Even the SALTEX move to Birmingham has been knocked off the front pages by coverage of the shouting match North of the Border.

I live about as far from the Scottish Border as it is possible to be in the United Kingdom and can have no valid view of the decision to be taken next Thursday – and I suppose my interest would lie in an appreciation of its best known export (liquid, not haggis).

There appears to be as much passionate interest and opinion outside Scotland as there is amongst those who will be directly affected. Quite rightly so, because for a start we will all be affected - whatever happens.

Probably the most startling headline came from The Independent last Wednesday. It read “Can Gordon Brown save David Cameron?”

Has the world gone mad? Like him or not, GB was roundly ousted by the electorate at the last election, since when he has hardly been seen outside Fife. Now he is going around making ‘promises’ to give the Scots more autonomy if the vote is No.

Hang on – nobody has asked me or the rest of the United Kingdom whether we agree. Add that to the referendum list.

There is little doubt that there is a considerable support for an independent Scotland, witness the near 50/50 split according the polls.

But the business community is very largely against – and in economic terms, they are a voice that must be heard.

The financial services sector in Scotland employs over 185,000 people, and is worth £8.8bn (more than the oil industry). As we have seen in recent days, scaremongering or not, much of that will likely move south if there is a Yes vote.

And that will make it much more difficult for Scotland to prosper on its own.

Success breeds problems, and issues over immigration, housing, integration and schooling constantly hit the headlines.

Why?   Because the UK is seen as good place to live in, a good place to invest in and a good place to do business. It is regarded worldwide as being a safe society, a stable economy – democratic, compassionate, artistic, humorous, understanding and steeped in history. 

Possibly if those outside Scotland could be as patriotic and passionate about their country as Salmond and his troops, then our self-confidence would drown out the negatives so often portrayed in the national press.

I for one wouldn’t live anywhere else - than in the United Kingdom.