It was made at the same time that the police were opening a fraud investigation into the party over alleged misuse of its referendum fighting fund.
The first and best allies of the campaign for independence have always been pro-UK politicians who think they can buy it off.
The Scottish Conservatives claim that £1.5 million of public money has been spent trying to build the SNP’s case for independence.
Only one in ten 2019 Tories – let alone anyone else – expect an outright Conservative victory next time round. Such a sense of inevitability could prove the hardest political challenge of all.
Salmond bowed out after taking his shot at separation in 2014; his successor may feel that she can’t step down without doing the same.
With a referendum taken decisively off the table, there is now space to really take the fight to the SNP on their domestic record.
The Prime Minister portrayed himself as a sane, sober, consensual person who is hard at work improving people’s lives.
The Prime Minister has no way of even trying to ensure the dispute is over by April except capitulating to the EU.
Also: having missed his self-imposed deadline of October 28th, Heaton-Harris changes the law to push Stormont vote back to April.
Why has neither he nor Heaton-Harris pushed back against Sinn Fein’s nonsensical claims about ‘joint authority’ with Dublin?
The new Prime Minister baffled the Opposition by mixing high-minded friendliness with low blows.
Also: Heaton-Harris holds firm on threat of fresh Stormont elections, but DUP insist they won’t restore power-sharing without movement on the Protocol.
Also: the ERG fire a shot across the Government’s bows following press speculation that ministers could fold on ECJ oversight in Northern Ireland.
Even now, the SNP can’t get the voters to the point of backing the break-up of the UK – and a Labour government wouldn’t make it any easier.
Scotland under the Sturgeon is the highest-taxed and worst governed part of the UK. That’s the result of the SNP’s failure to square up to its responsibilities, rather than concentrating on their separatist fantasies.