Drumlanrig

Published on Saturday 19 December 2009 19:18

DARLING RESIGNS IS ALISTAIR Darling preparing himself for the straitened times ahead? At a meeting of the Faculty of Advocates on Friday, it emerged that the Chancellor – who worked as an Edinburgh solicitor before going into politics – had resigned his membership, which he had held since 1984.

No explanation was available yesterday, but could it be Darling had decided the annual 20 quid or so he had to stump up as a non-practising member was no longer worth it in the midst of a bitter recession? As every good Chancellor knows, every penny counts.

WILL SUN SHINE ON PM?

NORTH Queensferry has never been known as a sunshine destination – until now. Gordon Brown, below, has revealed that, after taking advice from energy experts, he and his wife Sarah have plumped for solar panels on the roof of his home in Fife, rather than wind power. Speaking on a children's TV channel last week, the PM explained: "We stay on the top of a hill in Scotland and it's very windy and we thought a wind turbine would be the best way of generating energy. But everyone that looked at is said even in Scotland in cold weather you're better with solar panels." Whoever said Chez Brown lacked a ray of sunlight?

WIND POWER

OVER to Copenhagen, where world leaders were trying desperately to save the planet. Thankfully, Stewart Stevenson, who was representing Scotland there, has demonstrated his sound grasp of the environmental challenges facing the world.

Or, as he put in on the BBC's Good Morning Scotland programme the other day: "One person's emissions become someone else's problem."

Profound.

ARTS SUPPORTER

THE likeable Linda Fabiani, below, may have been ditched as Scotland's culture minister, but she is determined to become a member of the Edinburgh arts establishment.

On a visit to the excellent Scottish Arts Club in Rutland Square, Drumlanrig couldn't help noticing that she has been put up for membership. Her proposer is Paul H Scott, the well-known Nationalist author and man of letters.

PARTY SHENANIGANS

THE smart surroundings of the Scottish Arts Club are a far cry from the mayhem of the political parties' Christmas bashes.

At the Lib Dems' do, Jim Tolson, the MSP for Dunfermline West, was cutting quite a dash on the dance floor with the young interns, as was his leader Tavish Scott – a veteran of Shetland's very own version of Strictly Come Dancing.

Rumour has it that the Secret Santa gifts bought for the Tory do were nicked, while the highlight of the Labour bash was some of the party's female MSPs impersonating a girl-band – the matronly bunch included Jackie Baillie in her stockings and suspenders.