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.

Henry Hill: New decade, old story? Smith’s Stormont deal under fire from Tory MPs and Ulster parties

Also: Scottish Conservative leadership candidates set out how they’ll take the fight to the SNP; Jack says no referendum re-run in Sturgeon’s lifetime.

Henry Hill: Carlaw sets out his stall as the Scottish Tory leadership contest begins

Also: Struggle to succeed Corbyn puts spotlight on Labour divisions over Scotland; and Jack has even more reasons to refuse Sturgeon’s referendum demands.

Andy Maciver: Johnson must change the Scottish Conservatives’ policy on a second independence referendum

He will be the Prime Minister who will either lose Scotland, or kill nationalism. There is no longer any in-between option.

WATCH: “Scotland can not be imprisoned within the UK against its will”, Sturgeon tells Johnson

“If Boris Johnson thinks saying no is the end of the matter then he is going to find himself completely and utterly wrong.”

WATCH: Gove – “We were told 2014 was a choice for a generation – we are not going to have an independence referendum in Scotland”

“In this General Election we have just seen what happens when politicians try to overturn a referendum result.”

WATCH: Sturgeon – Labour must accept a referendum is for Scottish people to decide

She would ask Labour to agree that a referendum on Scottish independence is not a matter for Westminster, as a condition to support a minority government.

Henry Hill: Johnson ‘vows to end persecution’ of Troubles veterans

Also: Prime Minister mocked over claims Ulster goods won’t face checks; and he takes a tough line on Scottish independence as Corbyn swithers.

WATCH: If Scotland voted for independence, would Sturgeon demand a second referendum on the exit deal? “No…”

“I don’t believe we should equate the two things,” the First Minister argues.

Henry Hill: Scottish Nationalists, Democratic Unionists, and Sinn Fein put themselves on a war footing

Also: Holyrood system would not serve the purported aims of Tomkins’ new party; Scottish court rejects bit to block prorogation; and IRA in spotlight over donation.

Henry Hill: McDonnell reminds us wherein lies the real threat to the Union

Labour politicians pandering to nationalist sentiment, and Remainers colluding with separatists in Parliament, are a clear and present danger.

Lord Ashcroft: My new Scotland poll. Yes to Independence takes the lead.

That’s the first time this has been the case for more than two years – though the majority is small.

John Lamont: Contrary to the SNP’s expectations, the closer we get to Brexit, the more popular the Union becomes

In her haste to hijack the EU referendum result to serve her cause, Sturgeon badly misjudged it.