Turning back the clock at First Minister's Questions

After 183 weeks, Iain Gray was back leading the opposition attack at FMQs

To Labour's undoubted chagrin, leadership contests have become somewhat commonplace north of the Border as the party has struggled to contain the seemingly irresistible rise of the SNP.

The problem, of course, is evident. Rather fewer people these days support what used to be styled the People's Party. The solution is less obvious.

But now another contest is under way. Jim Murphy never made it to Holyrood before the calamitous result in the UK General Election cost him his seat, his leadership office and his political career.

His deputy, Kezia Dugdale, has been deputising. But she is one of the contenders for the top job - and so Labour fielded a substitute today in posing questions to the First Minister. Step forward Iain Gray.

Yes, that Iain Gray. The last leader but one. No, two. Or is it…..? Anyway, a former leader of the Labour Party in Scotland.

The new South Glasgow University Hospital cost hundreds of millions of pounds and opened just a few weeks ago

Rather an effective job he did of it too. He opened with a fine touch of self-deprecation. As sporadic applause broke out at the very mention of his name, he noted drily: "I don't remember that ever happening before."

Then he recalled that it was 183 weeks since he had last led for Labour in questioning the FM. Feel the pain in counting those days. However, he swiftly segued into discussing how many weeks it was since the Scottish government had met its target on waiting times in Accident and Emergency.

Rather longer, since you ask. Some 296 weeks, according to Mr Gray. Assuming his most doleful voice - and nobody does doleful quite like Iain Gray - the acting leader argued that folk were tired of hearing excuses from ministers.

Nicola Sturgeon responded forcefully. Nine out of ten patients were attended to within four hours. Not, she said, good enough. More needed. But, she argued, Mr Gray was over-stating the problem.

'Conditions of a war zone'

Mr Gray then chose to narrow the point. What about the new South Glasgow hospital - where the record on waiting times was the worst in Scotland? Staff and patients, he said, compared the conditions to a "war zone".

Ms Sturgeon bridled. Entirely inappropriate language, she said. Not helpful. Still, given that the hospital is already known as the Death Star - for its galactic architecture - perhaps war zone is toning it down somewhat.

She noted that an expert team had been brought in from an office far, far away to address the teething problems at the Death Star. Yoda, perhaps?

Mr Gray then moved to his conclusion. It wasn't about numbers, it wasn't about South Glasgow, it wasn't about Jedi expertise. There was a "fundamental systemic problem" in play.

Lack of time, no doubt, prevented Mr Gray from explaining precisely what that fundamental problem was - and how it should be addressed. Perhaps we have to wait for the prequel.

Health questions dominated FMQs for Nicola Sturgeon

The number of consultant and nurses vacancies concerned Ruth Davidson

In the meantime, Ms Sturgeon noted that Labour's approach was "gobsmacking" in that they were the party which had previously proposed closing two of Scotland's A&E units. Which would have added to the problems.

There were then comparable skirmishes with Ruth Davidson of the Liberal Democrats and Willie Rennie of the Liberal Democrats.

Ms Davidson said the NHS now had fewer beds and more vacancies for consultants and nurses. Ms Sturgeon retorted that the health service had more consultants, more nurses and more midwives.

Mr Rennie diagnosed a "crisis" in primary health care, with doctors retiring early. Once again, Ms Sturgeon dismissed the tone adopted. Efforts were underway to address workload pressures.

And on. The FM took the opportunity helpfully presented by one of her backbenchers to criticise the UK government's decision to accelerate the ending of financial support for wind power generation.

She said it was "wrong-headed, perverse and downright outrageous".

Finally, the FM was discussing the topic of ageing with Christine Grahame, one of the more mature members of her squad. Ms Grahame opined that seventy was the new sixty. Ms Sturgeon declined to comment. Wise, First Minister, wise.