At the time of the Acts of Union it was a bankrupt failed state. Until an independent Scotland generates a fresher, and we all hope better, track record the UK should veto any membership application.

There is much more to be negotiated, not least the status of the 800,000 self-defined Scots nationals living and working in the rest of the UK. The SNP has blithely (and wrongly) assumed an independent Scotland would be an EU member. I don't see that happening (barring treachery) for half a century at least. Scots in the continuing UK should be denied work permits unless they qualify under a sensible points system for non-EU immigrants. It goes without saying that every prisoner and every benefit claimant who proudly wrote "Scottish" on the last census form should be given the bum's rush north. Scotland would likely reciprocate and, naturally, it would only be cricket for the UK to accept English, Welsh and Northern Irish prisoners and claimants in return. Nor should we have any problem in welcoming back any of our 400,000 nationals denied a work permit.

We need to reposition the RN submarine bases and RAF bomber bases which will no longer be needed by the nuclear free Socialist Scotland. The loss of military bases may be the worst of it, since largely wild and empty Scotland is ideal for military training and the Scots themselves are bonnie fighters. However, her economy will be weak enough, at least initially, for the UK to lease bases. SNP policy is clear on being "nuclear-free" however, so we must respect that and relocate our nukes (I suggest Tehran - just kidding).

We need to negotiate a fair allocation of the National Debt. At the time of the  Acts of Union the UK took over then-bankrupt Scotland's debts. This was the main reason Scotland joined the UK. Over the centuries, the UK's borrowed funds have been disproportionately allocated to poorer Scotland in a failed attempt to regenerate her. She must take away her fair share, allocated per capita with an adjustment for the Barnett Formula, of the current debt . The SNP never seems to think of that, assuming they will get away Scot-free, as it were.

I predict that the UK (minus Scotland) will retain her triple-A credit rating for sovereign debt and her place in the world's top five economies. Alex Salmond, however, should be discussing Scotland's sovereign debt rating with the relevant international rating agencies now, as it will be of critical importance in his economic policy. For comparison, Russia's current (much improved) rating for sovereign debt is BB+ I cannot imagine that Scotland will come anywhere near that, so its debt will be expensive.

I do not write these things maliciously. I really do love Scotland and I believe she can and will succeed as a separate nation. In fact, I think independence would be Scotland's salvation. In order for her to move forward proudly, a lot of "numpties" and "neds" will need to put their shoulders to the wheel in an unaccustomed way. Otherwise, unless her new borders are sealed, I can't imagine those 163,000 net contributors staying very long. Frankly, I can't think of anything better; not least as an example to the UK of how to deal with her own chavs and state-subsidised criminals.

There is not long to go until May 3rd. Please, all you Scots voters, get out there and vote SNP. I have just made the first political donation of my life. It is £200 - the maximum I can give to the SNP without being registered as a voter in the UK. I urge my fellow-members of the Witanagemot Club, the CEP and all others of goodwill to do the same. As in so many other matters at present, the Scots have a vote on this issue and we don't, so we must be pragmatic and ask them to vote wisely.

Many of we English agree with the SNP; "It's time." Go for it and all the best to you.