Andrew Wilson, head of the growth commission, is at the thoughtful end of the nationalist spectrum. I feel for him. It’s not surprising that he reflects on the lessons of Brexit for the independence project. He is for the softest kind of independence, just like the softest Brexit.
Mr Wilson is right to see the parallels between these projects. Brexit is essentially English nationalism, trying to leave a wider union. Day by day we discover just how difficult that is — even leaving a union of already sovereign states with which we do not share a currency, or pool resources to support pensions or social provision. No Barnett formula for Brussels.
The similarities between the independence campaign and Brexit campaign are disconcerting. Even measured concerns