Prince Harry: Keep Invictus Games in UK
Harry hints that he supports the No campaign, saying that he wants the 2015 Invictus Games to be held in the UK – in Glasgow.
I personally would love to keep it in the UK.
Cox: ‘Yes’
Cox writes for CNN that he supports a Yes vote in the referendum, although he is not allowed to vote:
This vote is not about nationalism, it is about social democracy, and for myself and the people of Scotland, social democracy is at the root of our desire for Independence. An independent state of Scotland will reinforce its own laws, embrace new forms of political thinking, new creeds, new political parties, and new positions of argument. Independence will allow a new system to be put in place, and in Scotland’s case, and for the people of Scotland, a system of social equality where the yoke of the old feudal ideologies are finally dismantled.
Butler: ‘Yes’
Butler says the differences between Scotland and the UK outweigh the similarities:
I can’t see why Scotland shouldn’t be independent — it has different attitudes, people and outlook.
Connolly: ‘No’
Connolly says that remaining united is more important than politics:
It’s time for people to get together, not split apart. The more people stay together, the happier they’ll be . . . I don’t (have) great belief in the Union of England and Scotland. But I have a great belief in the union of the human race.
Spiteri: ‘No’
Spiteri says she supports the No campaign:
As far as I’m concerned, I’m British. And, yeah, I’m Scottish but I feel I’m part of the UK.
Ferguson: ‘Failed state’
Ferguson says the Yes movement disregards history:
Scottish history offers proof that even the most failed state can be fixed – by uniting with a richer and more tranquil neighbour.
He says the Union of the Parliaments in 1707 turned it into the Silicon Valley of the 18th century with Glasgow University as Stanford, by sublimating internal divisions in the UK. But leaving the union could reopen old divisions, and some new ones:
The reality is that, as an independent country, Scotland would be far more likely to revert to its pre-1707 bad habits than to morph magically into “Scandland”. For this debate on independence has opened some old rifts and created some new ones, too.
Manson: ‘No’
Manson says she supports staying in the United Kingdom:
I believe that this relationship is worth working at and that the many benefits of living under one roof so to speak far outweigh those of living apart.
Cumming: ‘Yes’
Cumming writes in the New York Times that No advocates in Westminster are seeking to keep Scotland’s economic assets as part of the union, while domestic supporters of the union are pessimistic:
Distilled, the essence of the choice is this: The Yes campaign is about hope for a fairer, more caring and prosperous society; the No campaign says only: better the devil you know. I am an optimist.
Smith: ‘Yes’
Smith says an independent Scotland would provide a better future:
I’m a grandmother of a 16-week-old baby. My vote for Yes is because I want to see a better place for her.
Barrowman: ‘No’
0 0 reuben reuben2014-09-23 12:31:082014-09-23 12:31:08Barrowman: ‘No’Boyle: ‘No’
Boyle says she will not be voting Yes. She describes herself:
A proud Scot but not a nationalist.
Connery: ‘Yes’
Connery says independence is the best way to secure Scotland’s future:
The Yes campaign has centred on a positive vision for Scotland. It is rooted in inclusiveness, equality and that core democratic value that the people of Scotland are the best guardians of their own future.
Tennant: ‘No’
Tennant says that independence would mean looking inward:
Why do we want to become smaller? Surely we want to expand and look outward?
Mike Myers: ‘No’
Myers says Scotland should stay in the union:
I love Scotland. I hope they remain part of Britain – and if they don’t, I still love them.
Sun supports neither side
The Murdoch-owned Scottish Sun adopts
a neutral stance in its editorial ahead of the independence referendum. It says the referendum is ‘Your Voice, Your Choice, Your Vote,’ and leads with pictures of Darling and Salmond both smiling. Headline:
Britain’s Got Talent v. The Ecks Factor
Leader: We believe in the people of Scotland to make the right decision. Whichever you choose, the Scottish Sun will continue to fight for you and our Scottish principles.
Polls show ‘No’ ahead 52%-48%
0 CommentsA series of polls show the No campaign leading by four points shortly ahead of the referendum. The Opinium/Daily Telegraph, Survation/Daily Mail and ICM/Scotsman surveys all show voters favor remaining in the union by 52% to 48%. They each show a small movement to Yes in recent days, but place the No side ahead within the margin of error.
Brown: SNP lying about NHS independence
Brown says the SNP are ‘perpetrating a lie’ about protecting the NHS with independence, as Holyrood already has the power to keep the health service public:
Document ‘shows Scottish NHS cuts’
A document is said to show that the Scottish NHS is facing cuts of $733 million between 2015 and 2017. It says that the health service faces cuts of 210 million pounds in 2015-16 and 224 million pounds in 2016-17 as annual cost savings rise from 2% to 3.5%:
Significant revenue pressures will be realised in 2015-16 and 2016-17, primarily due to the combined effect of a reducing increase in baseline funding, the project impact of the pension revaluation [contribution increases] and loss of national insurance rebate and the cost of funding of the drugs budget – largely due to changes to access to rare and ultra rare drugs, availability of new treatments or extending use to new indications.
The savings come in addition to cuts during the current fiscal year:
The total savings required will be £400million-to-£450million in addition to savings required in 2014-15. Limited time is available to plan for 2015-16 and 2016-17 and immediate action is required to collectively assess the options that will ensure that NHS Scotland can operate within its overall allocation and that we can continue to provide quality, safe and effective care to our constituent populations.
Ipsos MORI poll: ‘No’ 51%-49%
0 CommentsAn Ipsos MORI poll for STV shows support for the No campaign at 51% ahead of the referendum, and support for Yes at 49%. When the 5% of undecided voters are included the margins shift to 49% No, down five point since August, and 47% Yes, up seven points. Ipsos MORI:
Turnout for the referendum is now likely to be extremely high, with 95% telling us that they are certain to vote (up by 14 points from August). While this figure is higher, as expected, with those aged 55 and over (97%) it is very high across all age groups, including those aged 16-24, where 90% say they are certain to vote.
‘No-one can stop Scotland using the pound’
Salmond says that an independent Scotland would continue to use the pound:
All this stuff about being able to be vetoed from using the pound actually isn’t true. No one can stop us from using (it) … It’s sensible – England is our biggest trading partner, and Scotland is England’s second-biggest trading partner after the U.S. There will be a common sense agreement for a common currency.