Sturgeon is as canny as she is cautious in her pursuit of independence for Scotland

In post-oil boom Scotland, the opportunity is waferthin for the SNP, believes Martin Redfern

Prime Minister Harold Macmillan, when asked what was the most challenging part of his job, supposedly said, “Events, dear boy, events.”

Undeniably this is the case for UK politicians since we voted to leave the EU. No leader of central or devolved governments apparently expected nor sought Brexit but deal with it they must… and here ends any similarity between Westminster and Holyrood.

Theresa May, unexpectedly Prime Minister plus a Remainer, attempts to make the most of the cards she’s been dealt. She has to manage the UK’S way out of the EU political structure, obliged by democracy. Few expected it; even fewer consider her task easy. On the other hand, First Minister Nicola Stur- geon endeavours to employ Brexit to break up the UK. Naturally – that’s her raison d’être. But again, no straightforward objective.

Ms Sturgeon’s as canny as she’s cautious. Before last June, she was playing a long game, inch by inch trying to convince, where her party failed to convince in September 2014. And then perhaps she might just have attempted a second secession plebiscite in 2021-23? A too premature referendum after signing the Edinburgh Agreement would question her democratic credentials. But events forced Ms Sturgeon to discard characteristic caution. Remember those ‘once in a generation or even a lifetime’ promises? Brushed under the carpet. Last year’s ‘listening initiative’? Abandoned. Yetthenationalist