Scexit has become a matter of faith, not fact

There is a satirical flowchart that sums up Scottish nationalism better than a thousand articles. It begins with the question: ‘Did Scotland do good?’ The chart branches off to the left for ‘Yes’ and the right for ‘No’. Answer ‘Yes’ and you are led to the outcome ‘proof that Scotland doesn’t need the UK’. Answer ‘No’ and you are assured it is ‘proof that the UK is holding Scotland’ back. Both branches then lead to the same end: ‘Independence’.

Andrew Wilson is a walking, talking, but above all, believing version of this flowchart. In fact, it should be christened the ‘Wilson Diagram of Infinite Nationalism’. All that is good in Scotland is proof that Scotland should be independent; all that is bad is proof that Scotland should be independent. Insofar as nationalism has replaced presbyterianism as the religion of the Scottish establishment, the conviction that an independent Scotland is elect – regardless of its vices – and Scotland within the UK reprobate – regardless of its virtues – is simply a new spin on the doctrine of predestination.