Drumlanrig: Miliband in a spin with press baying

Ed Miliband nearly scored a PR own goal when he visited Scotland last week. Hapless hacks were dragged out of their cosy offices in parliament all the way to Livingston for a press conference with the Labour leader.

On arrival at the plush offices of Atos Origin in West Lothian, the press, desperate to ask about Alan Johnson's resignation, were told they would be allowed to speak with Miliband "off the record" only. Cue much agitation with journalists threatening to walk out. The spin doctors did a quick about turn and Miliband held an on-the-record briefing. Perhaps he could do with advice on handling the media. A certain Andy Coulson might be available.

CAMPBELL AND BOULTON MAKE UP

Two of Britain's biggest grand dames have finally made up. Few will forget the hilarious sight of Sky's Adam Boulton losing it last May when Alastair Campbell claimed on air that he would be pleased to see David Cameron in Downing Street. Boulton's speedy descent from gravitas-laden political editor to stroppy three-year old remains one of the highlights of 2010. Boulton interviewed Campbell last week on the Iraq inquiry and Campbell was moved to apologise. "I probably shouldn't have said to you you're not very happy about David Cameron being Prime Minister. Apologies if I upset you." Ahhhhhh.

EARLY-BIRD FOULKES IN SNOOZE CONTROL

No one can doubt the stamina of Lord Foulkes, below. The Labour peer/MSP was in his pew at the Scottish Parliament during FMQs on Thursday lunchtime, having wound up the marathon debate in the Lords at 3am that morning before catching the red-eye up to Edinburgh. Foulkesy Also sits on the top secret parliamentary intelligence committee. During the debate last week, he allowed peers a snippet of classified information. Above water-boarding on the UN list of global torture came sleep deprivation, he revealed. "Now I know why," he told fellow insomniacs.

IAIN GRAY SINGING SALMOND'S PRAISES?

The fallout from Alex Salmond's Desert Island Discs broadcast continues. At FMQs, Iain Gray said he was impressed that as a boy soprano, Eck had a voice that spanned four octaves. As a choirboy, Salmond had a greater range than Pavarotti, who could "only" manage two and a half octaves.

In her prime, Gray noted, Julie Andrews would have been able to match the soaring heights of Lithgae's answer to Aled Jones. Further research reveals that before his voice broke (c 1968), Salmond would have been able to outperform Elvis (two octaves) and Roy Orbison (3.5 octaves).