Ellen Thomas

Plane failing The week started with Rishi Sunak making a literal flying visit, far removed from pesky voters at RAF Lossiemouth in Moray. The last time the PM was north of the border he famously failed to name anyone on Douglas Ross’s frontbench, other than Duggie himself. This time he came briefed. His interview with the press almost over, he suddenly shoehorned in a reference to “Rachel on rural issues” and “Liam on education”, referring to Tory MSPs Hamilton and Kerr. Maybe next time he’ll fleetingly memorise their surnames too?

Nonsense from Holyrood

A fond farewell

Minimal Democrat HURRAH! IT’s election time again. Although for some politicians, the campaign is over already. When nominations for May’s council contest closed this week, Stephen McCabe, the Labour leader of Inverclyde council found he’d been instantly re-elected. Just three candidates are standing in his three-member Inverclyde East ward, so they’re all shoo-ins. There is a downside, however. Mr McCabe now has to work out what to do with the 5,000 election leaflets that got delivered yesterday. Papier-mâché anyone?

Luckless Douglas

Money for nothingCHANCELLOR Rishi Sunak splashed the cash in Wednesday's Budget, leaving some Tories muttering about fiscal prudence and the highest tax burden since the 1950s. Ahead of his speech, an email to Tory supporters offered the chance to win a signed copy of the Budget. "You can enter as many times as you’d like with entries just £5 each," it added, slightly desperately. Alas, the fiscally prudent option is to decline.

A BAD week for ex-SNP MP and now Alba darling Tasmina Ahmed-Sheikh.

Spend a penny

Calendar clash HOT news from Albania, aka the realm ruled by chortling overlord Alex Salmond. In his latest video to the masses, the Alba leader this week announced the party’s first autumn conference had been rescheduled due to excess demand. He had said it would open on September 18, decreeing it to be an “auspicious date”, despite it being the anniversary of the No side winning in 2014. However it has now been brought forward a week... thus starting on the way more auspicious 20th anniversary of 9/11.

Croft conversion