# Scotland's referendum on Independence 18 Sept 2014 **URL:** \ **Category:** Politics & Elections\ **Created:** [January 21, 2014, 12:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scotlands-referendum-on-independence-18-sept-2014/679356 "2014-01-21T12:11:13Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 36
**Author:** ![XT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/xt/32/456_2.png) [@XT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/XT)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2014, 5:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scotlands-referendum-on-independence-18-sept-2014/679356/701 "2014-09-16T17:20:05Z")
Probably already addressed, but to me what will be interesting is how, if Scotland does vote yes, how this will play out in Spain and Italy and other regions of Europe. There are separatist movements scattered all through Europe after all, and if Scotland can break, peacefully, from the UK and form it’s own government then others will be encouraged to redouble their efforts to do the same thing. (And, of course, there are the Kurds in the ME…though I doubt there will be a referendum vote on that one 😛 And what of Taiwan?) ---
**Author:** ![Slow\_Moving\_Vehicle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/slow_moving_vehicle/32/291_2.png) [@Slow\_Moving\_Vehicle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Slow_Moving_Vehicle)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2014, 5:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scotlands-referendum-on-independence-18-sept-2014/679356/702 "2014-09-16T17:37:08Z")
> [@Measure\_for\_Measure](#): > > Total Hijack!: Hellestal. We gotta have another US monetary policy discussion in GD sometime. The Fed is expected to raise rates in another year or so and I want to lay down some markers. You two must be an absolute blast at cocktail parties… ---
**Author:** ![Boyo\_Jim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/87869e/32.png) [@Boyo\_Jim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boyo_Jim)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2014, 5:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scotlands-referendum-on-independence-18-sept-2014/679356/703 "2014-09-16T17:58:15Z")
> [@XT](#): > > Probably already addressed, but to me what will be interesting is how, if Scotland does vote yes, how this will play out in Spain and Italy and other regions of Europe. There are separatist movements scattered all through Europe after all, and if Scotland can break, peacefully, from the UK and form it’s own government then others will be encouraged to redouble their efforts to do the same thing. > > (And, of course, there are the Kurds in the ME…though I doubt there will be a referendum vote on that one 😛 And what of Taiwan?) Have the Basques blown anything up recently? ---
**Author:** ![Baron\_Greenback](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/baron_greenback/32/48_2.png) [@Baron\_Greenback](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baron_Greenback)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2014, 6:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scotlands-referendum-on-independence-18-sept-2014/679356/704 "2014-09-16T18:07:34Z")
Any other Scottish types on here who have rather hit the wall with the campaign? I just long for it to be over now. ---
**Author:** ![Quartz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quartz/32/267_2.png) [@Quartz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quartz)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2014, 6:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scotlands-referendum-on-independence-18-sept-2014/679356/705 "2014-09-16T18:52:13Z")
> [@Baron\_Greenback](#): > > Any other Scottish types on here who have rather hit the wall with the campaign? I just long for it to be over now. Preach it, brother. ---
**Author:** ![PaulParkhead](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/7ea924/32.png) [@PaulParkhead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PaulParkhead)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2014, 6:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scotlands-referendum-on-independence-18-sept-2014/679356/706 "2014-09-16T18:58:42Z")
> [@Baron\_Greenback](#): > > Any other Scottish types on here who have rather hit the wall with the campaign? I just long for it to be over now. Oh yes, yes, yes. It’s going to be a long two days. ---
**Author:** ![Baron\_Greenback](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/baron_greenback/32/48_2.png) [@Baron\_Greenback](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baron_Greenback)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2014, 9:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scotlands-referendum-on-independence-18-sept-2014/679356/707 "2014-09-16T21:13:07Z")
Three polls published tonight - the “excluding don’t knows” version is NO 52% YES 48% in all three of them. ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2014, 9:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scotlands-referendum-on-independence-18-sept-2014/679356/708 "2014-09-16T21:39:45Z")
[CNN.com](http://CNN.com) on the Obama Adminstration’s cautious response to the Scottish vote: [http://www.cnn.com/2014/09/16/politics/us-scotland-vote/index.html?hpt=hp\_t2](http://www.cnn.com/2014/09/16/politics/us-scotland-vote/index.html?hpt=hp_t2) ---
**Author:** ![Fuzzy\_wuzzy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/a8b319/32.png) [@Fuzzy\_wuzzy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fuzzy_wuzzy)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2014, 12:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scotlands-referendum-on-independence-18-sept-2014/679356/709 "2014-09-17T00:36:34Z")
> [@Baron\_Greenback](#): > > Any other Scottish types on here who have rather hit the wall with the campaign? I just long for it to be over now. Yes. I’ll be glad when its all over. Passions have been running too high at times. Thankfully they dont seem to have boilled over, but they were simmering there for a bit. As an undecided im trying to console myself in that I’ll be almost equally happy or unhappy whatever the result. If the No vote wins I can quietly laugh at the annoying Nats; if Yes wins i’ll quietly celebrate the day libertarianism made a small but substantial stride forward. Edit: if either campaign happens to be viewing this thread I will happily accept a bribe for my vote. ---
**Author:** ![XT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/xt/32/456_2.png) [@XT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/XT)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2014, 12:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scotlands-referendum-on-independence-18-sept-2014/679356/710 "2014-09-17T00:41:02Z")
> [@Boyo\_Jim](#): > > Have the Basques blown anything up recently? I believe it’s been 3-4 years at least since the last major attack. I seem to recall the ETA saying something along the lines that they would try more peaceful/political means to affect change, but I might be mis-remembering. I bet they are keenly watching what’s happening in Scotland, though…as I bet a number of other separatist groups are keeping an eye on the proceedings. ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2014, 2:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scotlands-referendum-on-independence-18-sept-2014/679356/711 "2014-09-17T02:11:22Z")
