The Dark Side.

Mr Smith has previously chronicled the strong connections between Scotland's media and political communities. But is appears that the New Year has already brought the defection of a member of the Fourth Estate to the Dark Side with the appointment of STV political journalist Michael Crow as the Scottish Conservatives' new spin doctor.

"TELEVISION journalist Michael Crow has been appointed as a senior strategist with the Conservative Party in Scotland, it was revealed yesterday. Mr Crow, a political correspondent with STV and the presenter of its Politics Now show, will leave the station to take on the post of director of strategy and communications with the party north of the border."

It will be interesting to see what impact, if any, Mr Crow, has on the political fortunes of the Tories north of the border. Mr Smith suspects the appointment demonstrates the triumph of Mr Crow's style over a lack of Tory substance, which won't bring long term benefits to the Tory Party. But who would want to be a journalist anyway these days?