MPS will be on the run this weekend.
Among the 16 backbenchers braving the 26.2 miles of the London Marathon on Sunday will be four intrepid Scots.
The smart money on who will finish with the best parliamentary time must be on the SNP’s David Linden, simply because he has the youngest legs.
The 28-year-old MP for Glasgow East ran the race last year but has recently just recovered from a bout of glandular fever. “My primary aim at this stage is to complete the marathon without the need for a by-election!” he told The Herald.
John Lamont, the Scottish Conservative, also completed the run last year and appears confident of a very respectable time. “Somewhere around three hours 30 minutes would be great,” said the MP for Berwickshire, Roxburgh and Selkirk.
Neil Gray, the SNP MP for Airdrie and Shotts, is arguably the most experienced, having completed a gruelling “ultra” marathon, which can be anything up to 100 miles.
The backbencher said he did a conventional marathon some seven years ago and came in at four hours 33 minutes. “I have done an ultra since then but that was five years ago, so I just hope I have done enough training.”
The fourth Scot, who is talking down his chances, is Andrew Bowie, the West Aberdeenshire and Kincardine MP.
Theresa May’s Parliamentary Private Secretary is a first-timer but at 31 should be fine; although of late Downing St has not found getting things over the line easy. “My aim is just to finish,” he said.
Nearly 50,000 runners will be taking part. The weather is set fare with temperatures of of 16C.
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