It’s almost over. Courage, everybody.
FIRST, an apology and an explanation. This daily diary is billed as a guide to what’s going on in parliament for “normal folk”. Except there are no normal folk in parliament on Fridays.
With Holyrood in recess, MSPs have returned from whence they came to conduct constituency business, engage in campaigns or merely rediscover the vast swathes of Scotland that do not occupy the Escherian masterwork of a mad Catalan architect.
Nevertheless, here’s a full rundown of the all the excitement to be found on the last day before the weekend. Brace yourselves.
Committee Business
Nada.
Parliamentary Business
Zilch.
Visits and Events
Pupils from Dunbar Primary School will be visiting parliament today. They’ll pretty much have the place to themselves.
Several pigeons are expected to potter about outside parliament. CommonSpace was still awaiting confirmation on the specific number of pigeons at the time of publication. So far, the pigeons have been unreceptive to interview requests.
There is of course the possibility that the Martians will invade the Canongate or a hitherto undiscovered volcano will erupt beneath the parliamentary water feature. Naturally, your dedicated correspondents at CommonSpace will bring you all the latest developments as they happen.
In search of the latest scoops, I occasionally approach the front desk to see what parliament’s dedicated staff have to say, or what conspiratorial business might be going on that doesn’t make it into the public parliamentary schedule.
“You’re the parliamentary reporter, sir,” says the polite yet sinister young man behind the desk. “You’ve always been the parliamentary reporter. I should know, sir. I’ve always been here.”
At this point I turn, to find visiting schoolchildren inviting me to come play with them… forever and ever and ever…
All work and no play makes Sean a dull boy
All work and no play makes Sean a dull boy
All work and (etc.)
Picture courtesy of Paula Funnell
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