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I'll hold my hand up, half Scottish and only live 9 miles from Border so very interested in how this pans out. Alex Salmond is a sad and delusional egotist who will ruin Scotland. Good news is none of my Scottish colleagues or friends are going to vote yes. They realise Scotland can't afford to stand alone without going cap in hand to the banks. The extra subsidy we English pay is the only thing keeping Scotland being another Greece or Spain. Unless Alex is going to appoint his ex best bumchum Fred Goodwin to run the economy. I am sure the exports of Irn Bru, Tunnocks Wafers and shortbread will see Scotland competing on a global level....

"Unless Alex is going to appoint his ex best bumchum Fred Goodwin to run the economy."

You seem obsessed with homosexuality and frequently mention it in your posts. Any particular reason?

Scottish and proud to be, but this ejit Alex Salmond ?

The decision is to be based in reality for independance and you need all the facts infront of you before you make it, just now he has not told me how he plans to balance the books. Tell me that and Ill think about it but until then you can stick your vote as its a dangerous vote.

He knows it too thats why he is pushing to get the voting age dropped to 16 so that we get a load of votes based on braveheart and fantasy opinions from people who dont understand what they are voting for.

They keep talking about oil - its a one horse race and if we base it on oil then we are dillusional. also who is going to protect us ? what about the army navy and border controls ? then if we go down that route then we will need to think about border check points as we are not part of the eurozone - think on how much that will disadvantage us !

If I understand Alex Salmond's current position i.e. at 10.20 on Saturday the 20th of October (it changes very regularly):

1. He used to want to model Scotland on Ireland and Iceland. Now Norway tends to get mentioned and for some reason, Ireland and Iceland never do.

2. He used to want an independent Scotland to have the euro but now he wants the pound sterling as the Scottish currency.

3. He used to want an independent Scotland to set its own interest rates but now he seems happy that the Bank of England should do this.

4. He used to want Scotland to be outside Nato but now he seems happy for an independent Scotland to be part of Nato.

5. He wants Scotland to be part of the EU but has refused point blank to publicise the legal advice which the taxpayer has paid for in terms of whether Scotland could automatically join the EU or not.

6. He wants tax powers but he already has tax powers to raise income tax for example, but has not used them because it is much more convenient to blame Westminster for everything. The Scottish parliament also has powers over local taxation

The impression I get is that Salmond is a brilliant opposition politician but in terms of what an independent Scotland would look like and how it would work, he seems to make it up as he goes along.

His current tactic seems to be to make an independent Scotland look exactly like the setup in place now i.e. pound sterling, part of EU, part of Nato, Bank of England sets interest rates etc.

If that is the concept of Scottish independence put together by a nationalist party that has been in existence for 80 years, why bother?

The approach would seem to give the Scottish people all the disadvantages e.g. interest rates set by foreign country - bit like the relationship between Spain and the German and French dominated EU Central Bank and very few of the advantages of real independence i.e. total control over monetary and fiscal policy.

I also find it gobsmacking that no-one in the SNP has ever got around to asking the EU until now as to whether Scotland could become a member of the EU straightaway or would have to go through a lengthy accession process.

Er DJ Bumchum in Cumbria means friend, it has nothing to do with uphill skiing. Bum in the USA is a tramp, again nothing to do with being a keen pink oboe player.

Anyway Alex seems to have this illusion that because oil comes ashore in Scotland it is their property. Since when was the North Sea / international waters Scottish territory? Did Scottish money pay for the exploration, building the rigs etc err no that would be Shell, BP, Exxon etc, not McHaggis oil of Auckenshuggle in Glasgow..

What will be interesting is if the SNP get battered in the vote, the last odds were 77% staying in the Union then what right have the SNP to rule Holyrood? A no vote means curtains for the SNP.

If Norway is their new role model I am sure the average Scot won't mind massive taxation, ?6 a pint for Belhaven Knat's Piss and ?20 for fish and chips. No doubt Scotland's world class infrastructure, manufacturing and banking prowess will see them through......

On a positive note a Yes vote should mean billions more for the English tax payer, lower university fees, cheaper prescriptions and no more of the Braveheart bollocks that "professional jocks" a la Mr Connery (who lives in the Carribean if I am not mistaken...) seem to spout.

Hoots mon and jings and crivens..cue Andy Cameron!

I don't really care whether Scotland gets independence or not. That's up to them.

I just pray that the result of the vote is decisive.

Can you image the bleating there's going to be from north of the border if the vote is 51% say no to independence.

I have a few friends up there, and unanimously think Salmond is off his trolly. Makes no difference to me, but I like Scotland, and don't want to see it or my friends go down the pan.

"I don't really care whether Scotland gets independence or not. That's up to them."

You might not be so sanguine, if Scottish independence leads to a one party state in the UK.

There are about 60 Westminster seats based in Scotland. 41 of the seats currently have Labour MPs, 1 of the seats has a Tory MP.

If Scotland becomes independent it will become very difficult for Labour to win an outright majority because Labour would have to win those seats from the Tories mainly in the south of England.

Fantastic news!! England will be ruled by English MPs. Now I see why Millibland is not in favour of independence. I've changed my mind.

If the Scots vote for independence how long will the transition take place? I mean it would take many years for things like the nuclear base to be moved to Plymouth.

The UK debts and oil have to be debated and divided up. What about the government tax offices etc in Scotland that would need to come down south? They would need to be built.

I would have thought a 20 year period would be needed?????

Divorse is expensive and I don't see the point. But the Scots have their vote and I'm quite happy that they are canny enough to make a good choice.