Now and again Edinburgh produces something or someone that is world class. Thinking of recent times, some might cite Sir Chris Hoy or Stephen Hendry, some wiil think of success stories such as Sir Sean Connery, engineering feats like the Forth Bridge or literature like Harry Potter.

Is there any point to politics in Britain now? Listening to our political leaders is like living in some sort of weird drug-fuelled dream.

Black has become white, austerity has become munificence – why, I swear Hibs won the cup the other week (maybe that’s stretching the point too far . . .).

HE’S Scotland’s most successful Olympic athlete – ever. Indeed, in terms of gold medals he’s the most successful British Olympian of all time. He’s an 11-time world champion and in the sport of cycling the most successful athlete ever.