Ever-increasing likely?  Not really.

Polls consistently point to a "No" vote for independence by some margin (YouGov currently 36% YES, 49% NO, with the rest undecided).

Personally, as an Englishman, I wish I had a vote.  I would vote to give them independence.  The rest of the UK would be better off (financially) without them and quite frankly, I would very much like to consider the deep fried mars-bar a foreign food, and not a home grown staple.

And what happens to Scottish nobility, e.g. the Duke of Argyll?

Ever-increasing likely?  Not really.

 

Polls consistently point to a "No" vote for independence by some margin (YouGov currently 36% YES, 49% NO, with the rest undecided).

Polling is a minefield - and I didn't say "ever" increasing Wiki has put together a very interesting analysis of polling results and methodologies from 2011 through to 2014 - worth looking at. So, yes, you can make a case either way. But "passionate" is on the side of the "yes" campaign and so is "apathy" - "no" voters being less fired-up and therefore less inclined to put down that tasty deep fried Mars bar (in reality, more likely their 3rd or 4th ) and waddle off down to the Voting Station...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scottish_independence_referendum,_2014#Opinion_polling

And what happens to Scottish nobility, e.g. the Duke of Argyll?

There are 90 hereditary peers in the House of Lords and the DoA isn't one of them but there are other Scottish peers in the House of Lords like the Earl of Caithness and Baron Aberdare and so on - I guess they would lose their seats.  In terms of their titles they would not be affected. An independent Scotland would also retain the Queen as Head of State, just like the 16 Commonwealth countries that retain the Queen as their Head of State - like Australia

As an American, it sounds like secession to me and we fought a Civil War over that which cost us way too much.  

Since I don't get a vote, my opinion isn't worth much but would either England or Scotland be better off separated?  It sort of looks like the rich in Scotland might be better off, but would the working class or poor?  

Scotland's population is only 5.3 million.  It covers about 30,000 square miles with not the best vacation climate or building sites.  It's got a wild beauty but it is a solitary one.  

It looks like it would be a third world country economically.   Is that what the people really want?

As an American, it sounds like secession to me and we fought a Civil War over that which cost us way too much.  

 

Since I don't get a vote, my opinion isn't worth much but would either England or Scotland be better off separated?  It sort of looks like the rich in Scotland might be better off, but would the working class or poor?  

 

Scotland's population is only 5.3 million.  It covers about 30,000 square miles with not the best vacation climate or building sites.  It's got a wild beauty but it is a solitary one.  

 

It looks like it would be a third world country economically.   Is that what the people really want?

I don't disagree with what you say, Daddy, but it is their democratic right to pursue a political process. Logically, if you believe in democracy and the right to self determination, well, we may not want or like the outcome but the Scottish people - in fact any people - have the right to decide how they want to be governed. Right?

Do

I don't disagree with what you say, Daddy, but it is their democratic right to pursue a political process. Logically, if you believe in democracy and the right to self determination, well, we may not want or like the outcome but the Scottish people - in fact any people - have the right to decide how they want to be governed. Right?

Do they want it or are they being sold it with nationalistic calls to half remembered glory by slick adverts from moneyed interests who are only thinking of themselves?  Mass marketing works and not always for the best. 

Bless my kilt. My great grandmother and all were from Scotland. I have Scottish ancestry on both sides of my tree. Wonder what they would have thought of this brouhaha and whether it will be for good or evil at the end?

Being native of the Appalachian Mountains, settled by Scottish and Irish men and women, I feel a kinship with the people of the British Isles, particularly Scotland.

I offer caution to my brothers and sisters of Scotland. Following majority rule isn't always the wisest course to take; but whatever the outcome, I wish them well.

Do they want it or are they being sold it with nationalistic calls to half remembered glory by slick adverts from moneyed interests who are only thinking of themselves?  Mass marketing works and not always for the best. 

It's more than that. Yes, slick adverts are effective, and moneyed interest do have influence, and those in power will always use these to try and get their own way.

But those, by themselves, are not sufficient. Scotland and the Scottish have always identified as separate and distinct - just look at Scottish ex-pats and Burns Night! And  it is that sense of distinctiveness coupled with some historical resentment against England - we are each others oldest enemies! - that is the real driver.

Wonder what they would have thought of this brouhaha and whether it will be for good or evil at the end?

Only time will tell, Wayne

News update. Today all three main UK Parliament political parties said an Independent Scotland would not be able to share the pound - "If Scotland walks away from the UK, it walks away from the pound". Kinda scuppers Salmond's financial plans. The risk is alienating Scottish voters but more likely there will be real worries for "yes" voters about snipping the ties and floating off with an untested currency at the mercy of global markets...

Further news update: the EU / EC President Juan Jose Barroso has scuppered the second key assumption of Salmond's plan for Scottish Independence saying Scotland would not automatically remain an EU member but would have to apply as a new country. This would require consent of all EU member countries. Including Spain. Spain has never been a big fan of the UK - the Spanish Armada ended in tears, then there's Gibraltar... - and because it has refused an independence referendum for Catalonia will not want to give Scotland an easy ride.

But none of this really matters for Scottish voters when Braveheart is being shown every day or so to keep their blood up...

But none of this really matters for Scottish voters when Braveheart is being shown every day or so to keep their blood up... 

The Scots will always be a separate people because the want to be.   With their limited self-government that they have now, politically, it will continue to be so.  Complete separation from the UK appears to be a boon for the wealthy, but the average Scot is thrifty for a reason and it's not because they are so affluent.  

The Scots will always be a separate people because the want to be.   With their limited self-government that they have now, politically, it will continue to be so.  Complete separation from the UK appears to be a boon for the wealthy, but the average Scot is thrifty for a reason and it's not because they are so affluent.  

I agree with you Daddy. But nationalism / separation / secession, call it what you will, stirs up powerful emotions.  Salmond is a very skillful politician, he can turn a phrase and make black seem white That's why he's trying so hard to get a TV head-to-head with Cameron because then he'll have a perfect target: an Eton educated English public school toff v. the canny wee cuddly Scottish guy

Business is at last starting to get off the fence. Today global insurance and financial services giant Standard Life announced plans to relocate from Scotland to England if Scotland votes to leave the United Kingdom. Standard and Poor's expects other major financial services companies and banks would also leave because Scotland's economy would simply be too vulnerable if there was a repeat of the 2008 banking crisis without the financial support of London.

So that's the pound gone, EU membership and terms up in the air, and now the flight of big business. All of these have been assumed by Samond to be in place in his White Paper and in his bland assurances to Scottish voters. What could possibly go wrong next, Alex?