Drumlanrig: Lady Steel shows her independent streak

Published on 05/08/2012 00:00

OH, to be a fly on the wall 
of the Steel household this weekend. Yesterday, Lady Steel – wife of former Liberal leader and Presiding Officer David Steel – announced she would be voting for independence in the 2014 referendum. The move would help Britain shake off
its “very grandiose and rather pompous history” she declared.

This will not go down well with him indoors –who riposted yesterday with a press release attacking the SNP Government for spending £400,000 hiring out plush offices in Pall Mall from where to celebrate the Olympics, when the Scotland Office’s Dover House HQ was available for nothing.

Spin-doctor John 
takes pause for thought

Formerly chief columnist for this newspaper, ex-Downing Street adviser John McTernan has gone on to bigger things as communications director for Julia Gillard, Australia’s prime minister. The Australian newspaper is now on McT’s case, claiming last week that the South Australian government is still waiting for
a report on public-sector efficiency he was supposed to write for them last year. The government had employed him last year as its “Thinker in Residence”. Perhaps he’s still giving the report some thought.

Tired response to 
the great gold rush

No sporting victory is complete these days without a hurried “congratulations” press release from the politicians of the day. With Scots occupying the Olympic podium on a daily basis this week, there has been a frenzy of praise from all-comers. Most eager has been Ruth Davidson, leader of the Scots Tories, who – despite the fact her releases never get published – has been churning them out like sausages. Not to be outdone, Shona Robison, SNP sports minister, has also been digging them out. Wisely, she has refrained from referring to the heroes as “Scolympian”.

Sticking her oar in with
a first-class response

Best reaction to winning Olympic gold so far goes to Katherine Copeland, winner in the rowing yesterday. Turning to her sculling partner Sophie Hosking, she declared: “We’re going to be on a stamp tomorrow!”.