Question for Scots who left...

[dalziel1]

How do you feel about the possibility that Scotland may soon vote for independence?

Personally, I am saddened by the things I am hearing from my family about the aggressive divisions forming between neighbours - calling each other Quisling, traitor etc. Whatever happens this referendum will leave deep divisions in Scotland.

When I call home and compare the reporting in England of the issues with that in Scotland, its like 2 completely different stories. e.g. My mum hadn't heard that 130 international company leaders had said the case was not made, but she'd heard that 200 small business owners had said it was.

The impression I am getting is that there is such an pro-independence juggernaut in Scotland, with "I'm saying yes" posters all over the place, and St Andrew's cross flags flying and yes rallies, that even those who don't want independence are beginning to say its an inevitability (and the English never treated them fairly, etc., etc).

Its as if the widely held view is that people want independence and its only a case if they can afford it. Is that what everyone else is hearing too?

I don't get a vote but may I just say that I don't want to be a foreigner in the UK?? (And I have a husband and children here in England so I can't just move back to Scotland even if I wanted to).

Think it will be dreadful if they get independence. All my friends who still live there are anti independence. Bad for economy etc.

My family is mostly Scottish with some still there and some away. What I want to know is how will it work with leaving? Lots of Scottish young people leave, and always have, to find work, travel and live. If Scotland isn't part of the UK or Europe, won't this affect the Scottish diaspora?

On the OP question, emotionally the rUK-living Scots are a yes but practically they are a no.

Bad for both economies!

Who will pay my mum's pension? Which currency will it be paid in?

Who will regulate the bank where she keeps her money? Will there be a guarantee scheme in case the bank fails?

Will Spain and Belgium ever allow Scotland to join the EU. Would they want to join it? What will the Scottish farmers do when the production subsidies suddenly stop?

Where exactly does the rest of the UK plan to store those nuclear submarines?

Also... about the oil and how its going to keep Scotland going for decades to come... it was predicted to run out about now. It hasn't, but its nowhere near as productive as it was in the late 70s/ early 80s which is why many of the big operators have pulled out.

I have lived outside the UK for a long time now. Born and lived in London for a long while then moved to Scotland. I consider myself British.
I think no matter the outcome of the referendum, the divide between North and South has become wider. I don't really know what people are saying in the UK, only what I read in the news,completely different views depending on which source you read.
I personally think it's sad the the UK could possibly split up. I wish the same passion and effort would go into making Great Britain great again.

My parents (retired academics) will most likely leave if it's a yes result. I know that many scientific academics are already planning their exit strategies and quite frankly the funding agencies are considering their position. The scientific and medical research communities in Scotland are fucked if the SNP win. Most researchers go where the funding is so any left will be the dregs who can't cut it elsewhere. The universities will also suffer.

I'm devastated by what might happen to my beautiful country. I left for work, as many scientists have to early in their career, but I always planned to go home. I will not be returning to a country run by idealistic fools who have no grasp of economics or the importance of the scientific community.

Scotland, historically, has always been at the forefront of research and if fear the future really is going to be just whisky and shortbread.

I keep hearing people say that they just don't see the no campaign anywhere. e.g. only one leaflet that said nothing versus half a tree from the yes campaign.

But what can the no campaign say? Let me tell me what life will be like if you vote no? People already know what life will be like! it will be like what they already have.

Or let me tell you about the holes in the yes campaign's ability to deliver a the utopia described? But that's just negative and makes the no campaigners look bad.

The thing is Alex Salmond is an economist by profession. He was employed by the royal bank for a while as its oil economist and then later its banking stocks economist. He knows the situation with the currency and all the rest of the economic stuff - just as everyone else who has any understanding of macroeconomics does, but he's prepared to lie and hang the consequences. I think that's worse than just being idealist.

I've been inundated with leaflets from both sides, ones promising a glorious utopia and others warning of an awful dystopian disaster...

also part of a divided scotland / london family - hoping vote will go no but it is just impossible to tell. yes would be a horrible result - bad for the economy, bad for academia and splitting up families!

I think you're being alarmist about the wrong things, really. Re. research funding, have a look at the Academics for Yes position papers, eg www.academicsforyes.org/research-can-flourish-under-independence/

On the contrary, life will not be like what we already have after a no vote. The cuts on the way are going to change the world we're used to beyond all recognition, and there is no will in Westminster to do anything other than embrace or succumb to increasing marketisation.

