Goodbye Mr Tymkewycz.

So it has only been just under three and half months since the Scottish Parliament elections and we have the first resignation of an MSP, namely the SNP's Stefan Tymkewycz. His resignation sets a new record: the previous shortest serving MSP was Ian Welsh who still managed to last 230 days before he bowed out of the Scottish Parliament.

Now, Mr Tymkewycz's departure from the Scottish Parliament could be interpreted as saying a great deal about the nature of modern Scottish politics: the fact that he seems to feel being a member of Edinburgh City Council is more important than being a member of the Scottish Parliament; and the suggestion that running his property empire (£2.2 million worth of flats with an annual income of £115,000) is more socially productive than being an MSP.

But either way, Mr Smith is saddened by this announcement which probably says more about the staying power, or lack of it, of Mr Tymkewycz, than anything about the Scottish Parliament. But it now turns the spotlight on to the handful of MSPs who also seem to want to combine being in Holyrood with being a councillor. Perhaps they also need to decide which of their two elected positions they are more committed to.