Discuss your views of the Scottish Referendum with the UK government NOW CLOSED

[MichelleMumsnet]

With fewer than 200 days to go until the Scottish referendum, UK Government has produced the latest edition, in a series of information packs, focussing on money and the economy in the context of the independence debate.

Read more: Scottish independence referendum: Money and the economy.

UK Government wants to find out what Mumsnetters' views are of the Scottish referendum coming up in September. When it comes to the prospect of Scotland going it alone and possible impacts on the economy, like changes in currency and taxes, what are your views? Whether you're Scottish or not we'd love to hear your thoughts.

Danny Alexander, Chief Secretary to the Treasury says, "As part of the UK the Scottish economy is growing, inflation is down and more people are in work. By remaining part of the UK, Scottish industry and jobs will be protected by the generous freeze on duties on spirits and the £3bn tax break for oil and gas industries we announced at the Budget, as well as the big cuts in income tax helping 2 million Scottish workers.

This new pack sets out some key facts people in Scotland need to know before the referendum in September. I urge everyone to read up on the facts and understand the true benefits being part of the United Kingdom brings to Scotland."

Mumsnet will be hosting various content and activity in the run up to the referendum from all sides of the debate, so do keep a look out for these in the coming months.

Thanks,

MNHQ

I genuinely believe we are stronger as part of the UK.

I can see that. I genuinely believe the UK is going down an artificial austerity plughole, and independence will not only save us from going down too, but inspire a (velvet) political revolution in rUK, for the benefit of everyone. Shall we agree to disagree? :)

Noooooooooo not the Barrowman for the love of god.

You don't have to click. And I did put up a prior warning, for those with delicate constitutions.

I genuinely believe we are better together. I prefer to be be part of a world with less artificial borderlines and barriers, not more. We are one small island, why randomly split us based on geography & history. Let us hold hands & face the future together - united we stand.

Positive enough?

But there won't be any more borders, and no split. We're not going anywhere, not floating off into the Atlantic. It's fair enough that you feel that way, but it's not a positive reason for me to change my mind, sorry. :)

Let us hold hands & face the future together - united we stand

That's a lovely thought, but the problem is some are more united than others. Britain is one of the most unequal societies in the world: that's hardly holding hands and being united together...

I genuinely believe we are better together. I prefer to be be part of a world with less artificial borderlines and barriers, not more. We are one small island, why randomly split us based on geography & history. Let us hold hands & face the future together - united we stand.

In that case you've even more reason to vote yes. Britain is heading down a path of increased isolation, with increasing pressure from UKIP adding weight to the existing imperialist superiority which oozes from the SE. ItsAll also makes an extremely valid point. The people who are united met at Eton. The rest of us are every man for himself.

But although the ruling elite are from Eton, those they shaft are from across the UK. Let's face it, I have far more in common with a working mother anywhere in England than the landed gentry in Scotland. Solidarity does not recognise national boundaries and we should all work together for a better UK for all our children, not just those that were randomly born in Scotland.

But although the ruling elite are from Eton, those they shaft are from across the UK.

And are voted into power again and again by those in England who benefit/ think they will be benefit.

Solidarity does not recognise national boundaries and we should all work together for a better UK for all our children, not just those that were randomly born in Scotland.

Again, very noble sentiments. Sadly recent history convinces me that we cannot change Westminster ethos from within the UK. Yes, in a way we are abandoning rUK to their fate, but think of it as amputating diseased limbs to save a life.

I rather like Robin McAlpine's idea of British Aid; we ditch the £ and the debt, but give aid direct to the poorer parts of rUK, bypassing WM and the Treasury. Solidarity!

But we can only do that with a Yes vote.

We can't effectively show solidarity when our vote is worthless. And right now, it is worthless. All we can do is cut ourselves free. I won't be guilted into voting no because the Tories are humping people south of the border too.

I won't be guilted into voting no because the Tories are humping people south of the border too

Yup.

" what about Wales"
" what about Yorkshire"
"What about xyz"

The Scottish vote has no impact on WM (just the same as the Yorkshire vote or the welsh vote). If we stay in solidarity we will just be suffering in solidarity. We just can't do anything to improve things from within the UK, and as a country in our own right we are in the enviable position that we can just leave.

I do feel sorry for all those we will leave behind, but what else can we reasonably do? and they could all move to iScotland

Voting YES!!! Scottish Government have proved they will listen to ordinary people and correct mistakes that impact on social inclusion. Westminster proven exactly the opposite. Simples.

I hate the hypocrisy of UK government who is so quick to champion Tibet/Taiwan/Palestine etc and when Scotland wants self determination its "oh no no"

The Scottish people should decide their fate without interference.

Im happy with putting forward 'facts' not 'we may do so type hysteria.

(After ten years of conservative and labour BS, I want less MP's in UK if anything scrap it completely, you vote for ministers directly and we have more referendums.)

we will be doomed to tory govt forevermore, quite possibly serving us right, if scotland leaves

I'm a yes vote, and am really excited by the possibilities that we as an independent nation will have to treat our people better, to get out from under the money wasting, increasingly racist and London-centric government, and to put effort into making a success of our country instead of having to fight Westminster all the time.

I know very few people that are voting no. Those who have said that they are tend to be uninformed or ill-informed (the amount of tripe being spouted on this thread for instance is shocking) - you have to put some effort into this. Its exciting to see so many people involved in the political process for once though. We know that we'll get shafted every time there's a general election, so this is galvanising people in a way I've never seen before.

Merci, Scottish votes rarely make a difference to the outcome of WM elections. RUK will get the WM gvt rUK votes for, if that's Tory then that's because rUK want a Tory gvt.

Re how Scottish votes impact the WM government...

www.flickr.com/photos/potatojunkie/8087151692/sizes/o/

clever link

I know very few people that are voting no. Those who have said that they are tend to be uninformed or ill-informed

Well, I know very few people who are voting yes, so there you go.

I do think it is a cheap shot to claim that anyone who decides to vote a different way to you is 'uninformed or ill-informed'. We are all going to have to live with each other, whatever the result of the referendum. Can we not have a grown up debate without taking pot shots at people for not voting how you want?

I don't think that's a pot shot ithaka. The media is disgracefully biased and many people suck the BBC's rubbish up, reasonably expecting it to bear a fair representation of the facts. So lots of people are ill-informed.

There seem to be groups of people who are all voting yes or no; for instance where I work there are lots of people voting no (and they're all intelligent and well-informed people). I imagine people are friends with people who have similar outlooks to them, therefore you end up with groups with similar voting intentions.

I do think it is a cheap shot to claim that anyone who decides to vote a different way to you is 'uninformed or ill-informed'.

I'm not sure I agree with this being a cheap shot, more the truth. I genuinely believe that if you look critically at all the evidence you would be mad to vote no.

The only possible reasons people could vote no is because they haven't researched beyond what the (generally unionist biased) media feeds them, and/or the whole emotional want to be British thing.

It's not a pot shot at all, this is what I've found. I'm quite political so I've done a lot of research, but many people voting no that I've spoken to have only watched the bbc and know the 'no currency union' headline because they have only gleaned their information from the mainstream media. If people don't undertake their own research in and from multiple places/organisations etc then it's quite easy to be swayed, as is the case with anything else.

If all I read was the Daily Mail I'd have a very distorted view of the world - it just stands to reason, and that is why propaganda works, because governments rely on people having a narrow range of places from which they get their information.