It takes all types

June 29th, 2009

It is often said that politicians are all the same and there is only the colour of our party rosettes to distinguish us.

But during their time in politics, MSPs will often pick up their own little issues, hobbyhorses and bugbears, and no bad thing.

Some of mine will be well known to you – tough action on knives, better protection for vulnerable children and the rights of asbestos workers are themes well aired on these pages.

Yet some of the topics my fellow MSPs pick up on often leave me baffled and this week was no different.

In the week the Scottish Parliament considered one of its most significant pieces of legislation, the Climate Change Bill, one of my colleagues was more preoccupied with Scots language being introduced to supermarkets.

I am not sure who exactly would benefit from potatoes, turnips and blackberries being replaced with ‘tatties’, ‘neeps’ and ‘brambles’ but it certainly raised a few discussions around Holyrood.

Extra powers for the country were being debated this week following the Calman report, yet others were more interested in whether the Scotland football team are going to be playing on the BBC.

While it took the Scottish Government months to get involved when jobs where threatened at TSC in Greenock, the First Minister no less couldn’t wait to steam in when a silly management decision stopped National Library staff displaying all things Scottish.

And in the week a damning report was published into protection services for vulnerable kids in Dundee, one MSP was more interested in restoring the reputation of Captain Kidd, who was hanged for piracy three centuries ago.

While climate change, constitutional reform, job losses and child protection issues are on the agenda, it makes me wonder who is asking their MSPs about haggis, neeps and long-dead pirates.

But I suppose it takes all types to make a parliament and we certainly have them in Holyrood.