Fraser Nelson Fraser Nelson

Politics | 7 February 2009

Fraser Nelson reviews the week in politics

issue 07 February 2009

It takes more than an inch of snow to stop the wheels of Scottish democracy. The devolved parliament was hard at work on Monday morning, eight of its members engaged on a most sombre business: a motion formally denouncing a rogue political columnist. It reads as follows:

“That the Parliament notes that the journalist, Fraser Nelson, in comments on The Spectator’s Coffee House blog… referred to Castlemilk and Easterhouse as “beautiful names, scummy estates” draws Mr Nelson’s attention to… a motion which celebrated Castlemilk High Schools 2008 HM Inspectorate of Education report…and to motion which highlighted the recent award of the International Scotswomen of the Year title to Mary Miller, a former Castlemilk resident…and considers that Mr Nelson’s rudeness towards the communities of Castlemilk and Easterhouse is outstripped only by his ignorance of them.”

To trawl the internet and denounce offending phrases is, alas, not an atypical pastime for MSPs.

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