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Scottish political leader confident on independence vote Scottish political leader confident on independence vote
(2 days later)
LONDON — A week before a vote on Scottish independence, the region’s top political figure said Thursday that he was confident Scots would decide to leave the United Kingdom.LONDON — A week before a vote on Scottish independence, the region’s top political figure said Thursday that he was confident Scots would decide to leave the United Kingdom.
“Scotland is on the cusp of making history,” Alex Salmond, the Scottish first minister, told foreign journalists in Edinburgh. “Scotland will vote ‘yes’ next Thursday.” “Scotland is on the cusp of making history,” Alex Salmond, the Scottish first minister, told foreign journalists in Edinburgh. “Scotland will vote yes next Thursday.”
Salmond’s predictions, however, contrast with opinion polls that portray the Sept. 18 vote as too close to call or giving a slight edge to opponents of breaking away.Salmond’s predictions, however, contrast with opinion polls that portray the Sept. 18 vote as too close to call or giving a slight edge to opponents of breaking away.
The showdown also has emerged as a critical test for British leaders, who have made impassioned appeals to keep the country intact.The showdown also has emerged as a critical test for British leaders, who have made impassioned appeals to keep the country intact.
Salmond said that Scots would use the vote to begin “a lifetime feeling confident in ourselves and our country.”Salmond said that Scots would use the vote to begin “a lifetime feeling confident in ourselves and our country.”
Salmond even amped up his charm, jokingly referring to Prime Minister David Cameron’s plea to Scots not to make the referendum a protest vote against “effing Tories” — another name for Cameron’s Conservative Party.Salmond even amped up his charm, jokingly referring to Prime Minister David Cameron’s plea to Scots not to make the referendum a protest vote against “effing Tories” — another name for Cameron’s Conservative Party.
“I don’t know if it was a swear word or not. But I have never, ever described in such harsh terms the (way the) prime minister described himself and his party yesterday,’’ he said. “I am so much more generous than the prime minister.” “I don’t know if it was a swear word or not. But I have never, ever described in such harsh terms the [way the] prime minister described himself and his party yesterday,’’ he said. “I am so much more generous than the prime minister.”
He also sought to set aside financial concerns, saying that Scotland was one of the wealthiest countries in the world and would not suffer if it forges a path outside the rest of the U.K.: England, Wales and Northern Ireland. He also sought to set aside financial concerns, saying that Scotland was one of the wealthiest countries in the world and would not suffer if it forges a path outside the rest of the United Kingdom: England, Wales and Northern Ireland.
But prominent companies with strong ties to Scotland have waded into the debate.But prominent companies with strong ties to Scotland have waded into the debate.
The chairman of John Lewis, a major British department store, said that independence could mean prices rising in their Scottish stores. The Royal Bank of Scotland said it has contingency plans to move its registered head office to London, while the Lloyds Banking Group said it would establish “new principal legal entities in England.”The chairman of John Lewis, a major British department store, said that independence could mean prices rising in their Scottish stores. The Royal Bank of Scotland said it has contingency plans to move its registered head office to London, while the Lloyds Banking Group said it would establish “new principal legal entities in England.”
On the other hand, the head of Aberdeen Asset Management, Scotland’s largest fund manager, has said that an independent Scotland would be “a big success.”On the other hand, the head of Aberdeen Asset Management, Scotland’s largest fund manager, has said that an independent Scotland would be “a big success.”
A new Survation/DailyRecord poll published Wednesday gave the unionists a six-point lead, putting the “no” vote at 53 percent — excluding those who are undecided.A new Survation/DailyRecord poll published Wednesday gave the unionists a six-point lead, putting the “no” vote at 53 percent — excluding those who are undecided.
With polls earlier this week suggesting that the race is too close to call, the mood here has turned frantic, with a real sense that it will be a fight to the finish line. On Thursday, dozens of Labor Party politicians jumped on a Scotland-bound train for a day of campaigning north of the border. This comes a day after Cameron and other political leaders put on a rare united front by abandoning Prime Minister’s Questions in London so they could campaign in Scotland.With polls earlier this week suggesting that the race is too close to call, the mood here has turned frantic, with a real sense that it will be a fight to the finish line. On Thursday, dozens of Labor Party politicians jumped on a Scotland-bound train for a day of campaigning north of the border. This comes a day after Cameron and other political leaders put on a rare united front by abandoning Prime Minister’s Questions in London so they could campaign in Scotland.
The Scotsman newspaper, in a lengthy editorial Thursday, said it was backing the union in part because of questions over currency, membership in the European Union and defense.The Scotsman newspaper, in a lengthy editorial Thursday, said it was backing the union in part because of questions over currency, membership in the European Union and defense.
But the pro-independence side is still confident it can win the day, claiming backers are gaining ground with door-to-door lobbying.But the pro-independence side is still confident it can win the day, claiming backers are gaining ground with door-to-door lobbying.
“At the end of the day next week, people are going to vote for something, not against something,” Salmond said.“At the end of the day next week, people are going to vote for something, not against something,” Salmond said.