Well here we are at the last of the “big three” Westminster parties’ conferences, with the Tories taking over at least part of the Northern Quarter of Manchester.
The Lib Dems have already been in Glasgow, while Labour last week rallied by the seaside in Brighton. Big questions and issues at all of the events but one in particular has hung, shadow-like, over proceedings for Scottish members.
Independence.
The Lib Dems were pretty head on about it, tackling it in a straightforward way. Of course, it helps they have a settled position on a federal UK so can pretty confidently outline what they want to happen in the event of a No vote. More powers, less centralisation, basically.
The Labour camp is a bit more fractured. I say a bit who knows what goes on behind those closed doors? There seems to be no consensus between MPs and MSPs as to what the party’s vision is for a Scotland that doesn’t go it alone.
They just know they don’t want independence. So much so it was mentioned in every minister’s speech in the main conference hall.
Was that just token rabble rousing, though? Very few of the orators lingered on the issue for more than a few sentences and there was only one fringe event with Scotland/devolution at its heart.
Obviously there was the chance to debate whether or not Labour took Northern England for granted but there was no self-soul-searching as to why they have been failing in the polls north of the border.
So far, Scotland has not been mentioned in the main floor of the Manchester conference hall. However, there has been a lot going on behind the scenes.
Two well-attended fringe events took place on Sunday night where the future of the Union again, if there is a No vote was the central issue.
There was another Scottish fringe on Monday where Ruth Davidson spelled out her vision for education and, as I write, it’s expected David Cameron will talk Scotland at another evening event.
Add to that the fact Ms Davidson is introducing the Prime Minister before his keynote conference closing speech on Wednesday and it’s pretty clear events north of the border even if that just comes down to simply “saving the Union” are looming large in grassroots Tories’ minds.
Somehow I don’t think there will be any shortage of independence chat when the SNP gather in Perth in a few weeks’ time.