Drumlanrig: Salmond fishing

Scottish journalist David Torrance has been digging into Alex Salmond's files for a biography of the First Minister, out soon. With Salmond railing against the broadcasters over his exclusion from the prime ministerial debates, he was amused to find a comment from the SNP leader ahead of the 1997 general election where he scorned the whole notion of a multi-party debate.

"In broad terms, a three-way debate is stylistically messy. Ross Perot (above, the independent presidential candidate from 1992] was fun the first time with his notebook graphs and biros, but, from there on in, his presence merely confused the Clinton/Bush debates." If Perot confused the US, what would English viewers have made of Salmond standing behind a podium, we wonder?

HALL OR NOTHING

How not to boost turnout. Some 650 residents in Gartcosh last week received polling cards telling them to head down to the nearby Mount Ellon Community Centre to cast their vote on 6 May. Is this the same Mount Ellon Community Centre demolished by North Lanarkshire Council last year?

WOOF JUSTICE

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Forget TV debates and election fever. The main political event of the last week was MSPs passing dog Asbos to tackle pugnacious pooches. It wasn't just posties that were rejoicing. Christine Grahame, right, the SNP MSP and backbencher behind the member's bill, was also chuffed. One assumes Alex Neil, the SNP MSP and housing minister, was also cock-a-hoop. Those frequenting Holyrood's White Heather Club last week were reminded that it was he who first suggested the measure.

A KICKING FOR MSPs

The Champions' League trophy came to Holyrood last week as MSPs celebrated Scotland's Football Museum and Scotland's role in developing the modern game. Charlie Gordon recalled that he grew up in Partick just a "throw in" away from Thomlinson's leather works, where old-fashioned footballs were made. "Happy the boy who got a size 5 bladder for Christmas!" Charlie declared.

STAIR CRAZY

Nationalist MSP Chris Harvie is feeling his age. Talking about a trip to Denmark to investigate energy production, he noted that meetings were always held on the third floors of offices. "Lean, athletic 60-year-olds – as opposed to us plump, tumshie-like 60-year-olds – called Bengt and Lars would go upstairs two steps at a time, while we pecht around behind them," Harvie said. "The Danish were hinting that if we use Shanks's pony more, cycle more and run up steps instead of always using the lift we will not only make ourselves healthier but solve some of our energy problems."