What's this? This is an unbiased just-the-facts news timeline ('newsline') about 2014 Scottish independence referendum, created by Newslines contributors. Become a contributor
154 postsAn ICM poll of over 1,000 voters for the Scotsman places the No campaign ahead of Yes by 52%-48%. When the 14% of undecided voters are included, support for No is 45% compared with 41% for Yes. A directly comparable ICM poll compiled in August put support for Yes at 45% per cent when undecideds were taken out – indicating that the Yes campaign has gained three points. In the previous poll, support for No was at 55%.
The Auld Acquaintance Cairn monument at Gretna village on the banks of the Sark river on the border of Scotland and England, built of stones collected from around the United Kingdom, reaches nine feet in height and 350 tons in weight. Among the stones collected by English and Scottish pilgrims to the site are some that have been carried across rough seas from remote Scottish isles or mailed from remote areas of England. A fragment of the Berlin Wall and a bit of rubble from a Glasgow house bombed during the Blitz have been added. Christine Bethune, a 63-year-old library assistant from Edinburgh adds a red and green stone:
It’s difficult to explain how moving it is. If you broke it, it wouldn’t be the same stone.
She explains that the monument is designed to emphasize the social ties between Scotland and Enland, aside from debates over policies and economics:
I’m English, but I’ve lived in Edinburgh for 40 years. I was married to a Scot. My children were raised in Scotland — one is voting ‘yes,’ the other would vote ‘no,’ but is living in London. I understand Scottish pride. I’ve lived with it for a long time. But I think it’s possible to be proud of your country without dividing the union.
Bragg writes in The Guardian that the Yes movement has its roots in civic nationalism and that a vote for independence could create a fairer Scotland:
Support for Scottish self-determination might not fit neatly into any leftwing pigeon hole, but it does chime with an older progressive tradition that runs deep in English history – a dogged determination to hold the over-mighty to account. If, during the constitutional settlement that will follow the referendum, we in England can rediscover our Roundhead tradition, we might yet counter our historic weakness for ethnic nationalism with an outpouring of civic engagement that creates a fairer society for all.
Taiwanese animators Tomo News create a video summarizing the referendum campaigns:
Graveheart: Cameron worried as Scottish independence vote goes down to the wire.
Men wearing the logos of Clydesdale Bank and Royal Bank of Scotland saw down their office buildings and start carrying them across the border. Darling is shown in his office with his feet on the table when a lawn bowl representing the Commonwealth Games knocks him from his chair. Cameron, Miliband and Clegg airdrop Daily Record newspapers from a Hercules cargo plane. It ends with a Braveheart reference:
We here in Taiwan understand that no amount of false promises are enough to sate people’s desire for Freedom!
In the video description:
Apologies for the accent.
NHS England medical director Professor Sir Bruce Keogh writes in the Mail that independence would create a ‘Hadrian’s Wall of health’ between England and Scotland:
‘The people of Wales, England or Northern Ireland could not privatise the Scottish NHS even if they wanted to’.
Salmond writes an open letter to the Scottish public, saying that now the campaigning is almost over, the focus is on the people of the country and how they will decide:
So in these last days of the greatest campaign Scotland has ever seen, I want to ask you to take a step back from the arguments of politicians and the blizzard of statistics. The opportunity for our Parliament to gain real job creating powers, the ability to protect our treasured National Health Service and the building of a renewed relationship of respect and equality with our friends and neighbours in the rest of these Islands.
But for all that, the talking is nearly done. The campaigns will have had their say. What’s left is just us – the people who live and work here. The only people with a vote. The people who matter.
A Survation poll for the Scottish Daily Mail shows support for the No campaign at 52%, down one percentage point, while support for independence is a point higher at 48%.
Former television cameraman Colin Weir and his wife Christine, a former psychiatric nurse, who won $261 million in the EuroMillions lottery in 2011 are the biggest donors to the Yes campaign. Over the last nine months, the couple from the seaside town of Largs gave a total of 1 million pounds ($1.6 million) or 67% of all reportable donations. Overall, they may have donated as much as 4 million pounds. An opinion article the couple wrote:
As lifelong supporters of independence, it would be strange if we did not support the Yes Scotland campaign. So that is what we have done, nothing more and nothing less.
Clegg, Cameron and Miliband sign a joint statement for the Daily Record promising to transfer more powers to the Scottish Parliament if a No vote is successful:
The people of Scotland want to know that all three main parties will deliver change for Scotland.
WE ARE AGREED THAT:
The Scottish Parliament is permanent and extensive new powers for the Parliament will be delivered by the process and to the timetable agreed and announced by our three parties, starting on 19th September.
And it is our hope that the people of Scotland will be engaged directly as each party works to improve the way we are governed in the UK in the years ahead.
We agree that the UK exists to ensure opportunity and security for all by sharing our resources equitably across all four nations to secure the defence, prosperity and welfare of every citizen.
And because of the continuation of the Barnett allocation for resources, and the powers of the Scottish Parliament to raise revenue, we can state categorically that the final say on how much is spent on the NHS will be a matter for the Scottish Parliament.
We believe that the arguments that so powerfully make the case for staying together in the UK should underpin our future as a country.
We will honour those principles and values not only before the referendum but after.
People want to see change. A No vote will deliver faster, safer and better change than separation.
Murdoch criticizes the SNP just days before the Scottish Sun is expected to issue its editorial stance on the independence referendum. On a stop-off in a Glasgow pub during a tour of Glasgow, Aberdeen and Fife Murdoch says he is ‘considering’ giving the Yes campaign the Sun‘s backing – he later publishes several tweets critical of what he says is Salmond’s pro-EU, pro-welfare stance:
SNP not talking about independence, but more welfarism, expensive greenery, etc and passing sovereignty to Brussels.
