Musket, there is not much more Scotland can do. We sent 80% of our MPs as Labout MPs to the Westminster government but the majority of English, Welsh and Northern Ireland MPs put together gave us a Tory led government. Your analogy about running away with the ball is interesting ..... we cannae even get a kick at the noo!
We cannot do much more. Maybe a Independent Scottish left of centre government might show our friends outside Scotland what can be done by kicking out the Tories. Unfortunately they'll have to fight UKIP as well.
I think that's where Scotland scores, we have an alternative.
And, Giok, at the moment our fishermen need a voice at the top table in Europe. Despite two thirds of the UK industry being based in Scotland, Scottish Ministers have not been allowed to speak on behalf of the UK in Europe, even on occasions where the interest is almost exclusively Scottish. This means that Scotland's representatives - who are closest to the needs of the Scottish fishing sector - are not able to ensure that their voice is properly heard.