SOME stories you may have missed, from the past week in the political sphere.
National drink spells embarrassment
SHORT of putting lemonade in his dram, there are questions over whether Motherwell and Wishaw MSP John Pentland could have stirred up a bigger faux pas over Scotland’s whisky industry recently. The Labour MSP issued an invitation to fellow MSPs last week to a William Grant and Sons event at the Scottish Parliament. The email was entitled: “The Art of Whiskey Making”. It also referred to “Willam Grant”. Perhaps Mr Pentland had already been partaking when he sent the email? A fellow parliamentarian noted: “It seems John isn’t sure if we’re in Ireland or Scotland just now. Must be strong stuff!”
Freudian ambition at the centre of attention?
DAVID Mundell, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State at the Scotland Office, used the Conservative party conference last week to announce that “the deal” on the Scottish referendum was all done and dusted, riling Alex Salmond, up in Edinburgh, more than a little. Mundell then proceeded to rile his own Scots leader, Ruth Davidson, later when – noting that Scotland had two leaders (Davidson and Cameron) – he said “both of us... them!” A Freudian slip? Time will tell.
All White on the night for Mundell? Maybe not
ON THE subject of David Mundell, all those hard ball negotiations with the SNP over the independence referendum have taken their toll on the Tory minister’s voice.
“I’m beginning to sound like Barry White,” a husky Mundell told Drumlanrig. The Scotland Office minister wasn’t sure whether his inadvertent impersonation of the “Walrus of Love” would be a vote winner with his constituents.
“It would probably have been a good thing in the 1970s, but I’m not sure about now,” Mundell said.
Website tale rocks the boat for SNP
THE FOR Argyll website last week suggested the SNP might have had its own Andrew Mitchell moment. The website alleged Mike MacKenzie MSP had sworn at the ferryman, who transports him to and from his home on Easdale Island, and accused the boat of being late – thus preventing him from buying a ticket.
MacKenzie has vehemently denied that bad language was used. “I am unsure where suggestions have come from, but they are categorically untrue,” MacKenzie said.
“I explained to the ferryman why I was prevented from buying a ticket before boarding on this occasion, and provided him with two on my return journey. Why anyone would try to whip this into something bigger than that is beyond me.” Beyond us as well.