However, there certainly was a strong contrast between Peter Robinson's dismissal of holding a border poll when talking to me on Inside Politics on Friday and Arlene Foster's hint on the Nolan Show four days later that the party might call Sinn Fein's bluff over a referendum.

BBC: United Ireland border poll call: diversions and u-turns

This is in marked contrast to European banks' strategies for the euro zone, where cross-border bank mergers have so far been rare.

ECONOMIST: Inconspicuous consumption

To contest such arguments, Mr Salmond turned to a contrast: that between the approach he plans in Scotland and his vision of what is happening south of the border.

BBC: Putting the children before the state