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Salmond is smart enough to know that independence can only arrive on a gradualist basis. I wouldn't be too surprised if he even dropped the demand to hold a referendum within four years if that was the price the Lib Dems ask. In his moment of triumph Salmond might be able to persuade the party to accept this, sucking it up now in the hopes of eventual victory ten years from now.

No-one else in Scottish politics would have the gall - or the cojones - to risk such a manoevre. But Salmon might: he could calm many peoples' nerves by parking the constitution and swearing to get down to the business of government, trusting that the constitutional question will take care of itself in its own good time. Mere competence at Holyrood would, of course, represent a considerable upgrade from what the country has endured in recent years...