IF DISUNION IS INEVITABLE, SIT BACK AND ENJOY IT:

The break-up of the union now appears inevitable: With nationalism on the rise in every corner, 2008 will see the UK stretched to breaking point. (Iain Macwhirter, January 10, 2008, The Guardian)

Who could have forecast 12 months ago that Britain would be starting 2008 with nationalist parties in power, or sharing it, in all three devolved administrations? Last year was supposed to have been a celebration of the 300th anniversary of the Act of Union. In fact it was about dismantling it: the SNP is now running Holyrood; Plaid Cymru is in coalition with Labour in Cardiff; and the nationalist Sinn Féin shares power with the DUP in Stormont. It is the unionist nightmare come true: a separatist clean sweep.

Anyone who was paying attention.

Posted by Orrin Judd at January 9, 2008 8:59 PM