If you live in England, Wales or NI, would you vote YES or NO to Scottish Independence?

[juneau]

Purely economically, I reckon the rest of Britain would be better off without Scotland, so my vote would be YES.

If you are basing it purely on economics then you are very ignorant. Scotland is a net giver to the uk, and is second only to the south east in terms of tax it pays. One of the reasons even the Tories do not want scotland to go.

I am scot in England so do not get to vote, but it would be a clear no. A yes is going to fuck up a lot of people but sadly the yes voters seem to have bought into a salmond-created utopia build on fairy dust and deception. I'm gutted as I absolutely love my country, and it is going to be irreversibly fucked up for many, many years. Salmond should be tried for treason as far as I am concerned.

I'd want the result to be no and then the matter closed but it looks like it will rumble on because if it's a no it will be a close vote so I'd vote yes to get it over and done with and hopefully minimise the uncertainty and upset.

Agree with Poppadom I'm in a similar situation and I'm so sad about it all. Wish none of this was happening

I would vote no. I really think we are stronger together.

In terms of public spending, Scotland is not a 'net giver'.
www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-16477990

I know this doesn't include North Sea oil, but no one will include those figures. Plus, some of the oil that Salmond is claiming for Scotland is actually English if the maritime border follows the slanted line of the land border between the two countries (which it normally does).

I'm worried about a close 'no' vote too as I think the nationalism that has been awoken will not go quietly back to sleep. I think a close 'no' would actually be the very worst outcome.

Of course you should include oil revenues FFS! And from the very article you cited:

^Put it another way: Scotland provided 9.4% of total UK revenues and got 'only' 9.2% of UK public spending in return.^

So I stand by my statement that we are a net giver.

It's this typical "Ignorant English" attitude (which thankfully is the exception, rather than the rule, IME of living for England in 20+ years) that is fuelling the equally ignorant yes-voters.

Scotland is an asset to the UK, as England, Wales and NI are, and without scotland, all parties, including England, will be worse off.

Poppadom, I think Scots not living in Scotland should get a vote. I don't understand why they don't.

I would have been a firm 'no'.

But .... now I'm slightly concerned that in order to keep Scotland, the government seem to want to throw everything at them to entice them to stay. If this disadvantages the rest of the uk, then I would vote 'yes'.

But I haven't followed the developments closely, so would need to be more informed.

I'm all for Scotland being independent from stuffy English politics. We need to get an identity away from the elitiist privately educated few who rule us.

I feel sad that the Scots want to leave the union. I believe that all countries in the present union would be worse off without scotland. Not just financially, but culturally.

However I would say "yes" if the majority want independence. Who are the English to stand in the way of anyone's happiness. The union is like a marriage and if one party wants to leave then the other party needs to get on with life.

There have been times in history when Scotland has been a net giver and times when Scotland has needed support from the rest of the union. I hope that Scotland is sucessful if they do choose independence.

It's a yes from me. As others have said a close vote with a no outcome will be disastrous for Scotland. I really can't see Alex Salmond letting this lie if he doesn't get his way this time. The stock market is adversely affected today and companies based in Scotland are suffering with the uncertainty. I'd like Scotland to have their independence and wish them well.

Personally I'd like to vote No. But just like a divorce there comes a time where you have to say "Well....if you want to go...just go."

Salmond will lead Scotland to ruin.

I'm English. I'd vote no.

I'm Scottish living in England. I would vote no.

I'm Scottish and living in Scotland.

I have my polling card yet still have no idea which way to vote. I'm not politically minded so most of the debates are beyond my comprehension to be perfectly honest., I was originally a definite No purely based on the fact that I don't see how we can be better off on our own in the current uncertain climate but I hear snippets every now and again that sway me.

I would like to see fairer governing powers in all individual regions of the UK though as I do feel that many are "short-changed" by Westminster

i'm uncertain. i do think the 'yes' campaign are being very, very vague and selling pipe dreams. as an english person i'm beginning to think we would actually be better off without scotland so long as they didn't share the pound and we were in no way tied into bail outs if/when they are needed.

one thing i would like cleared up is whether the north sea oil extraction has been built up with UK money (re: infrastructure etc). if so then i don't see how/why the rest of the UK should just suck that up. given we're britain plc rather than a nation anymore scotland plc would surely need to buy us out or keep us as partners in that industry with a share of the profits.

the other thing i find difficult to understand is how scottish higher education (free to the user) and prescriptions (again free) are paid for? if that money comes out of the central UK fund whilst those of us in england for example are expected to pay 9k a year in fees then....?

if i was scottish i'd be voting no as it is all way to vague imo and i wouldn't feel secure saying yes to something so unclear even if i liked the principle. as an englishperson i'm beginning to think i'd vote yes.

Within what I believe is the West Lothian Agreement, Scotland per head has a Westminster budget higher than the rest of us, currently I believe by 10%, which they are now used to - and with more promises of an SNP spending/welfare state fest to come, is why the rest of us should march on Westminster if for some unknown reason, they are allowed to keep the Pound/interest rate structure/Bank of England lender of last resort (to bail them out).

We might be 'better off' financially without them at a later date, once all sorted and we have a government who tries to adapt, but so much else will change, I for one would miss them and vote 'no'.

What HAS TO CHANGE is on a Scottish 'NO', the 59 Scottish MP's should not vote/have influence on English/Welsh/N.I. spending, when we have little say on theirs. IMO

i'm also curious as to whether scots living in england would be allowed to vote in uk elections OR scottish elections. it seems scots in england aren't allowed a vote on the referendum - will they be allowed votes in elections?

oh and scots moving to england - will they have the same immigration conditions to satisfy before claiming benefits? currently eu migrants have to wait 6 weeks (i think that's the time period) and prove residency before being entitled to any benefits.

(if scotland isn't in the eu i don't think they'd even necessarily be allowed to move here would they? they'd have to apply for visas and have sponsors or employment lined up and such?)

I would vote no. The "Yes" brigade are being very vague about how all sorts of things (currency, EU membership, eligibility to participate in international sporting events to name but a few). Salmond's default position seems to just be "well of course we'll be able to do x, y and z later" even though these are things he will have absolutely no control over . If I had a vote, this lack of clarity over how certain things would actually work when if he doesn't get his way would be my biggest concern.

I too haven't followed the ins and outs too closely but a lot of the Yes camp seem to just want to stick a petulant two fingers up at England, largely because, well it's England. Of course that could well be just how the media has reported it, but still not a good basis on which to decide the future of your country!

I think it's immaterial which way anyone votes now, the damage has been done.

Why all this drama.

If they want to go let them go.

I would vote no.