At City Journal, Dalrymple writes that although the Scottish Nationalists lost the vote, they gained in many important respects: more powers from London including debt guarantees that the Nationalists will be able to turn into political patronage and the general incitement of increased nationalist fervor on all sides.
If the English are excluded from Scottish affairs, why should the Scots have a say in English affairs? After all, Labour governments have often been completely dependent on the Scottish vote, which explains why the Labour Party was so opposed to independence. But if England were to have its own government, the distinct possibility arises of near-permanent political conflict between the English, Scottish, and British governments. England might eventually want to break free from the Scottish millstone.