Posted on 09/17/2014 8:09:09 PM PDT by Tailgunner Joe
THE heated rhetoric of Alex Salmond's pro-independence campaign has fuelled such anti-English "vitriol" that the referendum could spark riots, Nigel Farage warned today.
He challenged the Scottish National Party First Minister to demand "calm and law-abiding behaviour" to ensure a "free and fair" vote in Scotland tomorrow after a campaign in which the pro-union side has complained of attacks and harassment by supporters of its opponents.
Fears of mob violence - particularly if the result is a narrow win for the No team - have been fuelled by moves to let scores of pubs around Scotland stay open all night as the referendum results trickle in.
It is expected a final result will be declared around 6.30am on Friday.
Police and politicians denounced the pub move as "madness", with particular fears that a long day and night of drinking will make the anger of some Yes supporters at a No vote more likely to turn into violence.
One officer warned: "Tempers are already running high. This is a bad, bad idea."
One publican said he was pondering serving low-alcohol drinks while another will host an all-night party to which only Yes supporters will be admitted in a bid to prevent brawls.
UK Independence Party leader Mr Farage's pro-union visit to Scotland last week passed off largely quietly but on a trip last year protesters he later branded anti-English "fascist scum" barricaded him in a pub from which he had to be rescued by police.
Today amid growing complaints about Yes campaigners intimidating No backers and being hostile to English people, Mr Farage Tweeted: "Salmond has fuelled such vitriol amongst Yes campaigners that we are now seeing intimidation and a growing anti-English sentiment."
He added: "We are also seeing the sort of abhorrent behaviour that could lead to rioting. It's a sorry situation when politics plunges to these depths ... It is surely Alex Salmond's job to publicly demand calm and law abiding behaviour to ensure a free and fair referendum tomorrow."
There are also fears Yes campaigners will un-nerve opponents by staging "freedom marches" on polling stations.
Police Scotland Assistant Chief Constable Bernard Higgins said: "Our priority is to ensure public safety and security and facilitate a peaceful democratic process.
"The referendum is a significant event which is expected to attract a high electoral turnout.
"Policing arrangements are well in hand and will be appropriate and proportionate.
"Detailed plans have been developed to ensure that we can respond appropriately to any issues that may arise.
"Where individuals do have concerns or wish to report a crime, I would urge them to come forward and report it through our 101 number where it will be dealt with appropriately."
Within a week of Independence (if they vote yes) the Scottish currency will be one of the strongest currencies in the world. I don’t care if they print it on newsprint...it will be backed by oil.
Scotland is full of “Amish” — who knew?
Tho I don’t approve of the Socialist SNP, England and its history of occupation and oppression of Scotland brought this on...it reaps what it sowed.
Funny you talking about a “Scottish Currency”, since the SNP want immediate currency union with UK after independence
Better yet, the SNP want to get into the EU and adopt the Euro.
Oh and the SNP want to nationalize the oil industry...for the benefit of the Scottish nation.
Repression?
Six Scots have been Prime Minister since union.
That is why a vast disproportion number of British Prime Ministers, Generals,and varioius Grand Poobahs have been Scots.
And why England subsidizes Scotland to the tune of ~15B pounds per year.
The Venezuelan Bolivar is backed by oil.
Like Venezuela, Scotland would be a land ruled by leftist with a nationalized oil industry.Like all nationalized oil industries Scotland will not become a kleptocracy.
The SNP wants to use the British Pound with or without agreement with Westminster.
And then enter the EU and adopt the Euro.
I like Nigel but he is being a bit dramatic. Its been the “No” campaign that has been making arguments that are akin to “You can’t leave me, you need my money wench, you are nothing without me!”. It has been insulting and patronizing.The UK will be so much better off politically without Scotland which if you don’t follow politics is a Labour stronghold. I don’t know how the Scots became so damn “progressive” but if they want to be that way let them. The UK politics will improve dramatically and Tories like Cameron and Labour will no longer be viable in the more conservative and liberty minded voting pool. Imagine for a moment how much the US would improve if California was gone from the Presidential and Congressional equation? That is what Scotland leaving the UK will be like. Labour will lose 40 seats instantly.
I never said the word repression.
One can’t ignore that England used vicious methods to bring Scotland into the union.
I don’t remember anti-English riots, when did they take place?
What vicious methods were those then?
hey, do your own history research!!:))
Medieval battles and constant cross-border warfare have no bearing on the fact that Scotland in 1707 voted peacefully to join the Union after sharing a monarch for over 100 years because of the failure of the Darien Scheme which left Scotland bankrupt. Thereafter, Scotland prospered enormously and became a key part of what became at one point the richest country in the world.
If you are referring to the Jacobite uprisings, they were opposed by most of the Scottish population, especially by predominantly presbyterian lowlanders who viewed a Catholic King with distaste and the Highlanders as savage barbarians.
Is the Loch Ness monster a Scot or a Brit?
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