Quit while you're ahead Alex

It seems in the past week the fight between the National Conversation and the Constitutional Review has stepped up a gear.

I think it is a telling example of the shift of power from the SNP to the unionists that Sir Kenneth Calman was confidently unveiled as the (unpaid) chair of the devolution enquiry while Alex Salmond, seemingly somewhat off-balance, has been swinging randomly at alternatives. The suggestion of STV is a valid one but I think he has more to gain from stepping back, taking this fight on one of his many chins, and moving on.

Alex is, after all, getting all that he could possibly have hoped for one year ago. Wendy and Nicol are pushing hard for more powers for the Parliament. Even Annabel Goldie is on board which would have been unthinkable recently. His popularity is sky-high. Wendy's isn't. And Gordon Brown is making a horlicks of running Westminster.

Now is not the time to rock the boat.

After all, it is becoming generally accepted that independence is inevitable but ironically if the SNP push too hard for it too soon, Scotland's day of standing on her own two feet will come much, much later than it would otherwise.

The popularity of independence took an unmistakable lurch forward in the months after the SNP came to power. And this was when they weren't even discussing independence but rather announcing policies on devolved issues. I'm talking road toll abolition, saving A&Es, getting tough on young drinkers, getting rid of prescription charges, ceasing student tuition fees etc.

It seems, perversely, it's only when independence is discussed (complete with the name-calling and partisan-scrapping) that the popularity for it takes a dip.

Of course the unionists were narrow-minded in ruling out independence right off the bat. It demeans us a country and the unionist leaders as politicians if they can't trust themselves to consider ALL OPTIONS in a 'once in a generation' review of Scotland's place in the UK.

But, we are where we are. The SNP can show their ability to compromise by scrapping the National Conversation and joining the table with Wendy, Annabel, Nicol and, of course, Sir Ken. Alex can make a lot of hay out of having Scotland as his number one interest by accepting the majority view of extra powers for Holyrood, short of full independence. It will be a great example of leadership and can only enhance the SNP's popularity amongst the electorate. Even the die-hard nationalists who may be peeved initially should see why Alex must play a canny game.

How perfect is the SNP's hand that has the unionists working on getting more powers for Scotland while Alex, Nicola and John get on with running the Scottish Government and building on their already impressive poll ratings.

Know when you're winning Alex.