24 February 2014 - Scottish independence (follow up)
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Warnings over pound ‘swaying undecided voters’ as poll shows strong lead for 'No' vote
Oliver Wright (The Independent)
A cross-party warning from Westminster that an independent Scotland would not be able to keep the pound appeared Sunday to have boosted the unionist cause.
A new poll, conducted after George Osborne’s intervention and a separate warning by the European Commission President, José Manuel Barroso, that an independent Scotland would not automatically be able to join the EU, seems to have had an effect on undecided voters.
Support for a “no” vote has climbed 5 points to 49 per cent in the space of a month and now enjoys a 12-point gap over the pro-independence side, which is unchanged on 37 per cent. It suggests a significant number of undecideds have shifted to the “no” camp.
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Another reason to stay
Rowena Mason and Severin Carrell (The Guardian)
David Cameron will use his first ever cabinet meeting in Scotland to promise a revolution in North Sea oil and gas extraction worth up to £200bn over two decades – but that this will only be affordable if the union stays together.
As the PM and his entourage make the trip to Aberdeen, he will set out steps to revive the industry, which has suffered declining production for years. His visit to Scotland comes as two new polls found a growing number likely to vote no to independence, with 37% for and 47-49% against.
Alex Salmond, the Scottish first minister, will hold a cabinet meeting just six miles from Cameron's event on Monday, having criticised the prime minister for refusing to meet and debate the issue of independence with him. He has put the oil industry at the heart of his campaign, telling Scots that remaining reserves are worth £300,000 per person.
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Scottish point of view
David Maddox (The Scotsman)
An experimental question put by ICM for The Scotsman poll asked people to predict what the result would be. Pollsters said this “Wisdom” question taps into the “hive mind” of voters.
The poll of 1,004 Scots showed that, on average, voters expected the result of the vote on 18 September to be 53 per cent against independence and 47 per cent in favour.
However, asking those who have decided how they will vote a more traditional polling question, 57 per cent backed the No camp, while 43 per cent favoured independence.
Of all those polled, 49 per cent are against independence and 37 per cent in favour, marking an increase of five points in the No vote’s lead since Chancellor George Osborne, Labour shadow chancellor Ed Balls and Lib Dem Chief Secretary to the Treasury Danny Alexander ruled out allowing an independent Scotland to join a sterling currency union.
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A bit of context
Andrew Black (BBC)
Next autumn, the people of Scotland will vote on whether the nation should become an independent country.
The deal to hold the referendum has been done and the date has been set - now it's up to the campaigners to put their case.
When is the referendum happening?
After much teasing - Scottish First Minister and Scottish National Party leader Alex Salmond named the day as Thursday, 18 September, 2014.
Why this date? Practical matters like October holidays, the UK party conference season and Scotland's famed wintry weather were all potential obstacles.
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"24 February 2014 - Scottish independence (follow up)", La Clé des Langues [en ligne], Lyon, ENS de LYON/DGESCO (ISSN 2107-7029), février 2014. Consulté le 26/04/2024. URL: https://cle.ens-lyon.fr/anglais/key-story/archives-revue-de-presse-2014/24-february-2014-scottish-independence-follow-up-