Scottish independence poll of Poles a dead heat

Poles Piotr Balcer and Michal Karwat agree to differ on vote. Picture: Jane Barlow

Scotland’s Polish community, estimated at 55,000 in the last census, is easily big enough to have a real influence in a close referendum – if, that is, they vote decisively one way or the other.

But, according to The Scotsman’s strictly unscientific sample of two, there is little chance of that.

Piotr Balcer, 37, and Michal Karwat, 42, are owners of Let Me Eat, a takeaway in Edinburgh’s Holyrood Road, in the shadow of the parliament. Both have settled here, and both have a child.

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Hardworking, highly motivated and optimistic by nature, they have built up their business from scratch over the past three years. But despite their similar background, the two business partners have very different ideas about what independence would mean for Scotland, and for their lives here. Michal will vote Yes next week. Piotr has already voted No by post.

It is a divide, incidentally, which they see mirrored among their family and other Polish friends. “I think Polish people are divided half and half, exactly the same as Scottish people, Michal says as we sit outside the cafe, the lunchtime rush over for another day. “I think it’s half and half too,” Piotr agrees.

If there is one thing that informs their attitudes above all others, it is probably their memory of growing up in a Poland that was still part of the eastern bloc, where external travel was at best very difficult, and where the Soviet Union dictated economic policy.

“When I see a lot of young people saying they’ll vote Yes, I think they don’t know what they have already,” Piotr says.“When I came here 11 years ago, it was something amazing. I used to work as a kitchen porter but I couldn’t afford a good holiday. My life completely changed here – that’s why I’m voting No.

“Of course everything is not perfect. But we live right now in a four-star country, and for me it’s fine. I don’t want to live in a two-star country, or even a three-and-a-half-star country. And I think there are many economic reasons why that might happen if we become independent.”

Michal is just as glad to have settled here, but he is convinced that an independent Scotland could be more vibrant if it were free of Westminster control. “I was born in communist Poland, and I remember this central planning idea, from Moscow.

“Right now, there is a similar thing. With no Kalashnikovs, of course, but right now central planning is coming from Westminster. If our parliament is properly independent, and the budget too, there is no reason why Scotland would be poorer than it is right now.

“In fact, an independent Scotland would be a beautiful and wealthy country. It would be a paradise.”

Michal puts on his sunglasses. “After independence, it will be sunny every day,” helaughs. Whatever the result they are on the same side on one thing – determined to make the best of their lives in their adopted country.

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