Alister Jack hasn’t labelled himself “Union” Jack for nothing.
The new Scottish Secretary gave an unapologetic and robust defence of the UK Government’s right to refuse a second independence referendum yesterday.
He did the same last Wednesday and we suspect we could set our clock by him waking us up to make the same argument every week from now on until the rocks melt with the sun.
Or at least until the policy changes.
Boris Johnson is expected to take Jack’s cue this week and reject calls for a second referendum.
It is what the SNP and everyone else expects and is, the SNP is confident, an unsustainable position.
Rejection will only add fuel to the fire in nationalist MPs’ bellies now they are restored with the claim of an emphatic mandate for independence.
In fact, people voted on lots of issues in December and the SNP benefited from having a very clear message on the biggest issue of the day – Brexit.
The stand-off between Downing Street and the SNP cannot go on forever, although not one of the thousands who marched for independence on Saturday realistically expects a referendum this year.
But next year, in the light of a Holyrood election, the landscape might change.
That is why the more nimble response from Labour candidates such as Rebecca Long-Bailey, who yesterday left open the door to a second vote while stating her disdain of separatism, is the more astute place for pro-UK politicians to be.
John Maynard Keynes is quoted as saying: “When the facts change, I change my mind.”
Johnson and Jack would do well to leave themselves room for manoeuvre for when the ground moves under their feet.
