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THE BRITISH GOVERNMENT has pledged greater fiscal autonomy for Scotland, after a poll put the pro-independence camp ahead for the first time – just 11 days before the referendum on separation.
British finance minister George Osborne said greater tax and spending powers would be announced in the coming days and would be implemented if Scotland votes on September 18 to retain the 300-year-old union with England.
Polls
The offer came after a YouGov poll in The Sunday Times newspaper gave the pro-independence “Yes” camp 51 percent support compared to the “No” camp’s 49 percent, excluding undecided voters. Six percent said they had not made up their minds.
Although the two-point lead is within the margin of error, the findings dramatically up the stakes ahead of the vote.
Scottish First Minister Alex Salmond, of the separatist Scottish National Party (SNP), dismissed Osborne’s move as a “panic measure”, saying it was “ridiculous” to announce it now, with many people having already voted by post.
Reacting to the poll, Osborne told BBC television: “If people were in any doubt that they can stay at home, that they don’t need to go out to the polls and vote ‘No’ to avoid separation, they won’t be in that doubt today.
“They should also be in no doubt about the consequences of this decision,” the chancellor of the exchequer added.
No ifs, no buts: we will not share the pound if Scotland separates from the rest of the UK.
‘Best of both worlds’
Osborne said it was “clear” that Scots wanted greater autonomy and the three main United Kingdom-wide parties — the Conservatives, their Liberal Democrat junior partners in government and the Labour opposition — had agreed to “deliver” on that.
“You will see in the next few days a plan of action to give more powers to Scotland. More tax powers, more spending powers, more plans for powers over the welfare state,” he said.
Then Scotland will have the best of both worlds.They will both avoid the risks of separation but have more control over their own destiny, which is where I think many Scots want to be.
Any vote for Scotland to leave the UK would raise questions about Britain’s standing in the international community.
Scotland represents one-third of Britain’s landmass and is home to Britain’s submarine-based Trident nuclear deterrent, which the SNP says must be out of an independent Scotland by 2020.
Salmond claimed the momentum was now “decisively with the ‘Yes’ campaign”.
“The Westminster elite are losing this campaign… we’ve got them on the run,” he told BBC television.
He said there was “clear panic in the ‘No’ campaign. They’ve failed to scare the Scots; now they’re trying to bribe us”.
The Better Together campaign, which backs Scotland staying in the United Kingdom, has been ahead in opinion polls for months but its lead has narrowed in recent weeks.
The “No” camp had a 22-point lead in YouGov polling just one month ago. Another YouGov survey for The Times newspaper on Tuesday showed a marked narrowing of the gap to six points.
‘Irreversible decision’
Osborne’s Labour predecessor Alistair Darling, the Better Together leader, said the latest poll showed the referendum “will go right to the wire”.
“Every voter in Scotland can now tip the balance in this referendum,” he said.
It’s not a protest vote, it is about the future of our country. If we decide to leave, there is no going back.
A second survey commissioned by the “Yes” camp and released today puts the “No” camp four points ahead. The Panelbase poll gives “No” 52 percent and “Yes” 48 percent, excluding undecideds.
Gordon Brown, Cameron’s Labour predecessor as prime minister, blamed Conservative policies for hindering support for the union.
But the Scot said whatever government was “temporarily” in power — a UK-wide general election is due in May — that should not be a basis for an “irreversible decision”.
“The underlying mood of the electorate voting in this referendum is they want change,” he told Sky News television, but stressed the best way to get it was through greater autonomy rather than breaking “every single link” with the rest of the UK.
Just goes to show how little respect Westminster has for Scotland.
Fierce bang of desperation off the No’s there. “Please keep being our friends!”
The irony is the same crowd begging Scotland not to break up the Union would drop the EU like a hot snot tomorrow given half a chance.
Spot on John. If the scots believe they are truly Scottish then then should vote yes. If they want to continue abaca region of England then vote no. Simple
Is someone panicking ?????????
There’s a very large and nasty sectarian element in Scotland and this new country will be no friend to Ireland. Well the part south of newry anyways.
‘If you vote no, we ll also give you a free Parker Pen and a special gift,just to say thank you’
Here come the desperation tactics!
And when you vote no..We can go…HAHA fooled you…
Too right. Afterall, Scotland is a net contributor to the UK exchequer.
