How do you factor Scottish independence into that McGrath

Obviously another reason to vote SNP. And I'd vote for independence in a referendum, if I lived in Scotland - but I doubt if all their voters would. Though if the Tories win the next Westminster Election that will obviously help the SNP when it comes to the referendum.

And all this should make it crystal clear that sticking to the present electoral system for Westminser makes no kind of sense for Labour. There's probably a potential longterm natural anti-Tory majority in the country (even with Scotland gone), but that was true throughout the Thatcher years, and it didn't stop her carving society into pieces.