Scottish Referendum: Down To The Wire
The polls are said to be too close to call, although they lean towards NO. Referenda are notoriously difficult to poll, as each is individual and cannot be built on previous experience. We can recall that most people thought Quebec would vote to separate from Canada and it stayed. We also have the example of Australia, which almost everyone thought would vote to become a republic, and it decided to stay with the Queen. So we cannot guess where we will be on Friday; waving goodbye or welcoming home. Scotland alone must now decide.
The important thing is to be prepared for all eventualities. It appears we are prepared for none. We have meandered into uncharted territory without any clear idea of where we are supposed to be. The political class has badly failed the people and especially in England, where we will awake on Friday to a new era either as the best part of a diminished nation or the centre of some new federal structure. None of the details have yet been worked out and many are the conflicting interests to be resolved.
What should have happened is that there ought have been a set of proposals agreed in advance for both the separation of Scotland and devo-max, including currency issues and which Westminster MPs will be allowed to vote for what. The Scots would then have been offered a clear set of prepared alternatives. Instead neither YES nor NO can answer any specific questions from voters in debates and other election exchanges on key issues which are critical. It is all wishful thinking and emotion. There are no level heads with hard facts. So on Friday we can be sure of one thing. There will be argument and confusion as issues are tackled. Certain is a period of uncertainty. Lest us hope it is no worse than that.
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Why did the Prime Minister allow such a thing to go on to begin with? To allow Scotland to become a separate country diminishes Great Britain and contributes to the Balkanization of Europe.
You are right Linda. Cameron was outplayed by Salmond. There should have been two questions: devo-max or independence. Devo max would have won hands down. Proper preparation would have created a more federalised UK with a stronger, not weaker voice. But no planning was done because Cameron misjudged and thought No would win easily.We have also to remember that Scotland, unlike England, was never conquered either by the Romans or the Normans and has always had a different legal system, education system and culture to England. This is why Scots have been so energised by this campaign. The British Establishment's misjudgement of the whole thing is shambolic and it will be lucky if it survives the night by the skin of its teeth. There is a real risk that America's most loyal and staunch ally will be badly broken.
