TO the rash of SNP MPs forgetting to declare financial interests on time Unspun can now add Angus MP Mike Weir.
According to the latest Westminster register, Mr Weir has just declared £310 from YouGov after the 28-day deadline for doing so, some of it dating back to January 2015.
The cash, for five quick surveys, was paid direct to local charities.
However it’s still not a good example for Mr Weir to set.
After all, he is the SNP chief whip and disciplinarian.
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IF you're happy to be a once-a-year, Burns Night haggis eater, spare a thought for Tory MS John Scott.
"I've had enough," he told Unpsun as celebrations for bard came to an end this week.
"I've been at a Burns Supper every night since last Wednesday. If your are MSP for Ayr, it comes with the territory."
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U-TURN of the month award goes to Scots Tory MEP Ian Duncan, who rushed out a press release to announce he’d been appointed to the new Brussels inquiry into the VW emissions scandal.
The committee had “an important job to do” reassuring the public, he said gravely.
Somehow Mr Duncan forgot to mention that just weeks earlier all the Tory MEPs voted against the “unnecessary” inquiry, arguing it would “add nothing to attempts to tackle the issue”.
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MPs paid tribute to Robin Fell, the principal Commons doorkeeper, who left this week after first arriving at the Palace of Westminster in October of 1969.
Intriguingly, he not only provided snuff for MPs out of his own pocket he also did it out of his own pocket, that is, paid for it himself.
MPs concerned what they are now going to do will be relieved to know that he built up a large supply, which has now been left to his successor.
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Another example this week of unintended consequences in politics.
Dame Shirley Williams reminded peers during her last ever speech in the Lords that her retirement was enabled by the reforms of Lord Steel. He immediately replied: "That was not my intention!" Before the changes peers had remained in the Upper Chamber til they died. But who did Lord Steel have in mind?
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