Alex Massie Alex Massie

Scottish independence has become a zombie policy

Sunday is the second anniversary of the Scottish independence referendum, the second ‘Here’s what you could have won’ day of thanksgiving. Or, if you prefer, atonement.

The referendum is only over in the purest, most technical, sense. The campaign continues and it is clear to everyone that, at some point, on some day, Scotland will have to be tested again. The SNP demand a mulligan and will not cease until such time as they’re given a second chance. They haven’t gone away, you know.

And, in one sense, that is reasonable. The SNP didn’t spend eighty years losing elections to give up now they’re can see the winning post at last. One more defeat, even a large and significant one, doesn’t sting so much when placed in that historical context. There is always next season.

Scottish independence is a zombie policy; it cannot be killed. All Unionists can hope for is that it will disappear for a few years before, with apologies to Myles

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