JJ

Aye it's certainly got interesting. We've gone from working hard and deep down believing we had an unwinnable task, to knowing we've got a hell of a chance. I said before, voting for independence is not just a vote for change and for Scotland to go it alone, but it's also in it's own way a massive vote of no confidence to the current system. Even if we do lose but have 46% or more of the vote, that's still a massive chunk of the population essentially demanding change and believing a better Scotland is possible. It's got to the point now the desire for independence isn't going to go away even in the event of a No vote. Better Together really needed to go out and squash us in the vote and in all honesty it could have with a good campaign. But the fact that it seems every day support for Yes is growing is showing how the attitudes here are shifting. Really the only true question is whether the growth of the Yes support will run out of time. I have spoken to dozens and dozens of people who were firm No's at the start of the campaign, as was I. I haven't spoken to anyone who has gone the other way, although I'm sure there are some. Exciting times up here.

Alex Jones is absolutely mental.

You say the no campaign is hammering home about the successful viable economy, yet a page later admit the UK is skint and can't afford to run a successful NHS. The NHS has run fine for decades, and yet all of a sudden we're stripping it away. The only success in the UK economy is that it's big. The country is in over a trillion quid of debt. We were told 10 years ago that the UK would essentially go bankrupt if the debt to GDP ratio was over 70%. It's now at 90%. The UK is broke. Which is exactly why Darling can't use the "successful economy" as a selling point with a straight face, as he had a fair hand in it getting this out of control. Darling instead sneers at Salmond when he mentions Scotland could be like Norway with no real comeback. When Norway discovered oil, they put massive portions of it in a fund and because of this Norway is a success. The UK discovered oil at the same time, and instead pissed it away and have nothing to show for it. Scotland has been a net contributor to the UK every single year since 1980. Scotland can afford to pay it's own way even without oil. The North Sea oil (and the potential of Clair Ridge) is a massive massive bonus. For me it isn't about Labour or Tory or Lib Dem or even the SNP. We've got a chance to control our own resources and control our political destiny. It's not FREEDOM as I'm sure some are shouting. It's just we hear the arguments about Scotland wanting public services that are being privatised. We hear Yes say the public services are under threat and Better Together saying "it doesn't matter, we can control it." But the real question is if Scotland want such different services to the rest of the UK, then why the hell stay in a political union? It makes no sense. The campaigns themselves haven't been great. One side is saying "If you vote yes your cock will get massive!" while the other says "aye but if you vote yes it'll fall off!" The biggest thing for me is only a fool would say that Westminster would govern Scotland better than it would govern itself. We already govern ourselves better with limited powers. Holyrood spends £50 million a year to Westminster just to make sure the people of Scotland don't have to pay the ridiculous bedroom tax. Scotland allows free prescriptions. Scotland allows free university education. We're already better off while being a net contributor to the UK and while only getting a population share of the oil instead of a geographical share. Sure we still have big problems, but I think we'll be better off going it alone. Sure, Salmond is promising a lot and will probably not deliver it all if we do vote yes. But the other side are offering us absolutely nothing and telling us "it could be worse." It's laughable. I don't want to go on about this too much as I know it's not of huge interest south of the border, but I'll bet that if we do vote no, by about 2018 it'll be nigh on impossible to find anyone up here who'll openly admit and ably justify voting no.

