Douglas MacQueen's blog

The Scottish newspaper The Courier, published in the town of Dundee (Scottish Gaelic: Dùn Dé), has reported on the latest Survation poll for the Daily Mail which shows a surge in support for a Yes to independence vote. This is the first poll since the overwhelming victory of Scotland’s First Minister Alex Salmond in the last televised debate on the independence referendum with pro-union Alistair Darling. It shows that the lead of the No campaign has been halved.

The remarkable performance by Scotland’s First Minister Alex Salmond in the UK televised debate with pro-union Alistair Darling on Scottish independence has boosted the YES campaign in favour of Scottish independence. Opinion polls show a huge majority believe that Alex Salmond scored a massive victory over the lack lustre performance by Alistair Darling.

According to a report by international finance company Credit Suisse an independent Scotland would rank higher on the Human Development Index (HDI). That is the case even without oil. The Human Index Statistic is a composite statistic of life expectancy, education and income and the Credit Suisse report ‘The Success of Small Countries’ concluded that on these key areas Scotland would rank higher than rUK (rest of the United Kingdom). It states that smaller nations "have been amongst the economic success stories of the past 20 years".

The pro-independence campaign is calling on European Union migrants in Scotland to vote Yes in the referendum. As pointed out by Scotland’s Deputy First Minister Nicola Sturgeon speaking at a Polish for Yes meeting:

 "With the Westminster parties dancing to Ukip's anti-European tune, Scotland faces the very real prospect of being ripped out of the EU against our will in the event of a No vote.

For anyone that has not seen the “Wee Blue Book” by the superb website Wings Over Scotland here is the link. It makes a clear and concise argument for a positive Yes vote in the forthcoming referendum on Scottish independence. It demolishes the many half-truths and inaccuracies of the No campaign which is supported by the overwhelming majority of the media. The “Wee Blue Book” sets out to give the case in support of independence for Scotland. The demand for the download is overwhelming.

In a remarkable piece of candour (or is it arrogance), the Scottish Secretary Alistair Carmichael has had the anti-independence campaigners running for cover. As reported in the Herald newspaper he has stated that if the Scottish people vote No to independence in the referendum the independence question will never be put again and “Scotland’s future would be settled once and for all”. He also made it clear that should this be the outcome Westminster (United Kingdom) would tighten its grip on Scotland!

As reported in the Scottish newspaper the Herald and on the Scottish National Party website the United Kingdom government (Westminster) has been accused of deliberately downplaying the potential for oil and gas returns ahead of the Scottish independence referendum. They are referring to an article that appeared in the weekly Investors Chronicle that is published by the Financial Times group.

As reported on the Scottish National Party (SNP) website the Yes campaign has received a boost due to the support for a No vote from deeply unpopular ex UK Prime Minister Tony Blair. Voicing his support for the anti-independence Better Together campaign is seen as a major embarrassment to them. Blair’s support for the Iraq war on false pretences marred his period of premiership in the UK.

On BBC Radio programme Crossfire the former chief medical officer Sir Harry Burns said that a Yes vote in Scotland’s referendum would be beneficial for Scottish people’s health.  Sir Harry said that if people of an independent Scotland felt more in control of their lives "then that would be very positive for their health".