For all the fuss, the revelation itself is no smoking gun. Her account was undeniably marred by factual bloopers. The real questions are about their relevance in the grander scheme of things; and, most of all, about the intent lying behind inaccurate statements.

Source Direct: Leading and Misleading


The immediate effect of Sturgeon’s appearance to reinforce the peculiar parasocial bond between the First Minister and her fanbase. “I stand with Nicola!” And that hashtag itself represents a strange quirk of contemporary political behaviour.

Source Direct: Bonding with Nicola



It’s long past panto season, but Scottish politics didn’t get that memo. With each day the inquiry into the Government mishandling of the Salmond affair gets more slapstick, more ribald and more grotesque.

Source Direct: He’s Behind You!



The prospects for farce were highlighted by Peter Murrell’s evidence yesterday: when Labour MSP Jackie Baillie implied he was being coached off camera, Murrell answered that his eye was distracted by a rogue magpie. You could almost see Malcolm Tucker off camera, stamping his foot with rage.

Source Direct: Two Tribes Go to War