51�Թ�

Inevitably, the discussion turned to the wrecking-ball presidency of Donald Trump and his autocratic and, frankly, un-American penchant for siccing the government on his political foes.

"We have a very subservient U.S. Congress, led by Republicans that, quite frankly, are not exercising their authority as a coequal branch of government in holding this White House accountable," Veasey said.

"We want to emphasise that deliberately breaching the rules is unacceptable and to frankly call out manipulation for what it is, which is cheating."

But frankly there is not the political will in the John Swinney administration to ride into battle on this issue, as there was under his predecessor Nicola Sturgeon.

We don’t have the luxury of complacency; we must keep organizing and innovating because, frankly, the stakes are too high.