There are already moves, reported in the Telegraph last week, to set up a constitutional convention after the vote to strengthen UK cohesion. It seems quite blinkered for those who want the vote to be decisive to not consider the downside of that which is a closing down of developments. I know, James, that you have in the past said that the constitution has dominated too long, but this is because Scotland relationship to the UK versus the rest of the world is something a large section of society cares passionately above and has done for decades (as a student in the seventies I remember the Scotsman’s letter pages were dominated by the national issue). The idea that concentrating on the constitutional issue makes Scotland parochial or inward looking is belied by developments now across Europe, where in both Catalonia and Flanders the constitutional issue has dominated for years and looks like coming to a climax at the same time as in Scotland.

A bit like someone saying to me “ahahaha! I’m forcing you to have a holiday over Christmas! Ahahaha!”

(For reference, those ahahahas should be read in a Stewart Lee voice.)

It’s ridiculous! Independence is the SNP’s whole point for existence, so the idea that forcing them to have a yes/no question on it is somehow a major blow to nationalism is just bizarre. And since unionists were the ones wanting the referendum sooner than 2014, I don’t understand why this sunset clause is meant to be a victory for unionists.

You expect spin from politicians to try and make out they’ve come out on top, but the rubbish being spouted about this is just tedious.

As for Devo Max, I remain convinced that it was never anything more than a tool for achieving other objectives. The Scottish Government is getting a referendum on independence that can’t be challenged in court, will have their preferred wording and franchise, and will be held at a time of their choosing. I don’t see how they would have gotten that without a bone to throw Cameron’s way. And for all the talk of it being Salmond’s “fallback option”, does anyone seriously think he wouldn’t have been accused of political failure if he’d delivered Devo Max instead of independence?

If Labour & co had gone for Devo Max, it wouldn’t have been a disaster – it’s a compromise Salmond and others could have lived with, even though it would have made independence a much harder sell. But they were never going to go for it, because Calman showed how serious the three UK parties are about further powers – not very.

But having said all that, I think it’s pretty obvious people either believe he wanted it or they don’t, so there’s little point arguing about it, especially now.

Even if Salmond did drop the baton he would be swiftly deposed and there are many able Lieutenants who are ready willing and able to pick it up. Scotlands independence is inevitable of that there is no doubt. I remember after last years SNP conference that someone it was probably Curtice alleged that Salmond never even mentioned independence in his speech to conference. A quick review will show that he was listening to the voices again. Unionism seems to create these voices that has seen many of them banished to that parallel universe they live in. Such is the power of self interest.

All this devious Machiavellian nonsense is massively overplayed by some SNP folk.