Henry Hill: SNP faces police investigation over ‘missing’ independence campaign cash

Also: Ministers give opponents of Troubles amnesty six weeks to propose alternatives and square off to the devocrats over freeports.

Lionel Zetter: The SNP’s second referendum plans seem to include every voter – apart from expatriate Scots

Many maintain close ties with families and friends back home. Their interest in the future of Scotland remains undimmed.

WATCH: Scotland and the future of the Union

Our panel, including Scottish Conservative Leader Douglas Ross, discuss the impact of the recent Holyrood election.

Henry Hill: Last week, Ross secured his ‘Unionist’ base. The next task: selling Scots on the ‘Conservative’ bit.

Has the party secured a base it can build on in a less polarised politics? Or is it merely propped up on borrowed pro-UK votes?

WATCH: Sturgeon criticises “lack of respect for Scottish democracy that this UK government has demonstrated over quite some time”

She says it would be “absurd and completely outrageous” if it challenged the Scottish parliament in court over legislation on another referendum.

WATCH: The SNP’s deputy leader: “in the event that Johnson tries to do a Trump… I believe the referendum will still happen”

Brown warns the PM that using “the legal process to subvert Scottish democracy” won’t work.

WATCH: “We’re not going to go there” – Gove on whether legislation could pass for a second Scottish independence referendum

But he adds that he is “determined” to work with Sturgeon “in dealing with the immediate problems we face.”

Henry Hill: Fury as Scottish Tories suggest SNP majority is a ‘guarantee’ of another referendum

The Nationalists themselves are doing everything they can to minimise their central policy. All the materials for denying their mandate are there.

Lord Ashcroft: My survey of Scottish voters. The SNP maintains its lead for the Holyrood elections. But there are clouds on its horizon.

For many, Brexit is a powerful justification for a new independence referendum. But this, too, works both ways.

WATCH: SNP leader insists independence will not create a hard border between England and Scotland

Sturgeon says they will negotiate so that “businesses do not, in a practical sense, suffer any of that”.

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.