Essay:Too small, too poor, too stupid

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Too small, too poor, too stupid,[1] sometimes too wee, too poor, too stupid,[2] or variations thereof, is an unattributed phrase that has become a meme that arose in connection with the debate about Scotland rescinding from the political Union with England that formed the United Kingdom.[3]

On its face, it looks like it was actually first stated, not by a unionist, but by John Swinney in 2001.[4] "They are terrified of the idea that the lives of millions of Scots would be improved if control of Scottish resources were in Scottish hands, and that is why they will always run down the Scots - why they will always say we are too stupid and too poor to be trusted to run the affairs of our own country."

Although unionists have never actually used the phrase too small, too poor, too stupid in its entirety, nationalists assert that the individual sentiments contained therein are re-occurring elements in many unionist arguments against Scottish independence. As the phrase was apparently invented by Scottish nationalists as a derogatory description of their opponents' position - and as it is used almost exclusively by nationalists - it is arguably an attempt to straw man the unionist position.

Too small[edit]

Unionists have never claimed that Scotland is "too small" to flourish as an independent country but have commented on the perceived disadvantages that Scotland may face as a small independent country, such as a diminished influence on the international stage.[5] However, many other small European countries are thriving,[6] some better than others (eight of the twenty-seven EU member states have smaller populations than Scotland). It would seem that size doesn’t always matter;[7][8] as Winston Churchill once observed, "Of all the small nations of this earth, perhaps only the ancient Greeks surpass the Scots in their contribution to mankind."[9] Unionists have commented that if Scotland were to become independent, the Scots, in terms of EU clout, would still be surpassed by the Greeks.[10]

Nationalists argue that, as an independent EU country, Scotland would 'have a seat at the table' and be able to wield influence by forging alliances on issues of mutual interest.[11][12] Unionists, however, argue that an independent Scotland would not automatically be a member of the EU and would have to apply to join.[13] British government sources have claimed that Spain would veto Scotland joining the EU.[14] Spain's foreign minister let it be known that was not the case.[15] Ultimately, Scotland's continued membership in the EU is more than likely simply an administrative formality.[16][17][18][19][20][21][22] Eamonn Gallagher, former Director General of the European Commission and EC Ambassador to the UN in New York, stated that both Scotland and the remainder of the United Kingdom would be successor states to the former United Kingdom: "they would have equal status with each other and the other states. The remainder of the United Kingdom would not be in a more powerful position than Scotland."[23] When the EU President, Jose Manuel Barroso, expressed an opinion on the status of an independent Scotland and the EU it was described as "significant" by the Prime Minister.[24][25] However, when Mr Barroso commented on UKIP and euroscepticism in the Conservative party the Prime Minister accused him of "lecturing" his party.[26] The proposed referendum on UK membership of the EU may in fact pose a bigger threat to Scotland's continued EU membership than independence.[27]

Unionists, believing that Scotland would have to apply to join the EU, also claim that Scotland would be forced to adopt the Euro[28] and others claim that Scotland would have to join the EU's borderless Schengen area resulting in mass immigration and border controls between England and Scotland.[29][30] Meanwhile the British Government agreed to single visa for travel to both the United Kingdom and the former United Kingdom territory, the Republic of Ireland.[31] Nevertheless, if Scotland did have to join the EU as a new member, Scotland would only have to agree to a commitment to adopt the euro in due course by fulfilling the convergence criterion, part of which is joining the Exchange Rate Mechanism (ERM II), which is voluntary.[32] Sweden has not volunteered to join ERM II so cannot be forced to join the Euro.[33][34] Furthermore, other unionists have indicated that Britain will have to join the Euro anyway.[35][36] As a successor state to the UK, Scotland would not be subject to the EU Schengen agreement and would instead inherit the borderless Common Travel Area which already exists across the UK and Ireland.

