Scottish and English Parliaments

John McDonnell's comments about another Scottish referendum on Independence have rightly created controversy. 

It is hard to know what his intentions were, but I am struck by the inaccuracy of his analysis.  Firstly, he seems to think, along with Richard Leonard, that it is a Scottish only decision with the implications felt only north of the border.  In fact, any effort to separate Scotland and England would lead to years of wrangling and suck up vast amounts of political oxygen in much the same disastrous way that Brexit has.   It would therefore help paralyse the UK, surely a matter of interest for both sides of the border.

Secondly, John McDonnell refers to the "English Parliament".  As he should know, there is no such thing.  The Parliament that sits in Westminster is a UK Parliament with MPs drawn for all over the UK.  What countries does he imagine that MPs representing Edinburgh, Glasgow, Belfast, Cardiff and son actually come from?

Thirdly, he should also know that the Scottish Parliament is a devolved body under the Scotland Act.  If Scotland were made independent the Scotland Act would have to be repealed, and a new body set up.  This would all be a reserved matter debated and decided in Westminster.