Nostalgia can be a powerful emotion. Perhaps Holyrood’s quarter-centenary is having an impact but there seemed to be a few backward glances on display in Scottish politics this week. The Tories are disinclined to emote about devolution: they never really wanted it in the first place. But they depict themselves as the stalwart defenders of Scotland within the Union. Labour and the Liberal Democrats understandably hark back to the days of their governing pact, right at the outset.

The Greens also recall their years in office. The influence, the impact, the electric Ministerial car. Was it only just a fortnight ago?

And John Swinney, our accidental First Minister? He too was in nostalgic mode. As he accepted office, he praised each and every opposition party for their endeavours over the past 25 years. But there was a significant off-script mention for Baroness Goldie – Bella to her numerous chums. He recalled that, as Scottish Conservative leader, she had frequently sanctioned deals during his early years as Finance Secretary which enabled SNP budgets to carry.

Kate Forbes and John Swinney (Image: free)

I too remember those days, from 2007 on. If memory serves, it was Derek Brownlee from the Tories who negotiated the annual deals, enabling Annabel Goldie to take credit for projects such as investment in Scotland’s struggling High Streets. The Tory thinking then was that they needed a dog in the Holyrood race. That they needed to shed their image as devolution deniers. That they alone could make self-government work, firmly within a UK structure.

Those days have gone, as Mr Swinney well knows. Hence........

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