A week ago Scotland’s nationalists were trying to break up Britain. Now, it is the turn of England’s Tories. In the wake of Alex Salmond’s referendum defeat, David Cameron’s Conservatives have set about handing the leader of the Scottish National party the victory denied him by Scotland’s voters. Now there is a rum thought: Mr Salmond lost the battle but the English may yet concede the war.
In a state of some excitement, perhaps because it is the autumn party conference season, the Tories are clamouring for “English votes for English laws”. The price for Scots of more devolution, they say, must be a diminished role for their MPs at Westminster.
This is partly about electioneering. The Tories have only one MP in Scotland; Labour has 40. Flying the English flag could paint the opposition into a corner at next year’s general election. Mr Cameron also wants to guard his flank against rightwing English nationalists.