Ordinary parties naturally struggle when faced with the ability of the Scottish National Party to foreswear traditional government for a perpetual campaign for independence. These are powerful rhetorical forces.

Cheap nationalism is an SNP speciality. It motivates some voters, but cannot fix a broken political system, a dismal situation in public health or revitalise a flagging economy.

Under the SNP, and especially under Nicola Sturgeon, government has largely ceased to work. Holyrood and the Scottish parliament are bypassed.

Sturgeon personally runs a never-ending campaign for independence. Both it and the government of Scotland are centralised in Bute House, the first minister’s residence. MSPs and voters are left out and forgotten.

Want to see more SNP fails? – Environment Matters