I popped home at lunchtime today, put the news on TV and saw Salmond doing his speech live. I realised that I don’t really have an opinion on Scottish independence. I don’t know if it would be a good thing for Scotland or if it would be a good thing for the rest of the UK? WOuld there be a winner and a loser or would everyone win or everyone lose?

It is difficult or even impossible to say without knowing exactly how everything would be divvied up, and just about every aspect of it makes your head hurt to think about it.

So, without being prejudiced by either agreeing or disagreeing with him, I thought that Salmond spoke well. Not bad rhetoric and didn’t go on for hours. More impressive was the parliament itself – both the building and its inhabitants. It all seemd a lot more grown-up than Westminster where proceedings always seem to boisterous and rowdy, especially for major events. I guess that today’s speech was a pretty big deal in Scotland and yet it all looked quite civilised.

It might be because there are fewer members crammed in or because the facilities are better or a bit of both, but I do wish our own parliament was in such a place, with the chair behind a desk instead of on a throne, and where each member has their own desk where they can put papers and have a bit of elbow room.