NEISR...shhh

What is it with these people. There we are pootling along, all happy in the knowledge that the people of Scotland are merrily talking themselves into Independence. Braveheart, Bannockburn and all the other other rubbish being spouted by the SNP...along with some more salient points about the poor quality of leader on offer from Westminster.

Then NEISR interrupts with yet another credulous doom and gloom report on how Scotland will face years of austerity and hard times if it leaves the UK. Where is the balance here? What about the years of hard times Scotland has already faced as it is part of the UK?

Scotland is a basket case of an economy, rapidly deteriorating towards a Middle Eastern model of non-competitive jobs and subsidies for all on the back of oil revenues, all the while knowing that these are going to end in a generation or two. Equally though, the people of Scotland are fixated on this issue and the key driver for them appears, from ballot box results, to be arguing over the distribution of said monies. This is why Labour and the left wing SNP do so well. Neither are too fussed about business or the wider economy, instead its all about re-distribution.

Scotland is welcome to this game, its a democratic one and its their choice. English scare stories about their loss of oil revenues are just that, there will be strong oil revenues for Scotland from the North Sea for at least one more generation. If then they want Independence, they should have it.

In fact, it should be encouraged, there is much to be said for losing the Scots from the UK. They will be better off emotionally whilst the rest of the UK will be better of financially. We just need to stop all this crazy talk of them being in penury forever, lest they believe it and decide to shackle themselves to the Union forever....