REAL LIVES

Fiona Hyslop, minister for welcoming foreign people and those from the other side of the Border – soon perhaps to be foreign people themselves – chose that great bastion of Scottish influence, Edinburgh Castle, to reveal her previous existence as a child star. Hyslop told the great and good assembled to witness the new promotional video produced by VisitScotland, that as a 10-year-old schoolgirl she was proud to have starred in an early tourist board video extolling the attractions of Scotland.

Sadly, the new Surprise Yourself ad has no place for the minister. If VisitScotland’s chairman, Mike Cantlay, values his job, perhaps a cameo role for Hyslop in the next ad campaign, might be advised.

Film is Streeps ahead north of the Border

Who says the Scots don’t like Thatcher? The truth is Scottish people do like her – but only when she is played by Meryl Streep. Film statistics show that box office takings in Scotland are ahead of the Oscar winner The King’s Speech at this stage.

Even more surprising is that, according to film specialists Premier PR, Cineworld in Glasgow’s Renfrew Street is the best performing picture house outside London. Premier PR said the make-up of Scottish audiences were par for the course for this sort of film – “mature and conservative (with a small c)”. Mature and conservative? Surely some mistake.

The devo-max ‘doodler’ formerly known as...

David McLetchie, below, used a typically colourful speech on Thursday last week to lambast the SNP’s referendum plans. In particular, he was contemptuous of the so-called devo-max option, which could appear on the ballot paper. It was, he said, “the doodlings of a few pamphleteers”. Pre-eminent among the groups which have made the case for devo-max is the Edinburgh think-tank Reform Scotland, headed up by its articulate and intelligent director, Geoff Mawdsley. Mawdsley has not always been at Reform Scotland. Previously, he was chief of staff for – you guessed it – David McLetchie.

The price is right – and Mum’s the word

The mother of Tory deputy leader Jackson Carlaw found herself at the centre of Scotland’s debate over a minimum alcohol price last week when he revealed how she and her friends were partial to Asda’s home brand sherry.

“They assure me it’s a fraction of the price of Croft Original, but of equally high standard,” Carlaw told MSPs on Holyrood’s health committee. As along as they stay off the cheap cider…