Planet Purcell

With due respect to the man, and the people of Scotland's most populous city, I'd never heard of Steven Purcell until the propulsion of the press brought him to prominence (your report, 8 March). Pundits say he had been one of Scottish Labour's brightest stars. What does that say of the planets who orbit their party's present leader the periodically pulsating Iain Gray?

Douglas Bain, Oxgangs Drive, Edinburgh