A nation divided
To some extent, this reflects long-standing social and cultural divisions, but these have been exacerbated by the referendum campaign. It is hard to see how Scotland can ever again be a happy single entity, whether inside or outside the UK.
At the heart of this lies a geographical division of views. Whatever the overall poll result, it is likely that there will be a significant majority for independence in Strathclyde and the Central Belt, and a substantial majority for the Union in the Borders and south-west.
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Hide AdIn these circumstances, given the bitterness we have seen in the run-up to the vote, the only fair and ultimately stable solution will be to allow those regions where the majority wish to be independent to form a new separate country and the others to remain in the UK.
The lessons of history (Ireland) as well as recent events in Iraq and Ukraine, show the danger to a country with deep disagreements between substantial sections of the population where these coincide with geography.
It is not good for the UK to have a substantial number of reluctant citizens in central Scotland; it would be worse for an independent country to deliberately burden itself with an even larger proportion in the Borders.
JACK PONTON
Earlston
Berwickshire