Scotland Decides.

I was pleased to have been proved right when I predicted that the Scots would vote ‘No’ in the independence referendum. Although the opinion polls suggested a very close result, the actual vote was clear at a ratio of about 5:4.

It always seemed to me that after all the rhetoric, the political posturing, the promises of greater devolution and the high economic language, in the final analysis it would come down to the choice between a canny ‘no’ vote and a romantic ‘yes’ one. The Scots are famed for their canny natures, and that’s why I thought they would opt to stay in the union.

And I’m glad they did, partly because I’ve always had a soft spot for the Scots and didn’t want to lose them, but also because they usually provide a bastion against Tory elitism at General Election time. The Scots generally dislike elitism, and relatively few of them vote Tory. A combination of historical English harassment and a folk memory of the Highland Clearances probably have something to do with it.

So now all you post-loyalist Americans, especially certain Very Interesting Persons in upstate New York, can rest easy. You won’t have to consign your Union Flag bunting to the trash can (or bury it just so you can dig it up again.)