The Guardian declares in favour of No vote in Scottish independence referendum
The Guardian has declared its backing for a No vote in the Scottish independence referendum.
Vote: The Guardian is urging Scots to say No to independence
In an editorial published online, the paper said nationalism was not the answer to social injustice and urged Scots to vote against independence. It stated that the union has been “over time and on balance… good for the people of these islands”, and cited universal pensions and the NHS as strengths.
“In Britain, in Europe and even in the world as a whole, we are indeed better together not better apart,” the paper stated. “Nationalism is not the answer to social injustice. For that fundamental reason, we urge Scots to vote no to independence next week."
However, the editorial added that alongside a No vote should be a push for change and reform, saying that Scots had "laid down a challenge" to the rest of the UK.
“But voting no cannot be a vote against change, and there is not at last the real hope that it can be a vote for reform and decentralisation in Britain," it went on. "The Scots have laid down a challenge to everyone in these islands, and even to Europe too. Better together, yes. But we must all, together, be part of a better future.”
Earlier this week, the Scotsman newspaper also declared in favour of a No vote in a front page editorial.
It leaves the Sunday Herald as the only title so far to favour a Yes vote. The paper declared in May and has since seen an increase in sales.