I know CT is a Tory so we'll get that biased rhetoric. I'm a Yes supporter (have you noticed ) so I have my biased rhetoric. I would like to point out I did give Better Together every possible chance to win my vote, but in all honesty it is the worst political campaign in the history of the UK, and the bigger injustice is that it might be successful. The have given no reason at all to vote no. Their entire campaign is an attempt to smear Alex Salmond. It's lazy and predictable and hiding the fact they have completely failed to make a positive case for the Union. Better Together's official facebook page last made a post that was 100% a positive case for the Union on April 30th after I had a little dig through. Yes makes the positive campaign for the future of Scotland every single day. Regardless, about healthcare. Scotland if it votes for independence will have it's own written constitution. In that constitution will be a guarantee of free healthcare in Scotland. The only way to save the NHS between now and 2020 in the UK is to vote the Tories out. Not even Thatcher had the balls to privatise the NHS. Cameron himself made a big deal in his campaign that the NHS would be safe in Conservative hands. While the NHS has taken a hit due to Cameron's administration, it will survive beyond May 2015. But if the Tories are back in, you can kiss goodbye. Labour's involvement in supporting Better Together while opposing the Tories has sent mixed messages on either side of the border that are complete contradictions. Yes, healthcare is fully devolved in Scotland, but it's funding depends on public spending calculated by the Barnett Formula. It's fairly obvious that if public spending is cut on healthcare in England, it'll affect Wales (which Mark Drakeford is openly worried about) Northern Ireland and thus, Scotland. So in Wales Labour are telling us the Tories are putting immense strain on funding the NHS. In England Labour are telling us the Tories are putting immense strain on funding the NHS. But in Scotland Labour saying the exact opposite, which is completely illogical. And the argument that Scotland can allocate funds easily from elsewhere to healthcare that Labour is putting forward bases the argument on the falsehood that the block grant to Scotland is going up, which it isn't. CT will probably be happy, but Labour's mixed and conflicting messages show a party in disarray that can only play into Conservative hands in 2015. Even in Scotland, there's a Labour breakaway in support for Independence that is dividing the party. Considering Scotland sent 40 of it's 59 MP's at the last general election in a Labour seat, this division isn't going to help in 2015, even if the event of a No vote. Labour is a rudderless ship. The Conservatives have a vision. It's just a vision that anyone with sense cannot support. And yet the likelihood is we will vote to maintain the status quo. Isn't democracy great?

Nae good about Richard Attenborough. And Jesus Christ Stevie! Settle down and take it easy.

If that lad doesn't get out tomorrow it's a fucking shambles.

Stevie when he finally gets a "release"

Already my favourite artist ever.

I'm down Saturday-Monday for it. Really looking forward to a couple of days in Newcastle. Been a while. Looking forward to everything but the game.

Has our old mucker Ken been back at all since his last meltdown?

Most news agencies are reporting an apparent suicide. Dire. RIP

All the best man.

Move completed. Herman Munster signs for Southampton for £10 million. Good goalie. Totally overpriced though.

5 out of 15. I only knew the Jupiler League country for sure. Everything else was a guess.

I'm stunned considering the mass conspiracy against Celtic that they have been instated. Here I've been told for years everyone is out to get them? Maribor knocked Rangers out of Europe a few years ago which helped facilitate their financial collapse. While I'm not suggesting a similar financial collapse will happen at Celtic (far from it) then they can be double heroes by knocking out Celtic too.

Aberdeen predictably knocked out by Real Sociedad. Lost 3-2 at home for a 5-2 aggregate. Was more amazed we were 2-1 up tonight to be honest! Conceded two late goals after really going for it. Proud of them for not embarrassing themselves against vastly superior opposition.

While Deila may have a point that Celtic shouldn't have to go through 3 qualifying rounds, a team that loses 6-1 on aggregate to Legia Warsaw can have no complaints that they are not among the 32 teams in the group stage.

Celtic 0-2 Legia Warsaw. 6-1 on aggregate

I still think we won't get independence to be honest. Like you say, Salmond should have destroyed Darling tonight, but his performance was poor too. Great chance to swing some voters, but nothing that happened tonight will change the outcome I feel. I'll be casting my vote as it's all I can do, but I'm not optimistic.

Not to mention we've got Salmond and Darling on the telly tonight having a tiff. As sad as it is, this is going to be the biggest vote swinger left. Realistically as it stands No is going to win, and this is Salmond's last chance to change that. He's going to have to eviscerate Darling and make people believe in independence. I'll be voting Yes, but I'm fully prepared for the inevitable No.

Brilliant effort Cath.

Ken's had a shandy.