Who? SNP? Never heard of them...

TAE SEE OORSELS....

We've just got back from a brief foray back to our old haunts down in England, staying with friends.  Given recent events, and the unfolding development of the new, unelected, UK government, it's no surprise that politics was a frequent subject of conversation.

Both the people we resided with, and other old acquaintances we caught up with, were, like us Remain voters.  All have a strong interest in politics, all share at least some of our left wing principles.  So it was interesting listening to what they new about the political scene in Scotland, and, more specifically, the personalities and names they recognised.

No surprise that Nicola was known to all, and featured frequently on the radar.  And that Alex remains a weel kent figure, no matter what people might think of him.  But the other 'bi' name that seems to have media recognition down there is.... wee Ruthie.  Yup, on the basis of my very small and wholly unscientific sample, it appears that Ruth Davidson is the third best known current Scottish politician in England.  If you were looking for evidence of the media's right wing bias....

Nobody could think who the leader of Scottish Labour was.  Kezia's name evoked some recognition when I mentioned it, but none immediately connected it with the position she holds.

But the biggest surprise, to me, was the total blank I drew with one name you'd think they should all be aware of.  The leader of the third largest bloc - over 50 MPs - in the House of Commons and often the only effective parliamentary opposition to the UK government..  The chief Westminster representative of the party that forms the government in a substantial part of the UK.  A party which can boast the third largest membership numbers of all UK political parties, not that far behind the figure for the Tories and comfortably well clear of fourth place.  A man who recently put in a strong performance on BBC's Question Time, where he was a voice of sense amidst the usual right wing drivel.  Yet not one of them seemed to have any idea who Angus Robertson was.

The events, and mounting sense of crisis, in British politics over the past three weeks has shown the UK to be dysfunctional and anything but 'United'.  The disdain with which Scotland's voice continues to be treated is ever more evident, and my finding felt like an indication of just how little we are listened to.

Feels like Independence can't come soon enough.  We need to get off the Titanic.