Dissolution of the Union?

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The Russians have noted, with some relish, that a lot of people in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland wish to depart the United Kingdom. Sergei Lavrov has predicted the breakup of the Union, leaving England alone, weakened and with no friends. Now I won’t be putting too much store by Russia’s reading of the situation, but it’s certainly a scenario the British Government ought to be paying some attention to. Such a proposition would have been laughed at when I was growing up. Those were the days when it was thought that the sun would never set on the British Empire - then it did. In spite of the realities, there were still those who lived, voted and drank tea as if the English still had India; a few still do. A decade ago Scotland made a brave attempt to wriggle free but many chickened out at the last minute and voted for continued servitude. Now they want another go at it. The elected leaders of the devolved governments are all anti-union, but perhaps the groundswell for leaving doesn’t have the momentum required. Can you (whoever you are) imagine the breakup of the United Kingdom? Can you (whoever you are) imagine the breakup of that other union where many Mylotters reside? Yes, that big one. The Soviet Union disintegrated against all imagination, as did the Empires of Britain, France, Spain, Portugal, the Netherlands, Rome, Greece, and all the other so-called invincible arrangements. Nothing lasts forever, nothing is guaranteed. Kingdoms rise and kingdoms fall. Roll with the punches. It’s in Russia’s interests to see a disintegrated UK consisting of just England, especially since it’s already left Europe. Maybe that’ll persuade some Scots, Welsh and Northern Irish to hesitate.