Union like a failing marriage

Jon Bright (London, OK): Noticed this in the Telegraph yesterday - Jeremy Paxman has likened the Union to a failing marriage, and said that the English are apathetic because they are denied a say on the country's political future. He said, furthermore, that the English would not be that interested if Scotland decided to go it alone. His comments form part of a rather naff sounding BBC Scotland documentary "What do the English Really Think of the Scots?", which is coming up on Tuesday for anyone living north of the Border. My gut instinct is that he sums up the point of view pretty well - no-one would really be that interested (though the messy divorce proceedings seem worth considering). I'm sure someone will think of one, but I can't at the moment - was there ever a secessionist movement with so little chance of erupting into violence?