Monday 13th January

Yes, Labour’s turn will come but first the remarkably successful Scottish nationalists, led by the most cheerful man in politics, Alex Salmond.   Their rise has been truly amazing, and co-incidentally is matched identically with the Tories decline in Scotland.  Not that the SNP are anything like the Tories, it is simply that they are an alternative to Labour.

And now they may be in trouble; they may have overplayed their hand.  They have got their famous referendum and it will take place in the Autumn of this year.  So what happens if they win it?  Will the other parties just have to accept it?  Or will they argue for future referendums to re-join the Celts to us?  And if they do win there will be so many complicated questions to answer.  Will all the current Scottish MPs simply be disinherited?  Will there be a transitional period of say five years to transfer everything to Edinborough?  Will the SNP have any reason to exist anymore?

And what if they lose?  How many years will they have to wait before getting another vote?  Will they automatically get Devo-Max?  Will the tide of nationalism reside, or simply get stronger?  And the SNP themselves, will they fight amongst themselves, blaming Alex for rushing the vote?  Will they do badly at the following Westminster elections?

All to play for and all to lose.  Who says politics is boring?  But whatever the result referendums, as David Cameron may live to find out, are dangerous things?  And the SNP could be in trouble…