In a straw poll taken in our media class 8 out of 17 people thought that Scotland would vote yes for independence. However many students were unsure either way and the overwhelming feeling was one of apathy. Some were interested to see what might happen if Scotland became independent, like some kind of experiment wondering what would develop. The few students I spoke to about the topic expressed the opinion that it was up to Scotland what they chose to do and that they didn't care either way. Should we care? Yes or no, how deeply will this decision affect not only Scotland but the rest of the United Kingdom, Europe and perhaps even the world?
A recent Panorama special traced the earliest rumblings of discontent to the 1970s when standards of living dropped. According to the Scottish born presenter Allan Little Scotland prior to this had been pro Britain and pro Empire with the SNP supporters a weird minority. The real push for independence came after Margaret Thatcher gained power and fought against the unions. When Labour came into power they backed devolution and unwittingly made Scottish Independence a possibility for the first time since the 1700s.
A quick glance at the websites for the yes and no campaign show a stark difference. Whereas the Yes website opens on a glossy short film that aims to persuade us Scotland's future should be independent, the website for the no campaign is straight to business. The homepage of the Yes campaign has a wall of smiling faces, real Scottish people who all have their own reasons for backing independence. The images are glossy and positive. The No campaign website is as dull in colour as it is in content. A muted palette of blue and 'greige.' Having briefly perused both I couldn't tell you whether Scotland would really be better off independent, each one refuting any point made by the other. I'm not sure how the vote will go but I know who's winning in the style stakes.
If Scotland does vote yes what does that mean for Scotland and the rest of the UK? Will the union flag lose the blue of St Andrews cross? Will Scotland lose the pound? Will we better off or worse? If Scotland votes no what new powers will they gain and why shouldn't such power be given to other areas of the UK? And what of other countries? Would an independent Scotland signal the way for an independent Catalan region, an independent Kashmir? There seems to be no definitive answers but one thing seems certain, as David Cameron himself said, things will never be the same.
If Scotland does vote yes what does that mean for Scotland and the rest of the UK? Will the union flag lose the blue of St Andrews cross? Will Scotland lose the pound? Will we better off or worse? If Scotland votes no what new powers will they gain and why shouldn't such power be given to other areas of the UK? And what of other countries? Would an independent Scotland signal the way for an independent Catalan region, an independent Kashmir? There seems to be no definitive answers but one thing seems certain, as David Cameron himself said, things will never be the same.
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