David Maddox: For Foulkes Sake (14) - In Constance sorrow

It has been noted that the noble one - Lord George Foulkes, MSP to the Lothians, Baron of Cumnock, First Lord of the Twittery - has been taking a lot of interest in Livingston of late.

This seems to be a slight change of focus for his lordship who has spent the last two years concentrating on being a roving MSP for Edinburgh in his list role.

But with the threat of 500 jobs going at Bausch and Lomb, which an adviser to the First Minister behind the dastardly deed and a former SNP spin doctor doing the public relations for it, George has got on his charger and rode in to fight for the workers.

Others have seen another motive. And today I gather the noble one was accused point blank of preparing to run against SNP Livingston MSP Angela Constance (pictured top left) in 2011.

He, of course, denies this and insists he will be retiring to his red leather armchair in the House of Lords after 2011. But think on this, he also denied that he would be an MSP in 2007 prior to the selection of candidates for the election and lo and behold he is here.