Book squirm
When Phil Henderson, Scottish Power’s head of government affairs, bounced into Tom Harris’s book launch at the Labour Party conference in Liverpool to buy a copy, Harris was about to inscribe it with, ‘I hope I have better luck than John Swinney in my bid for leadership’ before Phil – former assistant to Swinney and in charge of two successful leadership battles – reminded Harris of this record and the inscription was quickly changed to, ‘I hope you bring your golden touch to my campaign’. Phil wisely kept a receipt for said book for the expenses’ claim – no such thing as free advice in the world of politics.
Sally Bercow was also spotted reading through the contents page of Harris’s book. However: no mention = no sale.
Unleashed
Elsewhere at conference, former Chancellor Alistair Darling showed he is retaining his humour about sales of his own memoirs, remarking: “I’m not selling many in North Queensferry.”
George and John go large
While the mainstream media’s attention was squarely focused on Ed Miliband – well, apart from during the embarrassing TV blackout that occurred when he was giving his main party address – young reporters from UK charity Whizz-Kidz managed to illicit far more interesting revelations from Labour’s politicians. For instance, former MSP Lord George Foulkes revealed the most famous people on his mobile are Rebus, aka actor Ken Stott, and David Miliband, described himself as “a political geek”, and said he once got terribly ill in Benidorm. While another good sport, John Park MSP also confessed to going to Benidorm with his daughter, admitted to regularly Googling himself, revealed his favourite TV boxset is The Inbetweeners, and admitted his guilty pleasure was vodka and diet coke…
Who’s the daddy
Speaking of intrepid reporters, Whollyrude was also tickled by this photo snapped by SNP MSP/ photojournalist in the making, Humza Yousaf, who turned the camera on the BBC’s Glen Campbell when he was left holding the (simulator) babies – which had been dished out to MSPs by campaigners from Save the Children ahead of a debate on affordable childcare.
Yousaf captioned his work: “Glen Campbell good at handling babies, maybe makes him so adept to deal with politicians.”
Cold comfort
It seems greetings card manufacturer Hallmark really does believe there is a card for every occasion, after the company recently announced it is launching a new range of… unemployment cards.
Comforting greetings include: “Don’t think of it as losing your job. Think of it as a time-out between stupid bosses.” “It’s hard to know what to say at a sensitive time like this. How about, “I’m buying.” And: “One day you’ll look back on this with the wisdom that distance bestows, and you’ll say…’Wow, that sucked.’” A spokesperson for Hallmark was reported as saying that while the cards meet a “relevant and niche consumer need”, they don’t expect them to be the strongest performers. Quite.
Speak now, or forever embargo your release
While Whollyrude wishes Iris Hawkins and her husband-to-be nothing but the best, why did she feel the need to issue a national press release to mark the occasion?
Hawkins, the local councillor for Scalloway, sent an email announcing her resignation ahead of her nuptials to the entire press contact list of Shetland Council. Sadly, no invitation was included.
Tweets
For tweets direct from Holyrood magazine follow @HolyroodDaily
@patrickharvie
Fergus Ewing and Stewart Stevenson are reminding me so much of Statler and Waldorf today.
@libby_brooks
Four days at #ldconf has left me with an eye infection and an over-dependence on bananas
@paulwaugh
EdM hand gestures are constant, looks like he’s conducting Strauss.
@tavishscott
In Glasgow for meetings but time for AC/ DC gig at Kelvingrove Museum – a must!
@ClaireBakerMSP
I first saw REM at edinburgh playhouse the day I left high school (there were other 1sts that evening that I am not going to reveal)
@Torcuil [Torcuil Crichton]
Neil and Christine Hamilton cycling around and looking for attention in Hyde Park. Either that or they’ve lost a dog.
@JohnFinnieSNP
Train north now stationary having hit three sheep on the line!