He was followed in office by Kate Forbes, a capable minister with a background in accountancy who appeared to be in command of her brief. Mackay has long since left politics and is now rebuilding his reputation and his career in consultancy. Forbes has been relegated to the backbenches where she is the “Queen over the water” for the many SNP MSPs and party members who watch with increasing dismay as Humza Yousaf slowly self-destructs as First Minister.

At least both Mackay and Forbes had a grasp of what they were trying to do. Now we have Shona Robison as both Deputy First Minister and Finance Secretary. Robison has no background, professionally or politically, in business and finance but she shares something with the First Minister in that they are both failed former Health Secretaries. Indeed her only qualification for her latest job appears to be her loyalty to Yousaf and her role in delivering him the SNP leadership, rather than an ability to perform.