Wiggo’s mother found my lost wallet
Kind Linda tracked down SNP Pete after friend remembered he’d been in Runrig
SNP MP Pete Wishart was reunited with his lost wallet after Sir Bradley Wiggins’ mum um found it on a London on street.
The politician got it back k after the Tour de France e winning cyclist’s mum Linda a played detective on social al media to try to trace him.
One of Linda’s pals is a huge Runrig fan and nd recognised the Perth and nd North Perthshire MP from om his days as a keyboard player yer in the Scots rock group.
Her friend contacted the band’s drummer Iain Bayne, ne, who put pal Wishart in touch uch with Linda.
Wishart said: “I was at the local Sainsbury’s where I stay in London and I came back to find my wallet gone.
“I went back to the shop, retraced my steps, turned my house upside down and there was no sign of it.
“I just presumed that the thing was lost.
“Then I got a message from Iain Bayne in Runrig on Friday night to say that a friend of a friend had found this wallet – and that friend was Bradley Wiggins’ mum.
“I had about £50 in the wallet and my driver’ s licence, parliamentary pass and lots of stuff that would have been a total pain to replace, so I’m really chuffed. She found the wallet and saw the name and put out a message on Facebook. “There was a mutual Facebook friend who was a Runrig fan who put her in touch with I a in, who then notif ied me that it had been found.” He added: “It is just an incredible set of circumstances. I handed in a bunch of flowers to Linda to thank her and I ’ ve invited her down for lunch in the House of Commons if she wants to visit with a friend.
“If she wants to bring Sir Bradley along with her on a visit to Westminster that would be great. I’m so grateful.”
Wi sha r t ’ s We s tmins t er invitation to the cyclist’s family comes just a month after a damning House of Commons report alleged that Team Sky had behaved unethically for Wiggins’ 2012 Tour de France victory.
A group of MPs on the Digital, Culture, Media and Sport committee used parliamentary privi lege to conclude that Wiggins used corticosteroids to boost his performance. Wiggins – who had been given official clearance to use the drug for his asthma – has vehemently denied the claims.
He said: “These allegations, it’s the worst thing to be accused of. It’s also the hardest thing to prove you haven’t done. We’re not dealing in a legal system. I’d have had more rights if I’d murdered someone.”
Wishart said: “I’m just really, really grateful to get my wallet back and I think as a heavy user of social media that this just shows the good that can be done and how small a world it is.
“It ’s so strange t he connections that we all have and the basic kindness of people to make an effort to get this returned.
“Linda was trying to find out all day on Friday how to get this back to me, which is just extraordinary and kind.”
Wishart is the SNP’s longest serving MP. He was first elected in 2001 after quitting Runrig.
He narrowly held onto his seat by just 21 votes in the last election.
Linda Wiggins was unavailable for comment.