Scottish independence court battle played down - BBC News
UK minister Michael Gove tells the BBC's Andrew Marr that his government would not go to court to stop a second Scottish independence referendum.
It is perhaps understandable that there is lots of talk of independence and referendums the morning after a Holyrood election, given the SNP have won big once again.

However, there is an argument to be made that the constitution is not necessarily the most interesting storyline in the wake of the polls.

There is still a pro-independence majority at Holyrood, and there is still an intense debate about mandates and process. But for all that, neither side actually wants anything to happen immediately, while there is still a pandemic to be dealing with.

The arguments being exchanged this morning are really rather familiar, and there is little incentive for anyone to change their tune straight away – not until the facts on the ground change, such as with the passing of a referendum bill at Holyrood.

And there are some really pressing issues for the SNP in the coming days and weeks as it forms a new administration.

To start with – who will take up key Cabinet posts left vacant by retiring MSPs? These include the health secretary, during a pandemic; the constitution secretary, as Brexit unfolds; and the environment secretary, in the year of COP26.

And then there are the other big ideas in the SNP manifesto – things like a National Care Service, a minimum income guarantee, publicly-owned rail services.

The constitution was clearly a big issue in the campaign and thus it is no surprise that it is the focus of intense discussion today.

But there is a lot more to Scottish politics than just the question of independence.