The Undecided Hold The Key

Throughout the independence debate, the unionist side has always claimed victory in the referendum in terms of opinion polls. They have consistently trumpeted time and again that opinion polls show that the Yes side is destined to lose, and that as time has went on, support for independence has been falling at a steady rate.

That is not what recent research is suggesting however. Recent polls and studies carried out this year has shown that the Yes campaign has been bucking the trend and are not gaining ground fast over the No campaign. The recent poll carried out by Panelbase on behalf of the Sunday Times and Real Radio Scotland has found that the gap between Yes and No has narrowed to just 9 points, with the undecided voters (17%) holding the key swinging influence.

Whilst many unionists will still proclaim that this further shows how the No campaign is undoubtedly bound to win in the referendum, it actually shows nothing of the sort. Studies this year have shown that many aspects of the Scottish electorate will provide a significant boost for the Yes campaign when the time comes to vote.

For example, research has shown that those more informed about the issues surrounding independence are more likely to vote yes in the referendum. Why is this? You might ask. Well, from this research it is clear to see that the Yes campaign has the more well-informed arguments that show the potential an independent Scotland would have to deal with many of its problems more effectively than Westminster would. It also solidifies the point that Better Together still relies on fear and ignorance in the electorate to win. Most of their support relies on the people of Scotland not knowing the issues surrounding independence, and just believing whatever the mainstream media tells them, along with the UK government.

Research also showed that those who have an intention to vote yes, will be more likely to cast their vote in the referendum. This could be a key deciding factor in the referendum, as it wholly relies on each side rallying their supporters to cast their vote on the day. This shows the fact that those who have an intention to vote yes in the referendum are more committed to Scotland's future, and are more motivated to change Scotland for the better; a Scotland that cares enough about itself to make a change is exactly the kind of Scotland we want to be running itself. It also shows that Better Together are having a tough time trying to rally their supporters to play and active role and vote on the day; probably because their messages of fear and pessimism can only be heard for so long without being driven to insanity.

So in light if this recent research and evidence, a Yes vote in the upcoming referendum is becoming more and more likely. If Yes Scotland continue to push its positive and progressive message to the undecided voters, support for independence will only grow stronger, as it is the Yes sides' positive message that is narrowing the gap and bringing the undecided to our side. We on the Yes side mus continue to project a positive message that will ensure the Scottish population is well-informed about the issues surrounding independence and is fully aware of the lies and fear being spread by the mainstream media and the No campaign. 

Hypocrites At Heart

There seems to be a common unwritten rule for unionist figures that whatever they say is a bad for Scotland, is good for the union. This rather worrying trend can be seen in almost all aspects of the independence debate. Oil, renewable energy, foreign investments, manufacturing. Almost all facets of the Scottish economy when brought up in the independence debate by unionists are "Volatile, unstable, unreliable, declining, and a bad basis for our economy". Then the very next day, you see the same unionist figures in the UK government reporting that boosts in the Scottish economy show "The benefits of Scotland's position in the union", and are a "Improving and worthy part of the UK economy".

Let us first turn to oil, I know this is a well-beaten path to the point of boredom but bear with me for the time being. It has been recorded multiple times this year that the North Sea oil & gas industry will see record investments. A record amount of £13 billion will be invested this year, and with as much as £44 billion expected to be invested over the next five years. In anyone's eyes, this is obviously a sign that the Scottish oil & gas sector is still a strong industry that continues to attract billions worth in investments year on year. It also shows that oil reserves are not declining at the rapidity which unionists claim they are; there is still as much as £1.5 trillion worth in the North Sea sector alone, with the Scottish North Atlantic sector, extending all the way to Rockall, still untouched. And besides, why would multinational companies be investing so many tens of billions into a "volatile and declining" resource?

Not in the eyes of unionists and the UK government however. They still rattle on that North Sea oil revenues are a "dangerous and volatile basis for the Scottish economy". Yet when they talk about it on a UK level, it not longer becomes a burden but a blessing. This hypocrisy shows the real reason Westminster wants to keep Scotland, self interest. For them, Scotland's revenues are a handy way to finance their primary focus on developing London, leaving everywhere else in the UK trailing behind like provincial backwater's.

It has been known for many years, despite the UK government's best attempts at keeping it secret, that Scottish oil revenues are what kept the Thatcher government afloat in the 80's. They've contributed as much as £300 billion to the Treasury since the first drill was operational. It was the Scottish oil in the 80's which allowed Thatcher to dismantle Scotland's manufacturing base and go ahead with her rapid programme of privatisation.

Therefore it can clearly be seen that in terms of North Sea oil, the UK government are being extremely hypocritical. They know that North Sea oil & gas is still a viable and prosperous sector, and are not afraid to prop it up and revere it as an integral part of the UK economy. Yet when it comes to Scotland, the oil revenues somehow become a burden to us, and are not something we should base our economy on.

Yet here's the thing, Scotland's economy would not be based on oil at all. Scotland's economy is open, diverse and as developed as any other European nation. Scotland has a quarter of the whole of Europe's renewable energy potential and is the epicentre of research and development for renewables  in Europe. We still have a strong manufacturing base in terms of electronics, making 28% of Europe's PC's. And Scotland is also one of the main places in Europe for games development, with leading company Rockstar based in Inverness, and such places as Dundee being one of the games development hubs of Europe.

This phenomenon amongst unionist figures reveals yet again one of the lies in their argument. They state that in fighting for the union, they are working Scotland's best interests. When instead they are only working in one interest, their own. They are using Scotland's open and prosperous economy that could benefit the people of Scotland massively under independence, to finance their obsession with London and the banking sector. Thatcher did it, and the government today are doing it. To stop our wealth and resources being siphoned off in the future to fund a corrupt and greed-ridden system, we have to votes Yes in 2014, for our generation and the many future generations to come.

