That gives Ms Sturgeon time to rebuild nationalist momentum if she can, and to do so from an already strong position. Yet Ms Sturgeon clearly must rebuild and reinspire if the SNP is to return to anything close to its glory days. Having made big claims for a seat at the negotiating table, differential deals for Scotland and a possible second independence referendum, Ms Sturgeon now finds herself needing more allies than she originally assumed. In spite of all the heat surrounding Brexit and independence, the biggest problem currently facing the SNP is Scotland’s public finances. Ms Sturgeon has a really significant challenge to fund her election promises, which include the lifting of the public sector pay cap.

Source: The Guardian October 08, 2017 18:11 UTC