Can the Scottish independence juggernaut be stopped?

Nicola Sturgeon’s party is jubilant at an opinion poll suggesting 55 per cent of Scots now want to break up the UK, writes John Rentoul

The first minister cannot hold an unofficial referendum (PA)

The Scottish National Party is riding high. An opinion poll last week finally produced the reverse of the referendum six years ago: it suggested 55 per cent of Scots support independence and 45 per cent oppose it.

Nationalists are jubilant and people such as me, who think of Scotland as an essential part of our country, are cast down. It is widely believed that the UK government must allow another referendum soon.

Except that it will not. Even if the SNP and the Scottish Green Party, which also supports independence, win a majority of seats in the Scottish parliament next year, again, and even if the Scottish parliament votes to demand another referendum, again, the House of Commons, which has the power to decide, will refuse to allow it.