Hamish Macdonell - Government of one?

NEVER let it be said that Alex Salmond would ever pass up on opportunity to take the credit for anything.
The Scottish Government has just approved one of the world's largest wave stations for the Western Isles.
Was the announcement made by the energy minister, Jim Mather? No. Or maybe Richard Lochhead, the Cabinet Secretary for the Environment? No. Well, surely then it would have fallen to John Swinney, the Cabinet Secretary for Sustainable Development? No, again.
The First Minister decided this was only an announcement that could be made by him so he squeezed it in before the start of First Minister's Questions.
His spokesman explained it afterwards by saying that it was an announcement of such importance that it had to be shared with the chamber today.
Given that Richard Lochhead was answering questions on the environment in the chamber just an hour or so after FMQs, any normal person would have assumed that that was the best time to announce such a prestigious environmental decision, not rushing it in ahead of the weekly joust with party leaders.
But what this little vignette does show is that, if you are a minister in Mr Salmond's government, its best not to expect the chance to make any really good announcements, you will only end up disappointed.
ends