If Scotland doesn't have to adopt the Euro, unionists make it clear that Scotland can't keep the pound or print its own pound notes.[37][38][39][40] Scotland will also lose its pandas.[41] The current £3.5 billion of Scottish notes in circulation are backed by ring-fenced assets held in the Bank of England that would then have to be returned to the Scottish banks as Sterling.[42][43] Scotland could of course simply use the pound. Many countries do not have their own currency and use someone else's;[44] the Isle of Man and the Bailiwicks of Guernsey and Jersey are separate countries from the U.K. but still use the pound. Alternatively, Scotland could reintroduce the Pound Scots and peg it one-to-one with Sterling.[45] Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and United Arab Emirates have pegged their currencies to the US Dollar,[46] and other countries, especially in Europe and Africa, peg their currencies to the Euro.[47] After independence from the UK in 1922, Ireland retained Sterling then, in 1928, introduced the Irish Punt pegged with Sterling. An exchange rate was eventually introduced in 1979 and continued until Ireland adopted the Euro in 1999 (Euro currency was introduced in 2002). Ultimately, Scotland would be able to retain sterling as its currency as confirmed by the former Deputy Governor of the Bank of England Sir John Gieve.[48][49][50] The pandas reside at Edinburgh zoo due to an agreement between the Royal Zoological Society of Scotland and the Chinese Wildlife Conservation Organisation.[51] There are more pandas in Scotland than Conservative Members of Parliament.

Unionists claim that the defence capabilities of an independent Scotland would be less comprehensive and effective than as part of the UK making Scotland more vulnerable to terrorist and cyber attack, as Scotland would have to establish entirely new armed forces from scratch.[52] Others claim that an independent Scotland would not even be able to defend itself[53] and would not be guaranteed access to crucial intelligence on terrorism and organised crime from the UK and other states.[54] The defence effectiveness argument assumes an independent Scotland would need armed forces capable of invading foreign countries such as Iraq rather than adopting a defence strategy that empasises humanitarian aid and global peacekeeping similar to those of other small NATO countries.[55][56][57] The claim that Scotland would have to establish entirely new armed forces from scratch assumes that an independent Scotland would not inherit any of the UK's current assets but nevertheless be expected to accept a share of current UK liabilities such as the national debt.[58] Currently the UK is unable to defend Scotland and requires assistance form other NATO countries to do so.[59] The current trend is towards greater international intelligence co-operation rather than less[60] and the former counter-terrorism co-ordinator with the Association of Chief Police Officers in Scotland has stated that in his experience "an excellent Scottish intelligence organisation could be developed in an independent country".[61] It is also suggested that an independent Scotland would not be allowed to join NATO if it did not allow the UK's nuclear weapons to remain in Scotland.[62] However, NATO has an open-door policy for "all European democracies which share the values of our Alliance, which are willing and able to assume the responsibilities and obligations of membership, and whose inclusion can contribute to common security and stability."[63] Furthermore, NATO also allows for nations to opt out of the nuclear sharing process.[64][65] Regardless of the defence strategy adopted by an independent Scotland, the life Peer Lord Fraser of Carmyllie has warned that an Independent Scotland could become a warzone "asking to be invaded". Consequently England would "have but to come and bomb the hell out of Glasgow airport and Edinburgh airport".[66] However, other small countries such as Monaco, Andorra and Liechtenstein have not yet suffered the same fate.

Too poor[edit]

Cover of the Economist April 14-20, 2012[67]
According to the UK Government Scots would each be £1 a year worse off.[68]

