Scotland Alone (by Michael Fry)

Devolution was meant to give Scotland the ability to solve its own problems. But since getting its own parliament, Scotland's dependency on England seems to have increased. A former Scots Tory explains why he has come to see independence as the solution—and why it would benefit England too.

Michael Fry

Michael Fry is a historian and the author of "The Union: England, Scotland and the Treaty of 1707" (Birlinn)

The latest opinion poll in Scotland shows a slim majority, 51 per cent, now supporting independence. No need to get too excited, perhaps. We have been here before. The last time was in 1998, when the imminent resurrection of the parliament in Edinburgh brought support for independence to 56 per cent on a wave of nationalist euphoria.

Scottish nationalism has always risen and fallen in waves. Once the parliament was actually established, that earlier wave of euphoria splashed harmlessly against the rocks of Scottish unionism. But in recent months, support for the SNP has been edging up from its usual 25 per cent, thanks it seems to disillusionment with the Labour/Liberal Democrat coalition that has governed Scotland since 1999—and even with the parliament itself. Far from sorting out all of Scotland's problems, as it was meant to, the parliament does not even appear to have made the Scots feel better about themselves. Subterranean tremors from deep inside Scotland can be sensed once again.

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