Guardian UK: It is time for England's first empire to get independence

It is time for England's first empire to get independence
In a fit of Anglo-Saxon machismo, Cameron has vowed to fight Scottish self-rule 'with every fibre I have'. But why?

Simon Jenkins
guardian.co.uk, Tuesday 10 May 2011 21.30 BST


Last week David Cameron reacted to the election of the first Scots nationalist majority government by saying he would "campaign to keep our United Kingdom together with every single fibre I have". Dare we ask why? Cameron has no political interest in Scotland, where the Tories have had just one MP in 20 years. He would have a strong Tory majority at Westminster were it not for the Scots Labour hordes. Scotland's economy sucks England's taxpayers of £8bn in annual subsidy. Its first minister, Alex Salmond, is Dracula at Cameron's milk-white throat. Yet when Dracula wants to kick the habit, Cameron pleads for more.

Scotland, like Ireland, has always turned English politicians mad. James Callaghan was felled for refusing the Scots devolution. Margaret Thatcher was axed after piloting her poll tax north of the border. Tony Blair got the point and granted partial devolution, but spoiled it by refusing fiscal autonomy and continuing with subsidy. He gave the nationalists power without responsibility. In each case the Treasury acted like Cromwell, with a ruthless centralism.

Calling political events seismic is usually rubbish. Things that "will never be the same again" are soon the same again. But the re-election of Salmond as Scottish leader last week was remarkable. Incumbents seldom increase their support so resoundingly, least of all in times of increased hardship. Nor did Salmond conceal his ambition for an independent Scotland. He trounced not only the London coalition but also the Scottish Labour party. The election was not between British parties but against English ones. It was a vote, if not for independence, then for the kind of Scotland towards which Salmond is leading.

Any visitor to Edinburgh is aware of it as the capital of a proper country. A decade of devolution has repatriated political identity after three centuries of suppression. Not just education, law, medicine, football and the arts but the governing sinews of the Scottish nation have grown apart from England. Press and public interact with the new parliament. Salmond is no longer a tartan-clad throwback to Bannockburn of London caricature. He is a shrewd leader with an ability to rally his country behind him. .............(more)

The complete piece is at: http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2011/may/10/time-for-scottish-independence