I think we in Scotland are lucky to have an Alex Salmond and an SNP. In Wales, you at least have Plaid, but in England, it's difficult to see what the alternative to Labour and the Tories are, as they morph into one another, and steal one another's policies. Blair was Thatcheresque, and Cameron is Blairesque... where's the alternative?

It's not the Lib Dems, that's for sure, because they seem to lack consistency, and say one thing to one person, and another to another.

The Green Party or UKIP? I don't think either of these parties is much in the running, and have no members suited to government - yet. I would just hope England does get an alternative, which is willing to fight for it in a positive way, as Salmond is doing for Scotland.

I'm being honest. What do I care what Scotland does? Is it even any of my business?

I follow the debate in Scotland because I'm interested in the consequences for England.

Which makes me a great deal better informed than most Englishmen.

It's positive if we get a positive result and the only result I am interested in is an English parliament. I'd rather that was acheived by England pushing the constitutional envelope but if Alex Salmond wants to make the running then I'll cheer him to the finish line.

As I said before the quickest way to achieve change is to fatally undermine the Status Quo. Is that negative? No, not as far as I am concerned because I detest the Status Quo and if the Establishment is incapable of radical change then it just needs to be swept away.

Not the most positive political agenda to rally support around Gareth? The problem with this lack of dialogue is it perpetuates myths that each culture nourishes, for the English it is 'we are so hard done by the Scottish Raj and we subsidise the Scots to the tune of £1500 per man', for us scots it is that 'we subsidise the big sink of the South East and our culture is dominated by this void-nation'.

No wonder we find it difficult to have dialogue when we do have a common channel. Repeating the mantra that 'English aren’t actually that bothered what Scotland does' doesn't really get us anywhere, even if it were true.

Is the most positive rallying cry you can have: "The only reason I pay any attention is because we may hopefully get an English Parliament by default when it all goes tits up." ?

Not sure where parroting Paxmans mantra gets you. And what does it tell us about 'our' media that such a high profile BBC broadcaster can have such an outspoken role?

Can you imagine a scenario where someone of Paxmans level said such things about England or the English? It would be seen as being outrageous and political.

The countries are different politically and always have been. There are now just more visible insititutions where the difference is more clearly seen or people take more of an interest given the unusual contemporary conditions.

I don't agree that they are becoming different countries politically. It was a difference that was very apparent to me when I lived up in Scotland.

People are noticing it more now because there are different ruling parties at Westminster and Holyrood. Also the UK Labour Party had a lot of influence over the Scottish Labour Party, but now even that is beginning to wane because Scottish Labour so desperately want to be seen differently.

In regard to the English indifference - as Jeremy Paxman noted, the English aren't actually that bothered what Scotland does.

The only reason I pay any attention is because we may hopefully get an English Parliament by default when it all goes tits up.