Comments:Scotland says 'No' in independence referendum

Back to article

This page is for commentary on the news. If you wish to point out a problem in the article (e.g. factual error, etc), please use its regular collaboration page instead. Comments on this page do not need to adhere to the Neutral Point of View policy. Please remain on topic and avoid offensive or inflammatory comments where possible. Try thought-provoking, insightful, or controversial. Civil discussion and polite sparring make our comments pages a fun and friendly place. Please think of this when posting.

Use the "Start a new discussion" button just below to start a new discussion. If the button isn't there, wait a few seconds and click this link: Refresh.

Well, the people have spoken. This is real democracy.

45% for yes, with an 85% turnout. Achieved in the face of all the UK's mainstream press neglecting to tell the Electoral Commission they were on the side of No?

Within 12 hours of the results, the UK Prime Minister was 'disassociating' himself from the promises — made illegally, under purdah — it isn't that the people have spoken, it's that they've woken up. Real Democracy is when you get off your arse and vote, when you educate yourself about the issues, and don't treat filling in a ballot paper like a game of 'pin the tail on the donkey'.

so who's idea was it for Scotland to have a referendum?

It was, and always has been, a policy of the SNP. Their efforts when the minority devolved government in Scotland were rejected; when they were the majority after the last elections to Holyrood, they demanded a referendum. The power to call one isn't in the parcel of powers handed back from Westminster, so the Edinburgh Agreement was Westminster permitting them to hold the vote.

The SNP wanted 'Devo Max' (which is the new name for what was once called 'Home Rule') on the ballot. David Cameron flat-out refused, and with only around 30% support for independence at that time it probably looked good to say "all or nothing". In the last weeks, when opinion polls started suggesting they really could lose Scotland, they — with the collusion of the mainstream media — tried to redefine a No vote as Devo Max. That was reneged on in less than 12 hours from the final results being announced.