I say a similar thing about UKIP and certain Tory MEPs. Why take the Brussels rake off if you have no intention of delivering a better Europe?

But, here's the thing.. The Salmond question is different. SNP may well wish to run an independent Scotland and have that as a key deliverable at some point in the same way The Conservative and Unionist Party wish to retain the union with the same passion and ultimate aim..

But SNP have made it clear that they are standing for Westminster as is their right as a UK party and their manifesto is based on UK politics.

I welcome the idea of SNP in Westminster in the same way as any other party that gets the most votes in an election, but on the basis they wish to be constructive, as SNP indicate they do in Westminster, as opposed to UKIP not wanting to be constructive in The EU.

Anyway. As the election gets nearer, I find myself wanting a Labour government supported bill by bill by other parties such as SNP and Lib Dem in order to ensure thorough debate before parliamentary division. A clear majority can lead to complacent dogma turning into law. In an ideal world, having to convince those not subject to your party whip should lead to better acts of Parliament.

The recent coalition got it wrong by forming a joint government, as both sets of whips may well have been one whip in a majority government for all the good it did. It also meant they could rip up both manifestos...