Continued Collapse of the British Empire

The Washington Examiner has an article about the diplomatic conundrum poised by Scotland's bid for independence. A referendum is scheduled for September 18. Interestingly, one of the factors behind the push for independence is a reduced financial burden by Scots. From the article:

Independence advocates say Scotland knows best how to govern itself. And Scots have complained for decades that London imposes unfair austerity measures. The "Yes Scotland" campaign says each Scottish taxpayer would gain about $1,700 annually, partly through increased oil revenues, though London disputes this and argues that overall Scotland benefits financially from being part of the U.K. 

The article also suggests that if Scotland were to gain independence, Britain would likely scrap its nuclear weapons rather than relocate them from Scotland. That is, another major cut back in Britain's defense capabilities.