It's hard to see Truss rowing back on 'muscular Unionism' - Kenny MacAskill

The Truss camp suggestion that they may change the threshold in a future referendum on Scottish independence may or may not come to pass. We saw much playing to the gallery during the campaign.

But all the same it’s indicative of an attitude of mind and a positioning towards Scotland that’s set to be intransigent at best – and more likely to be both combative and confrontational.

It’s hard to see how she can row back from the wider ideology of “muscular unionism”, or even that she wishes too. That makes the constitutional debate in Scotland ever more polarised and with ramifications for others.

There’s been little outrage over Truss’s position on a referendum by those who champion devolution or federalism, call it what you like. Many were quick to condemn an egg being thrown and some abuse shouted at a rally in Perth. Despite the significant presence of Police Scotland at the scene of the supposed crime and where the forces of law and order seemed content to let matters run, blood has been called for.

But where’s the outrage or even concern at a fundamental attack upon democracy? This is a rerun of 1979 when Scotland was denied its right by legislative jiggery-pokery and now they want to repeat it. It didn’t happen with Brexit, and it certainly wouldn’t be imposed in Ireland.

Instead, those seeking Devo Max have stayed silent. Do they not accept that there’s a democratic right for Scots to decide their own future? Or that the rules which apply in a democracy should be across the board? Their silence does them no credit.

Do they really think this will help them? Maybe they think that as well as changing the threshold, they can ensure a third question on the ballot? But that’s naïve. This isn’t about preserving the Union but enforcing subjugation. It also ensures that Unionists would boycott any referendum called

Prime Minister Liz Truss's supposed proposals on an independence referendum make it hard to see any shift away from 'muscular Unionism', writes Kenny MacAskill. (Photo by Carl Court/Getty Images)

without Westminster consent while Independence supporters would react likewise to any charade of a democratic vote.

All the warm words of 2014, when we heard everything from “Scotland please stay” to a “powerhouse parliament” to “the most successful partnership” in history, seem like they are from a different age. Now it’s just “know your place Jock, do as we say”.

Whatever unlikely chance there was for federalism is being destroyed and the iron fist has been exposed.

This approach also has an impact on strategies for independence. The First Minister tweets her outrage and her acolytes bleat yet again about Perfidious Albion. However, their strategy, if you can call it that, was predicated on a referendum that would be given voluntarily and fairly by Westminster.

All they needed was one more electoral victory and Boris would blink, a referendum would be conceded and Scotland would be a Nation once again.

Well, Johnson didn’t blink and now he’s replaced by an even more Uber Unionist. The supposed cunning wheeze of fast tracking a decision to the Supreme Court is just accelerating what I believe will be a crushing judgement.

The Truss declaration has shown that a strategy that goes beyond simply begging for a referendum is required. The SNP might not have it, but others do.

Kenny MacAskill is the Alba MP for East Lothian