The rebuke was stern. The Scottish Parliamentary chamber at Holyrood was not a suitable venue for contesting the UK General Election.

This particular warning from the Presiding Officer, Alison Johnstone, was directed at Kevin Stewart of the SNP who had invited the First Minister to draw an unhelpful comparison between his governance and that of the UK Conservatives.

But it was a single transferable reprimand. Earlier, the PO had felt obliged to castigate other members. Up with this she would not put.

One sympathises, of course. It is difficult enough, in truth, to corral our occasionally truculent tribunes – without the “distraction” of UK electioneering, as the PO put it.

Perhaps the best one can do is to suggest to the PO that she is in for a troubling six weeks. Loadsaluck.

Now this contest may have been signalled somewhat abruptly from Downing Street, prompting wonder and dismay, in equal measure, among some of the PM’s supporters.

It may have been called to refresh the membership of the Commons, soon to be dissolved. It may, further, be designed to determine the next government of this United Kingdom.

However, it swamps all else in the world of politics, well beyond Westminster SW1. It will preoccupy all our politicians.

And, for voters, it will straddle the division between devolved and reserved matters.

Now, it is true that the discourse differs across the constituent parts of the UK. In Northern Ireland, of course, but also in Scotland, and in Wales where, as the Prime Minister now understands, anticipation of the Euro football championship is less than eager.

But........

© Herald Scotland