Scots Wahey

As polls tentatively suggest that Scotland might vote Yes at the referendum, an outcome seemingly unthinkable only a few weeks ago, a bout of panic and bluster begins at Westminster. Which made me think, possibly this is why it’s happening.

Months ago the No campaign was strongly ahead. There’s not enough space in this piece to discuss the pros and cons of Scottish independence, but what I would point out is that it was all going pretty well if you’re pro-union roughly until David Cameron opened his gob, and it’s been getting worse for them ever since. His tone has been condescending, a groovy teacher telling the kids what they need to do, yeah. And in his wake patronising posh bloke after patronising posh bloke has been queuing up to tell the bally Jocks to stop all this nonsense and simmer down.

There have been threats about currency union, threats about Europe, copious hot air and finger-jabbing, ill thought out remarks about border guards, the Union (by which we can reasonably read: England) has acted like the worst kind of older brother, bullying and petulant. Who wouldn’t want o get shut of that? By feeling the need to do something, by assuming that Scots would give a flying toss about what they were saying, by just not leaving well alone the British establishment has done more to ensure a yes vote than any pro-independence campaigner. Were I Scottish, the chance to give them the finger would be impossible to resist.