Uplifting to read that Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon has big-heartedly agreed to put aside, for the time being, her party’s plan to hold another referendum on Scottish Independence from the Union, if the UK cancels its Brexit plans and stays in the EU.

It seems from the first referendum there that most canny Scots want to stay in the Union, where they enjoy large subsidies from England’s taxpayers, and that a majority want to stay in the EU, where they also enjoy large subsidies, both of which they would very much like to carry on receiving.

Perhaps a constructive way forward would be for a binding referendum on Scotland’s membership of the Union held with the whole of the UK entitled to vote?