I always expected the 'Yes' vote to gain in confidence and numbers as the summer went by. It did. I thought the margin would get pretty narrow, thanks to the less than impressive (often patronising and complacent) efforts of the 'Better Together' campaign from Westminster. What I didn't expect, and what I bet many other English folk genuinely aren't prepared for, was for the break-up of our nation to become a real, actual possibility. I won't deny that it's making me emotional.
I was listening last night on Channel 4 to the reactions of some English people in a charming English village somewhere. Some were sanguine: "good luck to the Scots if that's what they want." Others were sad and, yes, very apprehensive. Like me.
I've listened with respect to the 'Yes' argument. People have argued for Scottish independence with great eloquence and passion. But this hard-hitting article about the economics spells out my deepest fears:
http://flipchartfairytales.wordpress.co ... r-country/
"This isn’t about England versus Scotland." No, it is not. The 'Yes' campaign has not been run on narrowly nationalistic anti-English lines. No doubt there is that element in some quarters, but it has not been allowed to dominate the campaign. We currently have a right-wing, very arrogant government in Westminster, under which both England and Scotland suffer.
I hear the Scots on the democracy thing. I do. Hardly any of them voted for this lot. But independence is such a massive thing, and there is still so much uncertainty about what it might involve."It’s about how we will cope with the next few decades. A stable and united country has a far better chance of managing the challenge."
"If Scotland does become an independent country, the problems we face won’t go away. They will just be split between two states instead of being shared by one. And they’ll be that bit worse for being left to fester for another few years. Scotland might have enjoyed a post-independence party but we’ll all have the hangover afterwards. When you consider what we are up against, splitting up our state is sheer folly and self-indulgence. In the face of the most severe economic challenges we have faced for generations, we are about to break up one of the world’s most stable and prosperous states. It’s absolute madness!"
And a text in this morning's London Metro also sums up this worst-case scenario:
‘SNP - Scottish National Party - policy was always modelled on Ireland – independent and in Europe using the euro. That turned sour, so the model became Norway. But Scotland can’t afford its own currency, so the SNP has assumed it will be able to use the pound. Salmond’s attempt at clarity is “an independent country, possibly in Europe, maybe able to use another country’s currency.”’
An American friend of mine has just come back from visiting Scotland. The impression she got was that many Scots were still wondering about voting 'Yes', not because they were anti-independence, but because there are still too many unanswered questions.
The British government is panicking, and that's not an exaggeration. (David Cameron could go down in history as that guy who lost Scotland.
) Our press is also awash with emotional pleas to Scotland. It's funny, but it's not. If the vote is Yes, this will have massive ramifications for our constitution, on the economy and on the national psyche. Whatever happens, the Scots will always retain their strong sense of identity. But I do not want the Union to break up. I want the Saltire to remain part of the Union Flag.
. Your sympathy and interest are much appreciated!
