A WEEK is a long time in politics, Harold Wilson said, but at Holyrood it's now more like the distance to an alternative universe.
Only last Thursday, a newly annointed Nicola Sturgeon announced peace would, like her, reign supreme while she was First Minister.
Respect and consensus, she declared as rainbows shone from her eyes and bluebirds chirped on her shoulders, would heal the referendum's wounds.
"My door is always open," she told Unionists. That was last week's universe anyway. At FMQs we learned her door is still open, but there's a guillotine in the frame and God help any fan of the Smith Commission who saunters in.
Labour, who love a good war, seemed delighted. Jackie Baillie set Nat MSPs yapping by asking if the FM agreed Smith meant "the most substantial transfer of powers since Labour delivered the Scottish Parliament in 1999".
Ms Sturgeon welcomed the new powers, but then, just in case anyone accused her of consistency, said the deal was simultaneously disappointing.
"Well, that consensus lasted less than a minute," huffed Ms Baillie. "Any politician not electrified by the possibilities this presents to change the lives of the most vulnerable needs to ask themselves if they're in the right job."
The prospect of electrocuting her sent the Nat hounds wild.
"Too much shouting across the chamber," cut in Presiding Officer Tricia Marwick.
"What would have electrified me," said the FM, "would have been control over job-creating powers... the minimum wage, personal allowance of income tax, national insurance, universal credit, the kind of powers any self-respecting Labour Party should be arguing for instead of siding with the Tories."
Given the SNP was part of the Commission, this was akin to the FM cramming her face with sponge and gulping, "Yes I've got my cake and yes I'm eating it, but what I really want is a bigger cake and to scoff that too".
LibDem Willie Rennie accused her of trashing the Commission hours after signing it off. "So much for the new beginning from the new First Minister. She cannot keep rerunning the referendum," he said.
Ms Sturgeon skewered him by asking "in a genuine attempt to find consensus" if he would back the rapid devolution of welfare benefits before the Coalition cut them by 20 per cent.
Struck dumb, he gibbered: "The luxury of three questions."
"I'm going to take that as a 'No'," said the FM. September 18 aside, we now know she takes 'No' for an answer sometimes.
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