The National:

BBC Scotland has – on occasion – been accused of being a little bit too eager to find criticism of the Scottish Government where it doesn’t exist.

The latest episode of The Sunday Show will not have done much to dispel those suggestions.

This edition of the broadcast was digging into the issue of potential food shortages.

After a segment looking into the effects of the war in Ukraine, presenter Martin Geissler said: “So, as if we needed reminding, the war in Ukraine isn’t just a conflict in a far-off land. The tremors are felt by us all.

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“Let’s speak to Martin Kennedy, shall we. He is the president of the National Union of Farmers here in Scotland. Good morning to you, Mr Kennedy, thanks for being with us.”

The pair discussed issues such as soaring energy prices, before the host came back with a question, in a moment highlighted by Twitter account MSM Monitor.

Geissler said: “Let’s look at what, then, can be done about this. You recently told the Scottish Government they’ve got to take their heads out of the sand.

“What did you mean by that? What do you want them to do to help?”

Unfortunately, the briefing that must have been handed to the presenter wasn’t quite right, as his guest awkwardly explained.

Kennedy began: “Well, it was applicable to… it was actually… it was Westminster, to be honest.”

A curt “right” can then be heard from Geissler.

The farmer continued: “[Westminster] was the target, cause that was a whole number of issues – basically, that was to do with immigration policy, quite frankly.”

So, reserved policy. Nothing to do with the Scottish Government, other than Scotland repeatedly voting in parties backing immigration policies at the opposite end of the spectrum than those inflicted on us and so having their pleas ignored by Westminster.

Delivering his first address to the NFU Scotland annual conference since being elected, Kennedy last month had urged politicians to "get their heads out of the sand".

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Calling for global collaboration, he said: “In Scotland, we have a fantastic opportunity to create a future policy and support structure that focuses on the positives of what we are providing.

“However, we also have to be mindful that we have an Internal Market Act and a Subsidy Control Bill that may limit what we need to do to fit Scotland’s needs."

In other words: Scotland’s hands are tied behind its back.

Perhaps a point to put to Douglas Ross or Anas Sarwar?