Here's an essay which came out today which speaks to some of those concerns: bellacaledonia.org.uk/2014/09/08/labour-pains-labour-of-love/

The funny thing is they're not really looking to get away from England, they're trying to get away from London. London has it's own economy and infrastructure that does not exist outside the M25 so rather than Scottish independence, we should just ask London to leave.

The truth Tabula like most things will be somewhere in the middle

What things am i being alarmist about? I certainly don't feel alarmed. Just sad about what's happening to my home country.

I have to admit I'm not too keen on Alex Salmond - but that's because I've met him several times.

In the event of a Yes vote I was hoping to sell my house to a returning Scot. No takers then?

'The truth Tabula like most things will be somewhere in the middle'

Oh of course...but I'm definitely getting both sides through my letterbox.

how long did it take the Irish diasporo to return home after 1922? I think that's how long it will take Scots who've left Scotland for work etc to start going back in large numbers.

Dalziel I totally agree re salmond and his lying (and have posted on another thread about it). I could not believe my eyes in the second debate when he said "aha, there's no bluff!!!" when Darling agreed he could use the pound, completely missing the point that if there is no currency union, they they will have no control over fiscal policy. It was deceit in the most contemptible way! He has completely ignored this fact by presented it as if all we need to do is use the pound and all is dandy.

I am absolutely devastated by what is happening and this promised utopia is made for fairy dust and lies and it is going to bring our wonderful country to its knees.

I see salmond very like Blair - only out to create his own personal legacy and in 10 years time, salmond will be to scotland what tony Blair is to Iraq (and the rest of the Middle East). An unmitigated disaster into which the Yes vote is dragging us alongside the unicorns and ghillie dhus.

PoppadomPreach - I watched the debate and I thought that was the turning point. I agree completely with you.

In my opinion, the only solution will be for Scotland to create its own currency. What does pound sound like when said by a Scottish tongue. Pownde maybe?? However, creating the S£ will take a long time. Meanwhile I can't see anyone wanting to buy Scottish govt bonds, especially if there first act is to default on their debts. Usually the Scottish financial institutions would be the natural buyers, but in their case, I imagine that they will feel over-exposed to Scottish risk and be looking to reduce their exposure. So they won't buy unless they get heavily leant on by the Scottish Government. (Speaking as a former city risk analyst).

DH is Scottish as are my neighbours and in-laws, all living in England, having relocated due to work. They all hope for a no vote and can't believe what's going on.

DH is concerned about his pension having been public sector all his days. Does he have to remain British rather than Scottish to protect his pension? He identifies with being British and Scottish equally.

I was discussing in work today with one of our directors about a business networking event he attended last week; several very large businesses had said they were already in the process of seeking out new premises in England so they are ready and ahead of the game if it is yes this month as they are unable to be located in Edinburgh post independence for regulatory reasons. So worrying.

I am answering on behalf of my husband, who is in a bit of a state, worried he will end up living in a foreign country (he's a Scot, living and working in England) from his elderly father and frail sister, with the value of the property he still owns in Scotland plummeting, reducing our retirement capital.

I see salmond very like Blair - only out to create his own personal legacy and in 10 years time, salmond will be to scotland what tony Blair is to Iraq (and the rest of the Middle East).

Interestingly, I was talking to my sister (Scottish, lives in the north of England) this morning and she compared the yes campaign to the feeling there was in 1997 when Blair was elected. The absolute certainty that change was needed, and this would deliver it. I think some change was needed - I don't think it is good for any single party to be dominant for term after term, they tend to start falling out and coming up with increasingly ridiculous policies - but people did end up very disappointed.

The yes campaign is for many a blank cheque - it offers unimagineable scope for change, and people across the political spectrum think independence will be the answer. I think they will find out that Scottish politicians can make stupid or immoral decisions just as much as UK ones, and that we are still at the mercy of the economy and world politics (although a bit more volatile). They will also find that all the nice things they want may not actually be possible, and if they are they will need to be paid for. Some people want to pay, some don't.

I think the campaign has flushed out really important issues. But I want them addressed within the UK. We have a massive increase in political engagement (not just in Scotland, I think this has sparked debate throughout the UK) let's use it. Together.

I think the campaign has flushed out really important issues. But I want them addressed within the UK. We have a massive increase in political engagement (not just in Scotland, I think this has sparked debate throughout the UK) let's use it. Together.

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emphasis fail

That's interesting, OOAOML. Would you mind giving examples of the important issues that have been flushed out in this campaign?