What would Scottish independence mean for the rest of the UK?
The big news in the UK today is the publication by the Scottish Government of a 649-page White Paper setting out the case for an independent Scotland in advance of the referendum on Scottish independence in September 2014.
My general position politically is that I want to see nations coming more together which is why I support membership of the European Union and an active role for the United Nations.
So I would be saddened by Scottish independence although, as a democrat, I would accept if it was clear that this was the wish of the Scottish people. But it would have profound implications for the remainder of the UK as the BBC has explained here.
Ultimately I believe, the Scottish referendum will not be decided by economic issues but by perceptions of identity and I have written a short essay on the question of identity here.