Scottish independence referendum results thread (Sept 18, 2014)

[ChrisDR68]

Pleased with the result. I predicted 57-43 and in the end it was 55-45 so not far off

I remember when Swinney took over as leader of the SNP from Salmond 10 years ago their fortunes declined sharply. It's possible that a similar decline will happen under Sturgeon.

Love him or hate him Alex Salmond was a very good leader for the SNP.

Historically this may turn out to be the party's peak.

[ChrisDR68]

"Once in a generation" should mean around 20 years, no? This seems like a reasonable time span. It would be a huge mistake for the independence camp to rush into a new referendum too soon (unless some dramatic event significantly and durably alters public opinion, but it's hard to imagine), it would probably backfire.

One event that could produce calls for another Scottish independence referendum would be if the UK votes to leave the EU in 2017/2018.

The Scots are generally pro-EU with the English being anti on average.

The irony here is that Alex Salmond spent years and years preaching about an independent Scotland within the EU and using the Euro as it's currency... until the financial crisis struck in 2008.

[ChrisDR68]

Population breakdown of the UK:

England.................. 53,000,000
Scotland.................   5,300,000
Wales.....................   3,100,000
Northern Ireland....   1,800,000
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Total...................  63,200,000

Scotland therefore represents 8.4% of the current UK population.

If they have another vote in 20 years and vote for independence is it really that big of a deal for the rest of the UK?