United we stand, but nations divided will fall

AS a country we are faced with two campaigns both of which, if successful, would be deeply damaging to the UK. Fortunately neither of them are at all likely to be successful.

First let’s take Scottish Independence. Leaving aside the point that no country can be fully independent in the modern world, it should be fairly obvious that Scotland is far too small to make a success of going it alone.

The proposal that, after centuries of intertwined fortunes in the Union, this Northern outpost could deal successfully with the problems of defence, currency, relations with the EU etc, is most unlikely. If there were a separation it would certainly matter to us but for the Scots it would be nothing short of catastrophic. The other, of course, is Ukip’s campaign to exploit people’s fears and prejudices to cut us off from Europe. Here again they are unlikely to succeed. There is a solid majority among the parties in favour of staying in. This comprises the whole of the Lib Dems, five-sixths of the Labour Party and a surprising number of Conservatives who keep quiet for fear of Ukip.

It is a pity that we have to waste so much time and money on wrong-headed and ill-advised policies in an economic crisis.