Ms Mackay, in turn, endorsed the credentials of Mr Greer, (aka: the Bearsden Bolshevist), to be Finance Secretary. She said Mr Greer would make “a difference” as Finance Secretary. Not very long ago, this job belonged to Kate Forbes. Not since they tried to re-make Ben Hur has there been the prospect of a bigger downgrade.

The Scottish Greens’ co-leaders are warming once more to the prospect of restoring their nice ministerial salaries, says Herald columnist Kevin McKenna. But the joke is on us.

In the devolved era, the gravitas of Holyrood elections has become diminished. There have been six election campaigns since 1999 and next month’s has been reduced to a level of infantilism that makes you wonder what the turn-out will look like. How can you expect the electorate to take the campaign seriously when those who would seek to govern us clearly don’t?

In yesterday’s Herald, the Scottish Greens’ co-leader, Gillian Mackay – a politician who has never actually won any election in which she’s ever stood – fantasised about becoming First Minister of Scotland after it was suggested by her co-leader, Ross Greer. “I would absolutely be First Minister if that’s where we are,” Ms Mackay told our deputy political editor, Rebecca McCurdy, “and it would be a huge responsibility and a huge privilege, as is being an MSP and representing the wonderful region that I have represented for the last five years.”

The clue is in the word ‘region’. Ms Mackay is one of seven MSPs representing Central Scotland via the list system, which exists principally as an expensive job creation programme for Scottish Greens MSPs unable win a constituency seat: ie, all of them.

Ms Mackay, in turn, endorsed the credentials of Mr Greer, (aka: the Bearsden Bolshevist), to be........

© Herald Scotland