# 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:** 43
**Author:** ![Bozuit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/edb3f5/32.png) [@Bozuit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bozuit)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2014, 3:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scotlands-referendum-on-independence-18-sept-2014/679356/841 "2014-09-19T15:36:29Z")
Let the devolution begin, I suppose. I’ll certainly welcome it. I hope we can find a way to satisfy enough people on both sides of the vote. > [@Capt.Ridley\_s\_Shooting\_Party](#): > > …and he’s gone. [Salmond has resigned](http://www.theguardian.com/politics/scottish-independence-blog/live/2014/sep/19/scotland-votes-no-in-independence-referendum-live-coverage#block-541be022e4b0067bb440c1b7). Wow, I’m surprised by that. I think he still has his uses, so it’s a shame. Might Gordon Brown have become an option for First Minister in the last couple of weeks or so? ---
**Author:** ![ElvisL1ves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2014, 3:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scotlands-referendum-on-independence-18-sept-2014/679356/842 "2014-09-19T15:37:35Z")
“I, for one, welcome our same old overlords.” ---
**Author:** ![notquitekarpov](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/71c47a/32.png) [@notquitekarpov](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/notquitekarpov)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2014, 11:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scotlands-referendum-on-independence-18-sept-2014/679356/843 "2014-09-19T23:28:55Z")
Amazed at the news that Salmond is bailing out. With the timetable to draft a new Scotland Bill with devolved powers so tight, and having signed the Edinburgh Agreement commitment to work together with the Westminster Parliament for the common good of Scotland and the UK following any referendum result, what does he do? He makes himself a lame duck leader unable to commit his party to anything before November when they elect a new leader. Whilst he has been apparently dignified, that is not what I call statesmanship in a time that calls for unity. He is surely not intending to keep his hands clean for a third tilt at the leadership at some future point is he? Surely even this fat snug bloater doesn’t have the balls to pull that trick off does he? I do not like the man but an really unimpressed that he has left us in the lerch. Meanwhile - in answer to an earlier question - I do not expect another referendum on independence within the next 20 odd years. The only thing that could trigger one might be something like the UK voting to leave the EU and Scotland’s vote being no. Events, dear boy, events… ---
**Author:** ![Captain\_Amazing](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/6de8d8/32.png) [@Captain\_Amazing](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Captain_Amazing)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2014, 11:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scotlands-referendum-on-independence-18-sept-2014/679356/844 "2014-09-19T23:53:28Z")
I don’t know that it’s that surprising about Salmond. He stuck a lot of his reputation on a yes vote. ---
**Author:** ![Acsenray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/acsenray/32/4519_2.png) [@Acsenray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acsenray)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2014, 12:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scotlands-referendum-on-independence-18-sept-2014/679356/845 "2014-09-20T00:17:30Z")
I’m not surprised about Salmond. At this point, I don’t know what the purpose of the Scottish National Party will be, going forward. Up until now, they have based their entire existence on arguing for independence. Well, that’s over. What now? Are they going to become an ordinary left party? Are they going to lose the bulk of their support to Labor and the Liberals? How are they going to sustain their support? ---
**Author:** ![Captain\_Amazing](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/6de8d8/32.png) [@Captain\_Amazing](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Captain_Amazing)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2014, 1:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scotlands-referendum-on-independence-18-sept-2014/679356/846 "2014-09-20T01:17:57Z")
The no vote is the best thing that could happen to the party in regards to longevity. This way, they get to continue arguing for independence. If the vote had gone yes, they would have gotten what they wanted and lost their purpose. ---
**Author:** ![An\_Gadai](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/d6d6ee/32.png) [@An\_Gadai](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/An_Gadai)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2014, 1:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scotlands-referendum-on-independence-18-sept-2014/679356/847 "2014-09-20T01:34:00Z")
Some nastiness tonight in Glasgow. ---
