Scottish independence

At the end of the day, what would be required to get a yes vote over the line?

In my view it is time.

Scotland is currently split 50/50 on independence and it basically comes down to a question of identity. The older generation see themselves as British and the younger generation see themselves as Scottish. The current dividing line between the two identities is probably with people in their 50's. Do I think a referendum will happen next year - no but I don't think Sturgeon wants on either but she has to be seen as doing something.

The demographics are currently only going one way = independence.

But how strong is Scottish identity when compared to British identity?

It's very different here in the republic of Ireland.

There is no sense of British identity.

There is almost uniquely an Irish identity.

And that's because we Irish have always been culturally different from the rest of the UK.

The Romans never came here, we were always considered savages, and since the reformation our religion has been very different.

All reasons for our centuries of rebellion and eventual independence.

So back to Scotland.

Is that Scottish identity strong enough so that they can separate themselves from the British identity ?

My father was once in a house in the west of Scotland, and he obsesrved that even though the people in the house were speaking Scots Gaelic, they had a union jack table cloth on a small table in the corner and a picture of the queen on the wall.

You would have no such ambiguity in Ireland.

Religion wise Scotland is mainly Presbyterian.

They were more radically protestant than England ever were back at the time of the reformation.

Their reformation was a theological one rather than the political one instigated by Henry VII in England.

They even went to war with England in the 1600s over it.

The Celtic v Rangers thing is just a result of more recent (1800s) immigration from Ireland.

Presbyterians out number Catholics in Scotland 2:1.

Scottish identity at the moment would not push it. However, Scottish identity is in some sort of hybrid state. Look at international sport, to most across the world, it would look like Scotland is already independent as they compete in international tournaments in football and rugby as well as having their football league enter UEFA competitions.

Imagine if the legal challenge demonstrates to people in the UK that actually it is not a union of countries each sharing their soverignty. A lot of people genuinely think the UK is a union but what sort of union is it when the larger member refuses to let other members change their mind?

We put Eire on the stamps because it's the Irish name for Ireland.

The Republic of Ireland Is a FIFA/UEFA construct really.

When the FAI broke away from the IFA 100 years ago both bodies called their international team Ireland.

The one in the Free State had to be changed to Irish Free State and subsequently the Republic of Ireland when The Free State became a republic.

I don't know when the IFA started to use Northern Ireland.

In reality the IFA have more of a right to call their team Ireland because they are the original association.

Will England have to return the stone of destiny?

But it's a "whole of a UK" vote. So we're always led to believe.

First time Yes has been ahead this year and the first poll taken after Sturgeon's announcement.

On the timetable:

Those strongly opposed are likely to be staunch No voters, so I doubt the timetable will be much of a factor in things. It's all to play for and the campaign over the next 12 months will be all key.

Sturgeon quite right to highlight this. It was only a week ago Tory MPs were telling independence supporters in Scotland they couldn't have another vote since they had one 8 years ago. A week on, they're now trying to change their own rules to overturn a vote they had just a month ago. Do as we say, not as we do.

I'd say privately indy supporters will be sad to see Johnson depart. He's the dream incumbent in number ten for an independence referendum.