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This referendum is not binding in any sense. The government in Westminster will make the decision, and it will not be made by the current government (there isn'

This referendum is not binding in any sense. The government in Westminster will make the decision, and it will not be made by the current government (there isn't enough time before the general election). If the next government is formed of different people, then under British sovereignty traditions it will feel no obligation to pay any attention to the referendum run by its predecessor. In practical terms: if Labour gets into power in 2015 then Scottish independence will not happen regardless of the outcome of this referendum, because Scottish independence would eliminate Labour as a political force in the UK (Tories would win all UK elections, SNP would win all Scottish elections). It's not over yet.

arethuza 12y ago
"The government in Westminster will make the decision" Sorry no - one way or another the people of Scotland will make the decision. Whether the government of the UK lives up to that decision is up to them, I honestly believe they would abide by what the people say.
- sgt101 12y ago
  I think it's inconceivable that the result of this referendum would be ignored. The loss of credibility would be corrosive to every commitment of the UK and successor states, but it would also destroy whichever political party attempted to make that decision.
jiggy2011 12y ago
I can't see the Scots rushing out to vote labour if they reneged on the outcome of a referendum. Labour would still be able to win elections in the UK without Scotland (in fact Blair would still have been PM without Scotland), At most some policies would change, or worst case another party rises as competition.
tomp 12y ago
> Tories would win all UK elections If this would happen, I'm pretty sure some or other power-hungry fractions of the party would try to make a new party, so you'd again have two (or more) competing.
- jiggy2011 12y ago
  A new party isn't necessary , Labour/Liberals would poach ambitious tory backbenchers by offering places in the shadow cabinet and UKIP would poach Euroskeptics. Most of these MPs could probably take their seats with them.
- asuffield 12y ago
  I would not be surprised by seeing a Tory split (into the nationalist and libertarian factions), but it would take years - there's a lot of money holding the two halves of their party together. I wouldn't like this outcome much though - it would mean Cameron was the representative of the "nicer party" in British politics.
celticninja 12y ago
>If the next government is formed of different people, then under British sovereignty traditions it will feel no obligation to pay any attention to the referendum run by its predecessor. That is incorrect, all 3 parties (not individuals within the parties) gave a promise to respect the outcome of the referendum. So even if a labour govt gets in at the next General Election they will respect the decision. The dificulty will come in negotiations for the exit, that will be impacted by the format of any new government, but the decision to allow independance will not. http://www.futureukandscotland.ac.uk/sites/default/files/papers/Scotland%27s%20Decision%20final%20ebook.pdf http://www.futureukandscotland.ac.uk/sites/default/files/pap...

arethuza 12y ago

"The government in Westminster will make the decision" Sorry no - one way or another the people of Scotland will make the decision. Whether the government of the UK lives up to that decision is up to them, I honestly believe they would abide by what the people say.

sgt101 12y ago
I think it's inconceivable that the result of this referendum would be ignored. The loss of credibility would be corrosive to every commitment of the UK and successor states, but it would also destroy whichever political party attempted to make that decision.

jiggy2011 12y ago

I can't see the Scots rushing out to vote labour if they reneged on the outcome of a referendum. Labour would still be able to win elections in the UK without Scotland (in fact Blair would still have been PM without Scotland), At most some policies would change, or worst case another party rises as competition.

tomp 12y ago

> Tories would win all UK elections If this would happen, I'm pretty sure some or other power-hungry fractions of the party would try to make a new party, so you'd again have two (or more) competing.

jiggy2011 12y ago
A new party isn't necessary , Labour/Liberals would poach ambitious tory backbenchers by offering places in the shadow cabinet and UKIP would poach Euroskeptics. Most of these MPs could probably take their seats with them.
asuffield 12y ago
I would not be surprised by seeing a Tory split (into the nationalist and libertarian factions), but it would take years - there's a lot of money holding the two halves of their party together. I wouldn't like this outcome much though - it would mean Cameron was the representative of the "nicer party" in British politics.

celticninja 12y ago

>If the next government is formed of different people, then under British sovereignty traditions it will feel no obligation to pay any attention to the referendum run by its predecessor. That is incorrect, all 3 parties (not individuals within the parties) gave a promise to respect the outcome of the referendum. So even if a labour govt gets in at the next General Election they will respect the decision. The dificulty will come in negotiations for the exit, that will be impacted by the format of any new government, but the decision to allow independance will not. http://www.futureukandscotland.ac.uk/sites/default/files/papers/Scotland%27s%20Decision%20final%20ebook.pdf http://www.futureukandscotland.ac.uk/sites/default/files/pap...