Nae Luck George.

It is not as though Labour MSP and peer and lobbyist George Foulkes really needed another job, but Mr Smith is amazed that so many people voted for Iain McWhirter. A bit of a landslide really.

"JOURNALIST Iain Macwhirter was last night voted in as the next rector of Edinburgh University. Mr Macwhirter beat Labour MSP George Foulkes to fill the three-year post, taking 69 per cent of the vote. Thousands of students took part in the ballot to elect the university's 50th rector."

Labour's Luvvies Lost.

So the Scottish Labour Party can't seem to come up with anyone to fight the Glasgow East Westminster by-election which has probably got something to do with the normally rock solid majority of 13,000 in the seat looking about as shaky as one of those nodding dogs you see in the back seat of some cars.

We now have the latest possible candidate identified as Labour MSP Margaret Curran who as recently as last week was also being tipped as a possible successor to Wendy Alexander MSP as Leader of the Scottish Labour Party, but how is it possible for Margaret to do two jobs, as an MSP and as MP, at the same time? Come to think of it maybe she should ask her Labour MSP colleagues Lord George Foulkes, who manages to do three of them, and Jack McConnell, who seems to manage two at the moment, one of which involves a lot of jet setting.

We knew that Labour were keen on creating jobs, but Mr Smith never appreciated before that it was so that they could have more than one of them for themselves.

But a friendly word of warning for Margaret. The last female candidate that was hand-picked to run in a by-election by PM Gordon Brown was Labour MEP Catherine Stihler ... who went on to loose the Dunfermline West by-election in what had also been a previously "rock solid" Labour seat. But never mind Margaret, even if you lose you will still be able to continue as a Labour MSP, just like Ms. Stihler continues as a Labour MEP.

Off Course.

Mr Smith sees that Lord Foulkes MSP has been busy in the House of Lords. From the Lords Hansard of 21st April in a question about Parliament Square, "Lord Foulkes of Cumnock (Labour) ... My Lords, will my noble friend ensure that any changes make it easier for Members of this House who have offices in the buildings on the other side of the road to get here for Divisions? All the changes that have taken place recently, both to traffic control and, above all, to security, have created an obstacle course for Members to get here in time to vote."

It is even harder if you have to try juggling being a Member of the Scottish Parliament a few hundred miles away in Edinburgh with getting to votes in the House of Lords.

Looking a gift horse ...

Mr Smith was very interested in the details of the gifts which First Minister Alex Salmond has received since becoming FM last May and the details of which have now been released to the public.

"ALEX SALMOND has received 72 gifts since he became First Minister, ranging from books to paintings and alcohol to crystal. Under the ministerial code, he can retain gifts valued at less than £140 and has decided he will keep 29 of them "for private use".The Scottish Government gave details of the four gifts which were valued at over £140. They included a painting from artist John Lowrie Morrison and a plaque from Scottish Power.But it only gave general categories for the other 68 – 12 were alcohol, four were food, two were glass or crystal ware, three were ornaments, one was jewellery, seven were art, 16 were books, three were china, five were clothing and 15 were "outside these categories".

So much for open government then, but a pat on the back to Labour MSP Lord George Foulkes for managing to make the time to ask the question in between his two other jobs. But Mr Smith is intrigued to know what the items of clothing were. Some underwear from M&S perhaps, in a Jeremy Paxman stylie?

Lords a leaping.

"LOTHIANS Labour MSP George Foulkes today hit back after an SNP backbencher criticised him over his expenses from the House of Lords. Nationalist Christine Grahame said Mr Foulkes, who is also a Labour peer, had claimed £111,386 in expenses from Westminster's second chamber over the last two years.And she called for MSPs who are also members of the House of Lords to be means tested before they can receive expenses.But Mr Foulkes said the figures Ms Grahame quoted were "deliberately misleading" because they referred to the period before he was elected to the Scottish Parliament last May."

And he gets an MSPs salary on top. It's amazing he can fit it all in. It would appear that Scottish Labour's attack dog is himself under attack.

Some entrance.

Mr Smith reads the latest insight obtained by Labour MSP Lord George Foulkes in the House of Lords.

"Lord Foulkes of Cumnock (Labour) asked the Chairman of Committees: What is the total cost of the new visitors' entrance to Parliament; and when it is expected to be opened."

Lord Brabazon of Tara (Crossbench): The forecasted cost of the visitor reception building is £11.2 million split 60:40 between the Commons and Lords. It is expected that the building will be opened in early 2008."

That's some entrance ....

Good night, Alex. Goodbye.

So, Labour MSP and Lord George Foulkes has hit the headlines again.

"LABOUR MSP George Foulkes was yesterday accused of having "flipped" on air during a badtempered radio interview. Lord Foulkes put the phone down on Talk 107's Alex Hastie after he was pressed on his party's problems at Westminster. The veteran politician later said the presenter was "incoherent" and "anti-Labour" ... Foulkes, a Lothians list MSP, said: "You said come on and talk about the budget and what the SNP are doing, but as soon as you get me on you are attacking Gordon Brown. Why don't you stick to your promises, Alex? Good night, Alex. Goodbye."

