Where are the songs of spring? Good question. For the SNP, at their autumn conference, the anthems are somewhat muted by bruising defeat and whimpering prospects. Not sure much more can go wrong.

The SNP suffered a calamitous reverse in the General Election. Their standing in UK politics has evaporated as a consequence. They no longer have a majority at Holyrood after the precipitous ending of the pact with the Greens and the subsequent resignation of Humza Yousaf.

Scottish Government Ministers are under pressure in every conceivable quarter from the NHS to schools to the economy. The campaign for independence has stalled. Internal rows seem endemic, such as the controversy over Angus Robertson’s Israeli meeting. And, lest we forget, there may still be a prosecution pending with regard to the investigation into party finances – a police inquiry which is rivalling The Mousetrap for longevity.

It is not remotely surprising that there is a substantial degree of disquiet within the party. That has two broad aspects.

One, members fret over the 2026 Holyrood elections. Could this July’s collapse be replicated?

Two – and more fundamentally – they worry that their founding cause, the aim of independence, has been set back drastically. So there is discontent. Serious, rooted discontent. But there is minimal sign of an insurrection.

The atmosphere will be different from previous conferences (Image: free)

Members know it would be daft to ditch John Swinney after the chaos which precipitated his return to office. Indeed, one senior source told me that Mr Swinney epitomised the stability and........

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