to think independence will happen anyway with a NO vote?

[pettybetty]

It has occurred to me that with around half the population voting YES, independence will happen with a NO vote anyway, in a more peaceful long term way?

Major companies will see the writing on the wall for a future independent Scotland if it doesn't happen today/tomorrow, and slowly but surely choose which side of the border their main interests lie and locate themselves there. Thus the next time a referendum occurs, there will not be this last minute scare of 1000s of job losses.

All financial and political decisions made from now on will be taken with consideration as to how it will affect both the union or a separate Scotland / rUK.

With devo-max, Scotland will become far more self-governing, and after this massive divide over this referendum, I think people on both sides of the border will take the next one in their stride, and separation will be an inevitable formality.

I think the YESs have already won, regardless of the vote outcome.

YABU. Independence is independence. Devolution is devolution. If the Union holds and there are more powers to the devolved Scottish government, the nation as a whole will not have fundamentally changed. Financial and political decisions probably won't be drawn up to be more considerate of Scotland any more than they are considerate of Tyneside or Devon.

I don't think I made my point very well.

I mean that even if the result is a NO, I think independence will happen definitely in the next referendum (20-odd years away?).

Every business decision and political decisions taken from now on will be made with the question of independence in mind. Those who want to keep the union will ensure they give Scotland due mind, and it seems that most rUK do want to keep the union.

Therefore, in a future referendum, the uncertainty that has beset this one will not be present to the same degree. I do think that banking and big businesses will gravitate to UK anyway even in the event of a NO as they will want to be best placed for the next referendum. It just won't happen as quickly as it will if there is a YES.

Excuse bad grammar . Also thank you for answering Cogito - Ithought this had dropped off the page.

I guess if you think that even with a no vote now, there will be another referendum granted in the near future which will be a yes, then it would be better for everyone if Scotland cut the ties now.

I saw something recently that said if it's ever going to happen, it's now. The stars are all in alignment. Austerity measures, coming out of a recession, unpopular PM, Tory government, SNP at an all time high etc.