It’s all change at Holyrood – sort of. First of all, the lack of overnight count - with the usual scenes of candidates and election agents furiously scurrying around assorted leisure centres and sports halls in different parts of the country at 2am – was a change of pace from the norm, 2021 aside. It made for a more serene election day and, in all honesty, it was on brand for an election that has widely been derided as ‘meh’.

Albeit - and perhaps I’m swimming against the tide here – a workforce of ballot counters and political candidates not running on coffee, fumes and vibes is probably for the best. Truth be told, this election cycle ran out of puff weeks ago. It’s no wonder given the starting gun was fired on it during the Scottish Budget, with a prospectus we described as ‘electioneering on steroids’. From more leaders debates than I care to remember, coupled with manifestos that ranged from decent offerings to largely irrelevant, Holyrood 2026 can best be described as ‘going through the motions’.

Whilst turnout wasn’t as bad as predicted, workers hardly flocked and rushed to their polling booths with gusto. Those that did turn out – and all credit to them – may have done so out of civic pride and responsibility rather than political enthusiasm. Those that stayed at home can be forgiven for their apathy.

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