Age: 211, dating to the Acts of Union of 1800.

Appearance: From the air, like a partially melted rabbit trying to eat a flying goldfish, at least for now.

For now? In the next 18 months, the rabbit could get his ears lopped off.

We are talking about a country, right? Countries within a country, to be more precise: England, Wales, Northern Ireland and, for the time being, Scotland.

Is Scotland going somewhere? Its own way, possibly. David Cameron is minded to allow Scottish first minister Alex Salmond a binding referendum on independence.

I didn't know Cameron was in favour of Scottish independence. He's not. By obliging Salmond to call a referendum within the next 18 months or not all, he is hoping to engineer a No vote, or kick the issue into the next parliament.

What does the Scottish government say? They say it is up to them to decide when, and in what form, any referendum takes place.

What do the Scottish people say?

Support for independence is running at about 32%, nine points up on last year.

It's not enough, though. No, but it is heading in the right direction. It is said that Salmond wants to delay a referendum until 2014, so it coincides with the 700th anniversary of the battle of Bannockburn.

Refresh my memory – what happened at the battle of Bannockburn? The Scots won.

Every little helps, I guess. This is a bit of a gamble for Cameron, though, isn't it? Some people think the Tories secretly want an independent Scotland, since Labour could never win an election in what was left of the UK.

Who are these people? Conspiracy theorists.

If this is about splitting up the UK, shouldn't everyone be allowed to vote in the referendum? Do you want the long, boring, legally complicated answer?

Heavens no. Then let's leave it at "maybe".

Do say: "Ultimately, this is a political issue, rather than a legal one. Scotland must decide."

Don't say: "Save the rabbit's ears!"