Its just a question of time for Scotland, Indeed it is also for England and Wales too. England is entitled to independence just like any of the others. Having lived in the UK for some time, I know something of the history and emotion locked up in the failing Union. Let these proud nations stand on their own feet and enjoy freedom.

It's impossible in XXI Seculus . Scotland to be one British Colonian of Queen . Horror ! The peoples from Scotland are not free . They are subservients ! Every countries around the world are independents countries . But Scotland and your people NON! It's no compreensive .

Well IF the Scots would go wild-nuts and murderous like the Albanians in Kosovo did when stealing Kosovo from Serbia MAYBE the Brits would not only set the Scots free but would recognize their independence from England!! What is sauce for the goose is sauce for the gander, as the Brits love to say. Hint to the Welsh in Wales, the Scots in Ulster and the Cornish in Cornwall...you ALL could do this as well! Then Great Britain would just plain old England once again. And what a well deserved situation for the arrogant English, too.

I live in Scotland and I can say nobody really cares about independence.

let's remember why Scotland has been part of the Union all these years. It all started when the Scottish noblemen (there was nothing that we'd think of as democracy at that time) realised that they (the country) was going bankrupt. So they backed a crazy scheme to start a colony in what is now the mosquito coast near Panama. It failed and took with it any last hope for Scotland being a prosperous country. So the English stepped in and and offered to pay off their debts if they became part of a greater nation (Great Britain). What was in it for the English? Mainly peace and some fierce soldiers. The Scots got access to England's small, but growing overseas empire. And that's how it stayed, until the British empire was dissolved after WW11. Now that the money has gone, the Scots want out.

Wonder why Scotland took so long to decide on fighting for independence? The Scots are known to be brave, intelligent and resourceful race so what are they waiting for? Is it because of its long subjugation by the English that they have become so afraid, timid and even lost the will to be free and independent? Come on Scots you are made of sterner stuff than that and are not cowards, not by a long shot. Don't disappoint me and prove me right.

Scotland cannot break the Union, it is too small and too dependent to make it is a sovereign nation. And anyways, they can't break the great Empire! That would be mad, and would not happen. The likeliness of it breaking away is less then the South of America rising up again in civil-war. The English and Scottish are one people. The proud Redcoats!

I really hope the Scots choose independence - like the majority of English people, I would like to see the break up of the Union. A poll of English people in a national newspaper that indicated 56% would like to see a fully independent Scotland. If the Union is broken up, the Scottish parliament and Welsh and Northern Irish assemblies would take all the responsibility for their respective nations and we English could have an English parliament free of Scottish, Welsh and Irish politicians - including the current unpopular Scottish UK prime minister. Sadly, no recent UK government has asked the English what they want. The snag with this whole idea is that the EU will probably not agree to recognise Scotland, Wales and England as separate EU members.

The scots won't get a referendum most scottish MP's are against, it also the majority of people would say no. Scotland can't finacialy stand alone the country is heavily subsidised by the English.The only chance they have is to be given the tax revenues from the north sea oil fields near scoland. ( no chance )

just give them their independence. they are a proud nation after all that is known for gaining freedom from brits in the past

-There is the moment of religion for majority of Scots are Catholics. Official just 16% label themselves as Catholics. One must read past of Ireland to understand such huge fear. People want tell they are Catholics freely without fear MI5 agents will ride the home in early morning. -The second reason is heavy burden of EU. EU is constructed by USA in order to carry out massive surveillance without any obstacle. The space is limited to begin citate therefore I recommend search of EU+FBI+surveillance than write year you wonder about. Do not Google it rather use search engines with multiple sources. Such surveillance of all possible shaped USA as only one economic power. People buy from USA things they might do not need or they can find cheaper at other to get a ticket for White House .USa give attention and is very kind as long nations buy something of them. -Wars in last decades where Scots were forced to participate even they were not kin to do. -NATO is one more reason. Paying salaries and buying things, again, one never will use crashed UK. -Scots cannot exhibit any power in UK. They must obey and fulfill orders. -Alone they can manage. Better is have 10 £ everyday rest of life than shake what comes next.

Well, considering the mess of things the English have made of the British nation over the last 50 years, it's only right the Scots want out. The UK used to be a powerful, independent and proud nation. Now it is a pathetic colony of a former colony. Who would want to be a part of a country when leader's nickname is "poodle"? Good luck Scotland, you deserve better that what you've got from this sad, dysfunctional union.

Well ,here comes Kosovo again. I think when England recognized Kosovo's independence( stealing Kosovo from Serbia)that same England should not complain or prevent Scotland from seperatingfrom it. .

