Wendy finally goes

So the inevitable has finally happened.

Even if she had somehow been cleared by the committee, she was a dead duck leader. Not once in her entire time as the leader of Scottish Labour has she shown much signs of even bare competence, let alone the sort of leadership you would expect. It was true that there were unrealistic expectations on her from the off, but there was not even the bare flicker of optimism that it would get any better.

Her resignation speech is a perfect example of how small-time this leader really was. Full of self-pity and aspiring to little more of an excuse than "it wisnae me, miss", she again demonstrates her perfect inability to get any political capital out of any given situation. A bit of grace in defeat often goes a long way to soften people's hearts - after all, there but for the grace of God go I - but to then turn round and claim that her predicament was somehow entirely the fault of the SNP pursuing her does tend to conveniently ignore that fact that she broke the law, plain and simple. The SNP were just playing politics - Labour would have done the same in their position, no question. However unpleasant it may have been for Wendy, it's the nature of the game she is in. And yes, as crimes go, it was hardly a biggie. But if you were caught for a minor infraction in day to day life and have to appear before the local Magistrates it always makes sense to be open, honest and unreservedly apologetic. Standing in the dock whinging about being caught just earns you everyone's contempt. And contempt is a hard thing to bounce back from.

But there's a much larger issue at play than Wendy's problems - what to do with Scottish Labour. They haven't enjoyed a decent leader since Donald Dewar. McLeish was a short-lived joke. McConnell's activity in office made glaciation look positively pro-active. Wendy's performance was part Greek tragedy, part The Office - dismally mundane failure. But it's not just the leadership. Scottish Labour's time in opposition has seen them grow a ferocious appetite for cannibalism. They do seem a lot more concerned in fighting themselves than the SNP. To become leader of Scottish Labour must now be a little like taking charge of Newcastle Utd - unrealistic expectations, no support from the people below you, a poor selection of players, and no ideas.