I do wonder how much this all cost?

I think the experience and afterthought of a similar process that Canada went through with Quebec will be true of Scotland in that both sides, winners and losers, agreed that they never wanted to go through such a devisive process again.

Great turnout from the Scots

So pleased they have chosen to stay with the union and I truly hope their voice brings change to the whole of the UK. Westminster needs to understand that the UK is much bigger than the south east.

With regard turnout. Maybe if we had a system where EVERY vote counts, like here, then perhaps general election turnout would be higher. If you live in a perceived SAFE seat and wish to vote against then you would assume your vote doesn't count. and that is what is wrong, it encourages apathy and a disconnect.

What has been funny during the whole Scottish Independence debate has been the silence from the other nationalist parties such as UKIP. Such parties spout nationalism as their main theme. Their policies seek to take the UK away from Europe and offer a self determination agenda free of fiddling outsiders.

So they should, if they are truly politically ethical, have been hugely supportive of the Scottish people seeking their own self determination agenda. But they've said nothing. It's the first time for months that Mr Farage hasn't been anywhere near a journalist, let alone a front page!

To me that says a lot about their ethics and true agenda. It also says a lot about the lack of any journalistic insight. Surely they should have been pressuring Mr Farage for deeper comment and expose any cracks in his self determination ethics?

Every vote counts only works well in a two horse race. Maybe a "none of the above" voting box would help.

Barmby, you're mistaken there. There has been plenty said by Nigel Farage on the matter however because of the media blackout imposed by the likes of the BBC, you're unlikely to see any coverage. Not exactly unbiased reporting is it?

Example

Er, two points: first, Farage's visit to campaign was covered in some detail by the BBC (e.g. on both the Today and PM programmes on Radio 4) and indeed he was given a chance to air his rantings views in a live interview this morning on Radio 4.

Secondly, the blackouts were a requirement upon all broadcasters on major polling days; they are forbidden to make political comment on the day of the poll and also to report any political campaigning. This is generally considered to aid the fairness of the case and is controlled either by Ofcom, or based on the Ofcom rules, the BBC Trust.

Might be different on your planet, of course.

Big thumbs up from me for keeping the Union. Thank you Scotland!

Big relief Scotland have voted to stay.
The path to more extensive devolution seems to be irreversible and I hope that pans out to be a positive for all.

Right when is it England's turn to vote for independence!
That would be interesting

Not to happy if its true!!? that Scottish residents will have more spent on them per head than the rest of the UK!

I think Scotland had a lucky escape in all honesty with too many unknowns from Salmond and Sturgeon! always thought something Fishy was going on!

Well, that's one down, one to go. But she's been positioning for his job the last two years...

All in all I think this has been a good thing. Youngsters have become engaged and encouraged to have their say in a country which will soon be theirs to run and influence.

It's made Westminster awake from its slumber.

I realise many people don't like Salmond but he has stuck to this task and carried it almost single-handedly, a courageous and far-reaching toil. He's made us all re-think priorities when more-of-the-same was going to dull people's senses.

He's also stuck to his oft-spoken affirmation that he would go after polling day.

I'm just trying to see this in context.

The Queen was in Glasgow when she formally met Alex Salmond, Scotland's
First Minister.

EIIR: "How nice to see you Mr. Salmond."

AS: "Nice to see you Your Majesty. Now, what are we going to call
Scotland when we win Independence?

EIIR: "Oh dear, one hasn't considered that yet!"

AS: "How about calling it a 'Kingdom' and then I will be King?

EIIR: "Oh Dear! One doesn't think that is appropriate."

AS: "How about 'Empire' then I can be an Emperor?

EIIR: "Dear! In one's dreams!"

AS: "All right! So how about calling it a 'Principality' and then I
can be a Prince?"

EIIR: "Quite Near, Mr. Salmond! -- I think we will let it remain a
'country' and you can carry on as you are."

Aye, all very droll & the rest of it, we can all rest easy on our wee thoughts.

Just to set the record strait, salmon & co "if" there was a yes vote wouldn't automatically be voted in head of Scotland.

As I said earlier politics in the Uk will change from now on with either yes or no vote.

Who is going to pay for it?

Probably all of us taxpayers as usual Jim.

People that didn't know you would probably expect better.

I'm glad that this thread didn't exactly become a farce simply that this topic is not your usual run of the mill everyday occurrence. Although there has been the odd naive comment from some, there has been mostly a positive result from both sides.