THEY WILL NEVER TAKE OUR FREEDOM!
Britain was very complacent about this upcoming referendum then all of a sudden the realisation they could be losing a massive chunk of cash from the North Sea in particular they panic. I honestly don’t know how Scotland would selenite themselves from the UK but it would be interesting to see. I hope whatever happens is better for the Scottish people in the long run.
Scots need to ask themselfs one question … Why are the English so desperate for them to stay in the union??…£££££ …Simple!
They also have to ask why Westminster is only giving a toss about them now?
Drive through the North of England, Westminister doesn’t give a toss about most of England north of Birmingham.
Better together they say, all they can offer is more of the same and that isn’t much good for most of Scotland.
Maybe it is because the Queen will become a foreign tourist…..
So they are offering them a “nearly independence”| but still with all the condescension and contempt that Westminister has always show them.
What an offer, presuming it is actually a real promise. The No side have a poor track record when it comes to the truth.
At first they ridiculed the yes side, laughing about how far behind on the polls they were. Then the poll shifted, and so did the no side’s mood from belittlement to conjuring up as many fears as possible.
Now the yes side have the polls in their favour for the first time, and only now does the British Government want to give Scotland more powers? You’re just not getting it. Much like Ireland, you had your chance to prove that the UK could be a fair a democratic union. But as we saw in Ireland, and as Scotland has no seen – it is London-centric, and anyone on the outskirts like Scotland lose out.
How can anyone in their right mind defend the UK as a bastion of democracy, when you have a situation where Scotland is governed by a political party which was firmly and resoundingly rejected in the UK general elections?
That is not democracy and that is why Scotland should and needs to seize the day, and reclaim their independence.
It doesn’t have to be emotive. It doesn’t have to be a bitter affair. It can be an amicable breakup. Ireland has a great relationship with England today, and Scotland will retain a great relationship with England.
Let’s remove all the hyperbole and red herrings from this argument. At the core of the issue, is a simple question. Who do the Scottish people want governing it’s affairs? Westminster or a government it actually elects?
Easy choice. These concessions are simply not enough. Carpe diem.
Fair points. But it’s funny how we never heard anything about local democracy when England was voting Tory but getting the Scottish Raj.
Incidentally, the Con/LibDem Coalition took 35% of the Scottish vote at the last general election. That’s only a smidgen less than FG and Labour here a year later.
“But it’s funny how we never heard anything about local democracy when England was voting Tory but getting the Scottish Raj.”
82% of the seats belong to MP’s in England. Scottish MP’s only makeup 9% of the UK parliament. The overwhelming majority of influence stems from England. I’d hazard a guess that’s why.
And that 9% can itself have disproportionate influence, as it did in 2005. Labour could whip its Scottish MPs to vote on matters which only affected England, because the same powers were devolved for Scotland / Wales / NI. The current system is a mishmash and most unfair to England, but for some reason the only unfairness which counts is North of Hadrian’s Wall. Why do people not find this odd?
Easily resolvable – Let England either become an independent country, ending the last remnants of an aged empire – or create a devolved English parliament. There appears to be (at least according to some opinion polls) support for the latter. Nothing stopping them.
The more devolved the UK becomes, the more it’s realised that the UK as a political union doesn’t actually work and has never been a fair answer for the people of these islands.
There’s actually an argument for regional government in England especially with the London-centric Westminster parliament creating a them and us society across the UK, and I’m pretty sure that is what terrifies the Tory/LibDem government and Labour more than anything about the prospect of Scottish independence…
It’s what may follow….
I reposted this here http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/scottish-independence/11080058/Alex-Salmond-No-campaign-is-spiralling-into-self-destruction.html#disqus_thread couldn’t have said it better myself . hope you don’t mind
This new poll has scared Cameron half to death. This will cost him his job yet.
It will be nothing but scaremongering and concessions for the next 11 days. I’m sure the Scottish people will not fall for Westminster’s dirty tactics.
Queenie even piped up this evening; they really are desperate.
You’re desperate!
Be free Scotland.
Don’t worry about the bribes or scare mongering.
England could care less about Scotland, they just want the oil reserves that lie up there
Yes Thomas oil reserves is exactly what England wanted from Scotland when the Act of Union was passed in 1707.
