Scots Weigh Emotions of Breaking Up U.K. as Heads Take On Hearts

Waving a British flag and wearing a coat with its red, white and blue pattern, Amy Roslender was as clear in her views about Scottish independence as a six-year-old can be. For the family friend on whose shoulders she sat, the issue was more complicated.

My hearts saying one thing, my heads saying another, said Scott Beveridge, 39, as he waited at Scotlands Rosyth shipyard to watch Queen Elizabeth II launch an aircraft carrier named in her honor. Its a risk. Lifes good just now, and its a question of whether to make that leap of faith.

The project managers personal battle summarizes the arguments being used by the two sides in Scotlands independence debate. On the one hand, nationalists play to emotions of patriotism, while on the other, unionists warn of the dangers of a Scotland unable to use the pound, excluded from the European Union and shut out of defense contracts.

Scotlands Independence Bid

As the campaigns in the Sept. 18 referendum enter their final phase, the fate of the 307-year-old U.K. rests on the relative weight voters place on political aspirations versus what the no camp tells them is harsh economic reality.

Were making progress, which is why, with increasing confidence, I can say that I think we will win, provided we continue to get our arguments across, Alistair Darling, the former chancellor of the exchequer who leads the Better Together campaign against independence, said on the BBCs Sunday Politics show yesterday. Poll after poll now show it is the economic arguments that are dominating peoples thinking.

Amy Roslender waves a Union flag during the naming ceremony for the HMS Queen Elizabeth aircraft carrier at Rosyth shipyard in Scotland, on Friday, July 4, 2014. Close

Amy Roslender waves a Union flag during the naming ceremony for the HMS Queen Elizabeth... Read More

Close

Amy Roslender waves a Union flag during the naming ceremony for the HMS Queen Elizabeth aircraft carrier at Rosyth shipyard in Scotland, on Friday, July 4, 2014.

Go here to read the rest:
Scots Weigh Emotions of Breaking Up U.K. as Heads Take On Hearts