Hopefully the English know which side their bread is buttered and welcome our new 'foreigners' at the border with their passports.

judy, Liverpool, england

Perhaps, as you suggest, the main stumbling block for an SNP / Lib. Dem. coalition could be removed by the promise of a referendum on fiscal independence in the first instance. What commentators don't often take into account is the fact that referenda may contain more than one question, allowing for an escalating list of proposals. An acceptable referendum paper may read:

- Do you want the Scottish Parliament to have full fiscal autonomy?

- Do you want the Scottish Parliament to assume responsibility for defense policy?

- Do you want the Scottish Parliament to assume responsibility for foreign policy?

- Do you want the Scottish Parliament to assume responsibility for social security?

- Do you want Scotland to become independent from the United Kingdom?

I find it strange that any party should be against the notion of a referendum on any issue - in a democracy power should always ultimately reside with the electorate.

Stuart Harris-Logan, Glasgow, Scotland

What a sad country (UK) we have become, by any measure we are rich, successful, tolerant and have had a huge and positive influence on the world and yet so many are bitter, cynical and divisive and want to break it all up over petty squabbles

Adrian, London,

The Union is dying........it is obsolete and just of historical interest.

People in England are awakening to Nationalism..... just as the Scots and Welsh have done before them. This English awareness is a direct result of asymmetric devolution... The English have been disadvantaged by devolution balls-up.

If constitutional parity and fairness is the "reward" for the break up of the Union then I for one am prepared for the consequences.

Robin Parsons

Robin Parsons, Dorchester, England

The union is a shackle used to hobble England and deny her an identity. It is but an instrument of it's bigger brother in Brussels ,a tool to destroy an enemy that has defied them for centuries.

Go Europe, go Scotland, Wales and N Ireland, just get on with destroying yourselves and leave us to regain our beloved Country.

Fred Forsythe (not the), Worc's, England

Someone should remind the British people that goverment is getting more expensive every year and that sometimes less is more.

Michael S. Stumm, Battle Creek, MI, US

It is sad to see a country like the United Kingdom being divided by the European Union. But that is what is happening. The new economics has seen a re-born Ireland who will never regret her freedom from England. Nor would Scotland supported by an economic interest of Germany,opposed, as it is, to the little island off to the left.I worry about the ongoing issues of security and financial independence that must arise in any clear thinking head considering the separation of two such little countries. It makes me think - What would we do if New Zealand were attacked. Ofcourse we would go to the defence of fellow ANZACS. So England would do if Scotland were attacked. But Ireland, to its everlasting shame did not support England in its hard times during the war against Hitler. What would a new independent Scotland do?But the real question for us Australians - How will it affect your sport?

Peter Gsallagher, Brisbane, Australia

Your report choose to ignore that a BBC Wales survey last week, identified that we here in Wales are more supportive to the Welsh Assembly and are keen to see it developing to a proper and full legislative Parliament (Senedd).

Incidentally, England does have its own Parliament already - its located at Westminster (House of Commons)!

Gerallt Huws, Talsarnau, Cymru (Wales)

"It's up to the English to save the Union" why would the English want to save a nation who has cried ,Freedom for years ,no begone with them ,and begone being called "British"we are the English,"and have not spoken yet"

E.Justice, gateshead, England

It is so interesting to view comments from English people, who have no concept of their own history, independence for England indeed. The english never stopped having their independence at any time for any nation, nor would they have formed any kind of union unless it benefited them somehow. I am not a rabid patriot of Scotland I am a patriot and I did vote SNP for one reason only, and not for the break up of the union but to bring democracy to Scotland and to not live in a one party state, namely Blair and Brown land and I think you will find that most Scots have similar feelings. What's wrong with good opposition, more especially when it is defending and protecting the folk who voted for them without affiliations to party politics with interests and loyalties based outside of the country.

Karen McLeod, Glasgow, Scotland

If we are talking break up of the UK why don't we go the whole hog and ask what we get from keeping, say, Cornwall or Somerset or any other County that isn't as dynamic economically as the South East. Why don't we just declare UDI in the South and cast the rest adrift?
Reason; there is more to life and any national debate than JUST ECONOMICS. We are all stronger and richer culturaly as a whole.

John Lewis, London, UK

England is the only country in the Union which has no say over its own affairs. It is time we had our own Parliament, and stopped subsidising Scottish Universities and Welsh NHS prescriptions to name but two benefits the English provide.

M.Stringfellow, Sherborne , England

I have never heard such drivel in all my life.

Firstly give me even ONE good reason to retain the Union and what possible advantage could it have for England? The usual excuses are sentimental and grasping.

Scotland is a country in its own right. It has been propped up by England for far too long and been seduced into a state sponsored stupour of inactivity and dependence by the Labour party who use state dependency to keep itself in power.

Scotland could be a vibrant proud nation, yet has pockets of deprivation and state employment similar to some of the poorest ex Soviet Republics.

It is no business of the British State to deny the people a vote on independence. If that is what the people of Scotland want let them have it.

England would be much better not playing Lady bountiful with the last remaining charges. Let Scotland stand on her own two feet and let England spend the billions from the Barnett Formula sorting herself out. England demands
her voice NOW!

Christine Constable, Norwich, England

As a Historian here is your chance to see a essentially British (so we are told) Revolution.
Of course we should part.The EU has changed everything.
The Oil is irrelevant. Scotland we be a `net receiver` under EU rules. Alex Salmon has already worked that out.
The real tragedy (and story) is that the EU is utterly destroying the Parliament at Westminser.
That is what you Historians should be concentrating on.

Peter Bolt, Redditch, UK

Why would we want to save a union that has long passed it sell by date?. The so called union is now lopsided and unfair financially, politically and democtratically to the people of England.

Despite the bias in many parts that tries to keep the union afloat (the BBC, all the main political parties), many people south of the border are asking "hang on, what are we getting out of this now?" And I have to agree with them; what are WE, England, now getting out of the Union?.

Time to call it a day, have a decent and fair divorce. We can still be friends, indeed better friends. We will play sport, we will visit each other, we will get along just fine.

Stop the bickering, let's call it a day.

Neil Cunniffe, Rugby, England

Oh, please! This is the sort of 'Little England' polemics that would certainly doom the Union. If England (and Wales) believes for one moment that this Union has not been of benefit, then the Union is destined to die. However, history has more than amply illustrated the benefit for us all in this relationship - never has the British Isles experienced such peace and prosperity. British (and thereby English) dominance from Industrialisation onwards owes, in large part, its successes to the innate genius and contributions of the Scots.

The British Empire was largely built on the backbones of Scottish diligence; HSBC was founded by a Scot; as was The Economist and The Encyclopaedia Britannica. What is more, some of the better aspects of our Armed Forces are Scottish. Scotland's contribution has been as mutually beneficial for England as it has for Scotland, and we would be well advised to remember that, rather than to fall prey to such idle ideas of our own nationalist tendencies.

Tim Palmer, Leicester,

I'm English and I say, "To hell with the Union. English Independence now!!"

There will be few tears shed in this country at the loss of the celtic fringes. We've had enough of paying them to whinge and stab us in the back. they can clear off themselves or they'll be kicked out.

Carol Banks, carlisle, England