And in the "In" corner...

[Suff]

I refer you to a comment made by #1 son.

We want out of the Union. The SNP is offering that and only the SNP. Once we have independence from the Union, they have to have elections. On the EU, we will have our say in a Scottish election only and then whatever the SNP want and whatever the people want will be a different thing.

One thing at a time. Union first. Internal Scottish issues second.

Whilst I agree with him, I don't believe that he will get what he wants on the second. There will be a 2 year leaving window and a 2 year joining window for the Union breakup and EU accession respectively.

In that 2 (or 4) year period, the SNP will do Scottish finances a LOT of damage buying votes. There is little to choose between the policies of Corbyn and the SNP... Something which does not fill me with hope...

[Aggers]

I am getting to the point where I want Scotland to go its own way. If it works out, fine; if it fails; hard lines. It will not hurt England that much.

That is my opinion, too.

[Suff]

I am getting to the point where I want Scotland to go its own way. If it works out, fine; if it fails; hard lines. It will not hurt England that much.

That is my opinion, too.

Only in so much as what it will do to the balance of the government. Power corrupts, as we saw with both Maggie and Blair. Too much power and they begin to think that what they want is good for everyone, no matter how it actually turns out.

I'm not so unaware of the political situation that I don't see that the Tories can't be allowed to just keep running the country for businesses and devil take the hindmost. However I am aware that we can't afford NOT to have them in power for at least one more term after this one. Strong opposition and small majorities works to soften the Tory party as they are more individual and less compliant than their socialist brethren. This makes the Tories somewhat like a coalition even when they have a majority. Too big a majority and it becomes a rather different beast.

Taking Scotland away will upset that balance and it should happen with an amenable government in Hollyrood, not some belligerent neo communist. Taking Scotland out of the equation right now could have significant impact on rUK politics for some time to come. Although it would also, almost certainly, see rUK out of the EU....