Scotland. Have to worry about some of Salmond's allies. Far left socialists and extreme greenies. Must change course to prosper if he wins.
— Rupert Murdoch (@rupertmurdoch) September 14, 2014
Beckham says that captaining England was his greatest pride, including in the 1-0 loss to Scotland in the Euro 2000 qualifier at Wembley:
I saw that same pride and passion in every Scottish player and fan whenever we played each other, it was a common bond that I have always related to and admired.
He recalls the UK’s Olympic bid:
I took as much satisfaction in seeing Sir Chris Hoy or Andy Murray win gold as I did watching Jess Ennis and Mo Farah do the same in the Olympic Stadium.
Sports are only part of what he says is a historic connection:
We want to let you know how very much we value our relationship and friendship. Of course regardless of your decision that will never change, however, my sincere hope is that you will vote to renew our historic bond which has been such a success over the centuries and the envy of the entire world. What unites us is much greater than what divides us. Let’s stay together.
The result of the Scottish independence referendum is due to be announced on Sept. 19, the day following the vote. Unofficial estimates place the announcement around 6:30-7:30 a.m. local time (1:30-2:30 p.m. EDT). The Chief Counting Officer expects the announcement is likely to be around ‘breakfast time.’ Results will begin being compiled from the 32 regional centers in Scotland as early as 1 a.m. On the basis of registrations, the Electoral Commission is expecting turnout of 80%, with a total of 4,285,323 people registered to vote, the largest ever electorate in Scotland for an election or referendum, while logistical difficulties may also slow counting. The result will be revealed once it becomes a mathematical impossibility for the other side to win – this may be before the precise final result is known. The referendum requires a simple majority – at least one more vote is required for independence than against.
Morgan promises the public that he will leave the UK if they vote No:
Dear People of Scotland, if you vote NO, I promise to go straight back to America. #indyref
— Piers Morgan (@piersmorgan) September 14, 2014
Queen Elizabeth tells a crowd outside Crathie Kirk near Balmoral:
I hope everybody thinks very carefully about the future.
She declines to make an official statement.
First Minister Salmond says that he will not hold another referendum if Scotland votes No to independence on Sept. 18. He notes that the most recent constitutional referendum in Scotland took place in 1997 and 1979, and says that this timeframe represents a ‘political generation’:
My view is this is a once in a generation, perhaps even a once in a lifetime, opportunity for Scotland.
Groundskeeper Willie of The Simpsons comes out in favor of independence, in a video released by Fox:
Both sides of this argument have valid points: the freedom-loving heirs of highland tradition, and those who enjoy crawling like worms beneath British boots.
Willie nominates himself to lead the independent nation rather than the ‘safe choice’ of First Minister Salmond:
I won’t back down to world leaders, because I don’t know who they are and I’m not willing to learn! Also, I’ve lived in America most of my life, so I’ve seen firsthand how not to run a country.
A Survation poll of 1,044 Scottish voters for the Better Together campaign finds that 47% favor staying in the UK while 40.8% want independence from the union. When undecided voters are excluded, the numbers round to 54% no vs. 46% yes. It finds that 40% say they and their families would be financially worse off while 27% believe they would be better off. The survey points to a very high turnout with 93% of voters saying they are certain to vote.
An Opinium poll for The Observer of 1,055 eligible Scottish voters over the age of 16 finds that voters favor remaining in the UK by 53% to 47% once undecided voters are excluded. Among all Scottish voters who are 10/10 certain to vote, 45% would vote to leave the union, 49% would vote to stay and 6% are undecided. Voters are highly unlikely to change their minds – 93% of No voters say they are certain to vote that way and 90% of Yes voters are certain to vote Yes. 70% of No voters are concerned about the ability of an independent Scottish government to meet financial commitments such as health of pensions, what currency Scotland would use (52%) and the possible effect on their living standards (40%). 61% of Yes voters are concerned about continued rule from the UK parliament in Westminster, 55% say UK political parties may not deliver on promises of more devolution of government, and 32% are concerned about Conservative politicians having too much influence on Scottish affairs.
An ICM Research poll of 705 Scottish voters for the Sunday Telegraph indicates that the public favors independence by a margin of 49% to 42%. Once ‘don’t know’ votes are removed, ‘Yes’ votes total 54%-46%, with the eight-percentage-point margin the largest spread recorded in any major poll. It finds that 69% say Scotland ‘should be able to keep the pound sterling(£) if the country votes to leave the UK in the referendum.’ Voters are divided on the issue of whether the Scottish economy would be damaged, at 37% vs. 36% who say it would benefit. Yes Scotland chief executive Blair Jenkins:
We are working flat out to ensure that we achieve a Yes vote, because it’s the biggest opportunity the people of Scotland will ever have to build a fairer society and more prosperous economy.
Branson says the UK provides strength against global uncertainty:
Do I think it would be the end of the world if Scotland was to leave the UK? No – people certainly won’t be losing their lives over it. But I do believe Scotland can have the best of both worlds by staying in the UK.
The referendum is in contrast with the conflict between Russia and the Ukraine:
We are very lucky that in the UK we are able to openly debate and that Scotland is able to democratically decide its future.
Branson’s wife is from Glasgow, his mother and grandparents are from Edinburgh, and he visits family in Scotland as well as Virgin’s Scottish companies:
On a personal basis I would love to see Scotland stay as part of the UK. As a businessman, considering Scotland’s economy, prosperity and security, I think it is imperative it stays in the Union.
Voting to #StayTogether means more power for Scotland, coupled with more security & strength as part of UK http://t.co/XCceQquFMa #IndyRef
— Richard Branson (@richardbranson) September 18, 2014
