The life of Pia
There is a new face in the Garden Lobby at Holyrood. One Simon Pia.
Who he? Wendy Alexander’s new spin doctor, that’s who.
Simon, an amiable and estimable chap, should be well equipped for the trials of his new task.
He has, after all, known pain as an avid supporter of Hibernian Football Club, having chronicled their exploits in book form.
As a former newspaper diarist, he was also less than complimentary about Ms Alexander, calling her “Gruppenfuhrer” in reference to her supposedly brusque manner.
Could have been worse, I suppose. He could have used a lower SS rank, such as Rottenfuhrer. (No, I didn’t invent that: look it up.)
Plainly internationalist in his insults, the bold Pia also shifted eastwards to call her “Stalinist”.
'Courageous decision'
All in the past, we are assured - although it made for an entertaining moment or two this morning when Ms Alexander and Mr Pia reviewed the newspapers which recalled these comments. In detail. With a cartoon.
Says something for Ms Alexander’s resilience and sangfroid, I suppose, that she can hire a chap who has previously described her in such terms.
Encountering the new doctor of spin, whom I know from his past guises, I congratulated him on his “courageous decision”. (Source: Yes Minister.)
Pressed by self and others, he immediately assured us, with only the hint of a self-conscious smile, that Labour’s lunchtime group meeting had been comradely and supportive. (Or some such phrase: I had rather tuned out by then.)
It is to be hoped, certainly by Ms Alexander, that Labour’s new sunshine from Leith will last a little longer in the political firmament than his immediate predecessors.
PS: In the interests of political balance, herewith the sporting allegiances of Mr Pia’s rivals.
• Kevin Pringle, who spins for the First Minister, supports St Johnstone.
• Ramsay Jones of the Tories is a rugby fan, adhering to Heriot’s.
• Neil Mackinnon of the LibDems favours Ross County but, if pressed, prefers shinty.
• James Mackenzie of the Greens is a Jambo. (Tr: Heart of Midlothian)
• Margo MacDonald, an independent self-spinner, is a Hibbie.
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