Here we call it ‘silly season; in Denmark it’s ‘agurktid’, or cucumber season – the dry period over the summer holiday weeks when small filler items are needed to make the running in the news. This year, however, has been the exception. There has been a steady flow of stories which on their own would have brought down more principled Governments. However when combined and looked at through the prism of this decaying administration just elicit a weary shrug of the shoulders and shake of the head. We’re just used to it now…hardened…exhausted. Rather like an England batting collapse, there is a sad inevitability about it.

It’s rather ironic that those who fly to Scotland are now required to show their passports whereas those who work for (Patricia) Scotland don’t need to show their passports at all.