While there is no shortage of people who for political reasons seem to delight in focusing on the negatives when it comes to Scotland, it is surely important to celebrate the nation's successes on this key front, writes Business Editor Ian McConnell.

This is especially so given the dismal UK backdrop.

It was heartening indeed to hear some very good news for Scotland’s two biggest cities on the foreign direct investment front this week.

The overall UK economic backdrop is undoubtedly dismal. It has been so for a long time and there is no end in sight.

Labour has undoubtedly inherited some major woes from the Conservatives when it comes to the economy and the public finances.

That said, the UK Government is unfortunately not making things any easier for itself by also embracing the key elements of the Conservatives’ hard Brexit.

While it has been good to hear friendlier tones from Sir Keir Starmer’s administration on Europe and see some positive moves at the margin, Labour’s red lines of refusing to rejoin the European Union, the single market or even the customs union represent a major barrier to UK growth.

Labour has been tinkering around........

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