He's Free.

So, SNP Government Minister Mike Russell MSP has decided to resign from the Freemasons apparently in case anyone thought he might be up to no good.

"A SENIOR minister has resigned from the Freemasons because he felt that membership of the organisation would leave him open to criticism. Michael Russell, who has responsibility for the environment, has quit the Bute lodge after being admitted four years ago. A spokesperson for first minister Alex Salmond said he had "no idea" if other ministers were Freemasons."

Mr Smith has no issue with anyone being a member of the Masons and that extends to Government Ministers as long as that is declared by public officials to avoid any suggestions of impropriety. Mr Russell shouldn't have felt it necessary to resign, but the most telling thing is that the Scottish Government doesn't appear to know or even want to know which other of its Ministers are Freemasons. It should. As should the public.

On The Cheap.

"CELEBRITIES were urged to help promote Scotland for free amid claims that many demand "impossible" fees. Business and tourism chiefs called for well-known Scots personalities to get on board for the "greater good" and back attempts to attract the Scots Diaspora back home next year."

If the Scottish Government and its agencies choose to spend millions of pounds of public money on flashy campaigns promoting Scotland as a destination they should expect to have pay the appropriate fees if they want Scotland's stars to feature in them. It's a bit naive to expect them to do anything else. Would Members of the Scottish Parliament be happy to do their jobs for free?