John Harris discussed the SNP conference's decision to adopt a new Scottish currency in the Guardian yesterday. Speaking of the 2014 referendum he wrote:

[T]here is something I felt deeply in 2014, and that Brexit has sent nuclear. I am English: the country I call home is in a backward-looking mess. But only a few hours' drive away is a place with at least a sporting chance of pushing itself into the future. If another independence vote materialised, whatever the surrounding tensions and complexities, I would be back there in a flash, to see if at least one part of these islands can leave behind the current wretchedness, and find something better.

Precisely. And as he also noted:

[J[ust about all the most exciting, mould-breaking ideas about a new Scotland came from a coalition of forces — Greens, the radical Scottish left, droves of people new to politics — that a new referendum would presumably revive.

I happen to agree with that too, right now.

But the point John makes is a simple one: what Scotland proves is that it is possible in the UK to reject the model that the far right are imposing on the rest of our political sphere at present. Whatever else it of relevance in this discussion (and much is) that is of enormous significance and more than justifies, by itself, the effort I have been putting into debate about Scotland's future.

That I also care about that future does help though. I wouldn't do it otherwise.