David Maddox: So much for extending the hand of friendship

For those of you who think that all those displays of high dudgeon in political life are just a show for the public by politicians and in reality everybody is much more friendly behind the scenes, this exchange of e-mails may make you think again.

At 1.50pm today (Thursday 11 June) Fiona O'Donnell a Labour Party researcher extended the following courteous invitation to all researchers and MSPs in Holyrood:

You are all invited to the following Co-op Party event. Please reply to me if you are able to attend. This is not a Labour Party event and is open to non-party members, so if you would like to bring a guest, please let me have their details.
Many thanks
Fiona

She got the following response at 3.01pm from Ken MacColl, the SNP researcher for Business Minister Jim Mather.

Fiona,
You state that this is not a Labour Party event but it sounds depressingly like one.
I particularly treasured the concluding paragraph suggesting that it was the Labour Party that delivered a Scottish Parliament as for most of my political life they strenuously opposed such a concept. Roll over Brian Wilson, George Cunningham et al.
As places at this soiree are limited I will resist applying for a place and depriving some more receptive soul an opportunity to hear Iain Gray..
Regards
Ken

Unfortunately for Mr McColl, who apparently took offence to a document attached to the invitation describing the event, accidentally hit "reply to all" which meant his message went to every researcher in the building and a few other e-mail addresses.
I guess he could have just said no....