Question for UK DUers. Regarding Scottish independence referendum in Sept.

[arely staircase]

What is the conventional wisdom over there on how it will go? I have looked at the available polling results and it looks tilted against independence but with a large enough undecided sampling to indicate it could go either way.

[Laelth]

1. k&r for exposure. I'd like to know as well.

I assume the referendum will fail, but I haven't been following the issue.

-Laelth

[arely staircase]

2. thanks

Like I said the polling seems to indicate a "no".

[Laelth]

3. No problem. Bonus kick. n/t

-Laelth

[muriel_volestrangler]

4. I'm in the south of England, and it's not a big topic here

but I would say conventional wisdom is with the polls - that 'no' is ahead, though there are many undecided (who, of course, may well not vote at all). Here's a good summary page of polls:

http://ukpollingreport.co.uk/scottish-independence-referendum

The 'don't know' number seems to vary a lot, but that is, I think, because TNS BRMB asks "there will be a referendum on Scottish Independence on the 18th of September 2014. How do you intend to vote in response to the question: Should Scotland be an independent country?", while YouGov asks "If there was a referendum tomorrow on Scotland’s future and this was the question, how would you vote? Do you agree that Scotland should be an independent country?", and IPSOS " Do you agree that Scotland should be an independent country? (Based on those certain to vote in a referendum)".

So I think TNS BRMB makes many people think "plenty of time to go - I might change my mind, I'll say "don't know", while most others are more likely to get the current feelings. Apart from TNS BRMB, most recent polls have had a majority for 'no'.

I don't think any of the UK regular DUers live in Scotland at the moment (but I may have forgotten someone), so I don't know if you'll get a good 'on the ground' report.

[loli phabay]

5. i am not sure if it would be a good idea so i am on the fence about it

i can see some pluses but at the moment i see more negatives in full independance.

[arely staircase]

6. are you a scottish citizen?

Not that you can't have an opinion otherwise.

[loli phabay]

7. i have multiple nationalities, so i do get a vote in the referendum

pretty much i am not impressed by the politicians in the national party, think having a devolved parliament is the best of both worlds.

[arely staircase]

8. well , regardless

if you live there or get to spend time there you are lucky. Edinburgh is absolutely one of my favorite places and Inverness a favorite too. As an American of Scottish decent I won't voice an opinion in the matter only to wish my old world cousins the best either way.

[loli phabay]

9. not a fan of edinburgh, like inversneckie, but prefer the west coast and the islands.

[arely staircase]

10. hell yeah love the islands and oban etc.

fucking awesome place, Scotland.

[loli phabay]

11. its nice, but not my fave place in the world. well apart from mayby moidart.

[muriel_volestrangler]

12. Are you living in Scotland at the moment? I think you'd need to be

unless you're on government/military service:

It is expected that the list of those who are eligible to vote will be the same as the list of those who can vote in Scottish Parliament and local authority elections, with the addition of 16 and 17 year olds who have not previously been able to vote.

This means that the following groups of people will be entitled to register to vote:

British citizens resident in Scotland.
Qualifying Commonwealth citizens resident in Scotland. This means Commonwealth citizens who either have leave to remain in the UK or do not require such leave, and are resident in Scotland.
Citizens of the Republic of Ireland and other EU countries resident in Scotland.
Members of the House of Lords resident in Scotland.
Service/Crown personnel serving in the UK or overseas in the Armed Forces or with Her Majesty’s Government who are registered to vote in Scotland.

http://www.yesscotland.net/answers/who-can-vote-referendum-scottish-independence

Notice that a vote in the UK Parliament elections isn't enough:

British citizens living overseas can register and vote in European and British parliamentary elections but not elections to the Scottish Parliament or local elections.

http://www.adviceguide.org.uk/scotland/law_s/law_civil_rights_s/law_government_and_voting_s/voting_procedures.htm