Unionists have reacted with outrage to John Swinney saying he’ll cooperate with Sinn Fein to boost Scottish independence. Why is anyone surprised, our Writer at Large asks.

It must be shocking for some folk in Scotland to look out the window each morning and discover the sky is blue. Perhaps when they turn on the tap, they’re horrified to find out water is wet. Maybe they need therapy when they learn that if you throw a ball in the air gravity causes it fall to the ground.

I’m assuming there’s a tight Venn diagram between these poor souls and those staggering around shellshocked at the ‘revelations’ the SNP will work with Sinn Fein to break up Britain.

The headlines in the right-wing unionist press were breathless with disbelief and howling with rage. ‘Swinney’s Sinn Fein plan to rip UK apart’; ‘Backlash over SNP’s shameful bid to woo Sinn Fein’.

The backlash, presumably, was from the same folk who reel in horror at the sight of blue skies, wet water and balls falling earthward. 

How anyone is surprised by Scottish nationalists working with Irish and Welsh nationalists is beyond most folk with a scintilla of understanding about modern politics and history. This is real ‘No sh*t Sherlock’ territory.

The confected and performative anger and upset is embarrassing, and as transparent as those outfits Kanye West’s wife wears. 

Read more from Neil Mackay:

Nationalists lead in Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland… here’s what happens next

Feed the poor or fatten the rich: why Swinney’s food price cap is morally........

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