I think it is a good time for Scotland and I despair of the fools who resort to violence and idiotic abuse of people who disagree with their political wishes. I will vote Yes because I want change in Scotland, and I think that we, as a resourceful and creative nation will thrive if we go it alone. Over the last sixty eight years we have been governed by the Conservatives for thirty four years and Labour for thirty four years and that pattern will never change for Scotland, unless we vote for independence. Then we can truly choose the government that we want and not one that is forced upon us. People call the modern system democratic, but is it? Change is necessary but the elitist ruling millionaires don’t want it for very obvious reasons, but basically because their power over us will have gone. That is what the politics game is about, nothing more and nothing less.
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Comment on A horrible time to be in Scotland by Brian Gunn
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Comment on A horrible time to be in Scotland by Nicola McIntosh
Brilliant Simon, I totally agree with you. Scotland can be prosperous, we need to change.
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Comment on A horrible time to be in Scotland by McGehee
Being many generations removed from my Scottish ancestry I have only a sentimental opinion on the question and no stake in the consequences, so will hold my peace on that.
I do think that a close No outcome ought to spur Westminster to look again at reforms with respect to the so-called West Lothian question. Recent events make it obvious that opinion is divided and not just in Scotland; if not independence, further devolution is almost certainly in the cards.
Assuming, of course, that Westminster is open to recognizing the depth and breadth of the crisis.
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Comment on A horrible time to be in Scotland by Simon Varwell
Brian, Nicola, McGehee – thank you all for your comments. Agree entirely. Though McGehee, I do fear that while there may be debate post-No there is every chance that the establishment at Westminster will dig its heels in and concede only the barest minimum towards the massive constitutional, financial, social and political overhaul that is required. I don’t think they’re either open to recognising the depth and breadth of the problem, as you put it, nor minded to solve it.
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Comment on Some huge news by Ryan
Congratulations Simon! Hard to believe it’s been more than 10 years since you were introducing me to haggis and good scotch in Inverness!
Funny that I should read this on a morning where I’m struggling to find an easy way to share some photos and videos of my boys with their grandparents in Canada. The transition hasn’t been bump free, as I was a compulsive over-sharer, but also is a bit easier than I expected. The hardest part, as I had already publicly shared 3 years of photos, was going back and tracking them all down and unpublishing them (as well as the awkwardness of asking friends/family to delete them if they had reshared them in any way). But with that behind me, it’s nice knowing I’m giving the boys a clean slate to make a mess of themselves 
Congratz again. Hopefully one day we’ll be on the same continent again and we can catch up in person.
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Comment on A horrible time to be in Scotland by Kathleen McKelvie
What a load of rubbish. That’s not what I’m thinking at all. It’s a horrible time to be in Scotland because people like you are saying we’re scared for not wanting our country split up. Why is it so hard to understand that we enjoy being united with England, Wales and Northern Ireland? I won’t see any response til after the referendum…
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Comment on Foreigners 2 by Simon Varwell
Well put, Iain. I’ve heard it too once or twice, again from English people, who have said they’d leave. And it’s mystifying – why would a country need or depend on increased competences in order to discriminate? Which reserved power is the tipping point for racism – broadcasting? Defence? Welfare? Taxation? And if Scotland wants to be racist towards the English, surely we have more than enough ability at the moment through education, health, culture etc – not to mention human nature.
While there is a minuscule under-current of anti-English racism in Scotland, not to mention anti-Polish, Irish and Pakistani (to name just three more), it’s all both negligible in size and also irrelevant to the referendum debate because it will (and does) happen whatever the political settlement.
I think, as you suggest, such people wrongly conflate criticism of the (English-dominated) Westminster system, corporate elite, landed class and so on, with the English people. Which is manifestly absurd.
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Comment on Carcassonne and the fireworks by Willy peel
It is NOT Bastille day. It is Fete nationale. And for 700,000 people watch the fireworks would require 45 acres for the people and 400 acres for car parks. Carcassonne has neither available. Maybe 70,000 but never 700,000.
