Scottish Referendum: Yes Campaign Takes Lead

[Al Bhatti]

September 8, 2014

Expats weigh in on Scotland vote
Scottish voters carefully waiting the morning of September 19

In 10 days’ time, Dubai businessman Bill Lorimer will wake up either celebrating that Britain still remains a united kingdom, or commiserating that his beloved homeland has voted to end more than three centuries of union.

“No,” the Aberdeen-born and Perth-raised distributor of laser equipment in the UAE, tells Gulf News. “At the end of the day, the Scottish Nationalist Party (SNP) and its leader Alex Salmond do not have enough experience to govern an independent country.” And unlike the Labour or Conservatives, who each have a long history and extensive experience of governing, the SNP’s track record in government is very limited.

Then there’s the question of an independent Scotland not having a nuclear deterrent to ward off potential threats.

“How could Scotland protect itself?” Lorrimer asks.

And as a businessman working in the UAE for the past 15 years, he believes that only a united Britain can effectively market itself overseas.

“Even the whole question of North Sea oil is interesting,” he notes. “What would happen if, for example, the Shetland and Orkney islands — where most of the oil is located — simply decided to hold a vote to go their own way and declare independence?”

Back home in Scotland, two of his three sons will be voting no while a third is leaning that way, although he hasn’t fully made up his mind.

Creating ‘our own destiny’

In Doha, Ruth McIntyre has most definitely made up hers.

“Yes,” she tells Gulf News. “It’s an opportunity to create our own destiny and to decide our future.”

And in 10 days’ time she is looking forward to waking up to a Scotland that is independent.

“I think a lot of the arguments that are being thrown up by the no side are red herrings,” she says. “There is nothing to stop Scotland from using the pound as its currency, just as many other nations use the US dollar as their currency.”

Narrow majority

The latest opinion polls show a narrow majority of Scottish voters voting yes, the first time the independence movement has been ahead since the September 18 referendum was announced.

“All of a sudden the no sides seems to have woken up and realised that Scottish independence is about to happen,” the Glaswegian says. “The latest offer from the no side to offer more powers and greater taxation to Scotland shows they are in a panic. If they were really serious about it, why didn’t they offer that before tens of thousands of advance voters started to vote?”

Englishman Martin Hughes operates Carranmore, a management consultant agency in Dubai. For him, Scotland going its own way won’t spell doom and gloom.

“I fully understand the desire for Scots to create their own destiny,” he tells Gulf News. “If the government in London has failed to look after Scottish interests and failed to listen to Scots concerns for decades, then Scotland has every right to secede from the union and go its own way.”

Expats weigh in on Scotland vote | GulfNews.com

 

[BestUsernameEver]

That's a HUGE swing in a matter of only one month.

What happened?? Political scandals? Aggressive PR campaigns?

 

[Archie]

 

[mbg]

Hahahaha, all my relatives in Scotland are voting for freedom. Time to get back at Englistan for all the bull crap they put us through.

 

[Dubious]

I am with the scots!!!

Ten days to save the Union with Scotland
Cameron and Brown join forces to persuade Scots to stay British as Yes camp forges lead

David Cameron and Gordon Brown are to spearhead a final 10-day scramble to save the United Kingdom, following a poll suggesting that Scotland is on the brink of voting to break up Britain.

Over the weekend the Prime Minister held crisis talks with the Queen at Balmoral after the YouGov poll put Alex Salmond’s campaign for independence was in the lead for the first time.

Later this week, Mr Cameron will give details for the transfer of more powers to the Scottish Government if it remains in the UK in an attempt to stem the growing support for independence.

Meanwhile, his Labour predecessor announced a six-day tour in an attempt to convince undecided voters that voting “No” is a “patriotic” act. It will include a speech with Ed Miliband — the first time Mr Brown and Mr Miliband have shared a platform since Labour’s election defeat in 2010.

The YouGov poll put the “Yes” campaign on 51 per cent, with the campaign to maintain the Union on 49 per cent. It forced the Unionists, who had a 22-point lead a month ago, to announce 10 days of frantic action.

The NHS looks likely to become a key battleground in the run-up to the vote as the poll showed that Labour voters, as well as young people and women, are turning to the SNP.

The Queen is said to be “horrified” at the prospect of Scotland separating, which could lead to a constitutional crisis and uncertainty over her position as head of state north of the Border.

It is thought the Prime Minister assured her that the Government was doing everything in its power. Mr Cameron will face calls to resign if he oversees the dissolution of the 308-year-old Union.

Writing in The Telegraph, Boris Johnson says Scottish independence would be “an utter catastrophe for this country” and that he hopes “we will wake from this sleepwalk to tragedy”.

George Osborne, the Chancellor, told BBC One’s The Andrew Marr Show that the final touches were being put to “much greater” fiscal autonomy and tax-raising abilities for Holyrood.

However, officials were forced to clarify that no new devolved powers would be announced. The Government will simply announce a new timetable for a cross-party convention to devolve powers to Scotland “swiftly” after the general election next year.

Senior Conservatives questioned why the announcement was being made after hundreds of thousands people have already cast their postal votes.

Mr Osborne said it was “clear” that Scotland wanted more autonomy and that the Tories, Labour and the Liberal Democrats had agreed to deliver new powers on tax and welfare.

Alistair Darling, the former Labour chancellor who leads the Better Together campaign, said: “What we’re talking about is the powers that have already been announced by the party leaders in Scotland and in Westminster.”