Mr Smith is amazed that Lord Foulkes wasted his time doing this radio show. After all, isn't Talk 107 the radio station that was allegedly named after the number of listeners it has? George doesn't need publicity that much surely?

Peer-less.

Mr Smith reads the latest "expense" disclosures for some of the Scottish members of the House of Lords.

"LORD Foulkes, the bombastic Labour peer and MSP, has clocked up £62,509 in tax-free expenses as an "unpaid" member of the House of Lords. The former Scotland Office minister and government loyalist said most of his expenses were down to high travel costs. Although Lord Foulkes of Cumnock is now an MSP, the expenses for the House of Lords are until April 2007; a month before his election to the Scottish Parliament ... Lord Watson, since his early release from jail in May last year for arson, has managed to bill £31,932 in expenses. It is almost three years since the then Labour MSP set alight the curtains at a hotel in Edinburgh ... Since his release, he has voted in just 18 per cent of divisions - lower than average. Also billing a hefty sum in expenses was Lord Elder, formerly known as Murray Elder, former chief of staff to John Smith. He picked up £52,563 in expenses for his 128-day attendance. His voting record of 74 per cent, however, was much higher than most peers. The man in charge of probing the overspend on the new Scottish Parliament - Lord Fraser of Carmyllie - himself managed to spend £49,113. His office costs of £10,209 for 124 days exceeded the daily limit of £69. His fellow Tory peer, Lord Forsyth of Drumlean, attended for just 99 days and claimed £32,957 in expenses. He managed to speak in 53 debates, however, more than most peers. Lord Steel of Aikwood, the former presiding officer of the Scottish Parliament, has cost taxpayers £50,035."

And all tax-free. Good to have sight of the information for a change though.

Free Spirits.

Mr Smith also notes that his favourite Labour MSP peer George Foulkes (well he is the only one left since Mike Watson had to check in at the Saughton HMP B&B) is also up for an award this year in the "Free Spirit" category of the Politician of the Year Awards.

Rather ironic thinks Mr Smith given Lord Foulkes infamous falling down "tired and emotional" in a London street incident of a several years following his leaving a reception organised by the Scotch Whisky Association which lead to him pleading guilty to breach of the peace and assault charges and paying out over £1,000 in fines and costs.

Shouldn't the award be renamed "free spirits"? The awards after all are sponsored by spirits maker DIAGEO.

Mr Smith would also highlight the fact that Lord Foulkes rakes in rather a lot of cash from working as an independent parliamentary consultant which would suggest there are limits on how "free spirited" he can ever be, especially where commercial concerns come to the fore.

Turkeys and Christmas

Straight from the "turkeys voting for Christmas" category come the latest comments from Labour peer and MSP George Foulkes in the House of Lords on 15th October 2007:

"Lord Foulkes of Cumnock: My Lords, I thank my noble friend for not giving a birthday present to the noble Baroness. I tell my noble friend, the noble Baroness and her colleagues that the introduction of proportional representation in Scotland has been an absolute tragedy. We have seen chaos, confusion and cuts. At local government level, we see the Liberal Democrats in an unholy alliance with the Scottish National Party. Will my noble friend assure us that, because of this experience, we will stick to the tried and tested system of first past the post, which has given us stability in this country for decades and centuries?"

Hang on wasn't our George elected to the Scottish Parliament as a Regional List MSP ... using a form of proportional representation? Obviously not a personal "tragedy" for our George then.

Oh! George.

It appears that Labour MSP Lord George Foulkes is losing friends fast.

Fresh from antagonising just about everyone in the Scottish Parliament and helping to cost the Scottish Labour Party nearly £20,000 in a pay off to facilitate the early departure of the Scottish Labour Party’s former spokesman, Brian Lironi, it appears that George’s interventions in the House of Lords are now starting to upset their Lordships. From the House of Lords Hansard for 8th October 2007:

“Lord Foulkes of Cumnock (Labour): My Lords, will my noble friend—

“Noble Lords: Oh!

“Lord Foulkes of Cumnock (Labour): My Lords, thank you for that warm welcome back. Noble Lords may actually agree with me, in a few moments ..."

How long can this go on?

2. Carol Fox.

Mr Smith really shouldn't be all that surprised at the latest outburst from Labour MSP Lord Foulkes as reported in various of the Sunday newspapers, but Mr Smith highlights the one from the Sunday Herald:

"Wendy Alexander's honeymoon as Scottish Labour leader has ended abruptly after one of her senior MSPs described her new spin doctor as an "idiot". Lord Foulkes, a Labour member for Lothians, has made a complaint about the party's head of communications, Brian Lironi, for allegedly briefing against him. The MSP also slammed former Labour first minister Henry McLeish, who has criticised his party in recent weeks, by describing him as a "strange guy" who should "shut up"."

