The sight brought to mind one of the most memorable images from last year's election, where Nicola Sturgeon, Leanne Wood and Natalie Bennett came together at the end of a BBC debate in a group hug. Ed Milband stands to one side, an awkward outsider on a stage so usually overshadowed by men.

And like the 2015 televised debate, which ignited a simultaneous nation-wide "Nicola-mania", last night saw another exceptional Scottish woman catapulted to the centre spotlight: Ruth Davidson, leader of the Scottish Conservatives.

Davidson's performance was breathtaking: a magnificent balance of ferocious confidence and effortless charm.

She took on her opponents – two of whom belong to her own party – fearlessly, accusing them of lying over the possibility of Turkish ascension to the EU and lambasting the Leave campaign's claim that the British public "have had enough of experts".

"The other side have said throughout this debate they don't like experts," she said. "But when it comes to keeping our country safe and secure, I want to listen to the experts."

"I'm going to vote for them every single day of the week and twice on Sunday," she finished to a roar from the crowd.

Courage, not fear: why we’ve fallen madly in love with Ruth Davidson