Drumlanrig: Alex Salmond | Nicola Sturgeon

ALEX Salmond was looking forward to his visit to the new Forth Road Bridge two weeks ago, where he announced its name.

However, the First Minister instead had a rather unpleasant surprise when he was “doorstepped” by Panorama reporter John Sweeney, who wanted to ask Eck more about his involvement with Donald Trump’s new golf course up in Aberdeenshire. Despite the valiant efforts of press officers, Sweeney managed to get his questions to Salmond on camera. And there are reports that, after finishing up, an irritated First Minister had noted sharply to Sweeney how the interview amounted to something of a kick in the nether regions. This suggests that instead of the Queensferry Crossing, the new road should be given a new name. All hail Balls Bridge.

SNP says yes to southern pollsters

The SNP leadership has said it intends to keep close and cordial relations with the English in the event of a “yes” vote. Drumlanrig has unearthed evidence to suggest that it is already following that course of action to the letter. An e-mail sent to SNP members asking them to cast their votes online for the selection of the party’s candidates for next year’s Euro elections shows how strongly the party is forging links south of the Border. The e-mail to nationalist members revealed that the SNP is using the services of Southampton-based firm Mi-Voice – a specialist in online elections – to run the poll.

Boxing clever for the big Wimbledon date

Just who was the glamorous lady sitting next to Jude Law in the royal box at Wimbledon for Andy Murray’s semi-final victory over Jerzy Janowicz?

It was none other than Nicola Sturgeon, the first lady of Scottish politics. With Alex Salmond expected to make his now annual pilgrimage to SW19 in the hope of a Scottish triumph, Drumlanrig wonders who the First Minister will be sitting next to. Cameron Diaz, Beyonce or Angelina Jolie,perhaps?

Necessity becomes the mother of invention

Alex Salmond’s schadenfreude knows no bounds as he observes allegations of vote-rigging over the selection of a Labour candidate in Falkirk.

The SNP leader took great glee in pointing out that Labour’s membership has declined by more than 50 per cent between 1997 and 2011. Meanwhile, the SNP recently celebrated its 25,000th member: Elysee Ahmed Sheikh, a teenager who is none other than the daughter of the party’s Euro candidate, Tasmina.