General elections can be divided into a long campaign that can run from as early as the previous poll and the more intense short campaign that kicks off towards the end. The Scottish independence referendum…
The currency model used after Irish independence could work for Scotland too.
Of all the currency arrangements cited in the debate over the future of Scotland’s currency, the ones conspicuously missing are those closest to home. While supporters and opponents of Scottish independence…
Claims that Scotland would flourish after independence are wide of the mark.
Twonix Studio
An independent Scotland would be significantly better off than it is now, according to Professor Andrew Hughes-Hallett of George Mason University in two recent pieces in The Conversation. This is contrary…
Are Salmond’s uncosted promises a problem?
Danny Lawson
Westminster’s Scottish affairs committee has published a report attacking the yes campaign for its approach to pensions and welfare. The yes campaign responded that its proposals were “affordable” and…
Why the doomsayers are wrong about post-independence Scotland.
StockCube
I recently wrote a piece for The Conversation in which I argued that for several important reasons, an independent Scotland would not be worse off than it is now – contrary to the views of a majority of…
“If Scotland votes yes, it’ll be the end of the Hogwarts Express!”
Anthony Devlin
Barely a day goes by when there’s not another famous face giving a nod or a headshake to independence. Most recently Daniel Radcliffe and veteran Scottish comic actor Stanley Baxter have both said no…
Would the Scots be quids in after independence?
Eltpics
The recent publication of an extensive survey of leading economists by the Centre for Macroeconomics showed that an overwhelming majority did not think Scotland would be better off if it were independent…
The once-proud Scottish press could use a lift.
Lis Ferla
Two distinguished Scottish journalists have recently expressed their concern at the state of the Scottish press. Both Magnus Linklater, in an article in the British Journalism Review, and Iain Macwhirter…
Is Scottish victimhood fuelling the yes campaign?
Carl Court/PA
Mix the Scots and sport and you’re bound to end up with trouble. Just ask William Hague, who gaffed this week that Team GB would break a leg at next month’s Commonwealth Games in Glasgow – forgetting that…
Scotland may become more like Norway than you think.
Thomas Berg
Scotland’s referendum debate has so far centred mainly on practical issues and medium-term choices like currency, new entities’ share of public debt, and membership of the EU. Far less has been said about…
Speech is silver, silence is verboten.
Subcity radio
Who cares what Gordon Brown says? Weighing in at this late stage to throw his well-worn Labour hat into the ring … Who cares, really, what he thinks he may add to the debate by now? Who cares what any…
Why do 14-17s have such different views to 18-24s?
East Lothian Musems
There seems to be a contradiction in the media reports about young people and their voting intentions in the Scottish referendum. While many polls and the Scottish Social Attitudes survey have found that…
A large majority of independent professional economists believe Scotland would not be better off if it were independent, according to a recent survey. A smaller majority believe the rest of the UK would…
After long being absent, Gordon Brown has suddenly been all over the referendum campaign. He has criticised the no campaign for being too negative and called for David Cameron to agree to a television…
It may only be Scotland that is heading to the polls on September 18, but it is not the only interested party in the results of the independence referendum. England would obviously play a dominant role…
You can perhaps forgive the north of England for casting an envious glance across the border to Scotland. A yes vote in September could significantly enhance Scotland’s ability to determine its own economic…
By his own admission, Dave is not the most popular man in Scotland.
Danny Lawson
The Better Together campaign has always had a problem. Such is Tory popularity in Scotland that the battle for the union was never going to be led by the biggest beast in British politics. Yet David Cameron…
Forget Roy, here comes Gordie of the Rovers!
Fiona Hanson?PA Archive
In the Scottish independence referendum, the no campaign remains in the lead but the gap is narrowing. According to the commentators, the energy, drive and momentum seems to be with the yes campaigners…
The voting intentions of non-Scots have been under the spotlight.
AK Rockefeller
The latest ICM poll made delightful reading for the yes campaign the other day. It showed a split of 52/48 against independence (42/39 once we factor the “don’t knows” back in), suggesting that the yes…
Here’s a question: what do Cornwall, Scotland, Venice and Sardinia have in common? The answer: they all have vocal political movements calling for either independence from their nation states or at least…