I was interviewed on Radio Essex on the 30th May, the day of the launch of the Scottish Independence period.  A twitter conversation came out of that which I think is of some interest with a BritScot, named Scott (sic!) Wardrope.  

The conversation went as follows:-
 
Scott:- “Heard you on Essex Radio saying it is unfair Scots get free scripts whilst the English don’t.  This is devolution.”

Scott:- “The English could have free scripts/university, but choose not to, whilst the Scots do.  What is unfair about that?”

Me:-  “Both paid for by English taxpayers and not offered to us by our British masters.”

Scott:-  “I think Scottish taxpayers also make a contribution.  In fairness the Scots also have to pay for Trident and illegal wars.”

Me:-  “House of Lords report says England subsidises Scotland to the tune of £32 billion per year.”

Scott:-  “Politicians bend the facts to suit their views though.  We will only know for sure if we actually get our independence.”

Me :- “Are you Scottish and a yes voter?”

Scott:-  “I am Scottish, but live in Essex, so I cannot vote on the indyref.”

Me:-  “Well then you are just as disadvantaged as any Englishman by the current arrangements!”

Scott:- “Indeed!  I am reduced to lobbying friends and family from over the border.”

Me:- “If they vote yes then you will have to choose whether you are Scottish or English.  Which would it be?”

Scott:-  “Scottish.  I suspect a few ex-pats Scots will be returning home after the yes votes.  Sadly it seems indy Scotland will join the EU.”

Me:-  “Interesting!  Your, and their, ultimate loyalty to Scotland and not England is a further strong argument for English independence!”

Scott:-  “I suppose it is.  Scots have stronger nationalism than the English though.  Nationalism is a dirty word down south.”
 
The twitter conversation was then joined by Scott Laing.

Laing said :- “That is a false choice – option is not “English” but “British”.  Cannot choose to be English surely?”

Me to both:- “You will not be able to be British if Scotland goes!  E + S = GB therefore GB – S + E”.

Me:- “As historian AJP Taylor pointed out that is because Scots in England have been pushing Britishness for some 70 years now.”

Laing:-  “And what about W and NI?  Even better together folk such as myself would choose S if between S and E.”

Scott:-  “The Left have equated English nationalism with racism and other nasty isms.”

Scott:-  “Britishness is a dying concept.  Unless WW3 breaks out, Britishness will bite the dust.”

Scott:-  “England won’t be able to drop NI Prods there feel more British than most English.”

Me to both:-  “Wales was incorporated into the KGD of England in 1536 the NI remnant of the 1801 Union lapses with the dissolution of GB.”

Me to both:-  “Not a question of feelings but of constitutional law.”

Scott:-  “A YES vote will create much uncertainty in NI then. There is a lot of union flags there that need tweaking.”