This week we’ve seen the SNP’s civil war explode to unprecedented levels with snipping, briefing and attacks on one another becoming the norm.

I’ll offer one piece of advice to my nationalist colleagues, take it from me, nothing good comes from consistently turning inwards.

However, even in my party’s defence, at least the debate was on the issues that matter to ordinary people like the economy, taxation and health. For the SNP this entire leadership contest has been dominated by independence and social issues.

While Liz Truss and Rishi Sunak debated economic growth, Kate Forbes, Humza Yousaf and Ash Regan are seeing how much red meat they can throw to SNP members on their number one obsession of independence.

It’s ludicrous and shows just how out of touch with reality the SNP really are with the true priorities of Scots.

While I may not be the fanatical base the current candidates are appealing too, one issue that has been absent has angered me greatly.

So, here’s a question for you, can any readers tell me where Humza Yousaf, Kate Forbes and Ash Regan stand on Scotland’s drug death scandal?

If the answer is no, I don’t blame you because despite record numbers of people dying this issue appears to be absent from the current leadership candidates.

So, either we can assume they aren’t interested or are planning on sticking to Nicola Sturgeon’s failed policies to tackle this crisis.

Perhaps we’ll get a better idea this week when the candidates go head-to-head in televised debates because so far every hustings has showed the SNP membership aren’t interested in Scotland’s national shame.

Playing to the party faithful, the most sensible candidate Kate Forbes has even appeared to go further than any other. Claiming she wants an independence referendum within three months of the next General Election and that a majority of seats won at the General Election should be taken as a mandate for independence.

As for Ash Regan, well where to start?

Her campaign seems to be based on The Thick Of It. Apparently under Ms Regan’s leadership Scotland will become independent, have our own currency within three months with a central bank and will have a doomsday clock in George Square to tell us when she’s ready to crash our economy.

When Nicola Sturgeon resigned, she said that this contest would show the people of Scotland the array of talent within the SNP’s ranks. It appears that was yet another broken promise by the First Minister because all we are seeing is a trio of candidates who are ready to take over the circus but are simply not good enough.

Scotland deserves better.

On Saturday, I was out speaking with voters about what they want the SNP-Green government to focus on and not one issue raised by the SNP candidates has appeared.

Instead, they are fed up with the nationalists and desperate for change.

That’s why the Scottish Conservatives are focused on the people’s priorities. While SNP ministers tear lumps from one another and attack the record of the Government they have been a part of, we are getting on with the job of holding them accountable and offering a real alternative.