In his final column, Guy Stenhouse reflects on a conversation that put politics, economics and Britain’s frustrations into sobering perspective.

Over 10 years ago a chance encounter with the then editor of The Herald led to him asking me if I would write a column every couple of weeks for the paper.

Nearly a quarter of a million words later it's time to stop.  This is my last column.  Not too much cheering, please.

The Herald has been a great paper to write for.  They have allowed me to pick my topics and range over a wide area where politics, business and economics intersect.  Very rarely have they changed a word I have written. 

On only one occasion have they turned a column down flat - yes, Nicola, it was about you - libel apparently.

I was asked before I started to make sure I annoyed people, I hope I have succeeded.  I enjoyed reading the online criticism I received each fortnight - all from idiots of course.

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To the two people who wrote to me in those 10 long years to say they had enjoyed something I had written - thank you - your letters are on my wall.

The question I was wrestling with last week was, what should I wrote about in my last article?  Frankly, I hadn't a clue.

Then I walked into a small shop I have regularly visited over the years and fell into conversation with its owner.  She was from Iran.

Quite a few minutes later, having received a big hug which I felt I had not deserved because all I had really done was listen, I left, feeling educated, humble and grateful.

The lady spoke through tears about her country and what it was going through, the pain it had endured for years.

She was not angry with President Trump, far from it, but she was extremely fearful that he would not finish the job which needed to be done which was to remove the mad mullahs.

She told me of what had happened to her father, a professor at Tehran's University, whose grave she feared she would never to able to see.

She told me about her family, the sort of professionals every country needs for a well-functioning and prosperous society.  Forced to leave Iran and giving their talents to other countries around the globe.

She spoke of people she knew disappearing, of torture, of fear, of despair.

Did I not know she said that the regime regularly placed weapons and ammunition under schools and hospitals?  That civilians, including children, had been locked into buildings so that if the Americans did not then bomb because of those civilians the regime won because its weapons were safe and if the bombs did fall it was a propaganda victory anyway?  How could I not know this she cried, the evil that was done daily to the people of Iran by its own rulers.

Why did I think Iran had blocked the internet earlier this year was her simple question.  So that it could murder tens of thousands of its citizens without the world seeing was the answer.

As I left the shop, as well as feeling a great sadness and sympathy for the lady who had shared with me what kept her awake at night, I felt how lucky we were in the UK.

Israel is a country which does not often endear itself, but it is a democracy and Iran and its proxies have sworn to wipe it out if they can.  How handy a nuclear weapon would be in achieving that aim.  Was Israel to do nothing?

Trump too, sometimes a buffoon, boorish behaviour his norm, his acolytes nauseating but, unlike Iraq, Iran really was trying to work its way towards having a nuclear weapon.  Was Trump supposed to do nothing?  Has nobody read the book of Revelation?

Yes, the increasing cost of living which will come from the conflict in Iran is something we could do without.

On a broader perspective, although we sometimes shout at one another we generally get along.  We can still laugh rather than cry.

Our debts may be too high but we are still in the game.

Our politicians are mostly useless but at least they go when we tell them to.

Above all we expect our families to be safe in our homes.

As well as reflecting that maybe Britain ain't that bad and not whining for Government help at the slightest misfortune, there are some things we definitely should do.

First, defence.  Were you wondering why it took so long to get a single Destroyer out to Cyprus recently?  It is because we only have six and only two of those were broadly functional at the time.  We need to start spending real money to defend ourselves and our allies.  Find the money and while we are at it help Ukraine more.

Second, live within our means as a nation. In the UK our level of debt is too high and rising.  In Scotland our underlying deficit grows each year and is filled by transfers from the UK.  We must back politicians with the bravery to do what must be done.

Third, turn No into Yes so we can grow the economy and pay for the public services we want.  You can't because of Health & Safety, the bats and newts, GDPR, transgender sensitivities, gender quotas, employment regulations.  The well-meaning madness needs to be rolled back, we need to get on with creating wealth because if we don’t it won’t be there to spread around.

Guy Stenhouse is a notable figure in the Scottish financial sector. He has held various positions, including being the Managing Director of Noble Grossart, an independent merchant bank based in Edinburgh, until 2017

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