The Scottish referendum in 2014 will be a major political event, whether it resolves anything is another matter. We can expect a raucous debate that will engage the Scottish public to a greater extent than was achieved in the referendum on electoral reform. Unless there is an emphatic vote for or against independence, little will be resolved and we will move immediately to an angry argument over the meaning of the vote. If there is any value in a referendum then it must lie in giving authoritative and unambiguous voice to the electorate. This is unlikely in this referendum. While it has the merit of simplicity, this is achieved by polarising a complex debate.
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