There will be deep disappointment in the local YES camp this morning (this observer can testify to that) but if the bag of a fag packet devo deal from the three Westminster leaders develops into real radical change then Scotland will be the winner. How that progresses remains to be seen however, with more voices joining the disgruntled Westminster MPs who are unhappy with the (as yet mystery) package Here in Scotland though both sides talk this morning of healing divisions but generally, the referendum campaign has been good humoured in Nairn, the posters will come down and life will quickly return to normal and friends and even families on both sides of the referendum debate will find other things to talk about. Life goes on.
It was remarkable to see the large numbers of voters heading for the polling stations (around 90% in Nairn). People stopped to engage with the YES and NO folk outside Millbank, there seemed to be a desire to savour the day whatever the result. It is perhaps unlikely that we will ever see 90% turnouts again in our lifetimes but hopefully people will stay engaged; there was a suggestion from someone on the radio that “you don’t have to be a politician to be involved in politics.” Here’s hoping that the input from the young and other newly activated voters (it wasn’t just 16-18 year olds asking the way to the polling station entrance) continues because politicians at all levels will be inclined to perform better if every move they make is under public scrutiny. Please stay involved folks.
One of our readers articulates his referendum aftermath thoughts in a post below and states “we’ll need to stay on guard against remote decision makers”. Indeed, soon traffic lights and planning decisions will be back on the top of the agenda. Wouldn’t it be wonderful if at sometime in the future we could move to a point where the planners and other authorities listen to the local community instead of telling us what to do. The traffic needs to go the other way back up the chain. Communities need to be in control. How to achieve that in a continuing atmosphere of austerity though? However we voted yesterday we have to stay united as a community in getting the best deal for Nairn and the County hinterland beyond. A big barney perhaps looms for the best DevoMax deal for Scotland but we need to continue to generate heat on the micro level too and stand up for our collective corner. Devolution for Nairnshire too please!
13 comments:
Delighted we are remaining United,now let's stop bickering and work together to make the whole of the United Kingdom a better place for all of us.
Its a shame the voters have been conned into the NO vote by the divisive Westminster governments late offers of extra powers for our parliament. That and the supermarkets threatening price rises as well, did not exactly help the older folks to vote YES. If Alex Salmond had managed to get the currency issue resolved, that may have gone a long way to YES, but that's it now and it cannot be overruled. I hope that the nation is not split over this and we can all continue in good heart, and resolve our differences.
totally gutted about the result, but like everyone will deal with it. Now to make sure Scotland gets a fairier deal without the patronising comments from Westminster, like England subsidies Scotland. Really is that why they were so keen to keep us, I don't think so. Onwards are upwards a lot still to sort for a better Scotland. A big well done to all the campaigners.
We're not getting Devo Max. The 'vow' was more like Devo Nano and might prove to be a poisoned chalice for the Scottish government
They know not what they have done, they will rue the day.
I first started supporting and working with the Scottish National Party as a young woman of eighteen in the Nairn local branch. Today, forty years later, I am a broken woman. My great hopes for this country have been shattered. Over half the people of Scotland did not have the back bone to vote for a better life for ourselves and our decendants. We will pay a very high price for this, as if we have not suffered enough already.We had majority support for Independence until it was pulled back by the false promises of the three amigos.This could take us back a hundred years.
What happened yesterday was a Referendum. The definition of Referendum is "a general vote by the electorate on a single political question which has been referred to them for a direct decision". All the talk about currency union, no plan B's etc were smokescreens created by the No camp. If there had been a Yes vote then today would have seen the start of negotiations to put in place measures to resolve these, and many other issues.
Sadly this has been a missed opportunity for over half the Scottish electorate who I think will, indeed, come to rue the day.
Jack Straw in Saturday's Times is asking for a change in the law so that the UK can never face being split again. Thursday was it Scotland, there's no going back
Since the referendum date was announced, I have monitored many of the views of the Scottish electorate, particularly from BBC radio and television programmes and opinions of friends and extended family from many areas of the country. The result today certainly bears no reflection on my findings, in fact it is totally contradictory of it. Therefore, I cannot and will not believe it. But what I do believe is the people of Scotland have suffered an injustice due to interference in the referendum and count processes from underhand bodies which may or may not be government sponsored. Even Margo MacDonald had been in contact with the Security Services requesting that they did not deploy their spies to interfere in Scotlands' business. Was she paranoid or just in the know?
Calm down people just because the more silent majority has spoken does not mean the end of the world.
More powers? ... trinkets for the natives more like!
Well, the NO's have voted & I hope they are all happy with their masters in London telling them what to do ... !!!
Here's an interesting exercise, ask a No voter why they voted No, you may be surprised and shocked at their responses.
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