Looks like three years, and holding: [Eta (disambiguation) - Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ETA#2011_permanent_ceasefire_and_cessation_of_armed_activity) ---
**Author:** ![Spectre\_of\_Pithecanthropus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spectre_of_pithecanthropus/32/12343_2.png) [@Spectre\_of\_Pithecanthropus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spectre_of_Pithecanthropus)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2014, 5:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scotlands-referendum-on-independence-18-sept-2014/679356/712 "2014-09-17T05:10:49Z")
> [@XT](#): > > Probably already addressed, but to me what will be interesting is how, if Scotland does vote yes, how this will play out in Spain and Italy and other regions of Europe. There are separatist movements scattered all through Europe after all, and if Scotland can break, peacefully, from the UK and form it’s own government then others will be encouraged to redouble their efforts to do the same thing. And by the same logic, some fear that some existing EU members may “blackball” Scotland’s application for membership, because to do otherwise might be seen as legitimizing their own separatist factions. Of course, only those who want Scotland to be in the EU need to worry about that; I have no idea whether most Scots care much about it one way or another. ---
**Author:** ![Spectre\_of\_Pithecanthropus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spectre_of_pithecanthropus/32/12343_2.png) [@Spectre\_of\_Pithecanthropus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spectre_of_Pithecanthropus)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2014, 5:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scotlands-referendum-on-independence-18-sept-2014/679356/713 "2014-09-17T05:22:44Z")
I read a little while ago that while attempting to speak to voters in an Edinburgh shopping district, Ed Milliband was shouted down by hecklers branding him as a “fucking liar” and “serial murderer”. While “fucking liar” is probably to be expected, why are they calling him a serial murderer? ---
**Author:** ![Busy\_Scissors](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/d78d45/32.png) [@Busy\_Scissors](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Busy_Scissors)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2014, 1:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scotlands-referendum-on-independence-18-sept-2014/679356/714 "2014-09-17T13:30:18Z")
Is there an outside chance of Cameron resigning if it’s a yes? The auld Tory backbenchers would be apoplectic - maybe a wee vote of no confidence? In the old days it would be an auto-resignation - the leader of the conservative and unionist party presiding over the break-up of the union? Standards for resignation have deteriorated, though, so maybe it’s a pipe dream. ---
**Author:** ![PaulParkhead](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/7ea924/32.png) [@PaulParkhead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PaulParkhead)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2014, 1:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scotlands-referendum-on-independence-18-sept-2014/679356/715 "2014-09-17T13:44:46Z")
> [@Busy\_Scissors](#): > > Is there an outside chance of Cameron resigning if it’s a yes? The auld Tory backbenchers would be apoplectic - maybe a wee vote of no confidence? There is indeed a chance, although not a certainty, that Cameron would resign if the vote was for yes. ---
**Author:** ![Quartz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quartz/32/267_2.png) [@Quartz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quartz)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2014, 1:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scotlands-referendum-on-independence-18-sept-2014/679356/716 "2014-09-17T13:53:08Z")
> [@Busy\_Scissors](#): > > Is there an outside chance of Cameron resigning if it’s a yes? The auld Tory backbenchers would be apoplectic - maybe a wee vote of no confidence? He most certainly should - both his position and his seat in the Commons, but I don’t believe he has the integrity. This does bring in an interesting proposition: if Cameron were to resign his seat, Boris Johnson could leap in, get elected, and become the leader of the Tories. Right now, he’s the one man who can save the Tories from oblivion. ---
**Author:** ![tonyfop](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/85f322/32.png) [@tonyfop](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tonyfop)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2014, 2:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scotlands-referendum-on-independence-18-sept-2014/679356/717 "2014-09-17T14:18:27Z")
What time do the polls close tomorrow, and when should we (in the States) expect to start seeing returns? ---
**Author:** ![PaulParkhead](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/7ea924/32.png) [@PaulParkhead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PaulParkhead)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2014, 2:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scotlands-referendum-on-independence-18-sept-2014/679356/718 "2014-09-17T14:25:43Z")
> [@tonyfop](#): > > What time do the polls close tomorrow, and when should we (in the States) expect to start seeing returns? The polls close at 5pm EST (10pm local in Scotland) with the results expected several hours later. ---
**Author:** ![williambaskerville](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/f14d63/32.png) [@williambaskerville](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/williambaskerville)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2014, 2:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scotlands-referendum-on-independence-18-sept-2014/679356/719 "2014-09-17T14:27:44Z")
> [@tonyfop](#): > > What time do the polls close tomorrow, and when should we (in the States) expect to start seeing returns? I saw estimates that the national result should be available around 8-9AM Scottish time on Friday morning. ---
**Author:** ![BigAppleBucky](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bigapplebucky/32/178_2.png) [@BigAppleBucky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigAppleBucky)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2014, 2:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scotlands-referendum-on-independence-18-sept-2014/679356/720 "2014-09-17T14:31:10Z")
> [@Quartz](#): > > He most certainly should - both his position and his seat in the Commons, but I don’t believe he has the integrity. > > This does bring in an interesting proposition: if Cameron were to resign his seat, Boris Johnson could leap in, get elected, and become the leader of the Tories. Right now, he’s the one man who can save the Tories from oblivion. If I’ve been reading this thread correctly, wouldn’t the Tory majority greatly increase upon the separation? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scotlands-referendum-on-independence-18-sept-2014/679356.md?page=35) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scotlands-referendum-on-independence-18-sept-2014/679356.md?page=37)