By James Cheyne, Sky News Producer.

Jack McConnell likes to call Scotland 'The Best Small Country in the World.'  But it's a country about to slip through his fingers. A look at the latest headlines - 'Desperate Jack Begs for Votes' cries one -
suggest these are dying days for the First Minister. A glance at the latest polls confirms the ugly truth – the SNP's slogan 'It's time'  looms large on the horizon.

But time for what?  A nationalist government?  Not quite. The SNP are not expected to gain the full 65 seats needed for a clear majority and will probably be forced into coalition with the Lib Dems or possibly the Greens.

Time for Independence?, to go it alone, to put an end to the union which turns three hundred years old this week – almost certainly not.

Most Scots are fiercely nationalistic. Stop a person in Glasgow and ask if they consider themselves Scottish or British and there will usually only be one answer.  Follow it up with a query into whether they pitched the Union flag in their garden to celebrate their Britishness (like Gordon Brown asked them to) and the response will get positively more alarming.

When I lived here two of my most nationalist friends described me as 'a short fat Englishman.' The strange thing was I never really minded being called short or fat.

Later on, working at Ibrox, home of the mighty Glasgow Rangers the general abuse you got over the bar often carried that same prefix – 'you ya English…' well you can imagine.   Off the tourist track, having
an accent can make you stick out like a sore thumb.

Once they have their hands on Holyrood - Should the SNP hold a referendum on Independence – they have suggested they might as early as 2010 – up to forty percent of Scots could vote in favour of it.
Perhaps more worryingly up to 56 percent of English voters also believe it is time to end the Union and let the best small country in the world go it alone.

That doesn't say much for the state of the Union.  But some are suggesting the figures on the northern side of the border have been pushed up by what one called 'The Braveheart Effect.'  And when you push the supporters of Independence further on how an Independent Scotland's economy would survive without Westminster subsidies or whether it could automatically become part of the European Union - not all the answers are there yet.

It turns out many would consider voting for Independence but not all understand what that would mean - People are starting to have a serious debate about breaking away – but it doesn't appear a political reality…not yet.

Comments

[Nicola.........Scotland 6 May 2007 00:54:43]

I was born in Scotland however my dad is from south Ireland and well it's a country on its own that does well so why wouldn't Scotland???? Perhaps some people should look at the Scottish economy and its population and realise that the tax earned here is enough for us (5.1 million), however some of it goes south of the border. Now that all our fuel is nearly gone........it would be convenient for England to let go of us now...............no doubt its all part of the plan!!!!!

But lets not forget what the great minds of the Scots brought to this world!!!!

[Alan, Thailand 4 May 2007 17:58:31]

Danny, Dick, what is it that's so good about Scotland that London wants to keep so much ? Must be something, eh ? Is it all those subsidies they would hate to stop giving us ? All those wonderful benefits ? What's the deal here ? Must be something, methinks. Maybe we should up and go, and take our prosperity, natural, and vast human resources with us !

[Marie Therese Hayes Washington DC 4 May 2007 17:13:52]

I am a Scot currently in exile as my English husband is posted here with the Royal Navy.I missed my chance in the election to vote Labour in order to keep the Union. I love scotland and I am very proud of all Scotland has to offer, however I like being part of the UK. My daughter at the age of 3 when asked to describe herself said " I am Scottish but I have an English brain. Maybe we need to look at what is good in both countries and desist from all the negative talk. I hope the SNP fail in their desire for a separate Scotland and I hope we celebrate a 400th anniversary of the Union.

[Ken Joseph, Grenada WI 2 May 2007 02:49:42]

I think it is time for the union to split up, after all if a little country like Grenada can survive and she is only 133 sq. miles why can't Scotland who is over 30,000 sq. miles and has more natural resources !

[Fraser, Glasgow 2 May 2007 00:30:44]

I asked one of the Glaswegians in my class(at a Glasgow Uni) what he thought about Scotland becoming independent, his answer was that it is a good thing because he hates the English. Obviously he is very small minded but I couldn't believe he would rule out Great Britain for a hatred for one nation. It is bizarre. He will be changing his tune in 5 years time when he has to move to England, Wales or Ireland because thats where the jobs are.

[Khalid 1 May 2007 18:29:24]

Talking of Scotland reminds me of the “Theme for Great Cities” namely London & Glasgow. As individuals decide which of the “Simple Minds” they want to belong to, perhaps the following might assist matters pertaining comfortable lifestyles.
(1) Whisky
(2) Bagpipes
(3) Dwindling Oil Supplies
(4) Cuisine
(5) Charming People
(6) United
(7) Weather
(8) Tourism
(9) UK Subsidy per quota higher than that for English Nationals
(10) Great Industry under the Sky!

[Dick Conway 1 May 2007 17:40:07]

I lived in Scotland for four years and have visited it many times, my wife is Scot's, from Lanarkshire. I met her when she was serving in the RAF and I was in the RN. I originate from Newcastle upon Tyne. From my experience of the Scottish attitude, the majority do not understand their own history and seem to rely on what they see in the movies, the 'Braveheart' syndrome, which they take as the gospel truth. If you try to have a discussion with them on this, they never want to debate it. My opinion is, if seventy per cent of the Scottish people wish to leave the Union, let them. But they have to be self-supporting, with no subsidies from England and that they deal directly with Brussels themselves, having first had a referendum on whether they with to be part of the EU.

[Colin Harris Offshore NOrth Sea 1 May 2007 16:11:33]

As the slogan says "it's time" time for London to suck money out of someone else for the Olympics cause I am damn sure they won't be getting much from Scotland after Thursday.

We can be the same as the other 'small'European Nations if not better, the only reason England does not want us to split is monetary, well hard luck south of the border the time has come for you to stand on your OWN feet and not rely on we Scots to bail you out all the time.

A message for the chancellor, I cant even say his name as it makes me cringe, Chancellor you better start re-doing your sums cause in 4 years time we will be independent, also you better buy a house down there as you will need a passport to come to Scotland.

[Danny, Liverpool 1 May 2007 15:50:36]

I consider myself English, just as the Welsh consider themselves Welsh and the Scots consider themselves Scotish. That is the way it should be. we are not a part of Europe - simply because were not connected. Let the Jocks take their Independence, they will surely fall. All of the subsedies that head north of the border will stop, Benifits - Gone, Econimy - Gone, but most of all...the Pound. they can call their currency the Pound all they like, but it will not have the strength of ours, and if they think they can keep that benifit, i am sorry, but no. If the scotish wish to take independence they can take everything that comes with it, including Gordon Brown.