Drumlanrig: Gibson puts his left foot right in it over Chisholm

Published on 07/10/2012 00:00

SNP bruiser Kenny Gibson misfired horribly last week during the Scottish Parliament’s Wednesday debate on there not being any money around, and all that.

Gibson stood up straight after Labour MSP Malcolm Chisholm– the one Labour MSP whom the SNP does not treat with outright contempt – had made an eloquent defence of Johann Lamont’s call to examine spending on free stuff. Chisholm’s leftie credentials have been written in stone since he walked out of Tony Blair’s government many moons ago over benefit cuts to single mums. So when Gibson promptly stuck to his script immediately afterwards to declare his opponents were taking a “huge leap to the Right”, there were scratched heads all round. Perhaps Gibson needs to take a huge leap back to reality?

Black day as MacNeil reveals true colours

Also making a diddy of himself was fellow SNP MP Angus MacNeil. With the Nats seeking to downplay the comments by ex-Auditor General Bob Black last week, supporting a review of Scotland’s freebies, MacNeil tweeted dismissively that he “had never heard of ‘widely respected’ Robert Black before this week”. The aim, presumably, was to demonstrate that – since Black was unknown to MacNeil – his views must therefore be irrelevant. The effect, however, was to place questions over exactly where MacNeil has been these last ten years, while Black has been in post, examining Scotland’s accounts. Oh, London, of course. That explains it.

Tale of bloody rivalry has nothing on the Tories

After failing to win the Scottish Conservative leadership race, Murdo Fraser has settled down to writing a historical book about the rivalry between the Marquis of Montrose and the Marquis of Argyll, both of whom were beheaded. Writing the book was not an entirely unfamiliar experience for Fraser. As the author explained: “It is a tale of “intrigue, conspiracy and back- stabbing – a bit like the modern Conservative Party.”

Salmond says Hi-De-Hi, BBC says No-De-No

Alex Salmond’s appearance at the Ryder Cup in Chicago caused quite a stir. His tartan golfing slacks caused much comment. On the BBC’s website, the live golf coverage reported that Salmond was “greeted by boos – I’d like to say they sounded good-natured, but they didn’t.” But it was his tartan garb that the BBC blogger was most impressed by. “Just noticed Alex’s trousers, he looks a bit like Ted Bovis from Hi-De-Hi,” the online journalist said. Paul Shane, the actor who played the portly vulgarian holiday camp host, must have been delighted.