No longer ahead in the polls, the full weight of the Better Together political establishment has gone into overdrive with more promises, threats and coercions.

Thundering editorials have blethered on about how few days were left to save the Union. Unlikely bedfellows George Osborne and Will Hutton variously promised a made-up version of federalism or an end to neo-liberalism. One hundred Labour MPs are to be sent north to secure the vote.

In London on a short break, I could almost smell the panic as the fear boot was transferred to the other foot. The break-up of Britain, permanent right-wing Governments at Westminster, even the demise of the UK as a superpower had suddenly moved from remote to real on the threat meter. David Cameron would have to resign; Nigel Farage should be Deputy Prime Minister; and Ed Miliband has failed to deliver. But the real farce was about more powers. We will look back on last weekend as final proof of a cataclysmic failure of politics; the culmination of two years of poor decision making, bad choices, arrogance and ignorance.

Historians might even look further back and conclude that this demise started with the political fixers who put the Calman Commission together, turning devolution into a political toy. The so-called "biggest transfer of powers in a generation" that became the Scotland Act stands exposed as irrelevant.

Yesterday was worse. Having declined to put a "more powers" question on the ballot, Better Together had two full years to get its act together on an offer, any offer to persuade waverers away from independence. Every poll had suggested a clear majority of Scots wanted welfare and economy devolved yet what was put on the table was risible.

Alistair Darling and George Osborne couldn't even recall the detail, let alone recite how it would help. Delivery of the (much-derided) Work Programme and the ability to tinker with some tax bands look just like the lowest common denominators they are. What has become obvious was that there was no plan. There never had been. This shambles is political incompetence of the highest order, born of a patronising complacency that is, at last, proving their undoing.

One could leave it there and enjoy the moment, with more gymnastics to come later this week as civil society is, finally, encouraged to make up its own solutions. But there are wider lessons to be learned, regardless of the result.

Scotland's constitution is too important to be left to political parties. A bipartisan and inclusive process is needed to drive future change. Powers for our parliament should never be conferred like sweeties to pacify grumpy children. They are not gifts for politicians to confer on the rest of us. Similarly, last minute rabbits pulled kicking and screaming from hats are an insult to the integrity of our governance, not least as many postal votes have already been cast.

Elaine C Smith caught the mood well in the recent TV debate. She put all the politicians, including the Yes campaign, to shame. For, having animated thousands of conversations and mobilised a record vote, it seems unlikely that, after the referendum, we will all just "go to the back of the bus and shut up". We need to rescue our decaying democracy from the bottom up by helping people and communities take more control over their own lives, regardless of the vote. We need to build on the engagement the referendum has generated to create a new and inclusive politics, not one that is partisan or tribal; otherwise I don't see the point.

At least London has woken up to the threat to its hegemony. The establishment felt powerless and out of control on Sunday but a week is a long time in politics and anything can still happen. However, all of those who conspired to keep an option for more powers off the ballot paper in the blind belief that we could be seduced into voting No on the back of some vague promises ought to pay a heavy price for their abject failure.