When facing a difficult situation, it is human nature to try and seek a silver lining.

For nationalist strategists regularly reviewing steadily declining poll ratings for the SNP, that silver lining has always been that support for independence has remained relatively constant.

The hope here is that while people may be annoyed with the SNP – blue tent, camper van, iPad etc. – they can nevertheless be won back to the cause because of their views on the constitution.

And, with around half the population still backing separation in most polls, this is a theoretically rich seam from which Humza Yousaf can mine.

The problem for the SNP is that no one actually cares about independence anymore.

Of course, they still theoretically support separation. It has become a key part of their political identity since 2014 and, were a vote to be held tomorrow, they would support it.

But do they actually want a vote tomorrow? No.

Do they view independence as an important issue? No.

Do they even think, despite their support for it, that independence is actually a good idea? Probably a no too.

A Redfield and Wilton Strategies poll this week suggested independence would be a determining factor for just 15 percent of voters........

© The Courier