Boris Johnson’s campaign to become the next rector of Edinburgh University didn’t go exactly to plan last week when the UK shadow minister for higher education tried to demonstrate his archery prowess at the university sports centre.
The mop-topped MP is well used to the slings and arrows of politics, but failed three times to hit the target “by a mile”, according to onlookers. Unconcerned, Boris quipped: “That’s why we’re against targets.”
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Willie Rennie wasn’t the only Liberal Democrat winner feeling pleased with himself last week. Neil MacKinnon, the party’s Scottish press officer, was looking equally chuffed, having taken a £5 bet at 20-1 from Paul Hutcheon, the Sunday Herald’s political editor, that the Scottish National party would beat the Lib Dems. MacKinnon is looking forward to spending his winnings on a trip to America.
Patrick Harvie, the Green MSP who once likened himself to Gandhi, has become the first Scottish politician to take part in an experiment in parenting skills by looking after an artificial baby for 24 hours. The good news for gay dads is that Patrick managed to get an 85% score. The “baby” requires to be fed, watered and changed or it becomes cranky. Harvie’s only serious trouble occurred during a rush-hour train journey between Glasgow and Edinburgh when the baby threw a tantrum, drawing miffed looks from onlookers. He says his experiment for the Fairbridge charity hasn’t left him feeling broody.