Scottish Independence watch

[leedswolf]

Seeing Nicola Sturgeon on TV is a stark reminder why it's such a disappointment that the 'Yes' vote failed.

 

[Alan]

None taken. The differences between region - and even within a region - are pretty stark though. Just work your way from West to East across the North of England - Liverpool, Manchester, Sheffield, Leeds, Hull, Newcastle. You'll find great social, socioeconomic and cultural differences all the way across. We're a funny old nation. We should embrace that, we aren't a homogenised population - but the political system needs to reflect that too.

Remember our population density is very different to most Western nations. Everything's magnified within a smaller space here.

I just hope I can experience it firsthand someday soon.

 

[croxdenabbey]

It's NO. But things will never be the same, again.

 

[leedswolf]

Official result - No.

 

[darlowolf64]

Fife now vote No to confirm it is a NO win
No vote now exceeds 50% of the votes needed with two results to come

 

[croxdenabbey]

Scotland has decided to remain in the Union. However, devolution will happen there, massively. What about England? With a general election due next year, the Tories and the far right parties are beginning to position themselves as the latent 'champions of Englishness'. This must not be allowed to happen. It is not about nationalism, it's about inclusion. Our London-centred government must now devolve real power to the regions, not just Scotland. Labour must surely make plans to spread the 'power base' and give our very diverse regions real power, reflecting their populations, local economies and needs. Many of us resent London and the South-East as the 'parasite' that consumes much of what should be given to the North and the Midlands. Bristol, Birmingham, Manchester and Newcastle should be given their own legislative powers and our next government should truly represent ALL English people and not just Londoners. Scotland will be given more powers, just as surely will (to a lesser extent) Cardiff. If you, too, are concerned about this, please share my post and spread the word to Westminster, Whitehall and everywhere north of those hallowed halls of power. Today, British politics was changed, forever. Let's make it a change for the better. We are better together.

 

[ROVERT47]

Mel Gibson 0 - 1 Gordon Brown.

 

[darlowolf64]

Alex Salmond, William Wallace, Robert the Bruce, Andy Murray...Your boys took one hell of a beating! (Well you didn't win at least)

 

[Paddingtonwolf]

That is a significant bloody nose for salmond and sturgeon but there will be more devolution. The west Lothian issue must now be immediately addressed too.

Not that many people come of out this campaign looking good (bar the electorate for the superlative turnout). Surprisingly the one who looked the best was clearly Gordon brown.

Couldn't stay up to hear the UKIP prick. Redwood was enough. Hopefully this has damaged the UKIPs and Redwoods of this world.

 

[So Long Architect]

That is a significant bloody nose for salmond and sturgeon but there will be more devolution. The west Lothian issue must now be immediately addressed too.

Not that many people come of out this campaign looking good (bar the electorate for the superlative turnout). Surprisingly the one who looked the best was clearly Gordon brown.

Couldn't stay up to hear the UKIP prick. Redwood was enough. Hopefully this has damaged the UKIPs and Redwoods of this world.

The question of English government will need to be addressed and listening to Call Me Dave this morning, it sounds like they're going to push it along the same timetable as greater devolution for Scotland. The worry, and I fear the inevitability, is that they will rush it to get some headline changes before the next election and it will be a massive clusterfuck. You don't change a centuries old system of governance in a few months and in response to a referendum you came close to losing. Change is absolutely necessary, but so is thought.

 

[visage]

Theres also deeper issues. Lets say the next election goes as the polls suggest, with a small majority for Labour, albeit reliant on Scottish MPs - you'd have the nightmare scenario where the Tories would have a majority on 'England issues', while Labour had the UK majority. Meaning the government would be able to pass UK-wide laws, but unable to pass 'England' laws, while the opposition would have a majoirty in the latter but as opposition they'd have little opportunity to table bills in parliament that they can use that majority to pass.

Its a recipe for disaster.

 

[Sniffer]

Theres also deeper issues. Lets say the next election goes as the polls suggest, with a small majority for Labour, albeit reliant on Scottish MPs - you'd have the nightmare scenario where the Tories would have a majority on 'England issues', while Labour had the UK majority. Meaning the government would be able to pass UK-wide laws, but unable to pass 'England' laws, while the opposition would have a majoirty in the latter but as opposition they'd have little opportunity to table bills in parliament that they can use that majority to pass.

Its a recipe for disaster.

In such a scenario the MP's from Wales, Northern Ireland and the few Lib Dems that remain could be holding a knife to the throat of the government. Non smoked filled rooms where deals are struck could well be the order of the day. Cleggy might still have a bit of power after all.

A labour majority in Parliament would need 326 seats.
A labour majority in Parliament without Scottish seats included would be 297 seats. Labour held 41 seats in 2010 in Scotland. Labour would need approx 10-20 votes on key non Scottish issues to have a majority.

 

[vicarious wolf]

Struggling to sleep tonight so still following it. Some UKIP gimp embarrassing himself with some real racist drivel about 'a haggis in every oven', encouraging immigration 'from the colonies' (WTF?! Is this 1951?) and a smattering of outright lies about both Yes and No campaigns. Why grant these people the oxygen of publicity? An absolute stain on UK politics.

Was he a fat guy? Double chin?

Huw Edwards seemed to be under orders to give him as much time as possible, apparently because Ricky Ross had called him a racist and he 'deserved the right of reply'. Crazy. If you can't call a Ukip spokesman a racist, things have come to a pretty pass.

 

[GLASGOWOLF]

Hey from a delighted Glasgowwolf, absolutely knackered, was still awake at 04:30 up at 6 for work.
Delighted facts over lies, we remain part of the UK.

Lycan don't know what your views are, but the vile thugs in the Yes camp, are refusing to accept it.

 

[Deutsch Wolf]

Was he a fat guy? Double chin?

Huw Edwards seemed to be under orders to give him as much time as possible, apparently because Ricky Ross had called him a racist and he 'deserved the right of reply'. Crazy. If you can't call a Ukip spokesman a racist, things have come to a pretty pass.

Yeah, that was him. Spent the last part telling Jim Murphy what Jim Murphy's intentions on running for Holyrood were. Jim Murphy seemed unaware of these plans.

Horrible racist prick.

 

[Lord Knows]

Does the Scottish government have a say where Trident is kept, can they ask for it to be moved elsewhere?

 

[Paddingtonwolf]

Only independence would have got faslane moved.

 

[pavlosmacwolf]

But now the English view has to be seriously taken into account.

Now, Scottish MP's can't have more powers and still vote about issues outside Scotland, that's cake and at it.
Maybe now the voice of England, outside London, will finally be heard. If it's not, then watch the shit hit the fan in a far more serious way.

Things have been said in this election about the 'English' that won't be forgotten quickly, and frankly in my humbl opinion,Salmond should resign as he hung his hat totally on independence, and is now clearly incapable of making a decision about anything that isn't simply sour Grapes, and whining.

"Scotland has voted against independence for now?" fuck off, it's over, you lost, fall on your sword man and do the world a favour.

 

[Paddingtonwolf]

Salmond resigns!

 

[Sniffer]

Salmond to stand down as first minister.