What made that episode particularly deleterious, however, was not that we had too much regulation but too little; that laissez-faire ethos is rooted in the importance of land ownership, a central basis of American capitalism.

"The scheme is inadequate and inefficient - offers too little too late and to too few," she said.

On Friday, Crowley took a more confrontational stance, using her media appearances to hammer home the idea that her department had gone with too little for too long.

My assessment is the probation service has too few staff, with too little experience, managing too many cases.

It was too little too late, however, as Glasgow banked the five points to ensure their European challenge will continue into the knockout stages.