As the Prime Minister insists Holyrood is ready for Labour to take over, Brian Taylor examines the present contest – with a glance to the political past.

Powerful element, the past. Especially at this time of year; nostalgia all around. Maybe you mimic Marcel Proust: distant memories in a slice of cake.

But, for our elected tribunes, the past has an additional function. The fear factor. Warning voters that historical horrors may torment them once more, unless they stick to the true and trusted path.

The Prime Minister and his Labour cohorts deploy this tactic frequently. Their version of Christmas past is scary.

OK, they concede, things are a mite tough at the moment. But remember Boris Johnson? Or, with a melodramatic shiver, Liz Truss?

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For admirers of Orwell, the tactic is familiar. Straight from Animal Farm, where the boss pigs deflect awkward questions by pleading: “Surely, Comrade, you don’t want Farmer Jones back?”

Now, admittedly, Ms Truss does appear to be hanging around, in spooky fashion. Have you caught her riveting YouTube show yet?

But is she not something of a wasting asset in the political fear game? Indeed – but for now there is still a touch of potency there, given the turmoil which attended her brief sojourn in office.

In Scotland, Anas Sarwar also looks to the past, but differently. He bemoans the sheer longevity of SNP governance, hoping that weariness will thereby assail the electorate, turning them to Labour.

The offer, in short, is change. Just as it was at the UK General Election. And, as in that earlier contest, the offer is endlessly repeated.

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© Herald Scotland