14.31 "Proud that she has been instrumental in splitting Scotland in two? "
This attributes the wrong consequence to Nicola Sturgeon, Scotland had come quite a way along the road in the argument for independence by the time she emerged on the scene in any significant way. In the run up to the 2014 referendum she was however instrumental in obtaining the tantalising quantification of the two factions. She was instrumental in shifting the balance from a presumed at best 20% at the outset in favour of independence to close to 50% in favour and in the process terrifying Westminster who promised anything and everything to clinch the support of enough of those Alex Salmond referred to as fearties.
What she is now succeeding in doing is demonstrating that the ambition for Scottish independence is a realistic option, and an attractive one at that. However, for this not all the credit can go to her, she has had very particular circumstances to help her in shining a revealing light on the issues plus a particularly inept example of the alternative to her hopes as a counter. The understated way Nicola has been operating of late is very astute and quite commendable. How many in Scotland who in 2014 voted down the 2014 bid are now asking themselves: What is so attractive about the status quo ? I think it possible the old fear south of the border is up to distinctly palpable levels. Bottom line though, were she somehow to have disappeared by tomorrow, independence will be aimed at within Scotland by the same number of people less one. The familiar primitive presentation that a single politician of any persuasion dictates the allegiance of the supporters, sometimes in their millions, for a political idea is crass.