Unioinists have never claimed that Scotland is "too poor" to finance itself as an independent country and have in fact stated the opposite.[69][70][71] Unionists have, however, suggested that the Scots depend on subsidies from England .[72] That is based on the assumption that the Scots receive higher public spending per head than in England. That then enables the Scots to enjoy goodies such as Council tax freezes, free prescriptions, subsidised public transport for pensioners, free personal care for the elderly and no tuition fees for Scottish students.[73] Ruth Davidson, leader of the Scottish Conservatives, claimed that only 12% of Scottish households make a net contribution to the Scottish economy,[74] a percentage nearly as high as the Conservative vote in Scotland.[75] Less North Sea taxes, tax revenues per capita in Scotland are similar to those for the UK as a whole, nevertheless, public spending per head is about £1,200 a year higher in Scotland than in the UK as a whole.[76] That identifiable public spending in Scotland is allocated on the basis of the Barnett Formula which is allocated to the Scottish Government as a block grant. Comparisons of identifiable public spending between Scotland and the UK as a whole do not include the non-identifiable expenditure which includes the likes of defence, foreign office services, research and development, and the institutions of the British state. However, 2012 figures showed that with 8.4 per cent of the UK population, Scotland contributed 9.4 per cent of UK taxes.[77] Thus the net contribution to the economy by Scottish households is much the same as that made by English households.[78] Those comparisons of identifiable public spending, which omit non-identifiable expenditure such as defence or allocate it on a per capita basis, do not measure where the spending actually occurs, nor of any benefit arising from employment, incomes and so on,[79] much of which occur in southern England.[80] After Northern Ireland and before Scotland, the highest identifiable public spending per capita is in London,[81] where many of the benefits of non-identifiable expenditure accrue. As the identifiable public spending in Scotland is allocated on the basis of the Barnett Formula which is allocated to the Scottish Government as a block grant, the Scottish Government then has to decide how to spend it. The goodies such as council tax freezes, free prescriptions and no tuition fees for Scottish students are all paid for by economies and cuts in other areas.[82][83]

The figures for oil related revenues are often disputed by both sides of the debate. However, in 1999 the Scottish Adjacent Waters Boundaries Order[84] changed the sea border between Scotland and England. Condemned by Some Scottish nationalist, those changes brought the sea border more into line with what is normal international practice.[85] No matter the exact border, it is clear that, in the past, oil generated a lot of revenues.[86] It would seem that plenty more may follow.[87][88][89] It has also been suggested that Shetland and Orkney, with their substantial oil wealth, may choose not to be part of an independent Scotland.[90] However, under international maritime law, when an island belonging to one state sits on the continental shelf of another state, the islands are treated as enclaves. Therefore most of the rights to the continental shelf would remain Scottish. The small zone around the islands, and the waters between Orkney and Shetland contains no oil fields.[91]

Nevertheless, unionists argue that Scotland's dependence on the UK is inevitable because of Scotland's share of the national debt and the cost of the banking crisis which led to the 'Scottish banks' being bailed-out.[92] Unionists put Scotland's share of the UK national debt at about £140billion.[93] However, based on population, it would more likely be about £80 billion.[94] A figure that would enable Scotland to maintain a triple A credit rating.[95] Unionists argue that only the Union can guarantee a triple A credit rating for Scotland,[96] but the Union apparently cannot guarantee that for the United Kingdom.[97][98][99] However, if the argument that an independent Scotland would not automatically be a member of the EU because it is not a successor state to the UK is true. Then by not being a succesor State, an independent Scotland would not be liable for any of the UK national debt. The 'Scottish banks', are in fact multinational corporations whose UK trading activities occur mostly in the City of London and are regulated from London.[100] Under international convention, when banks which operate in more than one country get into trouble, the bailout is shared in proportion to the area of activities of those banks. In this case about ten percent would fall on Scotland.[101][102] In light of the the banking crisis, the UK Scottish secretary Jim Murphy, referred to the small countries Iceland, Ireland and Norway as the "arc of insolvency",[103] however, the 2013 Legatum Prosperity Index ranked Iceland, Ireland and Norway above the UK.[104] Those counties having a GDP per capita greater than the UK.[105]

Unionists also argue that Scotland would have to pay compensation to the Ministry of Defence for the removal of the nuclear weapons submarine naval base from Faslane.[106] However, the nations that became independent from Russia in the 1990s did not foot the bill for the removal of Russian nuclear and other weapons facilities. Ultimately Scotland is more than capable of financing itself despite attempts to disprove that.[107]

