SCOTTISH Secretary Alister Jack ruled out IndyRef2 again today — as he insisted that an SNP majority in the Holyrood elections next year is not a mandate for a vote.

So far, so Tory.

But Mr Jack went a step further in suggesting that there should be no rerun within most voters’ lifetimes.

1 Credit: Alamy Live News

That’s a bold assertion.

It’s now not so much once in a ­generation for an independence referendum, but once in a lifetime.

But given that Nicola Sturgeon, say, turns 50 this year — and will no doubt be around for a few decades yet — it does seem rather far-fetched.

Will Scotland REALLY wait that long?

And much as the Tories might wish to scupper Ms Sturgeon’s plans, the longer the stand-off over IndyRef2 continues, the more they play into her hands.

Continually thumbing their nose at the Nats will win over few voters to the Tory cause and simply bolster the SNP.

The Conservatives need a smarter strategy than just outright rejection.

But after Mr Jack’s comments yesterday, it looks like they haven’t figured it out yet.

Be firm, Ma’am

NO ONE likes to see a family falling apart.

So we hope that Meghan and Harry can come to a suitable arrangement with the rest of the royals.

But what’s clear is the couple must not receive a penny from the state.

British taxpayers fund the Royal Family to strengthen our nation’s soft power, and to support vital charities.

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If Meghan and Harry can’t be bothered with the leg work, then it goes without saying they must give up the whopping perks which come with it.

As for security, claims that to stay safe the pair need cash from daddy just won’t wash. The Duke and Duchess of Sussex are rich beyond the wildest dreams of almost everyone in the UK.

They are more than capable of paying for a few bodyguards. And if they find themselves struggling, they could always cut down on the private jets.

The Queen, Charles and Wills must be firm: the Sussexes have made their bed. Now they’ve got to lie in it.



Defend our vets

A CIVILISED nation always treats its veterans with respect.

Which is why we campaigned to end witch hunt prosecutions against ageing former soldiers who served in Northern Ireland.

But to get Stormont up and running, Boris Johnson has brokered a deal with Sinn Fein which risks opening up new probes into thousands of Troubles veterans.

This would be morally indefensible and politically mad.

The PM must never give way to those who would put our old soldiers in the dock.

Nicola Sturgeon claims she will 'consider all reasonable options to secure Scotland's right to self determination'

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