It is an irony Boris Johnson might appreciate that the debate over Scottish independence has become a mirror image of the pre-2016 arguments over Brexit. The prime minister and his Conservatives say Scots are better off “remaining” in a strong union with their largest trading partner. Independence supporters appeal to national pride and identity — to taking back control, to coin a phrase. And their argument is gaining ground. Mr Johnson’s misfiring visit to Scotland last week will do little to reverse polls that for the first time show more Scots favour ending the union with England than keeping it.
这是一个鲍里斯•约翰逊(Boris Johnson)可能会意识到的讽刺：围绕苏格兰独立的辩论，已成为2016年公投前英国退欧辩论的一个镜像。英国首相及其领导的保守党表示，苏格兰人最好留在与其最大贸易伙伴结成的强大联盟内部。支持独立的人士则呼唤民族自豪感和认同感，以便——借用一个短语——夺回控制权。他们的论点正在赢得人心。约翰逊上周对苏格兰的访问对扭转民意无济于事。近期民调首次显示，苏格人更多倾向于结束（而不是保留）与英格兰之间的联盟。