Appointment on merit, nationality, or the old school tie?

Perhaps confirming the Willie Ross precedent that the most committed British nationalists can paradoxically prove to be the most parochial Scots, this Scotland on Sunday article reveals that former Scotland rugby captain Jim Aitken has donated £100,000 to the Conservative Party, but also notes that he has dismissed talk of Englishman Andy Robinson becoming Scotland rugby coach as a "lot of nonsense" - solely on the grounds of his nationality. Well, I can't say I've been following the ins and outs avidly, but the last time I checked that particular piece of 'nonsense' seemed highly likely to come to pass.

Fancy that, someone being appointed on merit. Isn't that the stock explanation for why it's perfectly all right that half our future Tory cabinet all went to the same school?

Keeping score on Maggie-isms

"You turn if you want to - this administration is not for turning."

For some time now, Kezia Dugdale has prominently featured those words by Alex Salmond at the top right corner of her blog. The not very subtle (and frankly rather silly) message presumably being that anyone who'd use a Thatcherite phrase must be a bit of a Thatcherite themselves. Well, call me cynical, but I don't imagine Kezia will be going out of her way to draw attention to the fact that Hazel Blears has now joined the club in the most cringe-inducing manner imaginable -

"YouTube if you want to..."

Especially as that can only be seen as a blistering attack on Kezia's political hero! (No, not George Foulkes...)