POLITICAL DIARY

Too young to Trot

THOSE of a certain vintage are aware what Labour deputy leader Tom Watson is talking about when he warns of “Trots” infiltrating the party.

Unfortunately the same can’t be said of the bright young things employed by the BBC’s politics unit not raised in the era of squabbling factions on the left.

An explainer setting out what’s a Trot was sent round reporters and researchers.

Game for a laugh

GENEALOGISTS have discovered that PM Theresa May’s family has roots in Clackmannanshire – and more links to Scotland have emerged.

One of May’s two chiefs of staff, Fiona Hill, is a Scot whose mum is a keen amateur thesp with a string of walk-on parts and roles as an extra under her belt. It is believed her latest part comes in the new series of Chewin’ the Fat spin-off, Still Game.

Will duff policy ideas presented to Number 10 soon be shot down with a cry of “Gonnae no dae that!”?

Loosen up, guys

SUMMER recess is the time when those MPs still attending to loose ends in Westminster can be seen cutting around parliament in their dress-down clothes. Or at least most of them.

Arch-Eurosceptic John Redwood was seen on a sweltering day last week still in suit and tie.

But most tragic was George Osborne, who also eschewed casual clobber for a suit and cut a lonely figure shorn of his Treasury entourage.

It’s a small world

PUBLIC recognition is important for all politicians.

Glasgow South MP Stewart McDonald was on holiday in the United States last week.

When he landed at Washington Airport, he hailed a taxi.

As often happens to Scots abroad, as soon as the driver heard his accent he asked where he was from.

Mr McDonald told him he lived in Glasgow.

“Ah,” said the driver to Stewart’s astonishment, “do you know Anas Sarwar?”

Taken by surprise

HAMILTON MSP Christina McKelvie had quite an experience on holiday in Mexico.

She was on the beach when she noticed the sky growing darker. Within minutes it was pitch-black.

Hurricane Earl, as the storm was named, hit land soon after, and Christina witnessed a spectacular display of lightning and torrential rain.

“It was quite an experience,” she admitted.