SNP party conference: Plaid Cymru ally’s painful truth

Relations between the SNP and Plaid Cymru are warm, but it’s not clear if the tradition will survive a stinging assessment of Scotland’s World Cup qualifying hopes from MEP Jill Evans.

“You might be further along the road to independence, but we’ve got Gareth Bale,” she said, after the winger’s late double sank Scotland at Cardiff.

Inside job for the justice secretary

It’s just as well justice secretary Kenny MacAskill did not get into politics for the glamour. While First Minister Alex Salmond attended the premiere of Brave in Hollywood, Mr MacAskill revealed his own red-carpet experience: “I went to see Angels’ Share – at Polmont Young Offenders Institute.”

Star adds support to independence

The “Yes” campaign has cornered the market in endorsements from the acting community. Angels’ Share star Paul Brannigan set out his support in a pre-recorded video played to delegates. “I feel like we’re playing second fiddle to the UK parliament,” he said.