Nicola Sturgeon knows her policy – but her only real concern is independence

No-one has ever accused Nicola Sturgeon of winging it. Unlike some politicians, she enjoys doing her homework. If you want to talk about the detail of policy, about the technical parameters within which this or that is measured, about the baseline assumptions that dictate funding decisions or the procedural manner in which policy is formulated, then she’s your lady.

That much was evident in her election interview with Andrew Neil this evening. I imagine long sections of it were baffling to viewers outwith Scotland as the first minister and Mr Neil traded statistics on the economy, health and, especially, education. Sturgeon has asked to be judged on her record and Neil was happy to accept her invitation.

But it must be admitted that arguments over the methodology used in annual surveys of literacy and numeracy and suggestions that these surveys are inferior to a planned new series of national standardised assessment does not necessarily make for riveting television.