Wendy Alexander’s 10-month tenure as Labour’s Scottish parliamentary leader was disastrous but she was right about one thing. Gordon Brown, if he cares about the Union, should call an early referendum on independence in Scotland.

It would involve a risk, but the likelihood is the unionist parties would be able to call the bluff of Alex Salmond, the nationalist first minister. Mr Brown should go for it once the Scottish party has chosen Ms Alexander’s successor.