It’s decision time. With just 100 campaigning days left until the referendum people in Scotland are focussing on a decision that will have profound effects on their lives and the lives of generations to come.
The scale of the decision has now come in to focus and as it’s done so we’ve seen a marked change in the debate. The debate has moved on since we launched our campaign two years ago; we now have radical further devolution proposals from the three pro-UK parties.
More powers are guaranteed if we vote ‘no’ in September, despite what Alex Salmond might want you to believe. While the nationalist leader has rehearsed his old script, saying no more devolution will come (the same script he wheeled out in 1997 and 2012), the sands have shifted underneath him and more devolution will be delivered after we vote to remain in the UK, as it was in the past.
We now know that we, the pro-UK, side are offering more powers for Scotland and the strength, security and stability of the bigger UK. What guarantees do we have from the nationalists?
We don’t know what currency we would use after we left the UK; we know we’d have to reapply to join the EU but have no idea when we’d get in; on the cost of starting up a new state, Alex Salmond refuses to tell us what the real cost would be (he suggests it may be half what the Scottish parliament costs but that simply doesn’t add up). That’s just to name three…
The uncertainty that comes with independence is something that hasn’t changed over the last two years, and the nationalists’ inability to answer basic questions has meant that people are not being won over to their cause.
When confronted with the risk and uncertainty of separation, increasingly the answer on the doors is clear – ‘No, thanks.’
People are saying ‘no, thanks’ to their pensions being put at risk; ‘no, thanks’ to a loss of job opportunities and ‘no, thanks’ to a leap in to the dark that we don’t have to take.
The nationalists have lost the economic and factual argument. In the last 100 days the nationalists will fall back on the emotional appeal to try and get their campaign just over the line. But here, too, I believe that those of us who want to see a strong Scotland in the UK have a powerful case. I’m as proud as anyone to be Scottish but I value my British identity as well. I’ve lived and worked in England, my friends come from all over the UK. I’ve spent my adult life working with people across these isles to win change – more often than not I’ve got things done because I’ve been able to work with people who’ve been able to bring different skills and experiences and enjoy the strength that comes in numbers.
My story is different from other people’s but the point is the same. The reasons I’m saying ‘no, thanks’ to separation are from both the head and from the heart.
We’re now at the business end of the campaign; the finishing line is in sight. I believe that if we can continue to get our message across, that we can have a strengthened Scottish parliament with the strength, security and stability of the bigger UK, we will win. Because that’s what people want – the best of both worlds.
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Ross MacRae is communications officer at the Better Together campaign and writes the Better Together column for Progress. He tweets @RossMacRae
As a mongrel of Irish, Welsh & Scottish ancestry I plead to all those who have a vote in this forthcoming referendum not to go for ‘yes’ as this will con-demn us free-thinking people living in the rest of the UK to effectively a one-party state for the foreseeable future with a rump of Labour Party MP’s.
I understand your concerns Neil, but, Scotland was waited long enough for change. The Labour Party has had its chance to reform the House of Lords, redistribute wealth from the South East, rid our shores of Trident. It has failed. Instead Labour governments give us illegal wars and a debt mountain that will be a burden on generations to come. As I say I understand your distress but you must also appreciate Scotland has had enough of failed Westminster rule and our determination to now take control of our own destiny.
If they are willing to grant Scotland more powers now, why wouldn’t they do that before? All I see is the typical ‘fear and smear’ and trying to play on uncertainties. It would be the best thing that could ever happen to Scotland. If you look the History of all the countries that have Broken away from English rule, it always comes with warnings and bad words, then when it does happen they are desperate to be friends again with Royal visits and loads of sweet talk. If Scotland doesn’t do this it will just be another region of England pulling it down the plug by the Westminster elite. It would be nice to get an unbiased opinion for once rather than the usual ‘fear and smear’ tactics
Ross MacRae states “The nationalists have lost the economic and factual argument.”
Here are a few facts to be considered.
Scotland has 1% of Europe’s population, 60% of Europe’s oil, 30% Europe’s fish stock and 50% Europe’s wind and tidal resources.
We on the independence side will keep repeating these facts until 18 September and let the Scottish people decide who they trust.