I’m with the Scots. Why do we have such a different opinion to the devolution sceptics?

Scottish support for independence in polls today hovers just above 50% of those who express a preference.

Polls were the same a decade ago when Scotland narrowly voted to remain part of the United Kingdom .

Since devolution the percentage of people in Scotland wanting to abolish the Scottish Parliament has declined to below 10% since devolution in 1999 .

Since 1999 the strength of Scotland ’s economy measured as GDP/head has grown the second fastest of the UK 's eleven regions and nations, only slightly behind London .

The West Midlands ' underperformance of Scotland is the equivalent of four Brexits and yet it is undiscussed.

But almost anywhere else in the UK , Scotland is doing comparatively well, especially in cities.

The fiscal balance of the UK ’s regions and nations shows that after decades of extremely weak growth in North England and the Midlands , Scotland is less reliant on fiscal transfers from the Greater South East than both those regions.

The latest data is likely to show that Yorkshire , the region containing Leeds and Sheffield will also have overtaken Scotland as a recipient of fiscal transfers within the UK .