Spot on 157. We are where we are because in the 2011 election, which to the vast majority was overwhelmingly about schools, hospitals, law and order etc, this single issue pressure group also slid the word "referendum" into its manifesto.
Because Labour in particular but also the other mainstream parties were in such disarray, this bunch of single issue obsessives got an overall majority. The very next day this "referendum", which much of the electorate wasn't even aware of or rated as a relevant election issue, became the only thing that mattered and has been boring the @rse off most of us ever since.
The reality is that, of the 44.7%, even the majority of them couldn't actually give much of a toss about separation. I think most of them voted Yes because it was one of just two options or the people telling them to do so were offering them more subsidy from the public purse..... or simply because they had seen that wonderful example of historical accuracy which is Braveheart!
And now the SNP have firmly been told NO they are still in denial about that and, whilst they continue to attempt to undermine the process of increased devolution in pursuit of their unique brand of grievance politics, our public services continue to suffer from neglect.
If the snp hadn't brought the referendum, I'm pretty sure you'd be on here banging on about a manifesto pledge being deserted.
Instead they have abandoned many of their other manifesto pledges to concentrate on seperation...maximum 18 kids per class - my son has 31 in his class, scrapping the council tax is just 2 that comes to mind. Over the last 7 years I have watched the mess they have made of our nhs. We need a government in control in Scotland that will work for the interests of every person in scotland and not just those backing their separatist agenda.