A road trip through Scotland's political geography

In 1981 and 1982, photographer Paul Graham travelled up and down the A1, the longest road in the UK, documenting his journey through the heart of Britain with the series A1, The Great North Road. London-based photographer Michael Thomas Jones takes his cues from Graham with A9, which sees him traverse the longest motorway in Scotland to document how people intend to vote in today's referendum on independence.

In a nod to Graham's work, Jones has also installed his images at the London crossroads where the A1 finally meets the A9 – you can see them at the junction between Upper Street and Goswell Road. Despite counting himself as a yes voter, Jones says that A9 doesn't throw its lot in with either political camp. As he puts it: "it's talking about being engaged politically – which is the opposite of neutrality. It's kind of saying that engagement is essential." As Britain waits to see how Scotland votes, Jones displays a nation of Scots poised to make one of the biggest decisions in its history. 

Can you describe A9 to a casual viewer?

Michael Thomas Jones: The A9 project is about the landscape of Scotland and it's people and it's about numbers in politics and individuals adding up to affect change in a nation as a whole. That's why for the most part the individuals are obscured or in the distance and in some cases ineligible to vote. The intention was to depersonalise the people somewhat and, in turn, the referendum. It was about shifting the emphasis from individuals to Scotland as a whole. 

Did anything surprise or shock you about people's feelings on independence as you photographed the series? 

Michael Thomas Jones: Not really. There seemed to be a fairly calm discussion going on. That's probably not the case this week though. What I guess I was and am surprised or even shocked about is that a lot of people in the no camp agree that they are not best served by central government in Westminster yet the fact that independence would undoubtedly be hard work puts them off. I'm also shocked just how difficult a question it is for a lot of people and how a lot of people would rather not have been asked.

Do you see A9 as a pro-independence project or politically neutral?

Michael Thomas Jones: Although it's politically neutral in that I'm not expressing an opinion one way or another in this referendum, it's talking about being engaged politically – which is the opposite of neutrality, I reckon. It's kind of saying that engagement is essential.

Where do you stand on independence? Do you think Scotland will end up voting yes? 

Michael Thomas Jones: Right at this moment I'd vote yes to independence even though I'd be scared of the potential for it to go badly. I'd have voted for "devo max" if it hadn't been removed from the ballot paper. I'm scared that independence could go badly because obviously no great outcome is guaranteed. But that fear is like all fears in life and comes with being alive. Being part of the UK comes with its own fears as does being a citizen of any country, so I'm able to talk myself out of that one. I also worry that the resistance that would be put in place by the UK would lead to increased animosity between Scottish and English people and that relations would be badly fractured.

Right now I'm more concerned for those who vote no and in six months time or whenever realise that they missed an opportunity to do something new, something they had control over and then realise that chance has gone. When they realise that being part of the UK isn't (and wasn't ever) wonderful after all and in fact most every day people dream of a better situation to live under. I fear for that feeling of sadness and regret. Independence offers the opportunity to work until we get something right no matter how difficult that it that is. A no vote keeps the shackles on.