Most Scots dont want independance, as they believe Scotland (as I do) to be better off in the UK rather than out. And are happy with more powers to Scotland withour breaking away.
SNP victories are by and large tactical votes and/or a warning shot to esp. Labour. Many Scots who may vote SNP in a Scottish or British election or Euro elections will NOT vote for a complete breakaway.
Me?. Scotland can certainly go it alone, but the question is whats best, and imo Scotland is more powerful for both Scotland and the UK as a whole staying in.
We dont have the psyche of the Irish or Welsh nationalists, we JOINED the UK unlike them, so we have a psychological, cultural and political power that the English recognise. The latter couldnt take us, so we had to be sweet-talked into the UK
I agree with you. Had a Welsh professor at university in London who made a point of telling everyone English was his 2nd language, and he was Welsh, Not English. Several English friends in the UK told me "the closest to us (meaning English) foreigners are Scottish" (I was totally surprised). As for the Irish, well, only Northern Ireland is part of the UK. There is a separate country called the Republic of Ireland.
Frankly, I find the whole political & social landscape in "the UK" rather bizarre.