Free money was available at the Tory conference. Free money, that is, from the Bank of Labour. Wads of the red stuff was overflowing on the counter of a stall labelled “Labour’s magic-money printing machine”. Kind staff wearing white Corbyn beards were on hand to dish out the notes and urge people to spend their way to prosperity. There was even a magic Corbyn money tree albeit a bonsai version. Posters also hailed the need to squander our children’s inheritance. It’s difficult to know who loves Jezza the most – the Left or the Right.

One senior Conservative source could not hide his glee at Nicola Sturgeon’s discomfort over her erstwhile colleague Michelle Thomson. “It’s good to see how the Scottish Press is at long last writing critical stories about the squeaky clean SNP. Let’s hope there’s more to come.” Schadenfreude is a dish best served icy cold.

Talking of the MP for Edinburgh West, Ruth Davidson during her fringe speech could not help making fun at others’ expense. Referring to the SNP Government pulling populist levers, the Scottish Conservative leader referred to how Finance Secretary John Swinney had handled the transfer of stamp duty to Holyrood, which had resulted in the loss of £50 million in property transactions. “If it wasn’t for Michelle Thomson, buying all and sundry,” quipped Ms D, “the whole market could have ground to a halt.”