An Independent Scotland

[catherinefan]

tgirl rates aside, Sterling at 3 year high vs Euro. Decoupling would be lunacy.
Scots come to their senses in privacy of ballot booth and will vote NO to independence. IMO

Sterling appreciated about 5% against the Euro over that three year period.
Hardly a strong performance considering the crisis Euroland has experienced.

Besides, have you forgotten how much it lost against European currencies in the past?
Let's for instance look at Pound Sterling vs Dutch Guilder:

1970 GBP 1.00 = NLG 8.80
Today GBP 1.00 = EUR1.268553 = NLG 2.80

Clearly, it did not do so well long term.

[vex]

A yes vote would be an utter disaster ill tell you why...higher taxes higher costs uncertainty over currency pensions.depleted armed forces vulnerability etc,relaxed immigration.oil won't last forever.for me it's a no Brainer remain in the union it must be a no vote.

[Ben]

It's up to the people of Scotland to decide their own fate.
Personally, I've mixed emotions.
Do I have a stake in it? Sorta -- my background being British. I'm actually a quarter Scot. My maternal grandmother is Scottish.
But my parents are English.
I mean, I lean toward a united Britain. But, again, let actual democracy take its course.

[flabbybody]

Early returns confirming what HA experts have reported for weeks:
Scotland will remain in the UK.
At the end of the day humans behave rationally
God bless her majesty

[Ben]

Early returns confirming what HA experts have reported for weeks:
Scotland will remain in the UK.
At the end of the day humans behave rationally
God bless her majesty

Again, up to the Scottish people to decide.
And, too, will the Welsh want their own vote next? What happens with respect to Northern Ireland? These are questions worth considering. (I'm not really a fan of the nation-state anyway.)
I can understand either side: be it wanting to remain in Britain or, well, wanting one's own country and hopefully determine one's own policies.
Devolution can be risky... no question about that.

[Ecstatic]

Best solution imho (I'm clan Anderson on my mom's side) is greater autonomy while remaining part of the UK. But it's an ever-evolving situation, since the first king of Dal Riata sat on the Stone of Scone, or millennia earlier when the standing stones were first erected on Lewis and Orkney.

[flabbybody]

"what I did tonight was for Queen and country"

[jimbo34]

Scotland voted No for independence. Good sense prevailed in the end.

[Muzz84]

I was a yes voter so I am disappointed this morning. I just hope now that the UK government holds true on at least SOME of its promises. Regardless of the result, the biggest winner was Scotland being so engaged in it's future and in politics. It was a once in a generation thing that I felt truly excited being part of voting yesterday.

Onwards and upwards together!

[Prospero]

Democracy was a great winner. The voting figures, across the board, were truly remarkable.

The rest of the UK must now work hard to hold the Government to its promise to undertake genuine reforms across the board - and not allow it to reform things in a way that benefits the Tories in England to the detriment of everyone else. Once the focus of this historic vote has moved on,they must not be allowed to let this slip down the agenda and allow dirty tricks to become the normal order of play. Already some of the sleazier right-wing members of the Conservative party are hinting that Cameron promised too much in a bid to shore up the union.