Foreign Secretary William Hague said UK embassies would not promote Scotch Whisky for free if Scotland became independent.[108] However, when Scottish Development International holds receptions promoting Scotch Whisky in UK embassies, they are currently charged up to £3000 a time. When UK trade and investment hold receptions in UK embassies they are charged nothing at all.[109] Unionists have also claimed that the uncertainty about the date of an independence referendum is affecting investment in Scotland.[110][111] However, there seems to be little evidence for that.[112][113] A recent Ernst & Young report described Scotland as the top UK destination for inward investment.[114]

Too stupid[edit]

Cover of Scotland On Sunday supplement April 07, 2013
“Today, the ruling party of Scotland has nationalism as its creed and is suspiciously coy about its own history. Elsewhere in the nationalist family, the BNP, before it plunged into fratricidal warfare, trounced the Far Left in recent Scottish elections and, in 2010, received a respectable 1,000 votes in Alex Salmond’s stamping ground of Banff and Buchan. To this should be added growing sympathy for the agenda of Ukip. The Scottish electorate now appears more receptive to radical nationalism than Mosley’s blackshirts could ever dream of.”[115] Note the reductio ad Hitlerum and bad Gaelic grammar. "Klan" na h-Alba would be the proper form.

Unionists have never claimed that the Scots are "too stupid" to manage an independent Scotland themselves. However, unionists often feel that it is better to manage things from Westminster. [116][117][118] UK prime minister David Cameron thought it better that an independence referendum in Scotland should be organised by his government in London rather than by the Scots.[119][120] Others thought that's just not cricket.[121] Nevertheless, David Cameron says that independence "is a matter for the Scots to discuss and decide";[122] however, his UK Government is not shy about interfering, for example asking foreign governments,[123][124] foreign media[125] and big business[126] to help undermine the case for independence along with numerous UK Parliament committees and reports designed to persuade the Scots that independence will be bad for them.[127]

In all fairness, there are apparently Scots who are more than capable of "stupid". The English born Scottish Labour Party Peer Lord Foulkes claimed that a second option on any independence ballot, such as increased powers for the Scottish Parliament as proposed by Civic Scotland,[128] would confuse the Scottish electorate.[129] The Scottish Labour Party leader, Johann Lamont, stated that "we're not genetically programmed in Scotland to make political decisions",[130] a clumsy attempt to say that a Scottish government would not automatically make better decisions than a UK government. The former leader, Iain Gray, has described Alex Salmond's pursuit of Scottish independence as "daft, deluded, deranged and downright dangerous".[131] A fellow Scottish Labour MP has invoked Godwin's Law,[132] and the Scottish Liberal Democrat MP Alan Reid has compared him to Joseph Stalin.[133] The Ulster-Scot Lord Empey, leader of the Ulster Unionists from 2005 to 2010, has compared Alex Salmond to the leaders of North Korea and Cuba.[134] Building on that meme, Lord Robertson, the former Labour Defence Secretary, has suggested that Scottish independence would boost the forces of darkness.[135] However, at least four Englishmen have shown they are capable of stupid, Jeremy Paxman, by comparing Alex Salmond to Robert Mugabe[136] and the Labour Party leader, Ed Miliband, by claiming that Scots will not be British if they vote for independence[137] oblivious to that fact that Scots are British due to their being inhabitants of the island of Great Britain. The Shadow Health Secretary Andy Burnham even went so far as to claim that if Scotland became independent Scots may have to drive on the right and show ID at the border[138] (though admittedly, switching to the right side of the road might be an improvement). However, not to be outdone by the Labour Party, the Conservative Defence Secretary, Philip Hammond, declared that a separate Scotland would be more vulnerable to threats from space.[139]

Scottish Labour MP Ian Davidson invoked Gibson's Law by claiming that Scots celebrate the battle of Bannockburn because hundreds of thousands of English people were murdered.[140] Davidson, deciding that the independence debate is now over, suggested that "a large number of wounded [nationalists] still [had] to be bayoneted".[141] However, the English army at Bannockburn only numbered tens of thousands. Ian Davidson has not let it be known whether or not the British Government's planned celebrations of the centenary of World War I is because millions of Germans were murdered.[142] Some find it odd to celebrate the beginning of the bloody slaughter rather than the end of it.[143] That the centenary of the beginning of WWI and the 700th anniversary of the Battle of Bannockburn fall in 2014, the year of the referendum on Scottish independence, is of course purely coincidental.

