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The 'vision thing' competes with the fear factor on Scotland's big day The 'vision thing' competes with the fear factor on Scotland's big day
(about 3 hours later)
As his car swung past the bus station in Gordon Brown's home town of Kirkcaldy on Thursday a young man waved a clenched fist out of his car window and shouted "Ayeee" at no one in particular. "I think he's a yesser" explained a passerby helpfully.As his car swung past the bus station in Gordon Brown's home town of Kirkcaldy on Thursday a young man waved a clenched fist out of his car window and shouted "Ayeee" at no one in particular. "I think he's a yesser" explained a passerby helpfully.
With Scotland voting in record numbers on the greatest existential challenge to the British state since Spitfire dogfights in 1940, not every Scot felt quite so gleefully uninhibited. Far from it. Along Kirkcaldy's High Street, some no supporters heading to and from the Philip hall polling station were decidedly more reticent.With Scotland voting in record numbers on the greatest existential challenge to the British state since Spitfire dogfights in 1940, not every Scot felt quite so gleefully uninhibited. Far from it. Along Kirkcaldy's High Street, some no supporters heading to and from the Philip hall polling station were decidedly more reticent.
Some lowered their voices before saying "definitely no". Others refused to reveal their binary choice, though their tone and body language spoke for them. "I'm glad it's nearly over," said one woman, "except it won't be". "I just hope common sense prevails," muttered an Englishman ("I came here on holiday 17 years ago and fell in love with it"). He did not feel the need to spell out what he meant.Some lowered their voices before saying "definitely no". Others refused to reveal their binary choice, though their tone and body language spoke for them. "I'm glad it's nearly over," said one woman, "except it won't be". "I just hope common sense prevails," muttered an Englishman ("I came here on holiday 17 years ago and fell in love with it"). He did not feel the need to spell out what he meant.
Is it fear of intimidation or reprisal, as some fervently assert? Or simply trepidation about an uncertain future after a yes triumph?Is it fear of intimidation or reprisal, as some fervently assert? Or simply trepidation about an uncertain future after a yes triumph?
In his final campaign speech, a belatedly re-energised Gordon Brown ("the Gordon we lost in the 80s", say some) spoke in Glasgow for those "silent majority" fears. He contrasted the "solidarity, sharing and justice" of unionist Scots with the "economic trap door" a yes vote would open on currency, pensions, prices and debt.In his final campaign speech, a belatedly re-energised Gordon Brown ("the Gordon we lost in the 80s", say some) spoke in Glasgow for those "silent majority" fears. He contrasted the "solidarity, sharing and justice" of unionist Scots with the "economic trap door" a yes vote would open on currency, pensions, prices and debt.
The contrast between hope and fear was startling everywhere on Thursday. As in Kirkcaldy and Linlithgow – Alex Salmond's birthplace (pop 14,000) in the commuter belt of central Scotland – small queues formed in the foggy morning dark before polling stations opened. Behind St Giles' cathedral on Edinburgh's handsome Royal Mile there were more TV crews than voters.The contrast between hope and fear was startling everywhere on Thursday. As in Kirkcaldy and Linlithgow – Alex Salmond's birthplace (pop 14,000) in the commuter belt of central Scotland – small queues formed in the foggy morning dark before polling stations opened. Behind St Giles' cathedral on Edinburgh's handsome Royal Mile there were more TV crews than voters.
They pounced on Hannah, 24, a receptionist, who was voting yes for the children she's not yet had. They recorded people saying yes to "a society which is fair and just".They pounced on Hannah, 24, a receptionist, who was voting yes for the children she's not yet had. They recorded people saying yes to "a society which is fair and just".
They loved it when Lisa Clarke, a church worker, said she wished she could bottle the joy she felt at Salmond's rival Glasgow rally – "and give it to everyone in the world". Clarke wants a Scotland where "our votes count, we have a more just society and we get rid of nuclear weapons on the Clyde".They loved it when Lisa Clarke, a church worker, said she wished she could bottle the joy she felt at Salmond's rival Glasgow rally – "and give it to everyone in the world". Clarke wants a Scotland where "our votes count, we have a more just society and we get rid of nuclear weapons on the Clyde".
It's hard to compete with the leap of faith which such sentiments imply and the nearby no placard didn't try. "It's not worth the risk," it warned last minute don't knows – of which, despite two years of fervent debate, there were still many, young and old. The campaign has left Scotland's 4.3m voters deeply divided, families included.It's hard to compete with the leap of faith which such sentiments imply and the nearby no placard didn't try. "It's not worth the risk," it warned last minute don't knows – of which, despite two years of fervent debate, there were still many, young and old. The campaign has left Scotland's 4.3m voters deeply divided, families included.
