Poll: Scottish Independence: For/Against?

Independent Scotland?

  • For

    Votes: 99 34.6%

  • Against

    Votes: 139 48.6%

  • Undecided

    Votes: 48 16.8%
  • Total voters
    286
barf0r said:
If the SNP had a majority of the seats then of course I would have no problem with a referendum taking place, I just think that the results from the election don't back up the case enough.
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The problem now though is that by effectively forcing the SNP too wait till they do get majority (assuming they do actually get a majority at some point) they could actually be increasing the potential for a successfull "yes" vote when it does actually happen. If Labour manage to hold on for another term UK wide then this could well happen.

Allowing a referendum with a minority SNP government now would likely lead to a "no" vote and kill the issue for years to come.

Jokester
 
Nate--IRL-- said:
Well unless the Scottish Parliament was given Full Taxation powers, i can't see how else it would work.

Nate
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I think a local tax system would be fairer, can't be nice for the parents of an English student struggling to help pay their kid's uni costs while some of the tax they have paid susbsidises Scottish students
 
Jokester said:
The problem now though is that by effectively forcing the SNP too wait till they do get majority (assuming they do actually get a majority at some point) they could actually be increasing the potential for a successful "yes" vote when it does actually happen. If Labour manage to hold on for another term UK wide then this could well happen.

Allowing a referendum with a minority SNP government now would likely lead to a "no" vote and kill the issue for years to come.

Jokester
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I'm not sure whether people being dissolutioned with a UK Labour government would lead to support for an independent Scotland.

I also don't think a referendum being held to try and "kill" an issue is a good basis upon which to hold a referendum.

I believe that if the time does come when a majority of people want independence, then it will be very clear (mainly from SNP having lots of seats). But for as long as pro-union parties are picking up more votes than independence parties then I think independence is an issue to be left until the next set of elections come about.
 
Rotty said:
I think a local tax system would be fairer, can't be nice for the parents of an English student struggling to help pay their kid's uni costs while some of the tax they have paid susbsidises Scottish students
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The Scottish parliament only has the powers to raise income tax 1p in the pound to raise addional funding as far as I'm aware and it's unlikely they'll ever make use of it.

Jokester
 
barf0r said:
I'm not sure whether people being dissolutioned with a UK Labour government would lead to support for an independent Scotland.
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The general consensus as far as I'm aware is that the rise of the SNP in recent years is entirely down to dissolutionment in the Labour UK government. Previously it was the Conservatives and they were nearly wiped off the map in Scotland as a result. Labour could well go the same way if things continue as they are, especially if Broon is as much of a disaster that everyone seems to think he'll be (though he might be the best thing since sliced bread).

Jokester
 
barf0r said:
I'm not sure whether people being dissolutioned with a UK Labour government would lead to support for an independent Scotland.

I also don't think a referendum being held to try and "kill" an issue is a good basis upon which to hold a referendum.

I believe that if the time does come when a majority of people want independence, then it will be very clear (mainly from SNP having lots of seats). But for as long as pro-union parties are picking up more votes than independence parties then I think independence is an issue to be left until the next set of elections come about.
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I don't think that's a fair way of judging it though... a lot of people vote locally based on what their wants are from a local MSP....

I think the best way is to judge by opinion polls... imo
 
Jokester said:
The general consensus as far as I'm aware is that the rise of the SNP in recent years is entirely down to dissolutionment in the Labour UK government. Previously it was the Conservatives and they were nearly wiped off the map in Scotland as a result. Labour could well go the same way if things continue as they are, especially if Broon is as much of a disaster that everyone seems to think he'll be (though he might be the best thing since sliced bread).

Jokester
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Yes, you may be right then and the SNP vote will rise again if Labour are doing badly for the UK.

But that is a hypothetical issue concerning the future and shouldn't really impact upon decisions made now about independence IMO.
 
Docaroo said:
I don't think that's a fair way of judging it though... a lot of people vote locally based on what their wants are from a local MSP....

I think the best way is to judge by opinion polls... imo
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Opinion polls only poll ~1000 people. Scotland's population is ~5million. As with you saying the last poll you saw was 51% in favour of independence, then such a narrow difference could easily be reversed across the whole country.
 
barf0r said:
Opinion polls only poll ~1000 people. Scotland's population is ~5million. As with you saying the last poll you saw was 51% in favour of independence, then such a narrow difference could easily be reversed across the whole country.
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it's not so much that it's a narrow margin, it's compared to previos polls - it shows a large increase in support.... and is the highest figure for decades...
 
Jokester said:
The Scottish parliament only has the powers to raise income tax 1p in the pound to raise addional funding as far as I'm aware and it's unlikely they'll ever make use of it.
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3p in the pound up or down. That was the second question in the 'yes yes' referrendum back in 97/98.
 
Docaroo said:
Fair enough, but then let that be decided by referendum then??? Like I said before, the country is now 51% IN FAVOUR of independence and that is the reason why we DO need one?
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It's worth pointing out that just because a majority want something (or think they do) does not necessarily make it a good idea.
 
Dolph said:
It's worth pointing out that just because a majority want something (or think they do) does not necessarily make it a good idea.
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well that's democracy mate :) I've had to live with a ****in tory MP in my constituency for years because of god damn farmers, until 2 elections ago when everyone booted the gimp out for a Lib Dem guy....

Democracy sucks but it's the best we've got...
 
I don't personally see why we're still keeping a hold of Scotland, we keep it to our economic and political detrement and the only way I can see being united with Scotland any longer is the colonial mindset of the ruling classes.
 
Docaroo said:
well that's democracy mate :) I've had to live with a ****in tory MP in my constituency for years because of god damn farmers, until 2 elections ago when everyone booted the gimp out for a Lib Dem guy....

Democracy sucks but it's the best we've got...
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Well, that's the reason we have a representative democracy rather than direct. As such the representatives have the say as to whether or not there should be a referendum at all ;)

Of course, democracy also doesn't mean "one man, one vote", that's a relatively new idea, whereas democracy itself is much older.
 
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