Alex Salmond has not only been compared to the world's past and present dictators, but has also been accused of being a bare-faced liar regarding EU legal advice.[144][145] The accusations, however, proved groundless.[146][147]

Labour MP Cathie Jamieson suggested that Alex Salmond should submit the SNP's welfare and pension proposals to the Office of Budget Responsibility for an independent audit.[148] Previously, the Labour Shadow chancellor Ed Balls had written to the Office of Budget Responsibility asking it to vet the Labour manifesto.[149] Unfortunately that was outside the BRO remit. However, the credibility of the organization has been called into question by the former Labour chancellor (of banking crisis fame),[150] Alistair Darling,[151] the leader of Better Together. Mr Darling has also claimed that an Institute for Fiscal Studies report predicting 50 years into the future left the economic case for Scottish independence in tatters.[152] However, the Labour party had previously dismissed an IFS report on its budget plans on the grounds that it is not possible to accept the assumptions being offered by the IFS because of the time period of the prediction - in that case seven years into the future.[153]

In 2011, while Secretary of State for Scotland, Michael Moore was claiming that the idea of an independent Scotland continuing as a member of the EU was "quite fanciful".[154] Two years later, after being sacked, Michael Moore let it be known that he thought that "the EU had a proud record in Europe in recent times of expanding its borders and including people in".[155]

Since the Union Scotland has had a separate legal system. However, English judges may refer cases to the recently established UK Supreme Court but Scottish Judges may not.[156] Lord Hamilton, the Lord President of the Court of Session and head of the judiciary in Scotland, requested that Scottish judges be given the same powers as English ones, but that was rejected by the British Government. The Scottish Queen's Counsel Paul McBride described the situation as one where "we have English judges who can be trusted and Scottish ones who can't." Scottish Judges can, as a result, be overruled by judges in England. As the Scots cannot be trusted, the Home Secretary, Theresa May, suggested that other countries would not be willing to share sensitive information on terrorism and organised crime with an independent Scotland.[157]

Scotland's First Minister (sort of Prime Minister), Alex Salmond, was invited to be a guest, commenting only about rugby, on the BBC radio panel for the Six Nations rugby match between England and Scotland. However, when BBC bosses in London got wind of it he was barred because the BBC's political impartiality was being breached—with Scottish local elections occurring 3 months later.[158] The First Minister's comments about rugby may otherwise have unfairly influenced the result. Normally political impartiality is adhered to six weeks before an election. However, only days later, David Cameron was free to comment on BBC radio about football and the resignation of the England manager[159]—with English local elections occurring 3 months later.

After the Edinburgh Agreement of October 2012[160] was finalised, MSM concensus was that David Cameron got his way regarding the referendum,[161] in particular regarding a second question for more devolution.[162] However, the referendum consultation only entertained the possibility of a second question if those supporting it could define what that would entail,[163] and that never materialised. Alex Salmond had previously made it clear that "it's not up to us [the SNP] to define devolution max. We support independence..."[164] so the Scottish government appears to have got everything they wanted: a legally watertight referendum, votes for 16- and 17-year-olds, control of how much money each side may spend on their referendum campaign, control of the date and the referendum question itself.[165][166]

However, David Cameron, the British Prime Minister, is keen to tell Scottish audiences that "Britain works” and asks “why break it?"[167] but tells English audiences that "Britain is Broken"[168] (he'll fix it).