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Comment on A horrible time to be in Scotland by Simon Varwell
Thanks for your thoughts Kathleen. Maybe not all No voters are terrified, then, so I should amend my original premise slightly. But all No voters do seem to be reacting to the debate with extraordinary negativity. For instance, you say: “It’s a horrible time to be in Scotland because people like you are saying we’re scared for not wanting our country split up.” Really? Me mistakenly calling you scared is horrible? Rather than just wrong or the basis for a conversation? And there’s truly nothing positive about the debate? Not a single good idea that’s emerged or positive vision? None whatsoever?
That’s terrifically sad.
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Comment on It’s not about you… but it could be by Gus Binnie
Fantastic article, Simon. I was out for a pint or two last night and it didn’t take long for the conversation to turn to the referendum.
One guy, a Yorkshireman, advised me that he wasn’t voting. His inclination was to vote “no”, the reason being that he was a small businessman who relied quite heavily on RAF Lossiemouth for much of his trade, and that he feared for the future of the base after a “yes” vote. He added that he didn’t want to vote “no” because he didn’t want that to negate support for independence. Some may say that’s an admirable thing to do, but it saddened me a little – firstly because the scaremongering of the “no” campaign has hit home, and secondly because if he genuinely did want to vote “no” he should do so.
He then went on to say that independence would be a wake-up call for England. Yorkshire, Lancashire and the North-east would want more powers. Bring it on. I don’t know how local assemblies would work in England; would it be better to have regional bodies, or devolve to county level? I’m probably more in favour of the latter, and in the event of a “yes” vote in Scotland, I’d like to see the large unitary authorities broken up into much smaller parts so that the people can feel some kind of connection with those who are elected to govern them.
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Comment on It’s not about you… but it could be by Simon Varwell
Thanks Gus, good thoughts. If your Yorkshireman relies on RAF Lossiemouth, one has to ask how that’s been going over the years… military cuts have already been happening under the Union flag.
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Comment on Carcassonne and the fireworks by Simon Varwell
In English, it very much IS Bastille Day. This blog is in English. And I never said 700,000 watched the fireworks.
Geez, if this is the tone you take when commenting on strangers’ blogs, I wonder what you’re like when meeting people for the first time.
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Comment on We said No by Alister Milne
Hi Simon, I haven’t seen you since university. Do you remember me? You gave me sound reasons for independence and I remained skeptical. I’ve come around to your way of thinking now, at least in regard to Scottish independence.
In truth, I’m doing fine without Scottish independence, but people should consider what is best for their community too. I’m disappointed that in a democratic event, many Scottish people voted against a local representative government where all of Scotland’s future votes would make a difference. So yesterday, I threw my toys out the pram, furious that the mainstream media won the referendum, then I felt disappointed that in a democratic event, many Scottish people voted ‘No’ to the opportunity to improve their lives, and today I’ve been slowly adjusting to life without hope again…
Then I stumbled upon this web-site and your post above has cheered me up a little. I’m glad to see that you’re doing well, that you’re still upbeat after the referendum and am impressed to see that you’ve written several books. I’ll have to read them some day, but I think I’ll watch Firefox first. I love the quote you put on this web-site about being on the ‘right side’. There’s something inspiring about that. The last time we discussed the issue, a 45% Yes vote would have seemed inconceivable. So I hope that Devo-Max is another stepping stone in the right direction and the 45% Yes vote is a growing movement which might yet turn out to win the day.
Keep well Simon!
Alister.
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Comment on We said No by Sydney Bangham
Great post, but no mention of trying to keep alive the enthusiasm that has been kindled in 1.6 million Scottish hearts. There has to be some sort of way that you, and people like you, who have developed a large list of followers can organise and galvanise that enthusiasm towards making it all happen again soon. When the Westminster promises come to nothing as they will, the people of Scotland may be ready in larger numbers to speak out again. I don’t know how to do it, and at 71 I’m a bit too old anyway; but there has to be hope kept alive, somewhere, somehow!
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Comment on We said No by Siobhan
Very good post. I am interested to see what happens if there is another referendum in my lifetime (which I think there could be) as I know many disappointed No voters. I know some who are happy too but I know a fair few who are quite disillusioned now. I think it is interesting that the SNP are now the third largest party in the UK by membership, and that the Green party has doubled in size. Interesting times indeed.
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