Nats will try, try and try again for indyref

AS the saying goes, nothing is certain in this world except death and taxes.

The phrase is commonly attributed to founding father Benjamin Franklin in a letter questioning the “permanency” of the newly-established US constitution.

Of course, it has remained in force for more than two centuries, although indeed not without amendment.

Perhaps it is time to add Scottish independence to that list of two.

It does seem increasingly inevitable.

As I sat down to write this week, I went online and searched for that word (inevitable, not independence) just to see what would come up.

Under the definitions box – unavoidable, inescapable, bound to happen – the top three news items were all about Nicola Sturgeon.

That’s because you’re a political reporter, I hear you say, your computer knows it’s a topic of interest.

But this was on my personal laptop, largely used for booking holidays and binge-watching box sets.

Despite the UK Government’s official line that there should not be another referendum, senior ministers are believed to have now concluded it is a question of when – rather than if – a vote is called.

Sources close to the Prime Minister’s office claimed this week that the focus had switched to controlling the timeline, namely delaying a second poll until after Brexit.

So another referendum, at least, seems certain.

Moreover, the gap between the Yes and No camps does appear to be narrowing, with a recent poll showing Scotland is split almost exactly down the middle.

One group that remains firmly opposed to secession are older voters, as today’s poll in this newspaper reveals.

More than two thirds said they would vote to stay part of the UK in a second referendum.

Yet – in spite of that – 54% feel it is inevitable that Scotland will eventually become an independent country.

That’s not a whole lot of optimism from the Union’s so-called last great hope.

Incredibly, the findings also show Theresa May is more popular among this age group than Ms Sturgeon.

The Tory leader could therefore become an important weapon in any No campaign’s arsenal.

But even if the nationalists are defeated again – and that’s a significant if – I can’t see the result putting the question to bed.

I used to think a second indyref loss would be the final nail in the independence coffin, for a good while anyhow.

I’m no longer convinced of that, however.

For as long as people keep backing the SNP in elections, the constitutional issue is very much here to stay.

Just like the long-standing Eurosceptics, they will never give up.

And with Alex Salmond hinting at a comeback this week, who knows, could he be the person to take the movement forward again in the future?