One one level nobody should be surprised by Nicola Sturgeon saying she would likely quit in the event of another No vote.
Recent history shows that leaders resign in the wake of crushing referendum defeats.
David Cameron walked after losing out on Brexit and Alex Salmond did not hang about in September 2014.
A changing of the guard is what happens in these circumstances and Sturgeon would be out.
The curious part of her answer in the Loose Women interview is that she allowed herself to be drawn on her political mortality.
Few people expect leaders to provide a running commentary on how long they will stay in post. Resignations tend to be announced abruptly and without softening up the public.
But Sturgeon has dropped several hints which suggest she has given ample thought to a life outside politics.
In an interview with Vogue, she spoke about how she and her husband Peter could think about fostering children in the future.
She has at times given lawyerly answers when pressed if she will serve another full term as First Minister.
And yesterday she said she had thought about “having a more private life at some stage”.
The relentless nature of Sturgeon’s time at Holyrood makes it inevitable she will be considering a new chapter in her life at some point.
She has been First Minister for over seven years, spanning a pandemic and the trauma of facing down her predecessor Alex Salmond.
She has served in the SNP Government from the very first day, racking up fifteen years in office.
And she has been an MSP for over two decades, enough to make any sane person consider a plan B.
The real issue, as SNP insiders concede, is the lack of an obvious successor to take over as First Minister.
Resolving this problem will determine the date of the First Minister’s departure, rather than the outcome of a hypothetical referendum.
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