I wonder how much the extended time for persuasion will really help as opposed to turn us off in droves. I was undecided, but now apart from an emotional aspect can really see nothing persuasive about independence. What is more strange is the amount of time the SNP have had and signally failed to use to smooth the transitional plans and post- independence alliances and arrangements. To assume that membership of the EU was a given on the coattails of the UK membership is risible. To not have made negotiation of nuclear armaments disposal concrete ; NATO membership and the share of the banking debts clear are just some of the glaring omissions.

Essentially, Salmond strikes me as a politician for the Big Oppositional Rallying Cry rather than a leader and strategist of anything more substantial and crucial to the daily lives of us Scots. His relationship with Murdoch makes my skin crawl; his fundamentally wrong calls on RBS and the calamitous banking collapse and the AMRO take over were all horrendous. His smarm-fest with Donald Trump seems to have finished him off as a serious man of integrity in my eyes. He's just not good enough to instill confidence in me, and his ideas are so half-baked as to be frightening. And, all this from a neo-liberalist banker? Who''d have thunk it!

I wonder how much the extended time for persuasion will really help as opposed to turn us off in droves. I was undecided, but now apart from an emotional aspect can really see nothing persuasive about independence. What is more strange is the amount of time the SNP have had and signally failed to use to smooth the transitional plans and post- independence alliances and arrangements. To assume that membership of the EU was a given on the coattails of the UK membership is risible. To not have made negotiation of nuclear armaments disposal concrete ; NATO membership and the share of the banking debts clear are just some of the glaring omissions.

Essentially, Salmond strikes me as a politician for the Big Oppositional Rallying Cry rather than a leader and strategist of anything more substantial and crucial to the daily lives of we Scots. His relationship with Murdoch makes my skin crawl; his fundamentally wrong calls on RBS and the calamitous banking collapse and the AMRO take over were all horrendous. His smarm-fest with Donald Trump seems to have finished him off as a serious man of integrity in my eyes. He's just not good enough to instill confidence in me, and his ideas are so half-baked as to be frightening. And, all this from a neo-liberalist banker? Who''d have thunk it!

@ Mcdonaldish: Jesus wept!!! Just the type of nationalist belligerence I was referring too.

And another thing- who apart from Salmond could you say strikes you as a halfway decent politician within the SNP ranks? Jesus HC if the SNP do achieve independence then I suppose we Scots can just sit about, play XBox and eat pies!!

So Salmond thinks that, after Tory troubles, his SNP will provide a better prospect to Scots than Labour. I wonder, who has the greater challenge.

So refreshing, after the dark lost years of Labour, to see a true man, a bold man, like David Cameron stand up and fight for Britain.

Yes it means he will struggle to get a Conservative majority, if Scotland stays within the UK, however so good to see someone acting in our nations best interests.

Where was that useless idiot Brown? Or and the eqaully useless idiot Blair? Oh Yes.....we know...feathering their own nests. Despicable.

With David, at last, we have a man prepared to fight for Britain...and he will make mincemeat of that disgusting Alex Salmond...you watch.

Comrades, join us, the revolution is just beginning!

And the winner is David Cameron

He gave the Scots their referendum which is more than likely to say NO and he will campaign on that basis.

If they say YES then Labour loses 40 plus MP's and probably power for the indefinite future in the rest of the UK.

I would get my troops out in Scotland if I were Ted Miliband, but he might have to look hard to find Gordon Brown. On second thoughts don't bother, it won't help the YES argument anyway.

or EDL!!!

It is ironic that the SNP want independence and still be a member of the EU. Salmond has botched the whole idea of being in the EU by promising that an independent Scotland would remain in the EU, eventhough the EU have never guaranteed automatic membership.

You're a complete idiot if you sincerely believe Salmond wanted anything other than a single question referendum. The SNP repeated that a single question referendum was their preferred option so many times that it became hidden in plain sight. Just goes to show how mind numbingly stupid the majority of 'commentators' are.

Contrary to popular opinion outside Scotland, the Yes campaign is not interested in Bannockburn and 'nationalist fervour'. The case for Scottish independence is about a fairer, greener, progressive Scotland which simply has the same status as every other country.

We don't live in tartan clad houses with Braveheart on a constant repeat cycle. Scots do want their country to be fairer and healthier - the debate will be about which constitutional outcome can best deliver that.

Just wondering if the Jubilee, Olympics, etc, also "stoked nationalist fervour"?
Is there not a British nationalism that can also be referred to in such terms? Terms that suggest nationalism is a wild, unreasonable, fiery thing?