When PAT Scotland discovered that the association’s rules did not mention the Scottish dimension the Scottish executive looked for a new structure which would “maintain PAT in Scotland as an integral part of PAT in the UK, but to develop a rule structure that gave PAT in Scotland an identifiable profile”.

Consultations took place, concerns were “raised and allayed” and in March the new rules were finally approved. For the Tories, however, there is one piece of bad news. The change took three years. Just long enough for similar Tory tardiness to cost them the next election.