Nevertheless, it also demonstrates the extent to which senior Nationalists are tiring of the Nicola Sturgeon show.
McAllan, meanwhile, was once Sturgeon’s golden girl. Now the education secretary says her former patron is talking “nonsense”. Gratitude has a short half-life in politics. McAllan told the BBC that the election result was “an absolutely whopping endorsement” of the SNP.
So whopping, indeed, that the SNP lost six seats while its share of the vote fell by almost ten percentage points. As endorsements go, this one is thoroughly qualified. The SNP is less unpopular than other political parties but it is not itself especially popular. The electorate’s verdict was, in essence: “John Swinney? I guess he’ll probably do.”
Sturgeon is losing ground. Big long term significance to this as the fact she didn't believe women existed was a key part in her downfall. Over time the reality side gains ground.