**Author:** ![GIGObuster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gigobuster/32/421_2.png) [@GIGObuster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GIGObuster)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2014, 1:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scotlands-referendum-on-independence-18-sept-2014/679356/848 "2014-09-20T01:45:06Z")
> [@ElvisL1ves](#): > > “I, for one, welcome our same old overlords.” I would had said: “I, for one, welcome our same _ **merrie** olde_ overlords.” 🙂 As for the “Could you pass a Scottish citizenship test?” linked earlier by **Pjen** in the GD thread: [http://i100.independent.co.uk/article/could-you-pass-a-scottish-citizenship-test--lJfaVbmL4l](http://i100.independent.co.uk/article/could-you-pass-a-scottish-citizenship-test--lJfaVbmL4l) > [@](#): > > Congratulations, you passed! > 16/20 Although I have to admit that I became aware of who the largest number of foreign born residents were elsewhere in the SDMB. But really? A football rivalry is a question a Scottish citizenship test would do if it was real? I only got it right in an educated guess for knowing a lot of footie. ---
**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 20, 2014, 2:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scotlands-referendum-on-independence-18-sept-2014/679356/849 "2014-09-20T02:08:51Z")
_The Onion_ on a major crisis averted by the Scottish vote to preserve the UK: [Ugly Custody Battle Over Ian McKellen Narrowly Avoided](http://www.theonion.com/articles/ugly-custody-battle-over-ian-mckellen-narrowly-avo,36968/) ---
**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 20, 2014, 2:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scotlands-referendum-on-independence-18-sept-2014/679356/850 "2014-09-20T02:09:13Z")
> [@GIGObuster](#): > > I would had said: > > “I, for one, welcome our same _ **merrie** olde_ overlords.” 🙂 > > As for the “Could you pass a Scottish citizenship test?” linked earlier by **Pjen** in the GD thread: > > [http://i100.independent.co.uk/article/could-you-pass-a-scottish-citizenship-test--lJfaVbmL4l](http://i100.independent.co.uk/article/could-you-pass-a-scottish-citizenship-test--lJfaVbmL4l) > Although I have to admit that I became aware of who the largest number of foreign born residents were elsewhere in the SDMB. > > **But really? A football rivalry is a question a Scottish citizenship test would do if it was real?** > > I only got it right in an educated guess for knowing a lot of footie. I don’t know if such a test would ask about Scottish culture. I mean culture in it’s loosest sense. You’d be surprised at how much the game dominates life in Scotland. It’s similar to asking an applicant for US citizenship about the World Series. ---
**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 20, 2014, 2:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scotlands-referendum-on-independence-18-sept-2014/679356/851 "2014-09-20T02:39:24Z")
And HM has risen to the occasion: [http://www.newyorker.com/humor/borowitz-report/queen-accepts-scotlands-apology](http://www.newyorker.com/humor/borowitz-report/queen-accepts-scotlands-apology) ---
**Author:** ![PaulParkhead](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/7ea924/32.png) [@PaulParkhead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PaulParkhead)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2014, 3:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scotlands-referendum-on-independence-18-sept-2014/679356/852 "2014-09-20T03:20:40Z")
> [@An\_Gadai](#): > > Some nastiness tonight in Glasgow. Aye, and let’s be clear, it was unionists fighting with other unionists. This was not some conflict between the two sides, it was a bunch of violent loons spoiling for a fight. Some folks on the winning side decided to start a riot. ---
**Author:** ![An\_Gadai](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/d6d6ee/32.png) [@An\_Gadai](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/An_Gadai)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2014, 11:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scotlands-referendum-on-independence-18-sept-2014/679356/853 "2014-09-20T11:00:46Z")
> [@PaulParkhead](#): > > Aye, and let’s be clear, it was unionists fighting with other unionists. This was not some conflict between the two sides, it was a bunch of violent loons spoiling for a fight. > > Some folks on the winning side decided to start a riot. Heard all sorts of stuff, seig heiling, a fatal stabbing etc. It is kinda hard to separate fact from fiction. It is sad that people chose to reaffirm the union so divisively. ---
**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 20, 2014, 1:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scotlands-referendum-on-independence-18-sept-2014/679356/854 "2014-09-20T13:55:11Z")
> [@An\_Gadai](#): > > Heard all sorts of stuff, seig heiling, a fatal stabbing etc. It is kinda hard to separate fact from fiction. It is sad that people chose to reaffirm the union so divisively. The fatal stabbing as far as I can tell is not true. There were six arrests. The same “shocking” pics are being posted everywhere. Im guessing this is being exaggerated for poltical effect. Who’d have ever thought that possible? ---
