What do you think of UK Government’s Scottish Referendum YouDecide tool? NOW CLOSED

[MichelleMumsnet]

Today, the UK Government is launching YouDecide; an online tool that helps you to see what remaining in the United Kingdom offers you and your family.

Here's what UK Government has to say:

"We have created YouDecide ahead of the Scottish independence referendum on 18 September, to help you explore what the United Kingdom provides and what this means for your home, your family and your work life. YouDecide has been designed so that you can drill down quickly and simply to get facts on the issues that matter to you.

"We all know that the independence referendum is the most important decision to face voters in Scotland in 300 years; it's a decision that affects everyone in Scotland and the rest of the UK. The information you find on the YouDecide tool is informed by the facts and figures published in HM Treasury's Scotland analysis programme and also reflects UK Government policy.

"There is a wealth of information on the referendum subject. We want you to be as fully informed as possible ahead of making such an historic and permanent decision.

"There are of course a number of things we cannot answer, because no one knows the full impact that independence would have on all areas. Splitting a 300 year-old union would be complicated and many new agreements would need to be negotiated. We can't speculate on unknowns but we can give you the facts about the existing UK policy.

"Together as England, Wales, Northern Ireland and Scotland we have created one of the world's most successful unions. Our UK Government policy is that we want to see Scotland remain part of the UK because we believe that by staying together we have much more to share and much more to gain."

Have a look at YouDecide and let us know what you think of the tool and the issues surrounding it by posting your thoughts below. Do you feel you have the facts and information you need to make an informed choice about Scotland's future to remain in the United Kingdom or to leave and become a separate state, permanently, or not? You can also look at the UK Government's In the Know factsheets series and booklet: What Staying in the United Kingdom Means for Scotland.

Thanks,

MNHQ

Hear hear. It's a national disgrace.

I'm trying to think of what could persuade me to vote no and I'm not coming up with anything at all.

I'm terrified of a no vote and I'm mystified that anyone could seriously reject the opportunity we have here. A little bit of reading and learning and it becomes so very obvious.

Hope you're finding this discussion a good use of public money Westminster!

Getting rid of trident would be enough reason on its own to vote yes.

Oh also, any chance of publishing the poll that you spent a fortune of our money on?
www.heraldscotland.com/mobile/politics/referendum-news/snp-urges-info-commissioners-help-get-the-secret-poll-published.1404750869

Well, I am, Fanny; only one no voter engaging on the thread so far. Are you moving towards undecided, Solo? There's no shame in changing your mind, and we'll all jump and cheer and welcome you to the fold if you do. I see it all the time on Twitter.

Anyone else seeing folk turning to Yes over the Gaza situation? Scottish gvt has said we'd like to offer help and medical aid to refugees, while WM are supporting Israel's right to self-defence.

I know which government I prefer.

No, I've moved from Maybe to No in the last few months. At first I thought independence would be better for Scotland but not good for rUK, but now I feel that Scotland would be better off as part of UK. Also there's the gut feeling aspect. None of the 'facts' splashed about by both sides are anything more than guesses, and I really believe countries should work together to make a better world for everyone.

But we'll see. The discussion is interesting, and the genie is definitely out of the bottle. I don't see how Westminster can ignore the strength of feeling on the Yes side, and I'm looking forward to a devo max situation.

I don't think there will be a defo max solution - if they had something up their sleeves to offer devo max it would have either been an option on the ballot or they would have revealed it by now.

I think come a No vote WM will make things very difficult for Scotland for holding the referendum in the first place

Completely agree Stoorie.

The UK Govt would absolutely have put any devo max option on the ballot if there had been even any room for manoeuvre to do so because we all know that would have won by a huge margin. That would have shut down the whole referendum issue quickly and cleanly. As it stands there is no devo max on offer and a no vote will serve as justification for the absence of delivery of further powers in future.

The scenario listed above in which we are granted more tax-raising powers is by far the most likely outcome. Westminster will give us enough rope to hang ourselves while keeping their own nose seemingly clean. Don't forget that this isn't about a day in September - this sets the political landscape forever and without a yes vote on that day there will be nothing, nothing we can legally do about that in our lifetimes.

