Is England not shitting itself Scotland becomes independent cos then they will have the tories FOREVER

[ssd]

Its a thought isnt it....

DC must be rubbing his hands, get rid of those bloody labour voters in Scotland and we;ll be in gov forever!!!!

Can someone remind me how much money the Scottish Parliament have wasted on the Edinburgh tram system? When the A9 is crying out for improvement?

Alex Salmond was in Inverness for the Scottish Golf Open. Where did he and his cronies stay? Only in the most expensive five star hotel in Inverness....

I can (and very definitely will ) vote and am taking care to educate myself and, just as importantly, to ensure that my friends have also educated themselves before deciding which way they are going to vote.

Interestingly, ds (who doesn't have a vote as he will only be 14) has changed the way he wants the vote to go, having listened to lots of arguments both ways. I wish more of the adults were similarly informed and able to articulate their arguments based on facts rather than scaremongering or exaggeration.

Prettybird, if only all adults (and teenagers) were so responsible.

'Why would I got somewhere people hate me....same for France.'

Elderberri, the French don't hate the English. That is the propaganda our tabloids and TV comedians propagate.

I've lived in France. I spent most of my time educating them that "Écossaise" was not synonymous with "Anglaise" .

They only "got" it when I started calling them Belgiques because they also French!

McFox - ds is trying to get those of his friends who do have a vote to exercise it on 18 September - and trying to argue his case as to which way they should vote

Gelati, the Edinburgh tram system was forced by Tories, before SNP had a majority in the Scottish Parliament. It was the only way to get the rest of the budget agreed. SNP would have preferred to have dualled the A9 between Perth and Inverness.

The French I know all love Scotland and want to go there.

A French friend told me they had booked their holiday. I said "Where are you going, to Barbados?" They said "Scotland". I thought for a moment and asked "Is Scotland a place in Barbados?". They said "no, Scotland. The Highlands." They love it.

Elderberri, Claig is right, the French don't hate the English, it's just how the media over hear like to run their stories. My best friend lives over there and loves it.

Re independence, I hope it does go through, we've moved north just in case. I think Westminster is run by a bunch of self serving London centric fools (all parties) and Scotland has the opportunity for a fresh start.

A Yes vote isn't a vote for the SNP. The political parties in Scotland have a chance to stand for themselves and not just parrot the Westminster line. Scotland used to be conservative, but the post war years have changed that, and I think that's because Westminter don't look outside the south-east.

Ah, the whole the Scots hate the English debate has started! I can state hand on heart, that I do not hate people because of their nationality. What I hate is narrow minded sheep, who believe in the self perpetuating myths that come independence we will all be standing at the border with pitchforks.

Scotland is a beautiful country, open you mind elderberri, come visit. I cam guarantee you'll only be hated if you are a twat!

Well said, not all us scots hate the English and not all English hate the Scots - some of the points on here are pathetic (some very well made). I am Scottish and am totally crapping myself about independence! Yeah all the flag waving Braveheart patritism is all very well but England, Wales and NI are part of us, our friends, neighbours and families, so many families are a mix up of all 4 (and more) nations and the thought of national socialism taking over my country does frighten me - I for one will be looking to leave if AS and his cronies take power in an independent country - my children's future (and mine) mean too much to me.

I have seen no "braveheart" comments from the yes side, only snidey comments from the no pov. There is no "national socialism" on offer from the yes pov.

Voting yes is not the same as voting for SNP/Alex.

Voting yes is not anti-English.

Voting yes is voting for our future, for our dc and our dgc, so that they/we will have the gvt we choose. (Of whatever nature.)

There seem to be plenty of English/Irish/Welsh wanting to move to Scotland if we say yes, more than enough to replace the Scots who will leave.

Back to the OP's original question - I think it's a good thing that a 'yes' vote means no longer including Scotland's dominantly labour votes at Westminster's election.

I think the Scots vote labour as a habit and it really skews the votes. It also means at a local level Scots are willing to vote in the biggest muppets into local councils just because they're labour candidates. I seriously think Scots would choose to vote in a toy dog over a Tory if the toy dog was Labour.

It makes for some pretty crap local politicians getting an awful lot of power and local govt being the parochial shambles it is.

Am writing this from within Scotland -- Glasgow.

Just to add that I am very worried the same will happen at a national level in an independent Scotland: crappy ineffective politicians governing the country just because they are labour. Who else would win the newly-independent Scottish election.

And yes I do think a jumped up, inexperienced ex-councillor is probably worse and more damaging to the country than Cameron.

Yes! Please don't go

Scots are turning away from labour actually (who wouldn't with that bunch of drips in charge in WM and HR) scroll down to Scottish unitary authorities

If people vote labour out of habit (insulting to say the least) then why isn't labour the predominant party across the country? Credit people with some intelligence.

The tide is turning. I don't know who will win the first independent election in Scotland. I will need to see who is running, and what they offer before I decide who gets my vote.

And there used to be pockets of Tories in rural Scotland. Dh is from farming stock and all of them voted Tory for years. I guess the finally realised for their vote to count they needed to put it elsewhere.

I'm English. DP is Scottish. We live in England.

If it's a yes vote, we'll be heading back to Scotland, to be part of a new country with progressive politics.

The idea of being in England being stuck with the Tories does depress me, yes.

Anyone other than the elite voting for the Tories is like Turkeys voting for Christmas, I wish more people could see that. They don't represent ordinary people, they never did.

I am really undecided at the moment, about what to do

I am really undecided at the moment, about what to do

That's a far more positive position than being so entrenched in a position that you are unwilling to look at the available information.

Use your google-fu and have a nosey around the internet, and remember, there is no unbiased information so look at things critically.

I know, I really need to collate all the info and go through it. It's a hugely important decision!!! My gut says no, but that's all it is. A gut instinct. It's not based on any real info which I why I need to be properly informed.

Best to start with the Yes and better together campaign websites. That will give you both sides. Then from there pick up what piques your interest.

I'd much rather we all go to the polls informed and confident we are voting with our heads not our hearts (well a wee but of heart is ok) than blinkered to anything and ticking a box.

Does anyone have teens who will be eligible to vote? I'm interested to hear what they think of it all.

To go back to the OP's question, no I don't believe people in England are generally bothered either way. Of course we will miss noted Scottish socialists such as Ken Loach, Bob Crow, Sally Bercow, Tony Benn, Owen Jones, Owen Hatherley and Rod Stewart, who will doubtless wish to return to their native land, but I guess we will just have to cope.

Joking aside, as a Scot who has made my home in England and has Irish, Welsh and doubtless English ancestry, I feel emotionally that we belong together and I will be very sad if a Yes vote should take place. It won't make any difference to my day-to-day life though. Front page on Sept 19th, lining cat-litter trays all over the land on Sept 20th. Sorry, but that's the reality.

The labour movement I grew up in was a cross-border affair and I have been saddened to see all that being neglected and forgotten over the years. Scotland will have to take back the 46 bastard fucker Labour MPs who voted through tuition fees for England, though - good riddance. (I'm a Labour Party member, btw).

Having said that it won't make a difference, I guess I am not being entirely fair. There is a democratic deficit down here, and I think an English Parliament would be a good thing in the long run.

Sorry about the language. It's an emotional thing. Oh, and I come from the Central Belt