Nicola Sturgeon is running out of road

Nicola Sturgeon gave a predictable response to the Supreme Court's ruling that the Scottish government does not have the power to legislate for a referendum on Scottish independence. The First Minister dialled up the grievance factor by claiming the decision ‘exposes as myth any notion of the UK as a voluntary partnership’. If only there was a vote in the past eight years which disproves her point. 

The court's ruling, delivered in the clipped tones of the Edinburgh-educated Lord Reed, was a fitting coup de grace in response to the grandstanding of the Scottish government and Scottish National Party.

Rallies and protests are reportedly being scheduled the length and breadth of Scotland by the faithful of the nationalist movement in response. MPs and MSPs are already tweeting that the decision proves Scotland is not an 'equal partner within the Union'. Such talk bears more than a little in common with the 'Stop the Steal' tin-hattedness of president Trump’s supporters and the FBPE brigade's perpetual marching to stop Brexit. 

In her speech following the verdict, Sturgeon was keen to drum up the faithful in their quest for independence:

'We won’t wallow in this disappointment; it gives us the clarity we need to plot a definite way forward.’

The outcome of the Supreme Court hearing, Sturgeon proclaimed, shows that ‘this is no longer about whether or not Scotland becomes independent. It is now about whether or not we have the basic democratic right to choose our future’. Excusing herself for quoting a former Conservative prime minister, she echoed the words of John Major:

'No nation can be held irrevocably in a union against its will.'

Sturgeon then sent a message to the current Conservative prime minister:

‘I make clear today that I stand at any time to reach agreement with the Prime Minister on an adjustment to the devolution settlement that enables a lawful democratic referendum to take place’.

Nicola Sturgeon plans to hold a ‘special’ party conference in the new year to discuss plans for the next step of her route to independence: a de facto referendum. In the meantime, she said, the SNP will ‘launch and mobilise’ a major campaign ‘in defence of Scottish democracy’. The military connotations will not be lost on many. 

Scottish nationalism, and Sturgeon in particular, have worked hard to convince themselves and casual observers that their nationalism is somehow woollier compared with those of the more blood and soil variety. The reaction to today’s news detonates that carefully constructed façade; it demonstrates that deep down the SNP's nationalism is as insecure, parochial and self-indulgent as any other.

So what happens now? Will some nationalists come to view Sturgeon as some sort of Grand Old Duke of York? How will the supposed de-facto referendum at the next General Election work out? Will they even have a currency or pensions plan ready in time for it?

Nationalists will claim that unionists are indulging in glee and merriment over the ruling. The overriding feeling among the SNP's supporters, however, is one of despair. Despite the challenges facing Scotland, the base instinct of its devolved government is to continue to argue the toss of the 2014 referendum. In doing so, Nicola Sturgeon is running out of road.