There was next to nothing about this in the news (outside Scotland) until the last couple of weeks. This is despite the agreement to hold a legally binding ballot being made back in 2012.
At the time the design of the ballot was being agreed, the SNP proposed three options, the third being 'devo max' (more powers transferred from Westminster to Holyrood). Cameron rejected this out of hand. The result now is there is an all or nothing ballot.
Pretty much throughout the period, the 'No' camp held what appeared to be an unassailable lead. Consequently it seems there has been no preparation whatsoever of what to do if there is a 'Yes' vote. The 'No' camp, while I feel may still prevail - is in utter disarray.
The 'No' camp have largely peddled fear while the 'Yes' camp have been slickly run and have promised opportunity - whether realistic or not is up for conjecture. But the point is, the Westminster political establishment have pretty much mishandled the entire process. And this goes right back to Cameron's initial position where he refused to agree a third choice. What the 'No' camp are now saying is a vote for 'No' is essentially a vote for 'Devo max'. And while the campaign has been running since 2012, they've been saying this since....Sunday.
The UK government is so unpopular that watching on TV, you'd have thought we'd stepped back to 2010. Gordon Brown is now the figurehead (since yesterday) for the 'No' campaign. It is as if Gordon Brown is the PM now. To give you an idea of the level of profile Brown has maintained since he resigned the Labour leadership on 2010, I thought he'd left Parliament altogether.
Yet it is Brown who is setting out or promising what devolution will look like in the event of the decision being 'No'. It is he who is seemingly making up what devolution will look like, along with the timescale for the transition of additional powers to a devolved administration within the UK.
And these promises (there is a distinct lack of detail) that are being made up on the hoof are actually being made after postal voting has already started!
It has been a total mess, with no planning whatsoever on the part of the UK Government on what will happen in the event of a 'Yes' vote.
And it is now very very close according to the polls. That said, a better indication is the betting markets, and here it seems cut and dry that the result of the ballot will be No to independence.
http://www.oddschecker.com/politics/...rendum-outcome