Drumlanrig: Sir Jamie tunes up for Belladrum

SIR Jamie McGrigor, the well-known bon viveur and Tory MSP, last week had a great time at the Belladrum music festival at Beauly.

Andrew Murray and Kim Sears. Picture: Getty

“Looking forward to the Proclaimers tonight,” tweeted Sir Jamie. Despite Craig and Charlie Reid being ardent independence supporters, the Old Etonian Tory is clearly a big fan.

Indeed the Proclaimers may not realise it but Sir Jamie is no mean singer himself. Many a Conservative soirée has been livened up by his version of “Flower of Scotland”.

Another favourite is his own version of a song called “Poch Ma Hon”, a title which when translated from the Gaelic into English means “Kiss My A***”.

Never one to hide his light under a bushel, Sir Jamie later found himself performing his tasteful ditties at the festival.

“Excited to be performing on the Milk Float stage (near the dodgems) at 7.30pm tomorrow night

@BelladrumFest If you are there do come!” he tweeted. His tweet declined to reveal whether festival-goers would be treated to “Poch Ma Hon”.

Name, set and match

ON THE subject of tennis stars, great was the joy when it was announced that Andy Murray’s wife Kim Sears is pregnant.

Amid the flow of congratulations was the usual speculation about names. Given Murray’s support of independence, bookmaker Betway was the first to suggest that the wee one might be called after Nicola Sturgeon if the baby happens to be a girl.

Suggesting the name Nicola Murray, the bookie pointed out that their choice would also end up being a tribute (of sorts) to Armando Iannucci’s memorably useless Leader of the Opposition in the BBC sitcom The Thick Of It. Perhaps that’s why they’re offering long odds of 66/1.

The Donald is Trumps for sexism

DONALD Trump gave a typically eccentric performance in the first debate of Republican presidential candidates.

“One of the things people love about you is you speak your mind and you don’t use a politician’s filter,” the Fox News chair Megyn Kelly said to Trump in the opening minutes. “That is not without its downsides, in particular, when it comes to women. You’ve called women you don’t like fat pigs, dogs, slobs, and disgusting animals.”

“Only [US comedienne]Rosie O’Donnell,” was Trump’s reply.

Those who were with Trump at Turnberry last month weren’t surprised. It was there that he said he had no intention of doing much preparation for the debate.

Will Salmond wave flag for Team GB?

THE sporting gods must have a sense of humour. Not only do we have the Australian cricket XI, but the Lawn Tennis Association has a sense of exquisite timing of the sort that was so obviously missing from the Aussie batting line-up.

Last week’s rescheduling of the Davies Cup to Glasgow on 18 September has thrown up an intriguing clash with events to mark the first anniversary of the independence referendum. By strange quirk of fate, Glasgow – the city that voted Yes – will host a celebration of all things British when the GB Tennis team rolls into town.

Supporters decked out in Union flags will make the pilgrimage to the Emirates Arena, exactly a year on from the Yessers’ George Square Saltire-fest. Amidst this year’s unashamed celebration of Britishness, Glaswegian Yessers can take solace from the fact that the backbone of the British team – Andy and Jamie Murray were both pro-independence.

They can also hope that Alex Salmond decides to attend, given his history of waving the Saltire at tennis events.