**Author:** ![Bozuit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/edb3f5/32.png) [@Bozuit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bozuit)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2014, 3:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scotlands-referendum-on-independence-18-sept-2014/679356/855 "2014-09-20T15:16:29Z")
> [@PaulParkhead](#): > > Aye, and let’s be clear, it was unionists fighting with other unionists. This was not some conflict between the two sides, it was a bunch of violent loons spoiling for a fight. That’s not what anything I’ve read said. ---
**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 20, 2014, 3:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scotlands-referendum-on-independence-18-sept-2014/679356/856 "2014-09-20T15:20:30Z")
> [@Bozuit](#): > > That’s not what anything I’ve read said. It was a bunch of SDL/extreme Rangers/Orange Order loonspuds up for a ruck. Welcome to Glasgow. ---
**Author:** ![ElvisL1ves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2014, 1:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scotlands-referendum-on-independence-18-sept-2014/679356/857 "2014-09-22T13:44:02Z")
[US story](http://www.boston.com/news/world/europe/2014/09/20/scottish-teens-proud-passionate-about-voting/iTZbpbby35OTLRWa3yRgsI/story.html) about Scottish teens not voting very differently from their parents. > [@](#): > > ‘‘I kind of felt like I was the only boy in Scotland voting No,’’ said Iain McLeod, 17. ‘‘Then the next day at school, there was this big ‘coming out.’ Suddenly it seemed like everybody was standing up to say they’d voted No too. > > ‘‘But you could tell the real believers for independence just by eyeballing them,’’ he added. ‘‘You didn’t have to ask. They looked shattered.’’ > > Former British Prime Minister Gordon Brown, a Scot whose impassioned defense of the anti-independence side dominated the final days, said Saturday that he found the sight of students lining up to vote at dawn among the most inspiring moments of the campaign. > > On the day of the vote, Brown said, his eldest son John asked him a question. > > ‘‘Why is it the case that some of the pupils in this school can have the vote and I’m 10 years old and I’m denied it?’’ Brown told supporters to a gale of laughter. > [@](#): > > Data on how Scotland voted Thursday is incomplete because of the lack of rigorous exit polling, but partial surveys by pollsters in the hours before and after the vote concluded that the biggest backers of independence were people aged 25 to 34, not the youngest group of 16- to 24-year-olds. Only one survey specifically asked voters aged 16 and 17, finding 14 of them; 10 had voted Yes, four No. ---
**Author:** ![ElvisL1ves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2014, 3:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scotlands-referendum-on-independence-18-sept-2014/679356/858 "2014-09-22T15:25:02Z")
Oh, one more thing: I keep seeing the vote was No 55%, Yes 45%, but nowhere do I see the vote for Not Proven. 😉 ---
**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 22, 2014, 5:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scotlands-referendum-on-independence-18-sept-2014/679356/859 "2014-09-22T17:06:21Z")
> [@ElvisL1ves](#): > > [US story](http://www.boston.com/news/world/europe/2014/09/20/scottish-teens-proud-passionate-about-voting/iTZbpbby35OTLRWa3yRgsI/story.html) about Scottish teens not voting very differently from their parents. For me the interesting bit of that article was them feeling able to come out and say that they voted No. There was a significant amount of bullying and intimidation by the Yes camp. ---
**Author:** ![Pjen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Pjen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pjen)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2014, 5:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scotlands-referendum-on-independence-18-sept-2014/679356/860 "2014-10-31T17:40:20Z")
On the contention that “The referendum settles it for a generation”, [http://news.stv.tv/scotland-decides/297867-stv-poll-third-of-scots-support-second-referendum-within-ten-years/](http://news.stv.tv/scotland-decides/297867-stv-poll-third-of-scots-support-second-referendum-within-ten-years/) Two thirds of Scots would support another independence referendum within the next ten years, according to a STV News poll. Of those asked by Ipsos Mori, 66% said they would support the vote taking place in the next decade regardless of circumstances. Just 31% would oppose a referendum in the next ten years. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scotlands-referendum-on-independence-18-sept-2014/679356.md?page=42) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scotlands-referendum-on-independence-18-sept-2014/679356.md?page=44)