EVERY so often, something happens to remind you just how distant England is becoming.
Whatever happens in the Scottish independence referendum, the two countries are growing further and faster apart. And this will only accelerate as we approach 2014.
It was Nigel Farage of the UK Independence Party (Ukip) celebrating his defeat of the Tories in Eastleigh that brought this home. There he was, fulminating against the EU, immigration, gay marriage and wind farms – in that order. Between them, Ukip and the Conservative Party – two organisations that barely register in Scotland – had more than half of the vote in this crucial by-election. The centre of gravity of English politics is pulling dramatically to the right as issues such as immigration and Europe have come to dominate politics south of the Border.
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