Over its 20 years in office, the SNP government has failed to deliver adequate infrastructure to help grow the economy. As a relatively new First Minister, John Swinney is unlikely to be judged on that, but Andy Maciver believes he will be held responsible if he does not start delivering in his next term of office.

I cannot pretend, even as a supporter of the Scottish Parliament, that every utterance from every politician in every Holyrood debate is worth spending one’s time poring over. Last month, however, one of devolution’s ‘originals’ - Transport Secretary Fiona Hyslop - made an ostensibly innocuous remark which actually told us everything both about the last decade of SNP government, and about the next five years of it should the party win again next month.

In answer to a question from Conservative MSP Miles Briggs about the Sheriffhall Roundabout in Edinburgh, Ms Hyslop said “I was first informed in a submission from Transport Scotland officials dated 13 March that the decision-making advice for me as minister regarding the proposed Sheriffhall junction scheme will not be provided ahead of the dissolution of this session of Parliament in advance of the election. I am both disappointed and frustrated by that.”

For readers not acquainted with the Sheriffhall Roundabout, all I can say is “lucky you”. Sheriffhall is the bête noire of Edinburgh drivers. Part of the Edinburgh City Bypass, it is an interchange between the east side of Edinburgh and Borders, the city centre and the west bound M8, as well as a critical piece of infrastructure serving Edinburgh Airport and the Royal Infirmary. So, you get the picture; it is a really, really important........

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