[Lessons For Next Time]

IMO, currency was a major issue. If it didnt cost us the win, the distractions certainly lost us focus. I still consider monetary union to be the best option but it is now evidently clear we must control all aspects of the Yes proposal. Which means that the SNP and any other pro-independence party must position themselves as supporting an independent Scottish currency and everything that that entails. By all means indicate a willingness to cooperate and negotiate a monetary union but the starting point must be an independent economy. I still think pushing for monetary union was the right thing to do but now is the time to take control of those policies or issues that we failed to dominate so that we can control the debate. We need a better understanding of how this would be implemented, how we would transition to it and who it would affect most. Case studies of other currencies and how they came about are needed, and we need to start making the case now about the benefits and how we might negate concerns.

This is only one part of why we failed but we must start to address how we resolve it. The fiscal commission must focus more on a new currency and/or the SNP and other independence movements need to finance studies that might help people understand what is involved.

If independence requires monetary union, then we might never get there. We need to start controlling the policy discussions on our own terms and find ways to mitigate the problems early on.

[National Anthem]

I believe we should sing it with gusto to let them know we are not going anywhere or lying down meekly. I also believe, at the England game, instead of booing GSTQ, we should belt out the imperial theme from Star Wars......

[This Is Going To Be Good]

This. I have been saying the same. The no vote could turn out to be the best thing for yes. Westminster, particularly labour, have painted themselves into a corner. We were all aware that the yes vote would destroy labour in London, but the no vote? I never saw that one coming.....

[Milliband And Fag Packet Promise]

Milliband said today that creating devolution for England should take time and not be done on the back of a fag packet. Oh really Ed? But it's okay to cobble together a last minute package for Scotland?