By the time Nicola Sturgeon departed as first minister in March 2023, the relationship between the Scottish Government and business had to put it mildly become strained.

There is no doubt much of this tension built up during the years of the coronavirus pandemic.

The hospitality sector was among those notably vociferous about the extent and severity of restrictions at various points during the pandemic, and most unhappy at times about what it perceived to be a lack of adequate support.

However, while the Scottish Government’s pandemic approach was somewhat more cautious than that from the Conservatives at Westminster on various fronts, you certainly got the impression that the narrative from the lobbyists much of the time exaggerated the degree of difference. Of course, at times politicians themselves appeared keen to highlight the differences in policy.

It was not just the pandemic which caused a major strain in relations between the Scottish Government and the business community.

Use by the Scottish Government of its devolved powers to produce a significantly greater income tax burden for higher earners in Scotland, compared with those elsewhere in the UK, has also been an issue.

It was notable that, in the wake of the arrival of John Swinney as First Minister and........

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