Only Yes. And No.

As a resident in England I have no vote on Scottish independence. I do, however, have an opinion about how Britain is governed for better or worse. It's time to voice it.

In part I'm writing this blog because it helps to untie the knot of thoughts and emotions that have built up as referendum day approaches. Another reason is because it's one of the few things I can do. In the event this blog helps a single undecided voter, or even creates some shared understanding beyond, then it'll have been worth more than its therapeutic value alone. I hope it conveys my solidarity with those who may welcome it at this time.

I've been trying to avoid the coverage on the referendum. Keeping off twitter. Steering clear of the news. For the sake of my blood pressure and mental health, I've tried to keep some distance from what often seems grossly simplistic arguments.

Independence is an emotive issue and played out within a relatively small island particularly so. I'm no fan of nationalism. I know how difficult it is to escape its call and consequence. Nationalism fanned at a time of widespread economic despair does not seen to have a good track record!

I'm no fan of an over dominant Westminster either. I think Britain is imbalanced politically and economically. Local governance is impoverished, the English regions emasculated. London dominates (with a seemingly independent City of London state-within-a-state at its heart). But is the nationalist call to break the union really the answer?

It's been a grim few years for many of us in Britain - and elsewhere- living through the after shocks of a global financial melt down. Add the scape-goating of the public sector unleashed in its wake (by a government I have no love for) and I'd welcome some change.

I'd also welcome some solidarity.  I'd sooner see political energy expended on improving the lot of those in need whatever side of a line on the map they happen to live on. Instead, if the nationalists get their way, it is likely to be  spent bickering over an ugly separation.

I'd be very wary of a soft focus 'holiday brochure' independence, however alluring its presentation. I certainly don't buy the argument painted by some on the left that sees Scottish independence as some route to a new socialist order, or even a way of cementing the foundations for an enduring social democratic state. It may temporarily shake parts of the establishment, but I don't see an independent Scotland being free from global capitalism. Or even from the dominant influence of what remains of Britain. I part perceive it as a means for capital to further pick the bones of a potentially weakened state. If Rupert Murdoch is in favour of it, alarm bells start to ring.

I fear many of those in favour of a 'yes' vote beyond Scotland, in part relish the opportunities that any aftershock might create. However exciting this might appear intellectually, I'm for more immediate and practical struggles. I speak not from the comfort of an arm chair, but amidst the worry of another round of redundancies at work. It doesn't need a 'yes' vote to create such opportunities. They have already been created.

Despite attempts to play it down and pretend it's a non-issue, the wider rise of nationalism worries me. From warped racial variants, to more subtle shades of 'difference': UKIP want UK independence from Europe; the SNP Scottish independence from Britain. Personally I'm happy to be a cestrian, northern, English, British and European (roll on a wider sense of being a citizen of the world!). To me each identity presents possibility, community and potential solidarity. In contrast breaking away from some burdensome 'other' creates a 'them' and 'us'. Soft cuddly nationalism stokes nationalism of quite another variant. It's to easy to turn friend into foe and neighbour against neighbour sliding down this slope.

The ugly side of nationalism has been present on the campaign trail. Division is divisive in Scotland. If successful I fear things will get uglier still beyond. Scotland is not contained within an ancient border. In our well mixed home, the break up the nationalists desire risks creating many strangers in their own land north and south of the border.

I would ask those attracted to independence whether they really think devolution has really run it's course? To me it appears to be in its infancy with more prospects and avenues to travel. I'd certainly welcome a bit of devolution to the north west of England. Couldn't we further rectify the imbalance in Britain with a proper constitutional settlement across the whole of Britain?

Ultimately I suspect how you perceive independence is in part a reflection of your identity at a time of crisis. It is also a question of what value you place on unions. To my mind people can vote yes to be only Scottish or no to remain both Scottish and British: 'only' yes; 'and' no. 'And' includes some notion of value in a union with those you share a small island with.

So to wrap up my rambles, there's a fork in the path approaching. People living in Scotland have a choice  to make - whether they wanted it or not. If I had a vote I'd vote 'no', no to a narrow risky seemingly one-way path. I'd vote 'no' not to keep the status quo but to go further together in an evolving union of possibilities. I'm for 'and' not 'only', solidarity not division.