Douglas MacQueen's blog

As reported in the Scottish newspaper, The Herald, a new opinion poll today reveals that the Yes Campaign is winning over Scotland’s Labour Party supporters. This comes despite the Labour Party forming an alliance with the Tories and Liberal Democrats in Scotland against independence. Over the last three months this shows a significant rise of 7% of Labour voters switching to support an independent Scotland.

In a recent news article in the Scottish newspaper the Daily Record, one of Scotland’s leading breast surgeon’s has said that only voting Yes to independence can save the National Health Service in Scotland. Dr Philippa Whitford said: “In five years, England will not have an NHS and in 10 years, if we vote no, neither will we.

“If we do not vote Yes in September, I will be heartbroken. I have spent 32 years working in the NHS and it is very dear to me.”

Yesterday a group was launched by English people living and working in Scotland who are in favour of Scottish independence. The group is called-English Scots for Yes. This is part of a growing movement of people of English descent who support an independent Scotland. This all comes despite a campaign of misinformation from the British press which has spent months trying to foster divisions between those born in and outside of Scotland.

The Scottish National Party has launched a draft constitution for discussion should Scotland vote to become an independent sovereign nation. As reported in The Guardian newspaper it confirms that the saltire will continue to serve as the national flag of Scotland and that the choice of national anthem will be made by the Scottish parliament.

A new opinion poll commissioned by the Daily Record  shows the Yes and No to Scottish independence vote is now within touching distance. The Survation poll has sent the anti-independence campaign and its supporters in the English based media into a spin. The new poll shows support for independence up two points when compared to a similar one four weeks ago, while support against has dipped by three. This puts Yes on 39% with No on 44%.

Yesterday marked just 100 days to go until the referendum on Scottish independence. There will obviously be an increased media focus on the campaign in the weeks ahead. With all to play for, the pro-independence Yes supporters have continued to present a positive case for Scottish independence. They highlight the economic, cultural and social benefits that would result from an independent Scotland.

After seven years in office the Scottish National Party (SNP) holds a substantial 9 per cent lead in a poll on voting intentions for the next Scottish Parliament elections. The Ipsos MORI poll was conducted between 26th May and 1st June 2014 and amongst those stating they were certain to vote 39 per cent backed SNP, 30 percent Labour, 14 per cent Tories, 5 per cent Scottish Greens and  5 percent LibDems, (UKIP came in on a lower percentage in sixth place). This represents a major vote of confidence for the SNP from the Scottish people more than seven years after coming to power.

Bucking the trend across much of Europe where political parties in power were defeated across the continent, the Scottish National Party as the ruling party in Government in Scotland won the Scottish European election.  South of the border the ultra-British nationalist United Kingdom Independence Party achieved almost 28% of the vote this was NOT so in Scotland. Here they picked up 10% of the vote enough to be able to take one MEP.

The Scottish National Party has condemned efforts by anti-independence campaigners to foster division ahead of Scotland’s referendum vote. SNP Westminster Leader Angus Robertson MP who is half-German and was born in Wimbledon, London said: 

Scotland’s anti-independence ‘Better Together’ campaigners are squabbling amongst themselves. The alliance of Tory, Labour and Liberal Democrat No campaign is starting to disintegrate into open warfare.