INDEPENDENCE FOR SCOTLAND?

I'd imagine Sturgeon's supporters see her chicanery in the Salmond Inquiry

as proof of her ability to get what she wants.

Westminster can try a direct financial appeal to the forgotten failures of Glasgow and the West who wish for "independence" (what a misnomer!)  It is a clever move to offer direct support to community groups, through which the pro-Union comm can be channeled.

But Westminster should also be surreptitiously withdrawing its assets. Keep the commitment to extend levelling up on paper only.

And the govt in waiting need to urgently show how they will pay their divorce settlement, set up their central bank, manage their new currency; how they will handle the rights of Scots abroad to return and protect English folk living in Scotland; how they will construct the new physical border (or perhaps rehab the existing wall) man it, what processes to run it; what FTA do they set their sights on and how to achieve that (or will WTO terms be acceptable)?

There is no evidence that separatists have thought about any of the real world concerns to do with life as an independent country. Nor have they shown they understand, but reject, the benefits Scotland receives from other regions of the UK - benefits but little in the way of contributions these days, it must be said (compare with Scotland's glorious past).

The quality of supporters of the SNP make it hard to have a reasoned debate. Winning hearts is a real challenge. The EU do it by taking over committees and industrial boards, offering subsidies, strengthening legislation, stuffing them with EU stooges, rewriting charters to follow EU objectives.

If a government admits the idea of "independence" for a region, then it finds itself having to defend inclusion. Not to recommend Spain's handling of secessionists, which was to lock up local leaders on charges of sedition.