Mr Smith suspects that Lord Foulkes' comments are deliberately designed to get him into trouble. He suspects Lord Foulkes really doesn't want to be a Member of the Scottish Parliament, didn't expect to be elected to it and would prefer to spend more of his time in the House of Lords and in the Caribbean.

Mr Smith is going out on a limb, but he suspects that Labour's number two candidate on the Lothians Parliamentary list in May's Scottish Parliament elections, Carol Fox, will find herself in the Scottish Parliament before the end of the year, if not sooner. Over to you George .... please prove Mr Smith wrong.

Higher expenses please.

Mr Smith reads that Labour MSP, Lord George Foulkes, thinks that the average Member of the Scottish Parliament, “works harder” than a Westminster Member of Parliament.

What’s the catch I hear you ask, given that Lord Foulkes isn’t exactly renowned as one of the staunchest advocates of devolution? Well Lord Foulkes’ comments are probably not totally unrelated to the fact he was giving evidence to the Holyrood inquiry considering MSPs allowances, and that he advocated, during his evidence, increasing Regional MSPs’ expenses. He is of course one these himself.

Now Lord Foulkes has hardly been in the Scottish Parliament five minutes, spends a lot of his time in the House of Lords and runs his own government affairs consultancy, which probably doesn’t leave him with a lot of time to do any of these jobs properly, but Mr Smith thinks that it will take a lot of convincing to persuade the lumpen proletariate in Scotland that some MSPs deserve even higher expenses than they already receive.

For Foulkes sake.

Labour "attack dog" Labour MSP Lord George Foulkes manages to make it onto the front page of the Scotsman with his claim that the SNP administration at Holyrood is fuelling anti-English sentiment with a risk of inciting racist incidents.

Is this really the best that Labour can do to try and bring down the SNP "Government"?

Wisely the SNP fielded one its MSPs, Nigel Don, to refute Lord Foulkes' claims. A wise move given that Nigel Don was ... er ... born in England.

Mr Smith thinks that perhaps Lord Foulkes should be spending more time on matters in the House of Lords.

Congitive dissonance.

It used to be politicians about to enter government who worried about how the civil servants would respond when there was a change of government, whether they would ignore the priorities of a new government and keep going on as if there had been no change (cognitive dissonance), or indeed actively oppose change. But it would appear that it these fears are no longer just shared by the party coming into power ... but also by the party leaving power.

Mr Smith notes in today's press suggestions of civil service bias towards the SNP being levelled by opposition parties and in particular by Labour MSP George Foulkes who says "I'm forced to pose serious questions about the impartiality of the civil service. Sir John's fawning remarks highlight the importance of a UK-wide civil service which can share knowledge and experience whilst also enshrining impartiality at its core."

There is tremendous irony in Lord Foulkes comments, not least because for the last fifty years Labour has run government by default across Scotland and has virtually erased the distinction between the civil service and government since the 1997 UK General Election when Labour came to power, where they have been ever since. So, if the civil service in Scotland is "fawning" after Alex Salmond's first hundred days in power then it makes Mr Smith wonder how they are behaving in London after ten years.

Short term memo-ry.

Yesterday, Mr Smith commented on the reported leak of a "secret memo"criticising the Scottish Labour Party's recent Scottish Parliament election campaign. A memo which was written by former Scottish Executive Special Adviser Adrian Colwell.

Today, Mr Smith notes that the Labour Party has not been slow to attack the memo with a story in today's Scotsman distancing the Party from the criticism, indeed some rather strong language is used in relation to the position of Mr Colwell in the 'dog days' of the last Scottish Executive.

Expressions like, "George Foulkes, a Labour MSP, said the memo was "totally irrelevant", adding: "He [Mr Colwell] had a relatively peripheral part in the campaign." And "... a source close to Mr McConnell said Mr Colwell was "out of touch" in the latter days of Mr McConnell's term as first minister, with more involvement with the Liberal Democrat camp. He said: "[The memo] is Adrian Colwell's personal reflections and not borne out by reality in any way." "

Reminds Mr Smith of the old adage: methinks they doth protest too much. But these comments beg the obvious points. Mr Colwell was recruited to join the Scottish Executive in 2002 and remained with them until the dissolution of the last Executive administration in 2007. He was recruited as a Labour Special Adviser, and served at the pleasure of the First Minister. If he was so "out of touch" with what Executive Ministers were thinking then why didn't they remove him long before the election, and if his judgement was so off kilter why was the taxpayer still picking up the tab for his salary when at least some of the advice he was offering was "not borne out be reality in any way"?

Its worth also noting that in 2002 in commenting on the members of Team McConnell, the Scotsman refered to Mr Colwell as being part of a "circle of supportive lieutenants ... [to whom McConnell] will turn frequently." Very out of touch then.