The National:

INDEPENDENCE is normal. A vast number of countries across the world have declared their independence – and many of them from the British Empire, even.

It’s a common story, and the uncommon story is any of those countries begging to be taken back into a union afterwards.

That’s why it’s so bizarre to us that Unionist politicians act as if Scotland going independent would, on day one, result in apocalyptic scenarios so dreadful that Gordon Brown would be the only fitting narrator.

READ MORE: Scottish Labour: Job advert fail panned as 'anglocentric' by SNP

Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar has now found himself being roundly mocked on social media along these lines.

Saturday was the Independence Day of Pakistan, celebrating the country's freedom in being declared a sovereign state after the fall of the British Raj in 1947.

Sarwar posted up a picture of himself on Twitter with revellers, writing: "Marking Pakistan Independence Day in style”

Social media users weren’t too impressed, given the MSP’s history of comments on Scotland’s independence.

"Hypocrite" and "irony" were the words of the day for the Unionist.

No wonder Alex Cole-Hamilton will only work with the Tories on saving the Union...