SCOTS VOTE IN INDEPENDENCE REFERENDUM: WORKING CLASS HOLDS THE KEY

18-9-2014 2.30PM IST

Medhaj News: Scots began voting in an independence referendum on Thursday that will decide the fate of the United Kingdom, after opinion polls showed hundreds of thousands of them were still agonizing over whether to stay with the 307-year union or back secession.

In the final hours before polling stations opened, leaders of both sides urged Scots to seize the reins of history in a vote that has divided families, friends and lovers but also electrified this country of 5.3 million.

From the remote Scottish islands of the Atlantic to the toughest city estates of Glasgow, voters are being asked to answer "Yes" or "No" to the question: "Should Scotland be an independent country?"

"This is an historic day for Scotland. I've waited all my life for this. It's time to break with England. 'Yes' to independence," said a businessman who gave his name as Ron and was the first person to vote at Edinburgh's Waverley Court.

As he spoke, a couple of workers hurrying by in the morning mist and drizzle shouted "Vote No!"

Scottish working class voters feel they stand a better chance of fighting Tory attempts to cut down social spending, NHS and worker’s wages in UK, if they put up a joint fight along with working classes of the other entire Union. Split between Scotland and UK would impact worker’s rights not just in UK, but all over Europe.

Though Cameron’s Tory Govt is officially against UK’s break-up, the No campaign has been led by Labour party figures or ex-Labour Leftists like George Galloway, the current Respect Party MP from Bradford. In fact, Galloway, a Scot himself, has been quoting Tony Benn, the late Scottish Labour Party leader and a legend among the working classes all over UK, to counter the arguments of pro-Independence Scottish National Party (SNP) led by Alex Salmond.

While supporting Irish Independence, Marx and Engels too had opposed Scottish Independence. Their view was that vis-a-vis the reactionary ruling classes of England, Scottish bourgeoisie played a collaborationist role in history—and that an Independent Scotland will strengthen reactionary elements, while harming progressive politics.

George Galloway’s principled Marxist position on the issue, and his head-on style, has unnerved Salmond and other pro-Independence leaders who in a bid to attract the Scottish working classes, were playing the `progressive’, `pro-welfare’ card.; Salmond’s dealings with Rupert Murdoch, an Australian business man/media tycoon with business interests in Scotland, has also undercut working class support for the Yes camp.

Five surveys - from pollsters YouGov, Panelbase, Survation, Opinium and ICM - showed support for independence at 48 percent, compared with 52 percent for the union.

An Ipsos MORI poll showed it even closer at 49 percent to 51 percent, while a second Survation poll, conducted by phone, showed unionists at 53 percent and separatists at 47 percent.

The surveys also showed as many as 600,000 voters remained undecided, making the vote far too close to call. Polling stations close at 2100 GMT and a result is expected early on Friday.


The independence movement says Scots should be able to choose their own leaders and make their own decisions rather than be ruled from London. Supporters of the union say Scotland is more prosperous and secure as part of the United Kingdom and the ties that bind them are too tight to be undone.