Sketch: Tigger baiting as Cameron counters MacNeil bounce

It has been a very exciting week for those fascinated with Scotland’s future in the UK, but it appeared to be all a little too much for Mr MacNeil faced with a sudden love-in between David Cameron and Labour leader Ed Miliband.

Like Winnie the Pooh’s friend, he could barely contain himself as the pro-UK party leaders tried to talk up a positive agenda for the Union. “This is one area where [Mr Miliband] and I are going to be 100 per cent in agreement,” said Mr Cameron.

Mr Miliband added: “We on this side of the House believe the United Kingdom benefits the people of Scotland and the people of the rest of the United Kingdom in equal measure. We are stronger together and weaker apart.”

The utterances which came out of Mr MacNeil’s mouth were described by one observer as “neither English nor Gaelic” as he went into full heckle mode on the Prime Minister.

He was, of course, not alone, although his five SNP colleagues were more content to shout out invitations for Mr Cameron to visit Scotland.

Perth SNP MP Pete Wishart had already noted in Scottish questions just before PMQs that Mr Cameron was the “best recruiting sergeant” for the independence cause.

SNP Westminster leader Angus Robertson, who like some of his Nationalist colleagues appears to be intent on promoting Meryl Streep in the Iron Lady, accused Mr Cameronof “trying to emulate Margaret Thatcher” by trying “to dictate to Scotland”.

“Quite the opposite,” replied Mr Cameron, in his most soothing voice. “We are just trying to give Scotland the power to hold a referendum.”

But Mr Cameron was not shrinking from winding up the Nationalists. Turning to Alex Salmond’s declaration that the referendum should happen in autumn 2014 he addressed the still bouncing MP for the Western Isles. “The only point I would make about the timing is that if honourable gentleman is so keen to leave the United Kingdom, I don’t know why they want to put it off for so long.”