News Digest

Apparently Cockenzie power station is on fire. Which plant was it the Green party visited again? Those in green houses shouldn't throw sticks, but maybe they light fires? (Just joking, before the lawsuits come rolling in!)

A child has died in the US as a result of Swine Flu, one can't help but hear that he may be the first of many. The only silver lining that can be plucked is that pandemics greatly reduce out global footprint. Given that the number of Scottish cases is up to 23, I'll be twitchy taking the germ-ridden bus let alone a plane.

Nick Clegg seems to have had a rare win at PMQs today, his oft-used line of "If someone is prepared to die for this country they should be allowed to live in this country." seems to be the soundbite of the day, according to Tom Harris on Twitter (who has posted so many messages it is surely bordering on spam!)

Tory council leader has won a vote of confidence by 6 to 5. The casting vote? His own one. It doesn't augur well for the Tories in Edinburgh coming up to the election. Maybe I shouldn't have placed that bet on the blues winning 7 seats in 2010 after all.

It seems Labour are turning to Eddie Izzard to save their electoral skins. I doubt it'll work, we've known the party have been full of comedians for the past decade.

And, finally, a scorchingly good piece from Daniel Finkelstein in The Times. I can't help but feel he is letting the nihilistic British public off the hook but his drawing comparisons between Old Sarum circa 1802 and Erith and Thamestead 2009 is simply excellent. It's pieces like this that ensure newspapers need to worry about the threat of bloggers. Cream rises to the top.


PS Bloggers meet-up, tonight, 7pm, Albanach, Royal Mile. Look out for the guy in the green jumper.