akenaton,

It seems to me that the Scottish Nationalists have won a protest vote against the ruling party. Their victory probably has more to do with dissatisfaction with the price of gas and the cost of optional war than it does with scottish independence.

Canada has had the Bloc in Quebec for many years now, though they still talk of independence, their political niche is to be regional advocates. In a parliamentary system, the squeekiest wheeled do get oiled.