Might have been coal and forestry back then…
Or possibly an end to 700 years of pointless on-off wars?
Couldn’t care less. Most Americanisms I can let slide, but that one makes no sense. To say you could care less means you must care a bit because you could possibly care less, couldn’t care less means you really don’t give a shit. Have a nice day.
Scotland will have an amiable relationship after regaining its independence.
We have a good relationship with England and being blunt about it their army and police forces here were half savage.
Promises from a British politician… What could go wrong
Me thinks the Brits are pannicking…..just goes to show just how much revenue is flowing from Scotland to London……the Scots aren’t stupid, they will see through this. if there is so much that is on offer why wasn’t it given before the ‘yes’ vote went balisitc?
If Scotland does vote Yes.Bruton will be asking them to apologise to their betters. Go for it Alba. You can’t do it.
I’m at a complete loss. What has this got to do with historical oppression or outdated notions of what constitutes nationality?
Can’t this debate be about what’s best for Scotland’s future economically and socially and skip all the flag waving, anti-England crap?
What anti-England crap?
Hasn’t the debate been overwhelmingly about what is in the interests of Scotland.
Its all about the economy, if Scotland were to get independence, they would be in control on all the oil and gas…Britain dont want that to go
@Jim Brady. Hearing voices in your head? Making up arguments and attacking them only makes you appear nuts.
Till now, England have let Scotland rot. Being Independent cannot be any worse, so they might as well just go for it. Britains interests have always been England first, scraps for the rest.
Don’t go, I know I haven’t always treated you right baby, but I can change just give me another chance…. All those things I did, that wasn’t really who I am. Please don’t go! :-)
Clearly shitting it now as they ‘britain’ have a lot more to lose than Scotland
freedom
England make out how they look after the Scots cos they can’t do it for themselves, like it’s a charitable gesture. The mean penny pinching Scots rhetoric that you hear all the time. Well then the English should be glad to see the back of them.
Bad move…
When you have a spoilt child throwing a tantrum, saying mommy and daddy are mean and threatening to run away away from home you don’t indulge them or try and buy them off with toys and candy…You tell them to go if they really want to.
So feckoff, you ungrateful Jocks!! Take your natural resources with you and give us back our nukes!!
What a daft comment, they’re gonna force the nukes out anyway
an irish and scottish union, with all of that oil, gas and fisheries would we really need to be full members of the EU or even keep the euro?
Even. You can do it.
The British government need to be quiet and let the Scottish people decide their own outcome, and then respect the outcome of the referendum, just like the European crowd did for our Fiscal Compact Ref…. oh wait, that’s not how it works is it…
Scotland is very much a divided society; one faction is composed of men, the other faction is composed of women. They do not understand one another.
You have a lot in common with them.
and your comments comprise of 100% stupidity!
If you want to keep the union make an announcement that every man woman and child would receive a payment of 500 pound to spend as they wish as a thank you bonus . Watch the no vote go through the roof .
Running scared – the cat’s out of the bag – England needs Scotland more than vice versa.
As an English man I wish the Scottish people the best of luck hope you get your independence. Whether your Irish Welsh, English or Scottish we’ll always be neighbours and hold no resentment. We each are separate people’s with different values but we do share these Isles nothing to do with that past its the future that matters the Scottish people deserve to run their own County don’t let the Eton boys scare monger you in to voting no, you’ll never get this chance again.
Well said
None of this would ever have even come up if it wasn’t for braveheart.
Pouring OIL on troubled waters
I think a major point is that England has a major nuclear consignment buried deep inside a Scottish mountain. Meaning huge headache for England. Build a new base (billions) or pay Scotland to rent the facility (unlikely). Not 100% sure of the details of this. But that’s my understanding.
The yes guys have already said the nukes will be removed.
Comes to show you what people will do when there scared!
Britain trying to maintain a colonial power through bribes and threats. Hopefully the Scottish people realise they can govern themselves better.
if they vote no I don’t believe they ever be truly independent, and I don’t think they would really deserve it.
The UKs relationship with Scotland is looking like battered womans syndrome.
If you leave you are really going to get it this time!
Oh wait baby, I’m sorry, stay and I’ll buy you something nice!
Whenever you see this you know its time to end the union.
So do the Scottish or more specifically undecided voters have the guys to vote yes and break up the union? I’m not so sure?
have your say