I’VE recently enjoyed my first trip abroad since the pandemic and post-Brexit.

My wife – who is a great support in my work – and I were fortunate to holiday in Italy, where local political turmoil might, in turn, have inspired interest in Scotland’s own political future identity.

I had so many interesting discussions with people from other countries who, discovering that we were Scottish, asked about independence. Invariably they were supportive – and that was before they knew what I do for a living.

On another note, the passing of Lord David Trimble once again shines the spotlight on the unique, hard-won but still fragile peace in Northern Ireland represented by the Good Friday Agreement.

At immense personal cost to his own political career, David Trimble was central to the process of reaching across the party, cultural and religious divides, securing the peace for which the people of Northern Ireland had waited decades.

A staunch, unflinching champion of his own Protestant and Unionist community, David Trimble was also a political colossus able to deliver the change for Northern Ireland that is now protected by international treaty.

As others have also commented, it throws into relief how the astute, determined and now historic achievement of John Hume, Seamus Mallon, David Trimble and others is at risk in the hands of those vying to be Tory leader.

The mishandling of Brexit, the threats to the Northern Ireland Protocol, the constitutional implications for the UK and its global reputation are seen as less important than the ‘war on woke’, cruel anti-immigration measures and tax cuts.

Put simply, power and Westminster’s ‘sovereignty’ dominate.

We see that yet again where Liz Truss says she will ignore Scotland’s democratically elected government.

Time and again, Scotland has voted for different values. The Tories haven’t won an election in Scotland since 1955.

If the likely new Prime Minister wants to ignore Scotland, she will be an even bigger recruiting officer to the cause of independence even than Boris Johnson.