Scottish independence: Yes vote ‘would be tragedy’ The Scotsman

LEADER OF the No campaign Alistair Darling has said that it would be a “tragedy” if Scotland votes for independence tomorrow.

The Better Together leader said the promise of further devolution from the main Westminster parties would offer a “better change” than the uncertainty of independence.

He said some people involved in the increasingly bitter referendum campaign had “stepped over the line” and an effort would be needed to “calm things down” after the results come in.

Mr Darling told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme a No vote would offer “faster, more secure, better change within the United Kingdom than the years of wrangling that would follow if we were to vote to leave the UK tomorrow”.

He acknowledged that, despite the show of unity by David Cameron, Ed Miliband and Nick Clegg, there was a “difference between the parties” over the extent of the powers that would be devolved, but pointed out that had also been the case before the establishment of the Scottish Parliament and the most recent transfer of competences to Holyrood.

Mr Darling stressed that the stakes were high, and there would be no turning back from the results of tomorrow’s vote.

“This is to settle the matter for a generation because I don’t think there’s any appetite in Scotland for another referendum,” he said.

“It’s not like a general election where you can give the government a good kicking if you don’t like them.

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Snp's Bully Boy Tactics

The SNP are the Seriously Nasty Party http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2758514/The-Seriously-Nasty-Party-With-one-day-damning-evidence-bullying-intimidation-voters-Scots-nationalists-just-ask-Miliband.html @MailOnline

4 Ways to Test if God is Calling You

4 Ways to Test if God is Calling You

Have you ever wondered if God called you to something more?

John 1:6 "There was a man sent from God whose name was John."

This simple verse tells us a lot – it tells us that the man we know as John the Baptist somehow stood out. It was obvious to others that he was sent by God. In retrospect, knowing the full story, we can see how he paved the way for the coming Christ.

However, if John appeared on the scene today, I'm pretty sure we'd all think he was whackadoo. After all, he was a loner, speaking against the establishment, telling everyone to repent.

Sometimes the scariest thing about following God is a fear that we, too, might look like a whackadoo.

How do you know if God is calling you?

1. It makes sense in your life. Even before he was born, John was testifying to Jesus. Jesus' brothers and mother thought he'd gone 'round the bend at one point, but the scripture doesn't show us that about John. It made sense for John to speak out as he did. Even for those of us who are called to something radically different than we've done before, God uses the basic makeup of the person He created. You were born with innate strengths and talents. What God calls you to will be in line with who He created you to be.

Sterling could be plunged into the abyss, and Scotland would face unprecedented austerity if country votes 'Yes', warns top banker. Daily Mail

  Alex Salmond said Scotland will be entitled to use the pound if independent

  Westminster claims Scotland will have to seek an alternative currency 

  Salmond has threatened to walk away from Scot's share of the national debt

  Alex Salmond's Plan B would see every British taxpayer paying £5,900 extra 

Scotland risks unprecedented austerity and the pound could ‘plunge into the abyss’ if the referendum results in a Yes vote, economic experts have warned.

The National Institute of Economic and Social Research expressed dismay at Alex Salmond’s ‘Plan B’ if an independent Scotland is barred from using the pound.

The think-tank said the SNP leader’s back-up plan – adopting the pound informally and reneging on Scotland’s share of Britain’s borrowings – was ‘opportunistic’ and would saddle every taxpayer in the rest of the UK with an extra £5,900 of debt.

It warned that defaulting on its debts would make Scotland an economic pariah, because it would be seen as too untrustworthy to borrow on the international money markets.

 This would lead to an ‘unprecedented degree of austerity and the eventual collapse in the currency regime’, it predicted.

Danny Alexander, the chief secretary to the Treasury, said this scenario would see Scottish bonds – loans from international investors – downgraded to ‘junk’ status. This happens when it makes no sense for investors to lend money to a country because the risk of not getting it back is too high.

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Row breaks out over allegations that Salmond 'tried to gag' leading Scots academic who questioned independence . Daily Mail

  First Minister 'put pressure' on St Andrews principal Louise Richardson

  Source said he spent ten minutes trying to 'put words in her mouth'

  She then rejected the 'suggested statement', according to Daily Telegraph 

A spectacular row broke out last night over Alex Salmond’s alleged attempts to silence a leading Scottish academic who questioned independence.

The first minister tried to force Louise Richardson, Principal of St Andrews University, to tone down warnings about the adverse impact of a Yes vote.

A source said he spent ten minutes attempting to ‘put words in her mouth’

Leaked emails revealed how the SNP leader’s special adviser, Geoff Aberdein, urged Professor Richardson to attack the Westminster government over funding for higher education, the Daily Telegraph said.

He reportedly emailed her press secretary with a suggested statement, reading: ‘The Scottish Government has risen to the challenge on fees in stark contrast to the government south of the border and I’m sure they can rise to the challenge on research funding as well.’

But in a reply, Professor Richardson wrote: ‘I’m sorry but I’m afraid I cannot agree to this statement.’

It is also claimed the First Minister called Professor Richardson, the first female principal of the 600-year-old institution, and told her to rectify remarks she made about the consequences of Scotland leaving the UK.

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Allan Massie: The UK’s value is immense, The Scotsman

by ALLAN MASSIE

In any democracy, many people endure a government they didn’t vote for. There is still time to think, writes Allan Massie

I can understand why many will vote Yes. I can’t fathom the thinking of those who say: “Let’s give independence a try.” This is like saying, “Let’s try suicide”. If you bring it off, there’s no way back.

Independence is not an experiment we can abandon if we decide it isn’t working. It’s not like resigning from a club because you’ve fallen out with the committee and then re-applying for membership a few years later.

I’m lucky. I’ve never had any difficulty deciding how to vote tomorrow. I’m a Unionist, always have been. Of course, like almost every Scot, I’ve had my nationalist moments, sometimes sparked by momentary indignation when I’ve muttered “Bloody English”, other times patriotically proud or boastful when I think that no small nation except, one admits, the Jews and the Ancient Greeks, has given more of value to the world than the Scots.

Why not read more here?

The Seriously Nasty Party: With one day to go, damning evidence of the bullying intimidation of voters by Scots nationalists (just ask Miliband) Daily Mail

Pro-union voters have endured stone-throwing and been called traitors

Many are now said to be too scared to show their support of a No vote

Ed Miliband was forced to abandon visit to Edinburgh shopping centre

The dark side of the campaign for Scottish independence can be laid bare today.

In a string of sinister incidents, separatists have used bullying and intimidation to cow their rivals.

Pro-union voters have endured stone-throwing, been called traitors and faced threats that their houses will be torched.

Many are now said to be too scared to show their support for fear of reprisals that might follow a defeat for the nationalists in tomorrow’s vote.

Yesterday, Labour leader Ed Miliband was forced to abandon a visit to an Edinburgh shopping centre after he was surrounded by Yes supporters who jostled him and branded him a ‘****ing liar’. His minders had to step in to escort him to safety.

Further acts of intimidation have been reported by the No camp across Scotland, including:

·         Hundreds of campaign boards have been daubed with offensive graffiti or destroyed;

·         Homes with ‘No Thanks’ posters have been pelted with eggs and one householder in Edinburgh had ‘traitor’ etched into his front door;

·         Farmers have received anonymous phone calls saying their livestock will be set loose unless they take down campaign boards

·         Nationalists have bragged on Facebook about ripping down No signs and posted videos of them stamping on the posters

·         Pro-union canvassers been called ‘loyalist scum’ and ordered to hand over details of supporters so their ‘houses can be burned down’. 

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