When it comes to pomposity, nobody in Scottish politics can compete with SNP president Mike Russell. A great comic archetype in the tradition of Captain Mainwairing or Hyacinth Bucket, Russell combines a thwocking great dollop of self regard with a devastating lack of self-awareness.
As such, it was hardly surprising to see Russell clamber up on his high horse when it came to the matter of an expenses claim for £11,000 of mobile data lodged by Scottish Health Secretary, Michael Matheson.
Isn’t the real damage caused by dishonest politicians?
After the Scottish Conservatives highlighted details of the amount run up by Matheson during a week-long family holiday in Morocco last new year, Russell tweeted: ‘Unspeakable horrors in Gaza, impending ceasefire vote, their party planning to leave ECHR and plenty more around that should engage & absorb all those charged with representative responsibilities – yet this is where the Tories in Holyrood prefer to wallow.
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