London Politicans Don't Want us, Why Do We Need Them?

For the Yes campaign and myself, the prime reason for independence we seek is to once and for all unchain Scotland from the greed and corruption that ensues with being tied to London. Many on the unionist side claim that London and Westminster benefits Scotland greatly, allowing us to reap the rewards from the vast wealth generated there from its financial sector. In reality however, nothing of the sort happens. Practically all the wealth generated in London stays in London, is spent in London, and goes straight into the pockets of the wealthy elite residing there.

It has been obvious that after the financial crash of 2008, almost all Westminsters' supposed efforts at repairing the UK economy have went into London, with little to no repercussions for the people who actually caused the financial crash living there, the bankers. We have seen bankers' bonuses skyrocket under austerity, whilst those in other parts of the country are struggling to get by under new draconian policies, such as the infamous Bedroom Tax. We have seen millions being poured into infrastructure projects in London and the South-East such as the HS2 debacle which will only benefit London and the South-East, while infrastructure crumbles in other places. We have seen hefty tax cuts for millionaires and ravenous new privatisation policies being put in place, all the while our public services on which millions rely on throughout the country are buckling under lack of funding.

It is crystal-clear to see that all of Westminsters' interest is focused wholly on London and its financial sector. All other parts of the UK are being neglected and being purely used as a means to finance the governments' obsession with keeping London and the South-East happy. There is even evidence that clearly shows the British political establishment has no interest other than propping up the London financial Sector. London Mayor Boris Johnson said on an interview:

 "a pound spent in Croydon is of far more value than a pound spent in Strathclyde"

And there you have it. That is the exact attitude Westminster has to Scotland, one of neglect and condescension. They think that we are just not important enough to warrant any attention and funding; just give them their yearly pocket money and send them on their way, that'll keep them happy. This is exactly why the people of Scotland need to take control of our own destiny. We are clearly being shown no attention by the British political establishment.

We have already consistently shown we want to take a different path from that being offered by Westminster. Rather than embrace austerity we have chosen to embrace social-democratic policies that will protect our most vulnerable. Rather that go ahead with privatisation we have seen a fierce resistance to the privatisation of our public services in Scotland.

Under the status-quo however, we can do little but resist. Under independence, we could act. We could finally have the governments we vote for, we could finally get rid of trident (with around 80% of Scots opposing it), we could finally stop being involved in pointless and costly wars abroad and put money into our public services and education, and we could finally reject failed austerity and pursue a different path to recovery (like Iceland, the fastest recovering European nation).

All of these opportunities Scotland could take, are only possibly with a Yes vote. Only then will we be untied from Westminster, and the neglect we're shown by its politicians. They obviously don't want or care about us, so why do we need them?

Project Fear Wrong Again

It has seemed that for a long time the crux of the unionist argument in the referendum debate concerning business in Scotland is that the debate itself is damaging Scotland's ability to attract inward investment; with many business leaders pulling their hair out in anguish at the uncertainty caused by the referendum. For unionists, they see the union as the only way Scotland attracts inward investment, with the UK still being a glittering beacon of international influence (never mind the downgraded credit rating). This reverence of the UK's ability to attract inward investment seems to hark back to reminiscence of the British Empire, as if the unionists still think that Britain is a global super-power, that is the only thing which allows Scotland to do business in far-reaching lands.

A recent report however by UK Trade and Investment, destroys this yet another unionist myth completely. The conclusions drawn from the report reveal that Scotland has seen a 16% rise in direct foreign investments over the 2012-2013 period, compared to the UK, which saw an 11% rise. This means that a total of 111 projects have been attracted to Scotland over this period, compared to 96 over the previous period. Further evidence to this rise in inward investment can be seen in a survey carried out by Ernest and Young last month. Which described Scotland's ability to attract inward investment as "Sparkling", with he highest number of international projects going in Scotland over the past 15 years.

 This shows once and for all that the debate surrounding Scotland's constitutional future is not damaging its prospects concerning international investment; it could in fact be said that the prospects that independence is offering to Scotland is actually making our country a more attractive place for companies to do business here. This claim can be backed up, as the SNP have already made the promise to international businesses that under independence they would lower Scotland's corporation tax to a more competitive level in order to attract greater inward investment.

 There is also evidence from actual business leaders that a No vote will in fact damage Scotland's prospects at attracting business. Jim McColl, one of Scotland's leading business figures, revealed in an interview that a No vote in the referendum would sap Scotland's ability to attract inward investment. As we would lack the economic levers that independence will give us to be more competitive, and that all the investments which could have been made in Scotland will instead go to London; as that is the only region of the UK which the UK government seems to be interested in.

This latest revelation has caused embarrassment amongst the members of Project Fear (a term for the "Better Together" campaign, as it has been revealed that people inside the campaign openly discuss it together as "Project Fear"). With George Osborne being called on to apologise to the people of Scotland for lying about the supposed damaging affect the referendum was having on Scotland's ability to attract inward investment.

This yet again reveals that 'Better Together' have no other goal in the referendum other than creating fear and uncertainty. Their one and only goal is to make sure that the people of Scotland are too scared to vote for their country's natural constitutional state, as an independent nation. This recent report only strengthens the point that Better Together is made up of nothing but lies and fear. The people of Scotland must realise now that our country has what it takes to be a successful independent nation that treats our citizens equitably, one that can be a beacon of progressiveness; and one that does not need to be tied to an unrepresentative, archaic, and imperial-structured state to do so.