If the SNP won. A few questions....

[merseysider]

There is no way in the world the Scots would vote for independence - it may hold a certain emotional appeal when they're stopped on the street and asked by a pollster (the 'Braveheart' factor), but when asked to cut themselves off from the rest of the UK (and the Westminster block grant) support would melt away like an ice cream on a 35C summer afternoon.

The best thing I ever heard about the Scots came from the former SNP MP Jim Sillars when he lost his seat in '92 - they are a nation of "Ninety Minute Nationalists".

Even if the SNP win the Scottish parliament elections they will probably only do so with less than a third of the vote and dependent on various odds-and-sods like the Greens and the remnants of the Sheridan Party. It is possible they could form a pact with the LibDems, in which case the LDs may insist that there is no referendum anyway.

Plus the Nats have a great knack for seizing defeat from the jaws of victory. Everyone thought Iraq would give them a big boost last time but they ended up losing seats, and getting barely 20% of the vote. Their support is a mile wide and an inch deep.

[merseysider]

It's called UK-Elect and can be bought at www.ukelect.com

I've got UK Elect and would thoroughly recommend it.