@"Basic needs" Most people in Scotland (or the rest of Britain) are neither Catholic nor Protestant - the vast majority of people don't care about religion at all and don't care if their neighbors are Catholic or Protestant. About Scottish people and power: our current prime minister is a Scot. Our previous prime minister was a Scot (and a Catholic). The Scots were all mouthy about independence until they heard that most English supported it - then they realized where their money was coming from and now they aren't interested. How about a referendum for us English to ask if we would like to leave the Union? Independence for Scotland is also Independence for England - that works for me!

I do feel for the English, in spite of the colonial arrogance and short-sightedness. In some ways, their fate is the fate of Serbs on Balkans. The majority population in the First Yugoslavia, being run by a Serbian king, Serbs were forced to keep quiet about their own national interests as to not offend the nationalistic sentiments of Croats, Slovenes, Macedonians, Montenegrins... Everyone's national interest, and nationalistic sentiment was understood and supported. But the Serbs were to keep quiet in their own contry. In UK, nobody particularly cares to hear what the English want. What happened in World War II to Serbs, is a lesson. Having fought against Hitler, instead of just signing up to his requirement for passage of troups and claim on raw materials, Serbs have committed suicide. Why? They thought that their King was surely going to get help from the allies, and the royal government in exile in London, was surely going to help them. Well, it did not happen. Churchill instead helped the Communist Tito, and Serbs were then at the end of the war litterally conquered by Tito's army. Tito quite cleverly put the capital in Belgrade, hired Belgrade elite that so easily "converted" to the new religion, communism, and created an illusion that Serbs are the strongest group. Tito insured that all other nationalities get much larger share of national pie. In 1990's, Serbs were finished off physically in Croatia and Kosovo, and assets transfered to the new owners. Serb interests did not count. Now, EU is doing more of the same. Hired Belgrade elite converted to the new "EU religion", to plunder Serbs even futher. Good luck to you English!

The majority of people living in Scotland, England and Wales do not want to see the Union broken up. The Scottish National Party was elected due to the charisma of Alex Salmond (their leader) and through the utter incompetence of the previous establishment in the Scottish Parliament and the unpopularity of the present UK Prime Minister. The Welsh National Party receives little support and nobody understands why there should be an English Parliament when most of the UKs MPs are English. If Scotland were to declare independence there would be further economic uncertainty at a time of Global recession. More importantly there is no oppression of the Scots by an English Parliament. Scotland has its own laws, Parliament, bank holidays, sports teams, culture and history which they are able to exercise and celebrate without restraint. Finally the UK despite being a small island wields a veto on the UN security council, is a world nuclear power, member of NATO, one of the leading countries in the EU in terms of votes cast and before the recession a global economic power house. On the world stage only Russia (since Putain), the USA, France, Germany, China, Japan and Brazil can claim to have credentials that are either superior or equal to its influence.

Having lived in England for three years and traveled to Scottland several times I would rather see an end to the Monarchy than separating from Scottland. Why should so much of Great Briton's treasure go to the royal family? Can they not pay their own way? Surely they are rich enough that they don't need a handout from the taxpayers.

I agree with Jon, I would rather see an end to the monarchy than an end to the Acts of Union, 1707. I would like my country to be called the "Republic of Great Britian and Northern Ireland". As a Welshman, I would like to see a greater national Welsh identity within Britian rather than Welsh independence and I think the same applies to the Scottish. They should have a stronger Scottish national identity, but as part of Britian. I would dislike to see Scotland break away. The Scots are not unfairly treated, they have a hight amount of Autonomy, separate legal system, their own sporting teams internationally and a big political voice. Our last two Prime Ministers (Brown & Blair) have been Scottish and many cabinet ministers are Scottish too. Some of my family members are Scottish and they do not care for independence. I think this referendum on Scottish independence will bring Alex Salmond and the SNP to the real world, they will finally realise that the Scottish do not want independence. All the polls suggest that around a maximum of 20% of the Scottish want independence, the other 80% are happy with the status quo. Whether you are Welsh, Scottish or English, you are still British and that is how things should remain.

As I read through these comments I can not help but feel a great sadness. My ancestory all came from Great Britain. There is a deep love in my heart for the UK and I pray for her often. I know I am not a citizen of the UK, but I hope the monarchy is never done away with. In the past I must admit I have been angry at how certain members of the royal family have behaved, but I still support the idea of the crown. I can not imagine a world without a Royal Britain. I firmly believe that God uses Britain to lead the world, to offer guidence and wisdom, and at times the crown to serve her people. In the US we are rapidly loosing our identity, and more and more young, and old, do not know what they believe. I support the idea of the crown paying its own way to a large degree, but the UK is a constitutial monarchy if I am not mistaken. The crown is needed as a fail safe to make sure men like Hitler and those like him can not take over completely. I hope and pray Great Britain remains under the crown and united as a people. The world needs her and we in the US need her as well. I was born an American and I will defend the US should she fall under attack, but I feel like a man with two countries.