Drumlanrig news digest - 09/01/2011

BOO, HISS, IT'S CLEGG THE PANTO VILLAIN

HOW bad can it get for Nick Clegg? Sheffield City Hall is currently laying on Snow White And The Seven Dwarves, its Yuletide panto. The writers have included a topical gag in honour of their local MP.

In a classroom scene, the schoolteacher turns to Muddles, the court jester.

"And what happens to young boys who lie?" asks the schoolteacher. "They become the Deputy Prime Minister, Miss," replies Muddles.

Drumlanrig understands the gag got the biggest laugh of the night when our informant attended last week. It's a remarkable achievement for Clegg: matinee idol in April, pantomime villain by January. Are the Lib Dems absolutely certain this coalition business is working out?

FORSYTH'S HI-JINKS IN THE ANTARCTIC

ANTARCTIC explorer Lord Forsyth, below, hopes to return to Scotland this weekend after his successful ascent up the frozen continent's highest peak, Mount Vinson.

The peer raised 363,000 for charity and, in the highly entertaining blog he has been keeping throughout the adventure, the peer notes how both David Cameron and George Osborne helped boost that total.

Forsyth recounts: "The Chancellor has sent me a note enclosing a donation, with comment that he was not sure he should be supporting me in my insane enterprise. I have replied indicating that I was supporting him with his, and that reward does not come without risk." You can take the politician out of Westminster...

PRESCOTT BACK WITH A BANG FOR ADVERT

HOW the mighty have fallen. Baron Prescott of Kingston Upon Hull, the former deputy prime minister, has become the new face of moneysupermarket.com.

In a new ad for the website, Prezza will re-enact his most eloquent moment as a politician, when he threw a punch at a punter who had chucked an egg at him during a campaign visit to north Wales ten years ago. All to support the cause of online shopping.

Prescott says: "I suppose you could say this advert marks the tenth anniversary of my so-called Thriller in the Rhyl-a." Yes, he really did say that.

BOYLE-ING POINT OVER GOLDIE'S OUTBURST

ANNABEL Goldie's foul-mouthed outburst in an interview for this newspaper - that saw her accuse her political rivals of "bullshitting" - is still being discussed around Holyrood.

How on earth could the demure Bella resort to the language of the locker room to make a political point? "She should wash her mouth out with soap and water," was the verdict of one seasoned observer, who now refers to her as the Frankie Boyle of Scottish politics.