A podcast about a referendum...surely not

This week, it has been a steady stream of pronouncements about the referendum to be held about Scottish independence. As you will have gathered from this blog; a lot of the verbiage is 'old news'; however it seem fitting to have a bash at it in this week's Lesley Riddoch Podcast. Enjoy.

Comments

[Mike Vickers]

The question can only be Yes or No.
The half-way house is a moving feast. Scotland is devolved already. Then there is the stalled Scotland Bill. DEVOMax is for another 10 years at max, before there is the DEVOSuperMax.
I am biased but to me the first decision is whether Scotland will be more egalitarian on its own or as part of the Union. The second question is if Yes on its own, does Scotland have the resources to actually to be more egalitarian. The third what are our resources. Oh dear we are back to the N word.
The trouble is the debate that is going on at present is at best at a level of at the next parliament it all can be changed back is we done like it; rather than the decision is for the next 100 years.
You talk of the civil servants thinking that there will be no change after Independence. They are right for the first few years but there will be evolution to a much smaller bureaucracy – could be shorter if the 1798 Terror takes over or Salmond takes on the Napoleonic mantle. Sorting out Independence after the event will take at least 20 years.
Incidentally I am waiting to see if the Guardian publishes it pole figures on Independence or not. On the basis of the picture I get the impression that the English, at least the shire counties, would be happy to see the Scots gone.