Perhaps the biggest recent election in Europe was not in Greece, but in Catalonia.

Support is rising in Catalonia for partition. Not only should Spain be partitioned as the more businesslike and culturally distinct northeastern Catalonia Region seeks independence, but even the Catalan Lands themselves should be split, with Valencia and the Balearics left joined with Spain.

One cannot help but draw parallels 100 years on almost exactly from a similar partition not just of Ireland but of the province of Ulster, with Monaghan and Donegal (and Cavan as of 1613) separated from the rest of Ulster to remain joined to the Irish Free State.

So the Catalan case is strikingly similar to the specifically Ulster Unionist case 100 years ago, right down to accepting a split in the Catalan Lands if it comes to it. (I have some sympathy myself, though I must say my instinctive preference would be to try a properly federal Spain first, just as it is for a properly federal UK.)

Which does make one wonder, just a little, why that Catalan case is so strongly backed by Sinn Féin. Turns out partition of a longstanding single state and obvious geographical unit is right after all?