I've actually travelled all over the Uk & although far from perfect, you just have to look around the world & see that we are not so bad after all. I stay in a lovely part of Scotland & consider myself very lucky indeed. Postcode lottery plays a big part of life that's for sure. If I was a younger man perhaps my views would be different towards independance.

The safe card has been chosen.

I reckon you got it about right Jim. The Celt blood that runs through my veins makes me very sympathetic for the yes voters,but as you say i think the safe card is the right choice.

But you don't know me sparkyman, we have met just once several years ago. Subsequently you chose to believe a lie told you by a former forum user.

Sorry if you are a fan of Mr Salmond, I believe that he is a one issue politician who has had the decency to resign once his ideas were rejected by the majority of the Scottish people.

Actually I thought Sparkyman's post was uncalled for. No idea what has gone on here, but to me the comment was personal. That sort of stuff is best left off the Forum. Fair enough heated debate and name calling, but this is different. I have met Pete, and that doesn't reflect at all on a joke I've heard several times.

Well I know I've gone past a line into the uncalled-for on previous occasions and later look back and regret it.

I expect this happens to most folk.

I have to smile though at the instigator of this thread, goaded as he was while he sits amongst orange groves in sunny Spain, watching the parrying of us poor sods in the still-United Kingdom

I feel I must say that I'm with Simon of the fact that I don't agree with everything according to Alex Salmon, but I certainly recognise he's put an awful lot of time, effort & other into his campaign. Met him at a fund raising dinner some years back at Peterhead, what I will say, he has a way with words & comes across as a very clever individual indeed. Obviously politically motivated to his cause like any other politician would be, but there was something about him.

So easy to sit back from afar & criticise things that you don't agree with, forums are like that. I've said in the past always healthy to have a bit of banter & I applaud the odd clever levity comment. Unfortunately there are times when some on here try just that bit too hard & come across at the very best smug or at worst vindictive & rude.

Enjoyed most of this thread though, as I've said, some comments have made me smile & think.

There are some political figures I certainly don't agree with, but I certainly don't "hate" them. Such a forceful opinion I think especially so when you have never met the person & only judge your feelings by emotion.

Slightly off track but I was really sickened by comments that I read in a local paper that someone had posted vile comments towards Andy Murray on his facebook, he should have died at Dunblane because of his thoughts towards independance. A far cry from here I know, but how absurd & pathetic is that.

So who would this remark be associated to Simon ? Maybe me ? petep ? roadking ? ...or have I took it out of context, if so I do apoligise.

[quote=H_R]Right when is it England's turn to vote for
independence!
That would be interesting

Aye, I wonder how that discussion would have panned out on here? Interesting indeed. At a guess, far more serious input & lot more posts. Then again I'm only guessing.

So he's going to be a Count, then?

Prominent people on both sides received hate mail and messages, death threats, etc, throughout the campaign. It's not acceptable, but nor is it surprising (or should it be taken too seriously). As we have seen on this thread, it is easy for a comment to be taken out of context or for a preconception to colour a judgement.
Most of the way through this thread there has been sensible comment; I don't recognise a great deal of antipathy on national grounds, just the usual personal ones.
If there were to be a referendum on English independence, I suspect it would be a great deal more ill-natured.

Another unsurprising development was the tediously inflammatory "celebration" by certain elements in Glasgow. Probably the same ones that invited the Orangemen over to campaign in an highly unintimidating way.
Now, if we got a vote to nominate a group to leave the UK...

It would appear that Mr Salmon is still not being let off the hook yet.

Simon, I think the Catalan independence situation will be vastly more aggressive than events in Scotland.
I think the Catalans would be much less interested if they realised that Barca would be forced to play in the Catalan League with no Champions' League...

Another thread Jim, now that their referendum has been given the thumbs-up?

This question is also close to home as our lad's lovely g/f is Catalan and as far as I can see pro-indy.

Well tbh on this occasion I thought the Salmond joke might have been better placed in a different part of the forum.

But as the OP has already mentioned there were so many positive contributuins to this thread I would like it to remain that way.

In spite of the appalling taunt to Andy Murray and some senseless voter harassment in some places including yesterday in George Square Glasgow it would seem the campaign has been allowed to run in a pretty democratic and (for humans) civilised way. It seems to have been observed as such by other parts of the world and particularly by countries with similar independence interests.

Now what I want to see is how Westminster is going to carry out their pledges.