Funny things referendums aren’t they.

Scotland was granted theirs in 2014. The Scottish National Party campaigned vigorously. They tried to force the issue further with the pressure led promised tagline of this “once in a generation” chance for the people to have their say and become the independent nation Nicola Sturgeon wanted.

Both sides had their say stating their pros and cons arguments and the people did speak in what was the highest turnout in UK history. The result was a clear and resounding 55/45 vote in favour of staying as part of the United Kingdom. It amounted to just 4 of the 32 councils wanting to leave the UK.

The democratic process in full effect, the people listened to, the vote acknowledged and respected………..well for a short time anyway.

The SNP’s idea of listening to the people, accepting the democratic vote result and their ‘once in a generation’ appears slightly different from everyone else’s! I am aware Scotland has a lower than average life expectancy I had no idea it was just 5 years.

Perhaps this is why the SNP have such flippant disregard for the Scottish people. They are a single policy party so all their focus will be on indyref2…and if that fails, who knows we might get to indyref10. It’s a shame the SNP don’t put more time and effort relating to the day to day living of the Scottish people; like tackling the social housing and welfare failures, or the horrifically high drink and drug death rates, or obesity, or chronic alcoholism and such like, instead of raising the taxes of the nation set by Holyrood House.

My main concern in recent years is that on the international stage the SNP are tarnishing Scotland’s image. When people around the world think of Scotland it used to be associated by the beautiful country with wonderful people and stunning landscapes, now many just think of this.

Many of the businesses based in Scotland would have to move south of the border to meet basic business stipulations. Like most of the Scotland’s actors, musicians, presenters etc, they make their name, fame and fortune usually welcomed in England. An independent Scotland would lose so many jobs and workforce in no time at all. I suspect it would be hit by tariffs on the whisky it exports.

In light of all the issues troubling Scotland it simply would not meet the eligibility criteria to qualify as a standalone country to join the EU. Furthermore the EU would not even entertain it due to the land border with England plus the challenge of the Irish Sea crossing which Brexit has shown up.

It is almost as if Nicola Sturgeon has turned a convenient blind eye to all these parts of the independence argument. She is passionate of being independent of the UK but desperate to still be controlled by Brussels….seems a most peculiar kind of independence to me.

The SNP were riding the crest of the wave but that never lasts.