Rishi Sunak spells trouble for the SNP

The recent chaos in the UK has both helped and hindered the SNP. It is easier to argue for separation if Britain is poorly led and in an economic crisis. But it’s also easy to see why even the most ardent Scottish nationalist might decide to wait for calmer times before deciding to put an international border down the middle of our shared island.

While everyone’s attention was on Liz Truss no one’s focus was on Nicola Sturgeon. Which must have hurt especially while she was trying to advance the case for Scottish independence. But that too has good and bad aspects for the SNP as support for independence depends on ignorance of what it would involve. Hard border plus currency change with maybe passport control and tariffs thrown in – with the prospect of the euro – looks worse than what we have already to all but those who want independence come what may.