WATCH: “Neither Sturgeon’s nationalists or Salmond’s nationalists are focussed on rebuilding Scotland,” Ross declares

“They are determined to have another referendum – even if it is an illegal, wildcat one,” warns the Scottish Conservative leader.

WATCH: New leader of Labour in Scotland opposes another independence referendum

“Coming through the trauma of Covid It’s right that we focus on rebuilding our country. ” – Sarwar

Cherry’s dismissal shows that the SNP leadership is under more pressure than ever

Sturgeon’s position in the party remains dominant, but she needs to assert that dominance in a way she didn’t before.

Johnson should be deeply wary of opening Pandora’s Box with a constitutional commission

Advocates of every hoary old reform would immediately set to work arguing that the Union could be saved by their One Weird Trick.

Henry Hill: Johnson suggests 40-year wait for the next Scottish independence vote

Also: civil servant at heart of Salmond fiasco set for retirement windfall; Foster threatened by loyalist terrorist; and Bogdanor attacks federalist folly.

Garvan Walshe: Gloomy Sturgeon projects competence. The Government doesn’t – and the Union may be the price it pays.

The Scottish leader has always tried to temper expectations about the country’s fight with Covid. This could pay off in an independence referendum.

Graham Gudgin: It must take a real majority of the right electorate to break up our Union

In 2014 the rules were almost designed to maximise the independence vote. This time London must take the question much more seriously.

A message from Ross to the Government – and Cummings. They’ve no excuse not to make the Union their top priority.

He is right to suspect value placed on the Union by some senior figures in this government. The Prime Minister must lead by example.

Alliance for Unity, the new movement which could give Galloway his next political life

He has a good eye for political openings, and Labour’s woes might have created a space for an avowedly left-wing, pro-UK figure.

Henry Hill: After decades on the defensive, Westminster is finally gearing up to counter-attack the SNP

The Nationalists’ campaign has been so successful that leading pro-UK campaigners shy away from saying ‘Britain’. That isn’t sustainable.

Graham Gudgin: Now is the time to combat Scottish Nationalism

Throwing money around will not help. A natonal effort is needed to show that the UK is a force for good in a troubled world.

Remainers cannot re-write history: it is Covid-19, not Brexit, that challenges the Union

It is remarkable that even after SNP MPs admitted that they needed to stop us leaving to salvage their project, this self-serving myth endures.

Craig Hoy: We must be ready – the Scottish Nationalists certainly will be

With Holyrood elections probably a year away now, Conservatives north of the border need to be prepared for when the campaign starts.

Salmond’s acquittal makes a bloody SNP civil war much more likely

The former First Minister is a diminished figure, but could still be a potent leader of the Nationalists’ fundamentalist wing.

Henry Hill: Could the Welsh Conservatives go into coalition with Plaid next year?

Also: Carlaw and Johnson meet to discuss tweaks to the points-based immigration system; the SNP make trouble over the Irish Protocol; and more.