The Scottish Conservative leader Ruth Davidson has claimed that Scots would not be able to watch the BBC series Doctor Who if Scotland became independent.[169] However, Doctor Who has been shown in 75 countries across the world from Angola to Venezuela.

The former Labour First Minister, and unionist, Henry McLeish has said that the anti-independence campaign Better Together was "treating Scots like idiots".[170][171]

External Sites[edit]

Footnotes[edit]

  1. Google it!
  2. Google it too!
  3. The Law Society of Scotland: Scotland’s Constitutional Future
  4. Swinney seeks trust of the voters
  5. Michael Moore in "small Scotland" warning
  6. A few examples by population: Andorra 68,403 , Denmark 5,368,854, Finland 5,302,545, Iceland 312,384, Malta 397,499, Monaco 31,987, Liechtenstein 32,842, Lithuania 3,601,138 , Luxembourg 512,000, Norway 4,942,700, Switzerland 7,301,994. Many in Western Europe have a GDP higher than the UK.
  7. The Stability and Breakup of Nations: A Quantitative Analysis
  8. Bigger not always better when it comes to countries
  9. Impact of the Enlightenment
  10. Independent Scotland would have less EU clout than Greece
  11. Breakaway Scotland could forge new EU alliances
  12. Written Submission from ESRC
  13. Independent Scotland would have to apply to join EU
  14. Spain could wield veto over Scotland's EU membership
  15. España vetaría el ingreso de Escocia en la Unión European
  16. Scotland's Place in Europe
  17. UK faces EU re- negotiation over Scottish independence
  18. An independent Scotland would face little European opposition to membership of the European Union
  19. The foreign policy implications of and for a separate Scotland
  20. A Quarrel in a Faraway Country?: Scotland, Independence and the EU
  21. Scotland as an Independent Small State: Where would it seek shelter?
  22. Former European Court Judge: loss of sea area if Scotland ejected from EU 'important security consideration'
  23. Would Scottish Independence Matter to Basques?
  24. Scottish independence: EC's Barroso says new states need 'apply to join EU'
  25. French MP: Jose Manuel Barroso intervened in indyref debate to secure Nato top job
  26. David Cameron's anger at Barroso's UKIP claim
  27. Draft EU referendum Bill 'fundamentally changes' independence debate
  28. Independent Scotland 'would have to join the euro'
  29. Scottish independence will cause mass immigration, Theresa May claims
  30. Scottish independence: Spectre of border controls raised by top Tory
  31. Irish and British governments to trial common tourist visa this year
  32. What is ERM II?
  33. ERM II
  34. Scotland would not be forced into Eurozone, claims top economist
  35. Britain will have to join the euro
  36. You'll have to join euro... and sooner than you think
  37. Independent Scotland 'would lose the pound'
  38. I'll ban an independent Scotland from using the pound, warns chancellor George Osborne
  39. Treasury threat to future of Scottish bank notes
  40. Chancellor 'would block Scotland from keeping pound'
  41. Independent Scotland could be banned from using the pound - and lose its pandas
  42. Some argue that as the Bank of England was nationalised in 1946, it is an asset of the British state, a share of which would belong to Scotland anyway.
  43. Banknote History
  44. Countries that do not print paper money
  45. What is Pegging(Peg) In Finance?
  46. 17 Currencies That Are Pegged to the US Dollar
  47. Why Are Some Currencies Pegged To The Euro Exchange Rate?
  48. Michael Moore savaged by Unionist peers over EU row
  49. Euro, Pound Sterling or Scottish Pound?
  50. Osborne's case against currency union ripped apart by top economist
  51. Edinburgh Zoo’s Giant Pandas
  52. Defence force 'less comprehensive and effective' under independence
  53. An Independent Scotland Would Not Be Able To Defend Itself, Says Hammond
  54. May: MI5 wouldn’t share with independent Scotland
  55. In our defence: What model can a independent Scotland take for its defence?
