like a cow with swollen udders protesting that the milkmaid is late. All this has gradually communicated itself to the English. They know that if they are knocked out of this year's World Cup, there will be an orgy of relief and gloating north of the border. Should England win, Scotland's sorrows will be undrownable. Forget flags; Scots will wrap themselves in sackcloth and ashes. That is not going down well in southern Britain. It has also been noticed that, at the recent election, the Scots did not just vote as if they were in another country. They voted as if they were on another planet. But they did not vote for the Scottish National Party and separation. They voted for Scottish Labour and continued subsidies. Related Articles When the Government's knives start to slice into public spending, most of the English will imitate Irish good sense rather than Greek unreason. A lot of Scots will want to show the Greeks how to run a proper protest. While David Cameron is trying to persuade England that we are all in this together, many Scots will be saying "include me out". Especially in public spaces, it can often seem as if English politeness has gone the way of English reserve. Even so, the English are still one of the better-mannered races. If someone stands on an Englishman's foot, he will apologise. A second time: a second apology. Only on the third occasion will the Englishman realise that the assault is deliberate,