.....many English there is the apprehension/fear over what Scottish independence would hold up, the implied rejection akin to that of a lover spurned, not something that has an equivalent in Scotland.
My belief is that if independence comes about then not only will the people of Scotland develop pride in having control over and responsibility for their destiny and an increased sense of belonging to their country (the English should not resent that) but both sides will benefit from the shock to the conscience it would bring. It seems to me that the same things afflict Scotland as the rest of the UK. These are divisive social structures and attitudes, outdated and creaking laws and institutions riddled with a patchwork of updates and alterations that resulted from a lack of clear vision and all crying out for radical reform, a chronic and paralysing dislike for and even fear of the slightest change, a sense of insecurity and doubts about which way to proceed, poor general public education, and quite simply too many people facing backward in life. Such a visible, symbolic change as Scottish independence would, I believe, provide something that the whole of the UK needs, a very useful and productive catalyst and impetus for a serious rethink and change, powering all parties toward the attitudes and values that produced the UK's heyday era(s). Britain used to be (figuratively) great but is currently stuck and declining. Previously it was the military strength of the (combined) UK that was the foundation on which imagination and initiative flourished but this is a different world we live in. Now cooperation produces benefits, not confrontation. I think Scotland and England would make very good partners post-independence and there would be very strong ties, stronger than between Britain and her former colonies. I see nothing but good times ahead as a result of independence, including Scotland making its own mistakes and learning from them.