The sun shone on the Better Together campaign in the East Neuk of Fife yesterday as The Courier’s Referendum Roadshow suggested a majority will vote against Scottish independence in the referendum on September 18.
The Courier spent the morning in Anstruther and the afternoon in Crail, with 58.5% of people we spoke to indicating they will vote ‘No’ with 41.5% indicating they will vote ‘Yes’.
However, with passionate views expressed on both sides of the debate, it was also clear there is all to play for with a number of people saying they have not yet made up their minds.
Outside Anstruther Co-op, retired East Neuk hotelier Campbell MacIntyre and his wife Helen, both 80, were very much in the ‘No’ camp.
Mr MacIntyre, originally from Glasgow, said: “I am strongly Scottish having a name like ‘MacIntyre’. But I’m concerned about Salmond’s policies, especially the finances. Scotland was bailed out by England in 1707 and I wouldn’t like us to be bailed out again.”
Mrs MacIntrye, who celebrated her 80th birthday at the weekend, said: “I wouldn’t like us to lose our British citizenship. We will definitely be voting no on September 18.”
Alec Wood, 61, from Anstruther, is a full-time carere for his mother. He will also be voting ‘no’. He said: “I don’t trust Salmond. Some of the things he’s said are just not true.”
But Roy McIntosh, 64, an ex-marine engineer and father of five from Anstruther, is definitely voting Yes.
He said: “I voted for the SNP at the last election to get rid of the Lib Dems because I think they are a perverted bunch of creeps. I wouldn’t have voted for independence then. But the way things are going I will. An independent Scotland would give us more accountability.
“If people knew they were going to be better off they would vote Yes. But people are scared what they might lose. There’s a lot of scaremongering going on.”
Duncan Lucas, 69, who lives in Pittenweem, has been a strong SNP supporter since 1970. He said: “I’ll be voting Yes because Salmond is better on social and welfare issues. David Cameron is for the millionaires. I’m very social conscious. The gap between the haves and have nots in Anstruther is growing. We have a foodbank here too. Things need to change.”
Rachel McCusker, 17, and Jonathan Johnston, 18, are pupils at Waid Academy. Jonathan will be voting Yes. He said: “Decisions should be taken in Scotland for the benefit of Scotland.”
But Rachel said she had not yet decided. She said: “I’m not sure full independence will be the best thing for Scotland. There’s not been enough information for younger people to make an informed decision.”
Down at Anstruther Harbour, there was also a cross-section of opinion.
One Aberdeenshire man visiting the area who asked not to be named said: “If you’ve got kids then you have to vote Yes. When you can run things yourself it’s a more mature society.”
His wife said: “I think if Scotland got independence it would rise to the challenge. The Better Together campaign has been so negative and that just gets people’s backs up.”
Anstruther man Bob Harper made a bee-line straight for the roadshow and declared: “I’m a Yes man!”
But a number of passing American tourists, in the area to play golf, and who would not be drawn on the concept of American independence, urged Scotland to think twice. One said: “It would be like several states leaving the USA.”
Another said: “Independence? We’ve read about it!”
Meanwhile, in Crail, there was also a cross section of opinion. Amongst those turning out was SNP Fife councillor John Docherty who said he was pleased to see The Courier taking the debate to the people.
The roadshows continue today in Monifieth and Carnoustie. Follow all the events at www.thecourier.co.uk/indy-roadshow.