[odds]

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.

[the scotsman]

Thanks for your post.

Most British people, like myself, manage to have an identity as both Scots/English etc and British. Its bizarre I suppose, but fascinating and complex.

As to 1707, I was perhaps kind to Scotland when I said sweet-talked. Scotland was bankrupt after the failed colony in Darien, and we NEEDED the chance to join the UK. We got financial security, the opening to a then English empire and trade, and the rest of the UK got our genius, hard work, our soldiers and navy.