Plus: Vicious Cybernats. Bolton’s brass neck. Widdecombe’s ratings. Johnson’s death wish. And: the courage of my friend Tessa Jowell.
As 2017 draws to a close, the United Kingdom is in better shape than many of its supporters had dared to hope.
If part of the country can walk out on its responsibilities to the rest at any time, fundamental functions of the Union will cease to operate.
This site was unusual in arguing before the vote that the SNP and Plaid needed the EU. Today it is received wisdom – so where are the recantations?
Also: Green candidate mounts legal challenge to Conservative/DUP deal; and Adams comes as close to admitting Brexit hasn’t sold unionists on breaking with Britain.
Also: latest Life and Times survey finds no surge in support for separation in Northern Ireland; and Ian Duncan joins the Government amidst controversy.
The Guardian’s John Harris talks to voters across Scotland.
If the SNP do drop below 40 per cent of the vote, as a new poll suggests, the Prime Minister will be quite able to go on saying “not yet”.
The Scottish Conservative leader argues the SNP is living out some of the great author’s warnings.
Also: Brokenshire sets Good Friday deadline for talks as UUP elect new leader; and Welsh Tories regain second place as Reckless ‘re-rats’ from UKIP.
She argues that overseas aid is a prime example of how a united, global Britain is a force for good.
Theresa May addresses the Department for International Development ahead of the Scottish Parliament’s upcoming vote on a second independence referendum.
Perhaps voters are waiting to see the outcome of the negotiations, or maybe the economic reality of Ulster’s reliance on Great Britain is key to swing voters.
There is a danger that those of us with strong opinions are not always the best judges of balance.
Any result which sees the election of more than 45 nationalists will raise some awkward questions for May as she forms her new government.