You may think that sticking together and working as a team is the way forward but that is absolutely not how Westminster view this. If you feel that globalisation and countries working together is the way forward then I think stepping away from the archaic imperialist British establishment is the only way to achieve that. While the UK Govt are talking about leaving the EU, making it harder and harder for people to come here to study or work, and displaying a frankly shameful approach to international conflicts I find it bizarre that you want to stay under their wing so that countries can "work together". Scotland wants to break away from the rUK for exactly that reason - so they too can take part in a global community without the constraints and paranoia of the current government.

"Anyone else seeing folk turning to Yes over the Gaza situation? Scottish gvt has said we'd like to offer help and medical aid to refugees, while WM are supporting Israel's right to self-defence."

I have raises hand

Been on the Gaza demos and heard over and over again "Say what you like about the SNP but that was decent/they wernae wrang/it's what we should be doing" That from Labour supporters! I was fairly taken aback, and I think it showed a bit how different we could be as a nation. I don't think it was an instant conversion to Yes, or to the SNP (thankfully) but I suspect it made some Nos and Don't Knows think.

affafantoosh I wish I could put things as well as you do!

Sola my mum is English and she went from a No to a Maybe to a Yes :) Both she and I had a gut feeling it would be wrong (I started out as a No as well). At first I was a bit scared it was an anti English thing. I'd had the misfortune to encounter some less than pleasant people on the right of Scottish nationalism. But the more I learnt I realised it wasn't at all.

Yes people were friendly, they were definitely not at all anti English. they explained stuff, but there was one central thing which got to me "If we vote Yes we get to choose how Scottish politics looks". My preferred choice would be different from my mum's and different to my SNP mate but we would be able to choose. Even if we argued a lot it would be us, folk in Scotland of all races and opinions, deciding our destiny. Not Westminster.

That sums it all up, Shockingly. It's not about hating the English, it's not about "Braveheart" (and I've only seen Unionists using that word anyway), and it most certainly isn't about the SNP or Alex bloody Salmond. It's about how we want our country, populated by Scots, English, Welsh, Irish, and immigrants from hundreds of other countries, to interact with others on a global scale.

I look forward to the arguments after we say Yes. They will be vigourous, passionate, and heated, and will result in a better country for all.

Eventually...

I see Gordon Brown been caught out telling more lies today.
Did anyone see the video of Tony Blair in the lift with the reporter asking him what he was doing in London if he is the Middle East Peace envoy, lol, Awkward!

I heard about the lift interlude, didn't see it myself. Did you follow the John Barrowman stushie on Twitter? He appears to lack a sense of humour.

The Barrowman stushie was indeed entertaining.

Here are my two personal favourites.

I think those were the only two I didn't retweet! Liked Stu's "You Yes Yet?" in LGBT colours most. :)

You will def be getting door stepped by the Daily Mail for their evil Cybernay section!

On which topic, what do you reckon to the Cybernat list which includes a UKIP councillor in Basingstoke, with no interest in the indyref at all?! At least one person named has referred it to the police, fearing they're being targeted for who knows what level of abuse/potential violence. I hope/suspect they're over-reacting, many others are taking it as a joke and expressing miffedness that they're not listed, but I can understand the fear, when other Yes supporters have been hospitalised.

No idea why the courier newspaper is on the Cybernat list, that is just pretty odd.

I'm guessing because the vast majority of their (totally unscientific, non-weighted, acknowledged as jokey) pingpong ball "referenda" showed a Yes vote. I think I only saw one or two (in Perthshire, quelle surprise!) with a No majority. Yes majorities as low as 52%, can't remember the highest, maybe 60% or so?

Odd, I tend to think of the Courier as an old-fashioned paper, conservative (small c), maybe they've joined the 21st century when I wasn't looking.

Likewise, I am disappointed I am not on it! Although it is kind of funny :D

TBH I would be amazed if I was but that is a very mad list. Seems to be a slight Green Brigade bias judging by usernames?

