Wow. Extraordinary poll from Scotland, showing the biggest margin for independence yet, larger than the margin to remain in the Union in 2014. Of course just one poll but the sustained polling for yes is a) a big change b) of great potential political importance.
If we see more polls with a margin like this, it will be held up as proof that consent for the Union has simply broken down. Very hard to see how Westminster can simply ignore the breakdown of that consent if supported by SNP rout at Holyrood next year.
Wonder if the Prime Minister would still say this:
This is the 10th poll in a row to show a majority for Yes in Scotland. For more on why this surge for independence is happening, take a look at some of the reports I’ve done from Scotland for Newsnight, including this from a few weeks ago:
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.@AndyBurnhamGM reading a statement from leaders in GM: “it is wrong to place some of the poorest part of England without economic support.”
Burnham says that Deputy CMO told GM leaders that to be effective the lockdown restrictions would have to go further than is proposed and include neighbouring regions.”
Says Dep CMO that only thing to work would be a national lockdown.
“GM and Lancashire are being set up as canaries in the coal mine for an experimental strategy”
We’re moving to a situation when most of the major English conurbations will be living under substantial restrictions in one form or another but with less national support than in spring. Beyond Treasury concerns about cost, it isn’t immediately obvious why that’s the case.
Treasury will point to the idea that restrictions are less severe than spring. But just because all businesses aren’t forced to close doesn’t mean restrictions aren’t a body blow. The signal alone has an effect on economic activity and banning inter household mixing...
...isn’t much removed from forcing them to close, as it removes so much opportunity for trade.
See the unionist problem here? Everytime I've interviewed young voters in Scotland and asked them if they're in favour of independence, they look at me as if I've asked a stupid question. Westminster needs to think v big and v hard about this and there's little evidence of that.
Britain is a multi-national state with competing political preferences. As I've written many times, that requires very careful calibration. Theresa May was clearly very cognisant of this and once you understood that, you understood why she did many of the things she did.
I think May understood Brexit's capacity to deeply destabilise the Union. Not because it would make secession *easier* (it makes it harder, Scottish indy would be Brexit x 300) but because it makes it more *likely* because it reinforces a sense of the domination...
Meanwhile, President Trump’s (very packed rally) is in full swing. “I took something, I don’t know what the hell it was but it was a cure. I don’t know what it was. Antibodies, I dunno.”
“One great thing about being President is that you have more doctors than you thought existed in the world. I was surrounded by like 14 of ‘em.”
Of course millions of Americans basically don’t have access to doctors at all, at least, not that they can afford.
Chants now of “fill that seat! Fill that seat! Fill that seat!” from the crowd
The President smiles: “oh don’t worry, it’s being filled.”