In theory the Leader of the Opposition at Holyrood is Russell Findlay of the Scottish Conservative Party. Labour leader Anwar Sawar sometimes makes a reasonable stand-in, but more often misses open goals when confronted by government incompetence or dodgy doings. Instead, Information Commissioner David Hamilton seems to be taking up the job. He has taken the unusual step of launching a full-scale broadside in the Herald on Sunday against the questionable SNP Government. He is the man responsible for ensuring that central and local government conforms to Freedom of Information requests promptly. All these figures accompany the crown, which is now suddenly taken by a lizard.

There are of course always those who clog up the system with fanciful demands to know what preparations have been made to deal with a zombie attack, an alien landing, or how many chocolate biscuits are served to Orkney councillors. It is however a vital matter, particularly with the SNP being so determined to keep the details of their glorious achievements under wraps.

Among the issues he has been pursuing are the detail of Nicola Sturgeon’s attempts to bring down her predecessor, Alex Salmond, and the massive legal expense racked up by NHS Fife. On the latter issue he wondered who on earth was advising the NHS or indeed was actually running it. “Is it the Scottish Government or is it the boards. It’s still not clear to me” says Hamilton, pointing out that at Westminster “you never get long-running disputes about these things”.

So that he does not get sacked Hamilton blames the lawyers rather than officials and politicians, but it is ministers who give the orders. Critics blaming the king’s wicked advisors rather than the king himself has a long history.

Hamilton points out he is the first Commissioner who has had to launch a contempt of court case against the Government at the Court of Session to force the release of information. He boasts that his own department publishes full details of its costs and argues that it can be expected of other departments.

He says he’s banned from discussing matters with the Auditor General, who has also done good work in revealing dodgy and incompetent doings. But he also said of many public bodies that “if some of these organisations had proper, hands-on chief executives, I wonder if they might not have ended up in some of the situations in which they find themselves”.

All in all, that is a damning indictment coming from a guarded public official.