Stranger Wings

THIS week’s blockbuster defamation action by indy-blogger Rev Stuart Campbell, of Wings Over Scotland, against Kezia Dugdale reminds Unspun of the days before he was a force in Yes-land. Back in 2012, a certain Rev Stuart Campbell was pontificating in an internet forum about video games. “You know as well as I do,” he wrote, “that no individual in this country who isn't a millionaire has any plausible chance of bringing a libel case, especially a terrible one.” Could they by any chance be related?

Meal ticket

THERE was another walk down memory lane with the fine BBC TV documentary on the MPs’ expenses scandal. Sadly, one of the oddest claims didn’t get a mention. Angus Robertson, then leader of the SNP at Westminster, somehow trousered £400 for work-related food in the autumn of 2007 while on honeymoon in Australia, Thailand and Hong Kong. The FM reportedly wants him back at Holyrood. Perhaps he can explain it to us here.

Tommy Rot

WEIRDEST non-Brexit political story was Tommy Sheridan’s cooperation pact with far-right Italian separatists Grande Nord, a breakaway from the odious Lega Nord. For reasons unknown, the document carried an SNP logo, prompting some Italian media outlets to report the GN had signed “il patto con Tommy Sheridan, leader Scottish National Party”. After the farce fell apart - there must have been a misunderstanding, shrugged Mr Sheridan - the stories unceremoniously disappeared.

Run Richard Run

THERE was more erstwhile leadership from Richard Leonard when Holyrood voted (symbolically) for revoking Article 50. The Scottish Labour leader broke the party whip under Kezia Dugdale in 2017 to take a Brexit-friendly, pro-Corbyn line on Article 50. So what would he do this time? Er, run away. Despite Labour tabling an amendment on revocation, Mr Leonard and lefty colleague Elaine Smith suddenly found other places to be. Mr Leonard thus failed to vote with his own party at Holyrood, but stayed tight with Jezza in London.

Boomerang blues

BE careful what you wish for, goes the adage, one the Westminster SNP are reflecting on after moaning to the BBC about the lack of coverage for leader Ian Blackford. Chastened, the Beeb put him on air almost continuously to chunter about Brexit. Alas, the prolix pseudo-crofter frequently comes across as an interminable, one-note windbag. Cue more mutterings among SNP MPs about whether he deserves to lead them.

No escape

TRANSPORT Secretary Michael Matheson was giving evidence to a committee about the service on Scotland’s railways. Unacceptable, he admitted, telling MSPs how passengers often told him as much to his face. After a good grilling, he fled to the canteen. His relief was short-lived, however. He had barely lifted his fork, when one of the Holyrood press corps sat down to tell him about their hellish three-hour trip to work that day because of ScotRail. Sigh.

Car park carp

ONE of ScotRail’s biggest critics is LibDem MSP Mike Rumbles, despite never taking the train to work himself, according to his expenses. We hear Motorist Mike was so unhappy when his office forgot to book a bay in Holyrood’s underground car park this week, he demanded the parly janitors go down and find him one. He’s all charm, that guy.