GOD bless the innocents of the Royal Statistical Society, who are offering new MSPs entry level classes in stats. Topics include “probabilities, surveys and data presentation... with a specific focus on Scottish policy issues, to outline the good use of government statistics, and help avoid pitfalls.” In other words, asking politicians to use facts and tell the truth. Good luck.
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THE International section of the SNP manifesto reminded Unspun of last year’s preening visit to Iran by Alex Salmond and MP Tasmina Ahmed-Sheikh. “Profound” outcomes might follow, they said. However the British Embassy in Tehran, where newly released files show Eck & Co blagged a “briefing dinner”, was less in awe. “The media coverage was fairly modest – they were eclipsed by the French Senate Speaker, who was also in town,” they cabled the FCO.
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TALKING of manifestos, linguist Steve Erdal of Kiss Copy has analysed their favourite words. For the Tories it’s “opposition”, for Labour it’s “cuts”, and for Ukip - gasp! - it’s “EU”. Those dogged Greens like “campaign” and the SNP establishment “continue”. The surprise comes with the Coalition-battered LibDems, who remain obsessed by “power”. Get over it, people.
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SNP candidate Gail Robertson had a high-level visit in Dumbarton the other day, as she and Finance Secretary John Swinney visited a local printers. “Supporting small businesses is a hot topic for the team at JJR Print,” gushed Gail on Facebook. “Government support can really help businesses grow.” Presumably for reasons of space, the candidate omitted the fact she also works at the company, which is jointly owned by her mum and dad. Cosy.
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AN anonymous flyer arrives suggesting someone is getting mighty twitchy about list votes in Central Scotland. “Don’t gamble with your second vote!” it screams, echoing Nicola Sturgeon’s don’t “play the lottery with your second vote”. It goes on: “The Green Party will tax you 60%, which will be toxic to your income.” It was distributed in Coatbridge, where those earning over £150,000 a year are not famously thick on the ground. Unlike propaganda these days.
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WHAT is it with Willie Rennie and beasts of the field? The LibDem boss has already provided the photo-op of the election by standing, oblivious, in front of two amorous pigs. Now we hear that on a recent jog he was confronted by a group of escaped cows and calves. “Why are all these animals coming after me?” he sighs. Maybe they just wanted to see a LibDem in the wild, before they all end up in a zoo?
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