Is Scotland separated from England by a stretch of water? No it is part of an island landmass that by world standards is piffling in size and comes in at No.78 in the world list. That includes Northern Ireland, which I personally would have no problems with being part of a combined Eire.
It makes no sense whatsoever to be an independent country. The Scots have problems with power being centred so far south in London but so do we living in the North West, that is the issue the government should be addressing.