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As billed, John Swinney duly turned defence into attack at the SNP conference in Perth. He confirmed a series of measures to benefit the Scottish economy, such as for the smallest businesses.

Then he opened out into condemning Labour and the Prime Minister, in particular.

Instead of Superman, Mr Swinney views Gordon Brown as his alter-ego: mild-mannered, bumbling Clark Kent. Labour's financial credibility, according to Mr Swinney, "stands in tatters."

Specifically, the Finance Secretary said that the UK Government squandered Scotland's oil wealth over thirty years (most of them featuring a Conservative government but no matter.)

More directly re Labour, he accused the PM of fostering a credit-based housing bubble, of sending debt soaring and of neglecting bank regulation.

Gordon Brown had argued that the response to the economic crisis proved "the strength of the Union".

By contrast, Mr Swinney argued that the very crisis proved the absence of a British economic miracle. It was, he said, scorn in his voice, "more of the same Union dividend."

Privately, SNP strategists here in Perth say they're surprised that Mr Brown engaged in an attack upon the SNP (in a ´óÏó´«Ã½ Scotland interview) so soon after welcoming consensus towards the economic recovery package.

They say that, by doing so, he opened himself to attacks which would not have been possible had he remained perched on his pedestal.

Well, maybe.

Me, I think that Labour detestation of the SNP is visceral.

Further, the Glenrothes by-election fosters partisan politics.

Further, I suspect that Mr Brown believes he has the ear of the public right now - and wanted to get his message home.

For some time now, voters have been inclined to discount comment from Downing Street. Not at the moment.

So there we have it for now.

Labour trumpets the value of the economic rescue package, arguing further that it could not have been achieved by an independent Scotland.

The SNP talks about the crisis itself, arguing that small nations like Norway contrived to minimise such damage by taking action in the banking sector, earlier and more vigorously.

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