Seeds of tyranny being sown in Scotland?
Is the nationalist camp in Scotland really creating an atmosphere of intimidation against opponents of independence? There are now real fears of a creeping soft authoritarianism
- 3 March 2015LibDems determined as Labour to deny England justice
With polls showing Labour faces wipe out on Scotland at the hands of the SNP we cannot ignore the demands for more Home Rule for England. But the LibDems seem as determined as Labour to deny England justice
- 31 October 2014Scottish Labour’s aversion to winning
Next year, the SNP could hold the balance of power in Westminster. The reliable cohort of Scottish seats which Ed Miliband, the insecure head of UK Labour banks on to enter Downing Street, could suddenly vanish. Can Jim Murphy save them?
- 29 October 2014In reality, Scotland independence vote wasn't even close
If the Scottish referendum result (55% No to 45% Yes) had been a US presidential election it would have been called a landslide. The bottom line is that the UK stays together and the matter is now settled for a generation. But what now for England?
- 19 September 2014Would Scottish independence be a net plus for liberty?
With North Korea backing Scottish independence it might seem the liberty argument is clear cut. But it isn't. Anyway, my prediction is that Scottish voters will get cold feet and vote no by a 56-44 margin, says Dan Mitchell from the Cato Institute
- 18 September 2014However Scots vote, England could still be the winner
England should win whatever Scotland votes. If, as many hope, the Union is preserved, England should get the same devolution Scotland gets: an English parliament for us, and a fair burden of sharing on taxes and benefits. England voted Tory but got a coalition. No more of that please
- 17 September 2014Truth can stop Scotland sleepwalking to catastrophe
For the sake of Kirsty's future, Scotland should vote no to independence. Or maybe she wants to grow up in a declining country with poor job prospects; an isolated and angry country. Is that what Kirsty wants? Is that what Scotland wants?
- 14 September 2014The rise of Scotland the terrible
Some elements of the Scottish pro-independence campaign have harnessed, for political purposes, the social volatility which until now has played out in gang warfare and football rivalry. Not a pretty sight; but telling
- 13 September 2014Consequences if Scotland leaves the UK
It is up to Scotland whether it wants to go independent. But there are major consequences. John Redwood MP explains how the UK would have to negotiate with Scotland. Is the Yes campaign aware of this?
- 10 September 2014If Scots leave, cancel Scottish 2015 general election
In the interim to full independence, if Scotland votes "Yes", parliament should pass a Short Act stopping Scottish MPs voting on non Scottish matters, and cancelling the 2015 general in Scotland
- 8 September 2014Scottish Self-Sabotage
The polls have narrowed in the run-up to the 18 September referendum and with its superior electoral machine some now think that the SNP may be unstoppable. If so, it's going to be an act of collective self-sabotage
- 5 September 2014As referendum nears, scoundrel time in Scotland
With just a few weeks to go, Alex Salmond, head of the Scottish independence movement, and wanna-be, 'Braveheart', has shown himself to be the rabble-rousing, vacant-minded populist that he is. As for the BBC...
- 26 August 2014The day the SNP abandoned its ‘civic’ nationalism
As Scottish pro-independence campaigners stoop to new lows in smearing and intimidating their opponents, it is increasingly clear that whatever the referendum result Scotland is going to be a sharply polarized country
- 24 August 2014The world after Britain: An Australian leader gets it
Australia's Tony Abbott, a Rhodes scholar who shone academically at Oxford rather more completely than Alex Salmond did at St Andrews will know that the 1707 Act of Union was a liberation for many in Scotland. He also knows that a vibrant Britain is vital to the wider West
- 17 August 2014Newly mint the groat if you want Scottish independence
Alex Salmond wants a dependent Scotland, dependent on the Bank of England for its money and interest rates, and dependent on the EU for much of its legislation and government
- 11 August 2014