Scottish Nationalism Takes A Blow

The Scottish independence referendum is still seven months away but expect it to grab headlines constantly as the future integrity of the United Kingdom is debated.

Earlier this week Chancellor George Osborne, Shadow Chancellor Ed Balls and Chief Secretary to the Treasury Danny Alexander announced that they would not allow Scotland to use the pound if Scotland voted for independence. Many in Scotland fear that not having the pound would damage Scotland’s economy. It is also a huge embarrassment for SNP leader Alex Salmond who claimed that Scotland would continue to use the pound after independence.

Salmond hoped to characterise the move as a political one, entirely meant to damage the nationalist campaign. Unfortunately for Salmond the apolitical Permanent Secretary to the Treasury, Sir Nicholas Macpherson, also came out and said that it would be unwise for the UK to join a currency union with Scotland.

So how is the nationalist campaign going? Poorly, to say the least. The average of five polls of 2014 on the issue show the support for independence at 33%, opposition at 49% and don’t know at 18%. This is actually worse for nationalists than when the campaign started!

With all that in mind, I stand by my prediction that Scotland will remain in the union.