David Maddox: How strategic chess moves are important in Scottish politics

As reported in The Scotsman today there will be an announcement later on this afternoon about a loan deal for the famous Lewis chessmen (some of them pictured above) to tour Scotland and even return home to the Hebrides for a short period.

Following my online debate with the Green's spindoctor James Mackenzie (of Two Doctors blog fame), this is yet another example of the importance of chess to political stratagems.

Most importantly they have become pawns in the great game played over separatism or unionism. The Nationalists cry: "Look at our heritage being held on to by those nasty people in London."

So this loan deal announced today is the Unionist response and an attempt to be reasonable, a move meant to take away one of the SNP's attacking pieces.

Time will tell if it works or leaves the British state further exposed.

Mr Mackenzie, of course, believes there is more merit in a game which involves the luck of the fall of the dice - he says backgammon, but it may as well be snakes and ladders.

It will be interesting to see if his MSPs have learnt some new strategies that do not depend on luck in trying to get their £1 billion of free insulation. It appears, at least from other parties, there are moves being played in this area too.