ONE of the very, very few joys of the Brexit debate has been Unionists making the case for independence in blissful ignorance – now Dan Snow has joined the likes of JK Rowling as part of their ranks.
The historian and arch-Unionist was a vocal backer of Scotland In Union, and used up some share of ink signing letters calling for Scotland to stay part of the UK.
In one, co-signed with Tom Holland, he writes: "When nationalists both north and south of the Border claim that they embody the future, they ignore the proven capacity of the Union to evolve."
Since then, the only proven capacity of the Union we've seen is to regress.
READ MORE: How Scotland in Union went from next Better Together to an embarrassment
Now, Snow is responding to reports that senior Tories were annoyed at Ireland's sway in Brexit negotiations.
Presumably with a straight face, he tweeted: "It's almost as if Ireland has pursued its national interest by exploiting its membership of a powerful, collaborative transnational body."
It's almost as if Ireland has pursued its national interest by exploiting its membership of a powerful, collaborative transnational body. https://t.co/uhWU75GvtF
— Dan Snow (@thehistoryguy) December 11, 2018
This would be the powerful, collaborative transnational body Scotland voted to stay part of, but which we are being ripped out of.
This would be the powerful, collaborative transnational body Scotland would be staying in, if Snow's Unionists had lost the referendum.
READ MORE: Tory MSP left red-faced as Mike Russell quotes his Unionist blog
Will we see a sudden change of heart from Snow, as he finally accepts that those north of the Border deserve to have our democratic will respected? And that independence is the only route to that?
We won't hold our breath.
Meanwhile, Twitter users were quick to pick apart his post
Yes, be grand if Scotland could have done the same. (The irony is that if it had been Yes in 2014 indyref, there wouldn’t & couldn’t have been a Brexit referendum in 2016. Would now be 2 states in EU instead of 1 heading out.) https://t.co/hr9uG3gTp9
— Kevin Pringle (@KevinJPringle) December 11, 2018
Dan joins the push for an Independent Scotland. #notoyes https://t.co/zYOItFSIvm
— John MacAskill (@John_G_MacA) December 12, 2018
There’s something rather ironic about this coming from Dan, who was a vocal opponent of Scotland regaining its independence, as Ireland once did.
— Colin Alexander Storrier (@IndependentScot) December 11, 2018
Time Scotland pursued its national interest. Ask anyone in Ireland if they wish to be ruled via London again...? Any takers? https://t.co/y6VxVIyS9Z
OMG. Scotland why, do you let people like this exploit you so. This man ran a massive campaign to keep Scotland tied to Westminster, based on lies and false promises. Just think we could be like Ireland, if it wasn't for people like Dan here. https://t.co/qcuAE28cZd
— Melissa Iacone 🇪🇺 (@meljomur) December 12, 2018
It’s almost as if Scotland has had its national interest exploited by being a member of a weak, unequal (trans)national union.
— Michael Stewart (@mstewart_23) December 11, 2018
@theironyguy 👇🏻 https://t.co/Kuiu61Fu21
A British Empire tweet if ever I saw one. He certainly knows all about self interest and exploitation.#DissolveTheUnion
— Alistair McGregor 🐝 🏴 🇰🇪 (@gregalach) December 12, 2018
Ireland calling Scotland! Come and join us; the water's lovely!!
— Brid Collins (@BACOLL6) December 11, 2018
Wouldn't it be great if Scotland were independent and able to do the same, instead of being trapped in a chaotically dysfunctional Union?
— Graeme Purves (@GASPurves) December 12, 2018
Yes Dan. If only the Nation of Scotland was in the same position.
— klocked this (@klockedthis) December 12, 2018
Brexit has Unionists struggling to keep the story straight.
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