exile

How about this? (not to imply DaveinLondon is ordinary!)

The BBC think Alex Salmond didn't answer the question. Can anyone help answer it?

Can these people also invite republic of Ireland back to the UK?

"The BBC considers that the questions were valid and the overall report balanced and impartial, in line with our editorial guidelines." If that is balanced and impartial, we need a redefinition of what balanced and impartial means. If stories about the Big Big Debate are true, then 'balance' could mean trying to present both sides as being equally strongly supported when one is stronger than the other. Does anyone know if this is just internet rumours and paranoia, or is it true? To be fair to the BBC, when there are specific referendum-related events that are 'designed' to be balanced, like set-piece debates, they duly line up equal numbers of Yes and No people. But at other times, they revert to the normal proportional points of view - so Question Time, every week for weeks on end with an inbuilt majority of unionist views. BBC impartiality guidelines were presumably drawn up to fit the normal party political system. Are they adequate to deal with referenda of this type?

"The BBC considers that the questions were valid and the overall report balanced and impartial, in line with our editorial guidelines." We need the wider context though. Back bench ex PM comes to Scotland, makes a speech, it's a big event, Brown's actual message (about a timetable) is reported, and the bigger narrative is 'Broon saves the Union' The three amigos come to Scotland, make speeches, these are big events, their actual messages (about reminding us that this is a referendum not a general election) are reported, and the bigger narrative is 'UK party leaders show their commitment to Scotland' The first minister makes a speech, where the state broadcaster heckles in front of international press corps, and the story is 'Slippery Salmond didn't answer my question'

The BBC considers that the questions were valid and the overall report balanced and impartial, in line with our editorial guidelines. Pathetic. "why voters should trust a politician rather than businessmen." Why should voters trust a broadcasting corporation rather than a politician? When we can see what happened at the press conference, and see how the BBC edited it.

For internationalists, what about the Green angle? The Greens are internationalists concerned not just with 'these islands' but the whole planet. This includes social justice, etc, at a global scale. Not sure what all their policies are but often to the left of labour. The Greens are an international movement, and the Scottish greens have comrades in the rest of the UK who will remain comrades after independence. Remember in that debate, Patrick Harvie said clearly "I am not a nationalist".

p.s. One good thing about the Guardian: Libby Brooks has done some good reporting up and down the country over the weeks. She is the only London-based media outlet that I can think of that has reported on the state of the grassroots presence on the ground...

The Guardian declares. "There can be no place today for the ugly nationalism" http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2014/sep/12/guardian-view-scottish-independence On the same page, and advert for "Steve Bell's Alex Salmond squeeezy stress figure, emulating Marilyn Monroe's famous 'air-vent pose' " (revealing an English flag under his kilt.) This seems not to be a spoof. In case it's removed, it may be ordered here: http://entertainment.guardianoffers.co.uk/i-cc-1119-nae/salmondsqueezy-g/?INTCMP=mic_233690&guni=Resource:promo%20Steve%20Bell%20offers:Trail%20with%20image%20on%20side%20%28from%20named%20trailblock%29

RIP GB - the image is imaginative though http://www.standard.co.uk/lifestyle/london-life/rip-gb-what-will-happen-if-scotland-votes-yes-in-the-referendum-on-independence-9723394.html

Wait, hang on, those cars are driving on the left!

Brilliant! It could help make people think. Democracy is more than just about what the 'haves' want.

I wonder how much of the 'relentless bombardment' was pre-planned, to hammer home the final victory, and how much was panic reaction? Brown's devo salvation mission seems like panic. Also the three party leaders abandoning PMQT for an unscheduled visit to Scotland. But the bombardment on the economy and big business seems as if it could have been planned all along Not sure about the train full of Labour MPs...

So, they've finally got independence from the rest of the rest of the UK?

Is there a link to a story on this anywhere?

They would have lost out to their bitterest enemy... Hacker:...Anyway, the Americans will always protect us from the Russians, won't they? Sir Humphrey: Russians? Who's talking about the Russians? Hacker: Well, the independent deterrent. Sir Humphrey: It's to protect us against the French! Hacker: The French?! But that's astounding! Sir Humphrey: Why? Hacker: Well they're our allies, our partners. Sir Humphrey: Well, they are now, but they've been our enemies for the most of the past 900 years. If they've got the bomb, we must have the bomb!

BBC is kindly reporting in advance that retail bosses 'plan to publish a letter' http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-scotland-politics-29169114 I guess they won't forget to report it again, when the letter is published?

Is there any link to verify this? It would be pretty distasteful to bring in a controversial act of war where hundreds or thousands of civilians were killed. They wouldn't do that, would they? Oh wait, didn't the government call the earlier assault the Dambusters strategy? http://www.heraldscotland.com/politics/referendum-news/fears-more-firms-will-follow-standard-life-threat-to-quit.23554839

I have not been following the details of betting patterns and someone else can better answer the details. Just saying that if there are any changes in betting in the last week, some of it could be due to new entrants to the referendum question market.

Imagine if the speaker had been the Prime Minister. Surely the BBC would show the tasty exchange where the national leader quips he's being heckled by the state broadcaster in front of an international audience. Can you imagine them not showing Cameron's response to Robinson's question?

Odds at the bookies will be influenced by people in the south suddenly waking up and joining the fray...

So... the BBC actually give more time to what the journalist said, than the speaker; they show the journalis asking the question, cut out Salmond's answer, and conclude with the journalist saying he didn't answer the question!

David Cameron faces a backlash from Tory MPs who say Scotland must not be handed new powers without London and the English regions getting a settlement of their own. http://www.standard.co.uk/news/politics/tory-mps-demand-greater-powers-for-london-and-england-if-devomax-goes-ahead-9726179.html

Alex Salmond sticks the boot in? But on the news the story was more like "Alex Salmond failed to answer my question"

Quite interesting piece, calm in today's hysterical context. Mainly economic but ends with a point on political choice. http://www.johnkay.com/2014/09/10/tricky%E2%80%89questions%E2%80%89for%E2%80%89scots%E2%80%89lucky-enough-to%E2%80%89have%E2%80%89a%E2%80%89vote