Mr Salmond said that Mr Osborne’s comments were a sign that the campaign to save the UK was “spiralling into self-destruction”.

It was last night claimed that the SNP’s private polling puts them even further ahead on 54 per cent to 46 per cent. Senior sources in Better Together have dismissed the polls and said that although they believe the race is close, they are still narrowly ahead.

There were also warnings from financial experts that the value of the pound could plummet in response to the poll.

At a campaign stop, Mr Brown will warn that Scotland would be “entering an economic minefield under the SNP’s economic plans for separation”. He will also say that Mr Salmond’s threat to default on Scotland’s share of the national debt “will explode in their faces”.


Ten days to save the Union with Scotland - Telegraph

 

[Imran Khan]

its a example for those whom think thier countries are from forever and will remain forever . people are important not lines

 

[DejanSRB]

Scotland is very rich country when you compering Scotland population with theirs GDP (both nominal and per capita) the results are outstanding.

5 million Scots produce 250 billion GDP with 44 k per capita.It is ourstanding.

But "British questions" is not my bussines,British secret agency was main masterminds behind all Balkan mess in last 120 years.

 

[UKBengali]

Scotland is very rich country when you compering Scotland population with theirs GDP (both nominal and per capita) the results are outstanding.

5 million Scots produce 250 billion GDP with 44 k per capita.It is ourstanding.

But "British questions" is not my bussines,British secret agency was main masterminds behind all Balkan mess in last 120 years.

I think an independent Scotland will become even more prosperous in the future.

They are very smart people.

 

[ChineseTiger1986]

I think an independent Scotland will become even more prosperous in the future.

They are very smart people.

But a disaster for England, no more nuke, no more aircraft carrier.

The P5 will turn into the P4.

 

[Audio]

But "British questions" is not my bussines,British secret agency was main masterminds behind all Balkan mess in last 120 years.

That's rich coming from a Serb.
Serbs were "the masterminds" of the dissolution of quite a powerful country by demanding more and more centralization, tax revenues and so forth...so, if you'll be honest with yourself, your room for moral accusations is quite limited.

Србија до Токија and all that.

 

[Zohaib Sheikh]

answer me h

Well indian , you should know independence and freedom is everyone's right and I am supporting their independent so do wales and Ireland as well ..

 

[mike2000]

@mike2000 , can you elaborate for us ?

Well, A good point about the referendum being different from an ordinary election. The article is correct in saying that the only result that will be correct is the one on the 18th. There is a good chance that those who have decided to vote yes in the past month may vote otherwise on the day but IMHO, the fact that for the first time that a poll has shown more people in support of independence, albeit by only a small percentage, is a psychological boost as in peoples minds,it shows that independence could occur and therefore validates it as a serious proposition. This will solidify the support gained from recently decided Yes voters and could gain momentum and persuade undecideds and possibly No voters over to the yes camp. This momentum of course will only occur with continued saturation by the MSM who are shell-shocked at the shocking increase of support of independence and doing all they can to bring back Scotland from the 'knife-edge' of a decision in which they see as disastrous for Scots.

However, overall, i think it will be a bad thing for U.K if Scotland vote Yes. Since it will greatly reduce our influence in the world. Similarly, The Trident nuclear missile system is based at Coulport weapons depot and naval base of Faslane in the Firth of Clyde area in Scotland, and our leaders have said there is no short term viable alternative for now, and by estimates it will take around 10 years to fully relocate them to an alternative base in U.K, and will cost us almost £9 billion. Plus most of our Oil, Companies and Industries comes from scotland, meanin the government will also lose a huge tax base. So yes it will be a big blow to the U.K if scotland was to vote yes. Im hoping they wont, fingers crossed.

 

[Aepsilons]

Well, A good point about the referendum being different from an ordinary election. The article is correct in saying that the only result that will be correct is the one on the 18th. There is a good chance that those who have decided to vote yes in the past month may vote otherwise on the day but IMHO, the fact that for the first time that a poll has shown more people in support of independence, albeit by only a small percentage, is a psychological boost as in peoples minds,it shows that independence could occur and therefore validates it as a serious proposition. This will solidify the support gained from recently decided Yes voters and could gain momentum and persuade undecideds and possibly No voters over to the yes camp. This momentum of course will only occur with continued saturation by the MSM who are shell-shocked at the shocking increase of support of independence and doing all they can to bring back Scotland from the 'knife-edge' of a decision in which they see as disastrous for Scots.

However, overall, i think it will be a bad thing for U.K if Scotland vote Yes. Since it will greatly reduce our influence in the world. Similarly, The Trident nuclear missile system is based at Coulport weapons depot and naval base of Faslane in the Firth of Clyde area in Scotland, and our leaders have said there is no short term viable alternative for now, and by estimates it will take around 10 years to fully relocate them to an alternative base in U.K, and will cost us almost £9 billion. Plus most of our Oil, Companies and Industries comes from scotland, meanin the government will also lose a huge tax base. So yes it will be a big blow to the U.K if scotland was to vote yes. Im hoping they wont, fingers crossed.

Well said @mike2000 , I am in the support of strong and cohesive United Kingdom. Thank You for your explanation.

God Save the Queen, God Bless and Protect the British Isles !

Rule Brittania !

 

[gtrr]

I think if you are a country, why would you not want to govern your own affairs, I've yet to hear a single positive argument put forward for Scotland staying in the union. If Scotland stays it gets nothing... tax powers but not oil revenues.

 

[Aepsilons]

Rule Brittania !