The finding itself has provoked considerable contention at Westminster, not least because it was opposed by Tory MPs on the culture committee which had conducted an investigation.

BBC: MP hacking report sparks Alex Salmond questions

The expectation thus far - among those who considered the point at all - was that independence would require to be enacted by a Westminster statute, not least because the present position is that the constitution is reserved to the UK Parliament under the Scotland Act 1998.

BBC: Giving in to temptation