Scot Nats, you'll love this

I think it is. In 2013 house prices in London rose by 40%. In the north west and north east of England they fell by more than 21%. They also fell in other regions of England. That's a massive imbalance and makes it almost impossible for people to move. This is a symptom of deep rooted imbalances in economic development where jobs and growth are concentrated in London and the south-east. This can't be good for anybody.

I can't speak for all other countries, but Paris does not dominate in France, The Hague in the Netherlands or Rome in Italy.

Aren't the Orkneys talking about joining Norway? Maybe Birmingham could decide to be independent and become a tax haven [then everyone would want to live there ]. The possibilities are endless.

I do wonder if the imbalance is as huge as it is made out to be. Also, is it huger than the 'imbalance' (if that's what it is) between capital cities in other countries and the non-capital cities?

That's interesting. I think it's so sad that there are tensions between the regions of England and Scotland and Wales and that the resentment is directed to 'London'.

The London that is the focus of resentment is the London that is dominated by the privileged and wealthy and bears little relationship to the vast majority of Londoners who are equally fed up with the inequalities they experience and the lack of employment beyond London and the South East.

If proper controls had been taken over many past decades of transport, investment in key industries and IT, relocating government departments to other major cities and most importantly preventing new housing from being bought by foreign investors, then all the cities of the UK could develop appropriately without the dreadful imbalance that we see at the moment.

I would be sad to see Scotland depart because I think we are always better together, but I can understand many of the reasons.

As for the border, well it is where it is, and there's no use skriking over it. And the thought of losing the Geordies as well is insupportable.

Blog by someone or other: "Borderlands aka new commonwealth".