Ooh, are you someone I should be following? I made a point of following everyone on The List (apart from the UKIP dude) that I wasn't already following (from the previous Mail list) but I suspect it's a bit... pointless.

I do follow some Green Brigade members but they are as disappointingly sane as the rangers4indy people I also follow. Young Harry from Liverpool was a bit of a giggle last week, and there was a Xtain fundy teenager from Bristol who looked promising, but who has failed to live up to his early offerings.

Social media, the panes et circences of the 21st century.

Wonder if we already follow each other, happy to PM my twitter name to you guys. :)

Have sent you mine. :)

www.facebook.com/youdecide2014/posts/1473755226202034?ft[tn]=O]&ft[qid]=6038905682745399994&ft[mf_story_key]=-7309351361112285397&ft[ei]=AQLIX9MEX8jA2WqMQ5SwKUabWTz4MRTh0V-l374yBHYLuVH9ZsLdiUZvBZM4jXlXBHoD-vp8riGhjQUUoQcOGRudsCOd6SUZ6ACLdaWHppz1VgF-xk3qGzcIifYVouXy7gvdTg2tnRR2xAbFdgnqT7YTm6l0ZN4LBbx3M4stJFRjAk_pL8jkSgKwdg0fp6qHTPSq872CMV3aFQdUovbTgid4KxTNmpxWSlEkZn9Q06G91Ob9PlOMK8EAztyBsI_BeHvTN3OGRv18t8I5ehYs6xTOOz5D4gtc2GADeWPBc9eR5Th8qR0mFGmJU9clp923clZAzcjFOt6JumSw0A6oKgzTfgoHL_jxZzZckcM_NsFznhReKJZdxxEnoD_Y7yP4HWf6kmpr73lYPiULBrmJVYl0SKYEwQZ71I3QPe8JxiCiTrSfGRd7qPNVjaZ_QisJb89y0gmXbbgsQRsXpvbHpb3kCZUY2JS7-9sdHfFvIubEAIFI6QlXI4rNPJEZ_IPRIZdYwBkqbmcRgOr9Ly8OfyeWQ5XgzleA_jTLA2c0tcN18gbdZrekbp_mc0MVc7WPfKk4PvZkNKNKlY7Xgyi5-3Ff8T42nDfMZ_uhdKQPbHh5ghl_CGvfUJzccv7_qYJ0cSi_EiSqs-YpOBENqlJ26zIqu1k-SMmhtyCEAD9Zulmokz6VPObdlu3BzQLRaeV0IfgSdRNzv5eBF-ntut6TVm_a_U1T1mg9p80iB6KkCfl4u7jHQvaxQKB57toRSF5-XQOT284rCU3uCPzJuJiBxglkH7BDlo8IaFWNtW_2F4P5PpsWhYi5qdjDvMSg8GDHLwdCUpPuwSd_IlrZ_rhVNwRC_eFJmFZ-hTHzpLS8XSSV367G_QUNX54Pa9-m9ugkezMBkFzK_jtoPcizHcytuhbFAyV4PMpp40UHqu-pF_K6Os-IOKnfsTfBb6f138DyOYiPt6eRy0CXiPjwkN5uDjLARReKecqPVU8-hSBsHz2jREHZMXZQuB5uay4K2ikNjzjqR5FHuRbxCcqDQqjN7C4HuJU1qHILgzUUvkSWg6W6Sbe3KxjddXjw5MXuAKW2XpyCIYmwukGN6rz8W1m570Mkvo8I56POBXrAo9VpizqgZ4BXxxXNq1JDTX0Lb8weZ0APCw8BXuacIXMlu8kvnoBrZNCnImPGIBetypl8rkfIkfUV4JA-p2-UAz3a7QFZb1JRBeTR3ZdnU4_1NEwTDPu75daTyG-26drLqZ1zOUjSVyPtlVtnTOpikDG-M0cCX-MlRv_tSUnLDY-kTXgysjSJmOL_hOLXnAi9PAd6Nm9ICibeo4sSZ3b7WXVwv6piAD3DthHcsXHhv0krwMySyTqDZmixvzU_6WB5tTxfhIKciQof75drnE51lMd8wFOUuFwVRnap5Gl5Bxr0vWdFR4IFrye-E8rJQVF4sJ-T1eYox9uKlwxrItaWHEzI4tP_qQ3uePNozStyjjWJ9Wa0WgQzG4HBR48r5vbgg8V717nODZE0kKshWFz3uLpnP5k7CkgP4tFnIMpNryijvI8_UA3MRHb9UzxZuVunTE0weADkDPWkKoUAIGVSTVOhxt48MBrc72Voc7aZnMCY9rzVFORWeGrl8_eOzNOij559AmXFlIXPJeEhQPi5166rMRba3rduf2eFH35VTKZPWnpn3vJ0cBVDEzVLAcWr6Up9qq2cBOoc5HeSp_nI2scvd5-Lwz40-uFtC6sD322brQf3an0mlQwbrhPZvJw4gHSWqNMbMcSzsqjj92PyHb7ZqlnYV16OBTN-O5jWxJTnV8D90rNaQgP4d8lNgd9R6ERoWQIH1vI-hnBzhVwT7JPFjEIpBTHwK7-t7xt0MykDr6ZkhtesElrx88s850qIEtXDlTt2LAB3rUh3cGF4xfqCier1ttob9WHmGkzgGuZ_TH78gEXSCNa9-R65wMcFbi9Up8CmH92rIcr9qC5RYLARKUXi9qaFvNx6nM8L587t6CcnK9cfXsMWaj4oJhfExEi5Wt_5GLiofFbcIFGpmk8k9i5sRXsReEe5JL7FUc4r7z9G9kI51CbflomrBPnDb5g3p5rfwGnqFlT99SvdXSRdAsafoslB4TTWmA2b8eo685PBhzom8b2WlInu67_ChjoS2IBw32Z1PxKVJT2sG3JwrGezbk7pjreB3PUo30KfenpjprBtVAllT22k0H4XFRmDF60wWYCuRQ6HpqS_JJaTuR8zxdSwGo_20qaitPoHSfslVvhk_huCdTtipmNCiMwNOnARZv-5Hjlta_UlKF-GIUTgHTCZIHMcUDyWw78T2axB_zz4msVxnaHA4FNkRE8ScYH2uXi0v_qsEeA4Hot2m8-A8f0jmliBXSE6MbKHC4XbQWURzFV5g1p4rXtFekSamLrMVtrI98iDIgcr0hK3TQqAUXSFeAIL-8A6RoGLt50r9sh016ffQp9QRv_w9xZVDj1rNir3g9MfexnMY3hjBGjlzf-5RZFIDZJuqaQQSvh4rg8Ck7ZNrAHSHsuq70OPdcPsP_xhXmTtzvhcLZBnXL1hgzFG-aTd6FYTVZSW7B2uB7oiFeoIdv5jTFU6bZVG6w_edKTtHRC-Exi26unj0Up5dSAlSTOhHJHBhWT0TqzxQ06b8MQ_tjGMHMJs2lZLWKFJZHZuORoeTYX7V5daQSfX0mDC1ncfdLn3EmFnlsIBjiuomMMdvOnjFg4ztDOz3vUYK3lJjFbGUNJvCc5T2kNMNYCA9X2p0FVQiX8-dTVLPLX7tb-umgZmdTN9qkmY9EHCF-gTtv-psbD-1uqqDCfGO8E-MAVDPr71DwnTWMsOWz_5teJS6cqpx9FlxyxAhVJb0bK7EbLCI6AbeGeZzKNVue3YnhyF7I9JKKmk6I9qKfaMRmlF6zWtcapnfZE_HDuxBmOWaPU0Fjrvg05hZY4cIT3E_o8Qh9XIQWMkzidbaLM62D8H5T3pjSSTGeM5JEJQzVSsGKo2q6bZbaQSe1gy-IE&ft[fbfeed_location]=1&ft[insertion_position]=1&md=1 I don't know if that ridiculously long link will work, but this You Decide tool came up as a sponsored post on my FB timeline (wonder how much that cost UK taxpayers?) and the comments on it are overwhelmingly Yes... A sign?