Alex Massie Alex Massie

Panda Politics

A coup for the Royal Zoologocial Society of Scotland which announced today that it will take delivery of and house two Giant Pandas, courtesy of a deal with the Chinese government. A coup too, I dare say, for Alex Salmond who will be happy to accept whatever credit you may care to bestow upon him. I believe the going rate for a panda is something like $1m a year but Edinburgh Zoo will certainly be able to afford that.

Hard to imagine pandas actually breeding in Edinburgh, but who knows? If a McPanda ever emerges I hope it gets a better name than “Butterstick” – the unfortunate moniker slapped upon the infant panda born in Washington a few years ago. Readers are invited to suggest possible names…

Meanwhile, I look forward to seeing how Labour use this episode as further proof that Mr Salmond is a disgrace and a liar and all the rest of it.

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