David Maddox: For Foulkes Sake (13) - Weighty issues
As mentioned in my most recent blog on Lord George Foulkes (bottom right), the Baron of Cumnock, MSP to the Lothians and First Lord of the Twittery is not lacking a sense of humour.
Thus this latest piece of mischief making in the guise of a written question.
*To ask the Scottish Executive what official engagements the First Minister has planned for July and August 2009 and whether an estimate has been made of catering costs.
The "catering" reference, of course, is to the frequent jokes about how being First Minister has apparently led to Alex Salmond's (top left) girth rapidly expanding, as well as his now famed
food claims in his expenses as an MP of £400 a month, even when he was not in Westminster for months. The response from John Swinney was a lot more serious and dull.
food claims in his expenses as an MP of £400 a month, even when he was not in Westminster for months. The response from John Swinney was a lot more serious and dull.*First Minister’s summer activities will focus on the Scottish Government Summer Cabinet meetings, taking place across the country.
Further to these events, the First Minister will undertake a range of other engagements in line with usual business. All events are planned with cost effectiveness as a priority.
However, ever one for political gamesmanship, no doubt Lord Foulkes is only too aware that his own critics, not least by the army of cybernats who stalk Scottish media websites, point out that he is not exactly lacking in pounds himself, either from his House of Lords expenses or, indeed, the shirt stretching sense.
Labels: Alex Salmond, David Maddox, food bills, George Foulkes
posted by Administrator at
19:24
2 Comments:
David,
Can you give us an example of some of the "jokes". I hope you don't mean some of the names conjured up by unionists on the Scotsman threads who refer to Salmond as "Fat Neck" or "his Immensity" etc etc? Hilariously funny, you must agree.
Incidentally, it would be interesting to compare Salmond's "cost to the nation" and "benefit to the nation" as opposed to that of George Foulkes. Would make an interesting article for the Scotman, don't you think?
Brownlie,
You'll find that Salmond has joked about it himself in the chamber.
Admitedly most of it is purile school playground type stuff not worth repeating, but the alusion to it was to explain the background to the question.
On your second point, that would be quite a difficult thing to scientifically measure.
However, ministers will always have an advantage over opposition politicians in that regard by dint of their position - David
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