Andrew Liddle
Always be prepared.
The catchphrase of the scouts – sure – but also, it seems, Nicola Sturgeon.
With polls causing increasing panic among Remain supporters, the first minister has said her government is primed for a Leave vote.
These preparations, of course, include a potential second independence referendum.
But she also suggested other options were being considered – something that can surely only be viewed as prudent, regardless of which side of the EU fence you sit on.
Dressed in a blood red suit, Ms Sturgeon was offered a hat-trick of absolute sitters from her old sparring partner, Scottish Labour leader Kezia Dugdale, at First Minister’s Questions.
Whether or not this change of tack – from hard to soft – by Ms Dugdale is a long-term strategic shift, only time will tell.
However, it is clear that she has a better handle on the European referendum than her UK counterpart, Jeremy Corbyn.
Rather than accidently putting a wedge in the Remain camp – which, if Mr Corbyn was only slightly more competent, he would have achieved on Wednesday – Ms Dugdale clubbed together with the first minister.
The issues at stake are high, they agreed. The potential impacts huge, the pair concurred.
The only sour note in the cross-party love-in was the spectre that both Ms Sturgeon and Ms Dugdale could have broken parliamentary rules by discussing the referendum during purdah.
Brexiteer Margaret Mitchell certainly thought so, valiantly dishing out her arguments for Leave amid a barrage of jeers from her fellow MSPs.
So too, it seemed, did Labour member Neil Findlay, who ran the gauntlet speaking out against his leaders’ tactics.
The presiding officer, however, was having none of it – a decision that left Ms Sturgeon, finger to her lip, smirking like a naughty schoolgirl.
Amid the often farcical scenes though, one thing was clear. There is a real concern among Scotland’s leaders that a Leave vote might become a reality.
The reassuring thing for voters on both sides, however, is that the Scottish Government is getting ready for any eventuality – and that is always a good idea.
