Constitutional marriages can be delicate things, having to resist constant pressures from within and without. Which perhaps makes it all the more remarkable that the one between Scotland and England has lasted for more than three centuries. But are the divorce lawyers now preparing their briefs? Last week, Mark Drakeford warned the Union had never been so fragile and change was needed urgently or the “case for the break-up of the UK will only increase”. Music, no doubt, to Nicola Sturgeon’s ears. The Wales First Minister produced a 20-point plan to improve devolution and see the constitutional marriage survive into the future.
The Irish Times View: Scots take shine off Tories Fallout out from British elections
Sun, May 9, 2021, 13:14
First Minister Nicola Sturgeon, on the back of a fourth successive SNP Holyrood election win, will bide her time, but come the spring of next year will proceed with legislation for a poll, defying London to block it. Photograph: Jeff J Mitchell/Getty Images
England at the weekend gave Boris Johnson an enthusiastic electoral pat on the back in the local elections that should see off any talk of threats to his prime ministerial position for a few months at least. The successful roll out of vaccinations appears to have put paid to hopes in Labour of a usual mid-term boost, and the loss of hundreds of council seats and a key by-election in Hartlepool has intensified criticism of leader Keir Starmer. He accepted full responsibility for the party’s parlous condition and then, somewhat contradicting himself, fired its campaign director and party chair Angela Rayner.
Boris Johnson vill sluta prata om skotsk självständighet dn.se - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from dn.se Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.