

Polls can't be trusted. Yes Scotland polls put us at 50/50 or Yes having a lead, BT polls put Yes as way behind or never moving. I don't pay mind to any of them.
I don't think No has it won, although the campaigns like to put that image across. I know hardly any No voters, and recently a few have changed to Yes, or become undecided.

Actually, this is the first MN Referendum thread that I've seen (although I've not necessarily seen all the threads) where I have seen a majority of Yes voters. Normally it's been fairly evenly balanced, with if anything a majority of No voters. Although over time I have seen more people coming out and saying they're Yes - which may well reflect what the polls have been doing.

I think many people - both Yes and No - keep their heads down, even on MN, and don't declare their thinking for fear of being shouted down. Maybe it's the way the OP asked the question that made people feel more comfortable at announcing their intentions.

Either way I think Labour are going to come out of this worse than any other party. Scottish Labour have rolled over in fear and every string is being tugged from Westminster. They had the chance to fight an honest campaign but they've hid behind Better Together and are insignificant. The party is in tatters.

Labour should have called a referendum and not left it up to the nationals and then they could have been fighting a positive campaign.

Maybe it's the way the OP asked the question that made people feel more comfortable at announcing their intentions.

Yup usually these threads are started in one of two way:

AIBU to think that Westminster is utterly shit and Scotland should leave

Or

AIBU to think that Scotland should just fuck off and die?

Is it to late to request the OP to referee Mondays debate?

Ladycordelia, seeing more people than ever before engaging in the democratic process is not very depressing and very sad. Its been exciting and liberating. I find the talk of deep divisions to be terribly patronising. One 'side' has to lose and we'll just have to get in with things either way.

Personally pretty bird I think it's one of those things with mn where once a thread has gone one way it tends to stay that way -whether yes or no. Plus it's rapidly turned into a very staunchly yes thread and I suspect many people don't feel like wasting their time posting lots of info for people who have very definitely made their minds up. There was a thread recently which was much more informative from both sides, full of facts and figures

I do sort of agree with the LadyCordelia Many people are very heavily invested in which way the vote goes. It is very very important to many many people. I get a horrible sinking feeling if I contemplate the vote going the other way, I'm sure I am not the only one.

And I think despite people not admitting there will be bitterness and resentment from the losing side, and they may feel negatively about those who voted the wrong way.

I don't think there will be violence or rioting, but I do think there will be a certain amount of ill will that will have to be worked through. Just look at the vitriol MNHQ has been getting for launching a new mobile site, we are talking a potential new country!

I am not Scottish and I do not have a vote. I am hoping that there will now be a ' Yes' vote even though it saddens me to say it.

I feel the campaign has taken everything too far now for it ever to be 'better together', bad feelings have been generated and antagonism towards Westminster and the English generated. Too many Scots feel they are better going it alone for the issue of independence ever to go away.

Things can never be the same and so it is best that it happens now rather than dragging on. Each country can go it's own way, Scotland can keep it's oil, England can keep the pound and the monies it currently pays in subsidies to the Scottish parliament. Scotland should pay back it's share of the national debt generated by the failure if the Royal Bank of Scotland. Scotland could also take back the numerous Scottish politicians currently sitting in the Westminster parliament.

All that remains then is to rebuild Hadrian's Wall!

Hadrian's wall is nowhere near the border...

I get a horrible sinking feeling if I contemplate the vote going the other way, I'm sure I am not the only one

If there is a Yes vote it will be the worst day of my life. I cannot think of anything worse which has happened to me.

Yup. And therefore if you know someone is a Yes voter it will inevitably colour how you feel about them.

We won't be taking back any mps! They'll need to stand in a new election as they see fit.

They will get a big pay out when made to leave Westminster as all of them do when seats are lost.

Not sure why it's patronising to suggest that there could be deep divisions in Scottish score once this is all over. I think it's going to be close which means many people will feel let down and disenfranchised. Passions are running high on both sides and to expect that all just to go away on the 19th is naive.

Scottish society....

I will be quite ashamed of Scotland in the event of a No vote. I mean who has ever turned down independence? It would be embarrassing.

Well, quite. I read recently that basically in the event of a No vote Scots are finally conceding to the fact that there is no Scotland, that we are just north Britain.

Quebec. Twice.

jeeeez phaedra , you've had a lucky life !

I'm nothing to do with wings over scotland, the yes campaign. I have friends that are part of the National Collective, but also friends and family who are very definitely No. I started this thread because the last thread I saw about the referendum on AIBU had a big NO majority and I was wondering if anything had changed.

I'm curious about the fact I know mainly Yes voters but the polls still say No is the majority. Until very recently I was worrying about the silent majority, that didn't want to engage in debate and were staying silent waiting for the whole thing to go away. Now I'm increasingly wondering whether a lot of the silent NO voters are just quiet because they are thinking....

I'd love to adjudicate the debate on Monday. First thing I'd do is ditch that pair of clowns ...

I also worry about what happens after the referendum whatever the outcome. I really wish it just wasn't happening as in event of a no vote I assume the whole issue isn't just going to disappear and will reappear and reappear until we finally are independent. And as a proud Scot, it amazes me how much that saddens me.

I'm a relatively quiet no voter in real life because whilst I'm very determined I've had a couple of dire conversations where I've been rudely patronised and told I haven't done my research and I decided not to fight with people.

I think it's a bit rotten to say voting no is an embarrassment though. I see it as an active decision to stay rather than weakness.

I'm a "Hell, Yes" and so is dh.

Maybe some of the "yessers" you don't recognise have been on MN long enough to have become bored with the merry-go-round of chat and AIBU, but feel strongly enough about the Independence debate to actually contribute. Like me :) .