The outcome of the Hamilton by-election rumbles on with continuing questions over John Swinney’s leadership and whether his ‘steady as she goes’ approach will cut it in the face of a growing challenge from Reform.

Any SNP leader would struggle to make them credible as an anti-Reform option. They have been the party of government for the best part of two decades. The anger people feel about the decline in public services is squarely on them.

But Mr Swinney’s bland managerialism just adds to their problems.

Patrick Harvie was absolutely right to call this out recently at his last ever FMQs as co-leader of the

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