  56. A' the Blue Bonnets: Defending an Independent Scotland
  57. Reflections on Defending an Independent Scotland: A View from Ireland, Institute of International and European Affairs, August 2013
  58. Scottish independence: what would happen to Scotland’s share of the national debt?
  59. UK 'abandoning maritime patrols'
  60. On 'a Continuum with Expansion'? Intelligence Cooperation in Europe in the Early Twenty-first Century
  61. Scottish independence: Ex-police chiefs clash over security
  62. Independent Scotland out of Nato 'regardless of SNP vote'
  63. Active Engagement, Modern Defence
  64. Disarmament Diplomacy 'Tactical Nuclear Weapons: Europe's Redundant WMD'
  65. The NATO Monitor
  66. English 'would bomb our airports'
  67. Scottish independence It’ll cost you
  68. Row flares as Treasury blasts SNP oil dividend
  69. Scotland not subsidised by rest of UK
  70. Ten Tartan Rules to win the referendum for the Union
  71. FT 'Independence debate: Yes, Scotland?'
  72. Scots each get £1,600 more state cash a year spent on them than the English
  73. A plot to shatter the Union and the REAL reason English taxpayers pay for Granny McTavish to live the high life
  74. Nine out of ten Scots 'are a burden on the state'
  75. 2011 Constituency Result
  76. Scottish independence: the fiscal context
  77. The TRUTH about ‘subsidised Scotland’
  78. Scotland's Tory leader has got her sums very wrong on the economy
  79. Scottish independence: the fiscal context
  80. Enough of the Scottish subsidy myth
  81. Just who are you calling spongers?
  82. Government spending in Scotland
  83. With enemies like the Better Together campaign who needs friends?
  84. The National Archives
  85. Prospective Anglo-Scottish Maritime Boundary Revisited
  86. North Sea oil could have made an independent Scotland as prosperous as Switzerland.
  87. Does Oil in Scotland have a Future?
  88. Government hails North Sea 'bonanza'
  89. UK economy could be boosted by £200 billion over 20 years, according to oil review
  90. Orkney Islands see Scottish referendum as chance of freedom
  91. If Scotland Separates from the UK, what Happens to the Oil?
  92. Scotland worse off alone
  93. Scotland's share of national debt is £140billion
  94. Happy Hogmanay – would an independent Scotland still be rated AAA?
  95. We can still rise and be a triple-A nation again
  96. Doubt cast on any future Scottish sovereign rating
  97. UK loses triple A credit rating
  98. Fitch strip the UK of its AAA rating
  99. Pulp Fiction embarrassment for Better Together campaign
  100. Why did the banks only become Scottish – after they failed?
  101. Who's afraid of the big, bad truth?
  102. Yes we could afford the baking bailout
  103. Murphy in 'arc of insolvency' attack on SNP
  104. Legatum Prosperity Index
  105. countryeconomy.com
  106. Scots' breakaway plan threatens nuclear base
  107. Clive Lee, Scotland and the United Kingdom: The Economy and the Union in the Twentieth Century, Manchester: Manchester University Press, 1995.
  108. 'We won't back your whisky if you break away,' Hague tells Scotland
  109. Whisky industry already paying for embassy support
  110. Scottish Independence Referendum Delay 'Damaging Economy'
  111. Scottish independence referendum delay 'a real danger'
  112. Scottish business leaders respond to claims Scottish independence vote delay harming the economy
  113. Does Scotland look bonnie to foreign investors?
  114. Osborne accused of trying to sabotage investment in Scotland
  115. Gavin Bowd reveals some uncomfortable truths in Fascist Scotland
  116. Cameron to lead charge of ministers to Scotland
  117. Independence debate: Prime Minister David Cameron heads north in his bid to 'Save Britain'
  118. Ed Miliband and David Cameron unite in battle to keep Scotland in the UK
  119. Cameron seeks independence referendum clarity
  120. David Cameron might take Scottish independence referendum off Alex Salmond
