You will remember the fable of the scorpion and the frog. The scorpion asks the frog to give it a lift across a river. The frog, understandably, is wary of the scorpion, fearing that when push comes to shove, scorpions are in the business of stinging frogs. Do not worry, says the scorpion, I will not harm you. So the frog gallantly carries the scorpion across the river. Whereupon the scorpion stings the frog. Dying, the frog asks: “Why did you do this to me?” and the scorpion replies: “Because it’s my nature”.

Sometimes I think of Nicola Sturgeon as a scorpion. I do not mean that in any disparaging way. A nationalist must be a nationalist. It is her nature and there is nothing