“We have achieved more for people and planet in the past 32 months than other parties have in decades”, proclaimed Lorna Slater, co-leader of the Scottish Greens, thereby confirming herself as comically delusional.

I would not wish to compete with Ms Slater in the vanity stakes but I do, for example, recall introduction of the Renewables Obligation 20-odd years ago which was possibly the most successful mechanism in the world for driving growth of renewable energy, particularly in Scotland. All done quietly, efficiently and not a Green in sight.

That is the kind of legislation and vision which actually changes things rather than a procession of “rows” created by an obsession with doing things differently. We have had the Deposit Return Scheme (abandoned in ignominy); Highly Protected Marine Areas (abandoned in ignominy); heat pumps (heading down the same path). In each case, people and planet were subordinated to an abject failure to listen.

Given the ball at their feet in Scotland, despite having no electorate mandate, they had the opportunity to give Green politics a good name. Instead, everything they touch has petered out in acrimony while the empty boasts continue.

Ms Slater went on to warn darkly against “destructive forces who would set fire to everything we have achieved” which would amount to a very minor conflagration. We can only assume her fears are for damage which, left to its own devices, the SNP would inflict upon Scotland and the environment.

That’s not a very nice way to label one’s coalition partners. For the rest of us, it........

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