17thJune 2013 so, the referendum isn’t all that far away……

17^th June, 2013….
Some choices needed, some debates required, and some decisions to be made….well, the referendum isn’t all that far away……  

It would appear to most of us that so far, the No Campaign depends on the fear quotient. There is little evidence being put forward by the @Better Together campaign of positive change in policies and the ilk that we might see in the event of a No vote, and any resultant, positive impact on Scotland if we remain in the Union. Could their view, i.e the No Campaigners,  be summarised as: change is bad, or change and see how bad it will become? 

Are we to assume therefore that those supporting & promoting the No vote believe that what we need is…more of the same in the meantime and the near future?

So  if confronted with nothing positive coming from the No campaign do Labour voters here in Scotland  believe that a yes vote could lead to their preference, namely a  Labour government  coming to power  in the first general elections in an independent Scotland?

Possibly, since when I speak to friends and colleagues who have never paid a party nor a union due, but have voted labour all their lives, I see/hear the emergence of Labour voters who utterly reject the coalition government at Westminster , their policies and practices, quite particularly the ‘welfare’ changes,  and the impact that those changes are having  and will have here. 

We have also seen the Labour party appearing time and time again with the Tories, providing the latter with a platform and coverage way beyond their normal capabilities. And to many, this sticks in the craw.  Having seen the emergence & establishment  of  ‘Better Together’, as a core group ajnd core message, would it not chime better with Labour supporters here to see and hear more (from the Labour party) as to how we will be better  off after a No vote?

 Are we in Scotland so politically immature that we are not aware of life post the referendum, namely the prospect of a 2015 general election and the implications that could be felt here: if we have said ‘no’ to independence,  may we see yet again some form of coaltion government?

What would such a coaltion government look like? Who knows, since so far, it is only@ David Cameron who has nailed his colours to the mast in such an open fashion.  His speech to the Tory faithful ( I believe that Ruth Davison could not must more than 200 in the auditorium for her ‘leader’s speech’).

David Cameron’s speech in Stirling appeared to outline his agenda over the coming years: he’d identified 2014 as the 
year for “saving our United Kingdom”, naturally. After all, as a ‘unionist’ he couldn’t be the one to be seen to lose the Union, could he?
But, good news, since he believes that2015 would then be the year for “giving Britain 
the Conservative government she needs”. So we know where we stand here, or do we? We have to wait our turn and come 2016 the Tory party would give ‘ Scotland the strong Conservative alternative she deserves”.
I see a difference between needing and deserving, but then hey, I just went to my local primary and secondary skuls.

And am I wrong in thinking he forgot to mention 2017 as the year when he plans to hold a referendum on leaving the EU? Or perhaps he feels than hand of destiny, or rather, Teresa May’s kitten heels!
Some vision, some planning, some disregard for us in Scotland.

But what of the others, Labour and Lib dems? What have they offered, what have they said? Nothing as clear as DC.
So, by my recokoning come 2017, we may have 1- rejected independence. 2- either a coalition government, i.e more of the same, because whichever way you cut it, an outright Labour majority is still doubtful…..check out the south of England , and its current voting demographics
or 3- have a strong, Tory government  based in Westminster, because whichever way you cut it, it’s very doubtful that Scotland would ever vote Tory in as our majority..check out our past voting  record, and 4-  to cap it all, we could also be in the process of leaving the EU.

So, am I being asked to hang in there: have more of the same in the meantime, and hope that come the UK elections there will be a majority Labour government that will consider the UK as a whole and not pander to the perceived needs and fears of the south of England in an effort to gain and maintain a majority?
Some choices needed, some debates required, and some decisions to be made.