Never a dull moment

In May this year Scotland had an election for its parliament. I was in London a couple of months earlier and was surprised by the blank stares with which some of my English friends greeted my remark that we were facing a very interesting political situation north of the Border. Some people, it seemed, did not even know that there was a parliament in Scotland, let alone one about to be the subject of an election. Then the Scottish National party won — in a sort of way — and, as we say in Scotland, perhaps people ken noo.

English lack of interest in Scottish affairs is quite understandable. It is difficult and depressing enough to keep abreast of one’s own current affairs without following the unfolding history and politics of others. But a union between two countries needs a bit of awareness of who the other really is, particularly when that union is the subject of political debate which really could change these islands in a very dramatic way, for everyone.