SINCE the EU referendum politics in Scotland has been in as much turmoil as it has been in the rest of the United Kingdom. The vote to leave, and within that a vote in Scotland to stay, has provoked a flurry of activity on the part of the Caledonian class politique. Unlikely alliances have been formed, concessions made and poses struck. But let’s not confuse a crisis in the system with a crisis of the system. Commotion isn’t change.

For the Scottish government the split vote is a difficulty and an opportunity. The SNP is never happier than when dealing with matters constitutional. This is not simply because it’s the party’s purpose, it is also because it helps distract from a domestic agenda increasingly devoid of the populist flourishes that helped make the SNP popular.

Difficult questions about massive cuts to council budgets while the Scottish government remains committed to further cuts to business taxes will be put to one side as it tries to frame a debate around “Europe or Westminster.”