  121. Support for Holyrood to call shots on referendum
  122. If independence is a matter for Scots, the PM should keep out
  123. No 10 to Kremlin: Help us win the Scottish referendum
  124. Foreign Office briefs Russia ... and the world ... against indy
  125. Foreign Office caught asking Spanish press to undermine Scottish independence
  126. Defence firms urged to speak out
  127. UK Parliament
  128. Civic Scotland: nationalism by proxy?
  129. Lords debates plan to stop second devo-max option
  130. "We're not genetically programmed in Scotland to make political decisions" says Johann Lamont
  131. Labour leader Iain Gray blasts Alex Salmond over 'daft, deluded & dangerous' drive for independence
  132. Ve gaffe ways of making you walk
  133. LibDems see off grassroots revolt
  134. Ulster’s troubles ‘could flare again’ if Scots vote for independence
  135. Lord Robertson says yes vote would boost west's enemies and 'forces of darkness' and embolden dictators across the world
  136. Historic day for the UK: Salmond consults Scotland but can't civilise Paxman
  137. Scots will not be British if they vote for independence, says Miliband,
  138. Roads right mare
  139. Go-alone Scotland faces 'threats from space', Scottish Daily Mail, 16 Apr 2014
  140. Davidson: Bannockburn speech in the House of Commons
  141. Davidson under fire for 'bayoneting' remarks
  142. Cameron plans first world war centenary celebrations
  143. Start of WWI nothing to celebrate, say MPs
  144. Alex Salmond branded 'bare-faced liar' over EU legal advice
  145. Alex Salmond refers himself under ministerial code over EU legal advice
  146. Inquiry clears First Minister over EU legal advice claim
  147. Scottish Ministerial Code: Complaint By Catherine Stihler MSP
  148. Salmond urged to submit pledges for audit
  149. Balls' OBR plan lacks bounce
  150. Banking crisis: sketch
  151. Bias claims undermine OBR 'independence'
  152. IFS points to an independent Scotland’s fiscal gap
  153. Labour says criticism by IFS thinktank on cuts is misleading
  154. SNP assumption over Scotland’s EU membership 'quite fanciful' - Michael Moore
  155. Former UK Secretary of State for Scotland: "Were Catalonia to become an independent country, the world would recognise it"
  156. Top judge snubbed in Supreme Court row
  157. Whitehall might not share terror intelligence with breakaway Scotland
  158. Beeb kick Salmond indy touch
  159. Cameron 'Sorry' England Boss Quit As Italian 'Gagged' By Contract
  160. The text of the Edinburgh Agreement in full
  161. Scotland referendum deal done and Salmond looks like the loser
  162. Scottish independence referendum: What is devolution max?
  163. Consultation on the Scottish Government’s proposals for a referendum on independence
  164. UK govt pretends to be more Scottish than Scots
  165. Both sides won a battle or two but only time will tell who won the war
  166. 'The Prime Minister is Pontius Pilate, he's washed his hands of Scotland': Scots Tories attack Cameron's referendum cave-in
  167. Prime Minister tells Scottish voters: ‘Britain works. Why break it?’
  168. Cameron reveals how he will fix broken Britain
  169. Doctor Who 'scare story' slammed
  170. Scottish independence: Ditch No campaign - McLeish
  171. MSP slams 'silly' phone charge claims
  172. Fear versus hope ... what history tells us
  173. Alistair Darling calls on Better Together to advance positive case for the Union
  174. Jennifer Dempsie: Hope must replace Fear in vote
  175. Scottish independence: Questions raised over campaign spending rules
  176. Executive Profile
  177. CV
  178. Financier launches 'No Borders', a referendum campaign for 'unpolished' voters who back the union
  179. Ruth Davidson
  180. Sunday Herald is first paper to back Scottish independence
  181. Scotlandshire: BBC Scotland Coverage Of The Independence Referendum
  182. Fairness in the First Year? BBC and ITV Coverage of the Scottish Referendum Campaign from September 2012 to September 2013