Should Scotland be an independent country?

Should Scotland be an independent country?

That is the question voters will be asked in the referendum on Thursday.

Peeblesshire News reporter MARK DAVEY went out and about in Peebles High Street to ask shoppers their views.

Here is what they said, in the order we found them...

YES - Gregg Parker, of Connor Ridge, Peebles, who works at Villeneuve Wines, is a definite ‘yes’ voter. He said: “Being independent is the only way forward, if we are going to make it ourselves. We have diverse assets in this country but with England in control it is going down the tubes. All the lies from the Better Together team would win the day if the ‘no’ camp get their way.” YES - His colleague Elliot Campbell, of Bonnington Cottages, Peebles, said: “I’m a very tentative ‘yes’, purely because we would have a government looking after the interests of five to six million people rather than the current situation where we are governed by the London centric south-east. Six months ago I was a ‘no’ voter. Who are we to be told what we can and can’t have? If it does not go our way I am worried because I think there will be a backlash - English people will not want to give us more powers.” YES - NHS staff nurse Ewan Cameron, who was visiting Peebles on holiday from Edinburgh, said: “I will vote ‘yes’, probably, mainly because I want a government that I have voted for rather than one which is remote in southern England. I’m worried about the future of the NHS and think an independent Scotland is more likely to remain in the European Union.” NO - Viv Collier, of Venlaw View, Peebles, moved to Scotland five years ago. She said: “I will vote ‘no’ because the more we stick together the better position we have in the world. I think whichever way we vote things will just carry on as they do.” YES - Jack Johnson, from Cardrona, said he will probably vote ‘yes’. He said: “I was originally going to vote ‘no’ but it has all changed in the last month or so. If you go back to 1979, we were given many promises of more power then but it never materialised. So I think there will be many problems if there is a ‘no’ vote.” UNDECIDED - Taxi Driver Nick Stennett, of Witchwood Crescent, Peebles, is undecided. He said: “I moved here four years ago from Yorkshire. At first I thought it is my patriotic duty to vote ‘no’, but I have come to realise that a vote for independence is not a vote for Alex Salmond. This vote is for the future of Scotland, I have a business here with two cabs, my children are at school here and my future is here.” YES - John Macfarlane, from Broughton, has just turned 18 and it is his first vote. He said: “I will vote ‘yes’. If we get independence we will have a government more in line with the views of Scotland. The result will be what the majority of Scots want and so be it.” NO - Gerard McNally, of Kingsway, Peebles, is a ‘no’ voter, but did not rule out independence in future. He said: “The Scottish National Party have not given us any assurances, the White Paper did not say anything. Scotland should have a long term strategy and plan for independence, not just rush it through in 18 months. If it is a ‘yes’ it will split Scotland down the middle - families and businesses.” YES - Long term SNP supporter Alexander Fell, from Mosspark, said: “I will vote ‘yes’, I have voted for the SNP for years. If there’s a ‘no’ vote there will be big problems. The Tories have ruined this country Thatcher closed everything.” NO - Susan James, from Witchwood Crescent, Peebles, said: “I am voting ‘no’. I don’t think Scotland can sustain itself if it had to pay for an army and air force. It can be quite selfish when countries go off on their own. If there’s a ‘yes’ vote, who’s to say that those who run Scotland will be any better than at present? I cannot stand nationalism, I have seen it in Wales where they hate the English.” UNDECIDED - Innerleithen based photographer Graham Riddell said: “I am undecided. It is a huge step to go your own way that’s challenging and worrying. The amount of hysteria that’s developing south of the Border is also worrying. I don’t think flying the Saltire in England is the way to persuade anyone, there’s no easy answer.” NO - Proud Scotswoman, Vicky Morrison ,from Elliot’s Park, Peebles, said: “I will vote ‘no’, there are too many pros and cons and unresolved issues. We have been with England a long time, but there will be some sort of backlash whatever happens next Thursday.” NO - Dawn Dalton, who was visiting the Borders this week from Fife, said: “I’m a ‘no’ voter, I just don’t think that there’s much point or that Scotland can sustain itself for long. I don’t really trust any politician and they will just try again if they do not get their way.” UNDECIDED - Lynda Finnigan, who was house hunting in Peebles, said: “I am going towards ‘yes’ having come from ‘no’, it is starting to seem like a good idea. I thought it was going to cost us but maybe in a few years it will turn out to be good. At last Scotland will make its own decisions.” YES - Heather Gordon, from Dean Park, Peebles, said: “My vote is ‘yes’ because there’s an opportunity for the future and to capitalise on our industries, we can focus more on Scotland than Westminster. If there’s a ‘no’ I think there will be a lot of reflection, it has been great for the young people to understand the implications.” YES - Duncan Hamilton, from South Queensferry, said: “I am a ‘yes’, we need to control our own destiny we do not need England to mess up our lives.” UNKNOWN - The Reverend Jim Benton-Evans, minister for St Peter’s Church in Peebles and St Andrew’s Church in Innerleithen, said: “I have my own private view on voting, but I think it has been very exciting to see an unprecedented level of political engagement. What’s going to be important on Friday September 19 and thereafter is making sure that people on both sides of the debate can live and work alongside each other in the same unified spirit that we have managed up to now.”