It is a measure of just how far the SNP has fallen that no one now wants to lead it.

John Swinney has, of course, put himself forward and is now the likely winner by default, but this is out of a sense of duty rather than a burning desire.

It is creditable that he has answered his party’s call in its hour of need, but he knows deep down he is not the right man for the job.

As he said last year, when explaining why he was not running to replace Nicola Sturgeon, the SNP “needs space to allow fresh talent and fresh thinking to come to the fore”. “It is important,” he concluded, “that somebody else take the party forward.”

His analysis is even truer today than it was then.

Kate Forbes certainly represents “fresh thinking and fresh talent” to many and has been First Minister-in-waiting ever since she narrowly lost the leadership to Humza Yousaf last year.

But even the heir apparent has turned down what increasingly looks like a hollow crown. After brief deliberation, Forbes clearly decided the problems currently facing the SNP are insurmountable.

As for the other would-be contenders – the Stephen Flynns, the Mairi........

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