No doubt it counts as a matter of urgency for Alex Salmond, Angus Robertson, Pete Wishart and others that Holyrood should have control over any future referendum on independence. Their views hardly require clarification. The group might have noticed, however, that they, Edinburgh and London have other, more immediate concerns.

A certain myopia counts as emblematic of the Scottish National Party’s approach as the political year draws to a close. Which is the pressing issue? A referendum that Nicola Sturgeon is in no obvious hurry to pursue, or a Scotland Bill on which these MPs must vote today?

We know – has there been a moment’s doubt? - that independence is their priority. We know that the legislation, now entering its final Commons stage, is not entirely to their liking. But which issue, with all it entails for country and party, is before them in the here and now?

When the Bill becomes law the SNP will have to address that question. The party has undisputed numerical dominance in political affairs, but suddenly it is facing ideological challenges from left and right. The Scottish government’s handling of the tax credits issue in the face of Labour pressure was, to be polite, unimpressive. Meanwhile, its reaction to the thrust of Conservative policy has depended more on rhetoric than on specific alternatives.

A Nationalist can find fault with the Bill easily enough. From such a perspective anything falling short of independence is, by definition, inadequate. That does not make the powers being devolved insignificant, particularly in the areas of tax and welfare, or in any sense a distraction from the “real business” of the SNP. It would be a foolish mistake to take such a view.

Ms Sturgeon and her party were elected to govern and to represent the country. The Bill is therefore an opportunity and a challenge. The quality of governance can be improved if the SNP embraces its task and stops invoking the absence of this or that power to excuse failures to use the powers being devolved. Instead of talking about what cannot be done, the party should be exploring what can be done.

The alternative is a kind of zero sum game. When does “more powers” become de facto independence, after all? The world knows that’s what the SNP wants. The world also knows that Scotland declined to grant the wish last year. The majority of voters would therefore be entitled to tell the party: “Enough is enough. Govern within the limits of the possible. Start using these powers”.

We would endorse that. We would add that the SNP has not yet begun seriously to give substance to the settlement born of the referendum. The time is now. There might be no risk to the party’s electoral dominance, but the outline of future challenges is emerging.

“Westminster” is not the answer to every sceptical question. Tory spending cuts and Labour schemes for mitigation are designed to test the SNP’s seriousness. The examination can no longer be ducked.