Morgan WilliamsMorgan, (or should that be Mary); I knew you wouldn’t reply. Most of us know that being a Welshperson, your hatred of the English knows no bounds, but you have no right to state, let alone suggest, that if Scotland decided to abandon the Union, armed conflict would arise between the two nations. I don’t remember you suggesting the same absurdity when the U.K. voted to leave the EU. Or did you anticipate a similar occurrence such as the ones Philip II, Napoleon and the Austrian painter had in mind ?. As my very distant relatives are, amongst others, part Norman and part Dane, I suppose I should welcome the opportunity to carry on where they left off, not stopping until I reached the Irish Sea. In the meantime, I wish you good health.

Morgan WilliamsHello ?

Morgan WilliamsEnglish rule ? By James VI ? Please expand. Not 3.000, more like nearly 9.000. But do you really think that that would dampen the Catalan nationalist’s independence fervour. I don’t.

3000 companies (many larger such as banks and insurers) deregistered from Catalonia in the first week following the referendum result. If it has gone further, it's likely Catalonia would have suffered a mass exodus of capital and businesses. Aside from the political and legal battles, that should have been a sufficient correction to dampen further enthusiasm for it. Regarding Scotland, there's no way England will ever allow it to become independent from English rule. It will have to do it by force. And that won't be pretty either. So I think you need not argue too far with this hypothetical.

SaraOK, then I am.

Richard PearsonI was suggesting nothing of the sort. Sigh.

SaraIf that did occur Sara, Spain wouldn’t have a leg to stand on. Or are you suggesting that if a Catalan majority did win that Spain would deny it it’s right to become independent ? Forget the day or five years. This problem has been raising its ugly head for centuries.

Richard PearsonI doubt that would change Spain’s position but who knows. Even a day is a long time in Spanish politics never mind five years!

The phantom negative voters strike again ! Maybe they haven’t yet learnt to read or write.

SaraWhich leads one to ask what would occur if a Catalan nation became a reality after winning a not so hypothetical referendum held during the next quinquennium.