Holyrood elections - 'Leaders' debate showed us nothing new'

The campaign may be only just under way but it is already looking in desperate need of some inspiration from somewhere.

The first televised leaders' debate certainly didn't provide that spark.

The sparring gave each contender the chance to score points off each other without any landing a knock-out blow. And no new issues emerged to demand our attention and set the agenda.

What did we learn from the debate?

Well, Alex Salmond is comfortable in his own skin, and Iain Gray has a lot of work to do, but is showing clear signs of being a politician of substance.

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Annabel Goldie is a great performer and great fun, while Tavish Scott is deeply uncomfortable fending off the flack over his party's Westminster pact with the Tories.

In short, nothing new.

The truth is the election is shaping up to be a two-horse race. And one in which the challengers have spent recent months trying to turn themselves into clones of each other.

There are 35 days to go. Last year's general election showed it is possible for everything to change in that space of time.

We can only hope all the parties use that time to debate the issues and to inform us about the clear choices we face on May 5.

The start of the election campaign does mean something else, and that is saying goodbye to some of the parliament's best-known characters, including Green trailblazer Robin Harper, Labour's effervescent Lord Foulkes and former First Minister Jack McConnell.

Perhaps in the coming weeks some of those looking to fill their shoes will step up and show signs that they will hit the heights of their predecessors or even raise the bar.

Dance funds

Whether or not Muirhouse's new dancer in residence discovers the next Billy Elliot is besides the point.

Their job is all about getting people up on their feet dancing who might not otherwise feel the rhythm, rather than searching for a star.

And 30,000 of National Lottery cash is not a great deal to invest in a project that will improve people's health and give them something to smile about.

After all, the stars of Comic Relief have certainly proved that dancing can be fun - and that anyone can do it.