Scottish Independence Referendum: 30th November 2010

[minionofmidas]

Does Labour want to lose the next election?

Perhaps the correct question to ask is:

Does England want to lose the next Independence Referendum?

[minionofmidas]

For the record, while I'm undecided, the current lot in Holyrood and the pleasing sounds from Scottish business and the far better than expected economic performance in the last two quarters would probably lead me to vote 'Yes' if sustained through to 2010.

Do you think that view is widespread among Scottish Conservatives? (Or other groups, for that matter?)

Widespread? Yes. Voiced? No.

We wouldn't survive independence as a party. We'd simply fragment mostly to the SNP, some to Labour and others to the Liberals and probably retain a rump Tory party that would survive before fading. It would be split along ideological and local/regionalurban/rural lines.

Any chance of a surviving rump Conservative & Unionist Party calling to undo Independence?

[minionofmidas]

Any chance of a surviving rump Conservative & Unionist Party calling to undo Independence?

Yes, mostly the 'Orange' wing, which is only active in a few local areas in the west of Scotland (a few 'play about' in the SNP actually). Most of their supporters formed the Scottish Unionist Party, which was a front for the Orange Order and struggles to perform anywhere it stands. Such parties are cultural more than anything else. I can't see 'undoing independence' being strong enough and defined enough to forge a strong party around it.
[/quote]I dimly recall them doing decently in the speaker's constituency in 2001 (ie with no Tory present).

[minionofmidas]

Silly question, Al.

If such a referendum included an option of full independence for Wales,

a) quite how puny would the puny percentage voting for independence be?
b) might including that option actually help rather than hurt the cause of greater devolution?