A nation apart
There is a secondary reason for my desire to live in an independent Scotland, beyond my inherent patriotism. When I look across the border at our neighbour nation, I don’t like what I see. Already it is divided politically, socially, economically, ethnically and it can only get worse.
For years I have suggested to my friends down south that I rarely meet an Englishman, per se. First and foremost they’re Geordies, Lancastrians, Cornishmen, Yorkshiremen, you name it. (Apart from Londoners: they see themselves as special, and above all the rest.) This may not be surprising since the middle ages in England were one continuous Civil War, but today new factors are in play.
This is not a racist argument, let me make that clear to the ever-watchful PC police who are a blight on modern life. My beloved family is multi-national and multi-racial; I have no conventional religious beliefs, but I respect the right of those who do to express them freely.
What I’m saying is that for seventy years, successive UK governments have presided over barely controlled immigration but have failed to integrate much of that new population into existing communities.
I fear for England’s long-term future, for I believe that in a couple of generations it will have lost any sense of real identity that it ever had. Scotland has a chance to cut loose, and to consolidate the balanced, integrated secular society that we enjoy already. I hope with all my heart that on Thursday we take it.
Quintin Jardine's blog 
So do I Sir so do I 🙂
Good point well made! I think we need immigration in this country. I do not the view that foreigners are taking our jobs. Perhaps that’s because my heritage, on my father’s side at least, is Irish Catholic. Perhaps it is because through my time as a vile servant I watched as many Portuguese came to live in my home town, found work a lot quicker than some of my fellow Scots did. Many still live here and have assimilated well in our society. These people took jobs many Scots would not accept and have made lives for themselves here.
Having said all of that, we need to have some form of immigration control as we can’t sustain huge numbers coming into our country. Although I have no idea what form that control should take.
Please don’t poke the bear:
I write with tongue firmly in cheek which makes things difficult at my age to do two things at once. I’m so glad that you that you are aware that as a Londoner(English) that I am special and above the rest, along with being a lifelong “Chelsea” follower. I only know two gentlemen from Scotland the other being “AJ”. I would rather you didn’t leave, but I was brought up constantly being reminded “be careful what you wish for because you just might get it”. In the hope that I may be allowed back into your good books I have gained more info from your blog than from the media Thank you
You can have a passport, Gillian. You really only know two Jocks? Another reason for a Yes vote.
That is probably the most coherent and sensible commentary that I have heard during this campaign from either side and I agree as I would class myself as a Yorkshireman first!