Politics in Scotland as we know them are falling apart. As they do the light that is being cast on Scotland as a modern, developed democracy is humiliating. The scale of this is becoming breathtaking. The implications of this are not yet being taken seriously.

Where to start in my attempt just to spell out how pathetic things have become? I think I’ll kick off by asking how it can possibly be the case that the election of a new First Minster is being wholly run by the husband of the previous leader, a man who is subject to a recently-escalated police inquiry into fraud who is expected to be interviewed under caution imminently?

Or more specifically the question, how this has passed without comment in the Scottish media? Name me a country anywhere in the world where a Chief Executive in that position would not be removed from immediate responsibilities or where the media would pretend it wasn’t an issue.

The rigging of this election is so blatant that even a political ingenue couldn’t miss it. Let’s start with its seriousness. We are telling people that Scotland is a major democracy, a true nation, a serious viable prospect as an independent country. In fact so serious is it that the First Minister is to be selected based one week for nominations and three weeks of campaign, from a cold start, on a total budget of £5,000.

Candidates were left no time to fundraise (I can imagine why they didn’t want people to see which candidate would attract donors) even with a ridiculous cap. It means that none of the candidates has a hope in hell of sustaining a professional team. The First Minister of Scotland is such an august role you are expected to win it with a team of volunteers you had one week to put together.

Want to see Scotland under the SNP?