It is an irony Boris Johnson might appreciate that the debate over Scottish independence has become a mirror image of the pre-2016 arguments over Brexit. The prime minister and his Conservatives say Scots are better off “remaining” in a strong union with their largest trading partner. Independence supporters appeal to national pride and identity — to taking back control, to coin a phrase. And their argument is gaining ground. Mr Johnson’s misfiring visit to Scotland last week will do little to reverse polls that for the first time show more Scots favour ending the union with England than keeping it.
這是一個鮑里斯•強森(Boris Johnson)可能會意識到的諷刺：圍繞蘇格蘭獨立的辯論，已成爲2016年公投前英國退歐辯論的一個鏡像。英國首相及其領導的保守黨表示，蘇格蘭人最好留在與其最大貿易伙伴結成的強大聯盟內部。支持獨立的人士則呼喚民族自豪感和認同感，以便——借用一個短語——奪回控制權。他們的論點正在贏得人心。強森上週對蘇格蘭的訪問對扭轉民意無濟於事。近期民調首次顯示，蘇格人更多傾向於結束（而不是保留）與英格蘭之間的聯盟。