The Tories seem unable to make any impact north of the border.

Surely, the best and most effective measure is to get the economy moving and shorten the period of recession or slowdown. That's the rationale for Gordon Brown's "fiscal stimulus" and it sounds like a good one to me.

What the Lib Dems have failed to do is offer any meaningful agenda for government or for power.

In Scotland, the indication is that for the Westminster elections at least, Labour voters are satisfied with their government.

There's a loss of faith in the banking system that for so long has been the backbone of prosperity and growth.

As the economy faces such difficulties, more tough questions need to be asked about what the Tories would do if elected. Their ideology of free markets and small government needs challenging. That has to be part of our job.

Events are moving so fast and what in one moment seems impossible, the next is happening. I'm sure historians will, in time, provide theories and analysis, but for now I think most of us simply want the tide stemmed.