THE First Minister has been criticised for apparently concentrating too much on Brexit and not enough on independence. But her actions are only natural, given that she’s leading a government. All across Europe preparations are being made for potential catastrophe. Failing to prepare would be a dereliction of duty and seeking to avoid the calamity eminently sensible.

For sure, a third of SNP voters supported Brexit and she was too effusive about the EU for many both at the time and since. It’s far from a spotless organisation, but Yanis Varoufakis’s stance in seeking change from within, is infinitely preferable to Corbyn’s Stalinist position of socialism in one country.

Even that limited backing for Brexit though is disappearing like “snaw aff a dyke” as people realise that they’ve been duped and lied to. Political figures who supported it are becoming ever more strident in their demands for it, in inverse proportion to their ability to elaborate on its benefits and in direct opposition to all the mounting evidence. Tory demands for no delay are reminiscent of their idiotic predecessors demanding the poll tax be implemented in Scotland first.

Cheerleaders like the Scottish Fisherman’s Federation have been exposed as supporting vested interests of the few, not the welfare of the many. As with the Scotch Whisky Association over minimum pricing, they don’t represent either the national interest nor the wider interest of the sector but the interests of a handful of corporates and individuals.

So, support for Remain is rightly increasing in Scotland, even if driven more by the risks of leaving than a desire to stay. It’s increasing south of the Border too as the march of 700,000 people at the weekend showed. Some might say that’s not Scotland’s fight but the problem is we’re caught in the crossfire and can’t avoid it.

“Hell mend them” is an understandable reaction, given what was said and done during the independence referendum. It irks to say the least that charlatans who lied to us then, now plead for assistance to stop what they shamelessly said would befall us.

But, it wasn’t just them. Jose Manuel Barroso was also destructive but what else could be expected from a buddy of Jose Maria Aznar – never mind Blair and Bush. Others in the EU simply wished us well in private or stayed well out of it.

Now, they are happy to engage and many to positively support. So, times change and so must actions. The idea that Scotland can stay out of the political conflict is absurd.

Likewise, the suggestion that it’ll benefit the independence cause. That’s as spurious as the arguments made for Brexit. For sure, its challenged the views of opponents whether commentators or comedians. Their support will hopefully be forthcoming but is still far from assured, welcome as it would be. There’s still the dangers of a hard border that may put them off changing their previous stance.

But, it’s the effects on the lives of ordinary people that matters most and where it’s more concerning.

Social and economic upheaval are not conducive for major constitutional change even if some nations have previously been forged in adversity.

The stars didn’t quite align in 2014 whether on currency or even the EU. But, despite the lingering fears that afflicted too many and ultimately cost us victory, few thought it would lead to catastrophe. They just didn’t think we’d made our case or the arguments stacked up.

The idea that social and economic turmoil in the UK will lead automatically to independence I just don’t buy. For sure it’s possible that folk will see no alternative.

Yet it’s equally and more likely the case that fear of even greater risk and uncertainty would kick in. Hopelessness or just hanging on to what you’ve got would trump what by then would be portrayed as an even bigger risk.

After all, the momentum for the Yes surge came through hope and opportunity, people who believed that things could get better – to steal another party’s line. They weren’t facing doom and gloom even if life was hard. The danger for the independence cause is if it finds itself in a situation where life for many is a daily struggle and the world around them is in turmoil.

The risk then is that resignation kicks in and defeat seen as inevitable or change as pointless.

It’s for that reason that it’s in Scotland’s interests that either there’s a soft Brexit or preferably a second vote. It matters for us and for them. For sure, there’s a chance that an independent Scotland will emerge from a hard Brexit but equally there’s more of a risk of being locked into a brutal regime on the same small island.

Even the “suck it up, you voted for it” line doesn’t stick. A significant section there didn’t and many more were lied to shamelessly and manipulated by dark forces, even within the state.

I don’t wish ill on the ordinary people of England and want to save them from the tragedy and oligarchy that a hard Brexit would bring.

Most importantly it’s in Scotland’s interests both now and in the future to have a benign not nasty neighbour. We can change our constitution but not our geography, winning a referendum and cohabiting thereafter require it.

Brexit is far more of a risk than an opportunity. The worse it gets for England, the worse it’ll get for us, that’s why it’s our fight too.