Linlithgow's Hannah Johnston, an aspiring zoology student, came alone – at 17 – to exercise the expanded franchise Salmond won from David Cameron. As such, voters at 16 will be another charge on the indictment being prepared by red-faced Tory backbenchers if "Lord Snooty" turns into another Lord North, the PM who lost America in 1783. Whether Hannah's vote has contributed to his overthrow she will not say. Her family is divided, just like the retired civil servant who confides that "no one we know is voting for this act of collective madness" before adding "my wife suspects her brother".Linlithgow's Hannah Johnston, an aspiring zoology student, came alone – at 17 – to exercise the expanded franchise Salmond won from David Cameron. As such, voters at 16 will be another charge on the indictment being prepared by red-faced Tory backbenchers if "Lord Snooty" turns into another Lord North, the PM who lost America in 1783. Whether Hannah's vote has contributed to his overthrow she will not say. Her family is divided, just like the retired civil servant who confides that "no one we know is voting for this act of collective madness" before adding "my wife suspects her brother".
At Hannah's polling station rival campaign tellers, all new to political activism, discuss what happens next. Duncan Calder, who is yes but not SNP, believes a divorce from England will be amicable, as it mostly was when the empire went, he says.At Hannah's polling station rival campaign tellers, all new to political activism, discuss what happens next. Duncan Calder, who is yes but not SNP, believes a divorce from England will be amicable, as it mostly was when the empire went, he says.
So does Paul Curry, a retired engineer, a Labour voter who feels "disenfranchised" voters on Glasgow's working class estates will swing it for yes. "Going into Libya after what we did in Iraq did it for me," he explains. No's teller, Corrine Manion (23), a renewable energy specialist, fears big trouble ahead. "We should be together and united, we're too old for this."So does Paul Curry, a retired engineer, a Labour voter who feels "disenfranchised" voters on Glasgow's working class estates will swing it for yes. "Going into Libya after what we did in Iraq did it for me," he explains. No's teller, Corrine Manion (23), a renewable energy specialist, fears big trouble ahead. "We should be together and united, we're too old for this."
Voting was notably busy, but quietly orderly, couples holding hands. Yet the tangible optimism – the "vision thing" – was all on one side. Defying the Kirkcaldy cold in shorts and bright trainers, Patrick Lowe, 64, was "a diehard yes – Labour and the Union haven't done anything for us". Two smartly-dressed pensioners in extrovert-bright clothes said much the same. So did weedy youths, sometimes with a vacant ("I'm Scottish, not British") shrug.Voting was notably busy, but quietly orderly, couples holding hands. Yet the tangible optimism – the "vision thing" – was all on one side. Defying the Kirkcaldy cold in shorts and bright trainers, Patrick Lowe, 64, was "a diehard yes – Labour and the Union haven't done anything for us". Two smartly-dressed pensioners in extrovert-bright clothes said much the same. So did weedy youths, sometimes with a vacant ("I'm Scottish, not British") shrug.
It is the respectable middle class in sober dress who tend ("It's the currency") to no ("I don't like Salmond, but Alistair Darling's lovely"). So do Labour stalwarts of all ages for whom "solidarity" still has resonance. Lib Dems are said to be divided and the Guardian finds an old soldier in his kilt outside St Giles' who is internally so. "As a patriotic Scot I'll vote for yes, hoping no will win. So will lots of people," he insists.It is the respectable middle class in sober dress who tend ("It's the currency") to no ("I don't like Salmond, but Alistair Darling's lovely"). So do Labour stalwarts of all ages for whom "solidarity" still has resonance. Lib Dems are said to be divided and the Guardian finds an old soldier in his kilt outside St Giles' who is internally so. "As a patriotic Scot I'll vote for yes, hoping no will win. So will lots of people," he insists.
Both sides have been accused on scaremongering, rightly so in their more extremes claims. But the yes camp stands accused of something far more powerful, more uplifting and potentially disappointing: hopemongering. Both sides have been accused of scaremongering, rightly so in their more extreme claims. But the yes camp stands accused of something far more powerful, more uplifting and potentially disappointing: hopemongering.
"Salmond gets away with anything. No one's listening any more," complains the ex-civil servant. Many voters are enthralled even though a minority add "It's going to be tough, but worth it." "Salmond gets away with anything. No one's listening any more," complains the ex-civil servant. Many voters are enthralled, even though a minority add: "It's going to be tough, but worth it."
Scotland's uneven distribution of its evident prosperity has, much like in England and Wales, made poorer voters desperate for better times.Scotland's uneven distribution of its evident prosperity has, much like in England and Wales, made poorer voters desperate for better times.
"It couldn't be any worse," says retired greenkeeper Edward Laird, outside the magnificent ruins of Linlithgow Palace. Inside the palace, Scotland's James V (1512-42) built an elaborate fountain to express his equal status with his English uncle, Henry VIII."It couldn't be any worse," says retired greenkeeper Edward Laird, outside the magnificent ruins of Linlithgow Palace. Inside the palace, Scotland's James V (1512-42) built an elaborate fountain to express his equal status with his English uncle, Henry VIII.
The fountain survives – and so does the ancient grudge. It enters a new phase on Friday.The fountain survives – and so does the ancient grudge. It enters a new phase on Friday.