What do you do when you’re running a stuttering at best election campaign in your own backyard?
Do you: Knock as many doors as possible in an attempt to become a well-known and trusted face locally? Refine your message to make sure it cuts through to voters?
Or do you send out a mass email to everyone in your party, lots of people in opposition parties and, finally, issue a press release telling anyone who will listen that “people simply don’t trust” your party?
Well, Lesley Brennan has gone for that last option. The nuclear option, you might say.
It certainly blows up any slim chance she might have had of getting elected to Westminster.
Given Stewart Hosie’s recent rise in profile as his party’s depute leader and massive SNP poll leads, Dundee East has looked an unlikely gain for Labour for a wee while now, even though it is technically a target seat.
But sending an email to a whack of SNP politicians including Dundee MSPs Shona Robison and Joe FitzPatrick as well as Westminster leader Angus Robertson and Tories such as Murdo Fraser, who probably thought his former university classmate wanted some political advice after all these years, is simple stupidity.
Especially when, in a week where George Osborne played Santa by handing out Tory tax presents, it is loaded with phrases like “people are fed up with Labour”.
Oh, plus this killer line: “We really feel that any other option (than electing Katy Clark as deputy leader) would be a surefire path to defeat next year and in 2016.”
Labour members may believe Ayrshire MP Clark is a better bet for the number two job than shadow education secretary Kezia Dugdale, although I doubt it, but this hyperbole reeks of early excuses for a potentially humiliating defeat.
What’s the point in being given a full-time campaign organiser, as Brennan has been, if you think your hopes hinge on a low-profile west coast MP being second in charge of the Scottish party?
I suppose it’s easier to say these things when you’re almost certain to end up in Holyrood whatever happens. Brennan is next on the North East list system and will replace Richard Baker if his bid to get to an Aberdeen seat at Westminster is successful.
Even with that being the case, the local councillor should be doing some serious thinking about her position if, as expected, Dugdale wins the deputy leadership race.
* WHEN SHE’S not apparently singlehandedly causing the death of the Labour Party in Scotland, Kezia Dugdale does like to treat her staff to some breakfast.
If Katy Clark’s team really wanted to attack, they should have gone on what she and Gareth Lodge scoffed for their first meals of the day whilst on the hustings trail this week.
Macaroni pie for him and caramel shortie for her not exactly the healthy options!
* THERE WAS a real-life celeb in Holyrood this week but it turns out our TV star was trying to muscle in on the media tower’s jobs.
Impressionist and comedian Rory Bremner was spotted strolling out of the ministerial lift and subsequently stalking the corridors of (devolved) power.
Turns out he had an interview with First Minister Nicola Sturgeon for a Christmas special TV show. There’s been no shortage of material for him this year!
* IT’S BACK to the science books for the First Minister, though, I’m afraid.
Nicola Sturgeon described London as having “a centrifugal pull” during a big economic speech this week, leading some irate pedants to cite their high school qualifications.
“Centrifuges push. They don’t pull,” said one. “Anyone doing standard grade chemistry or physics knows what a centrifuge is!” Fair enough, I failed both…
* NOW HE no longer has a spot at the top of the ministerial tower, Alex Salmond has been given a new office on the third floor of Holyrood’s MSP block. The First Minister adds his name to a list of great and awful people to occupy the space.
Wife beater Bill Walker worked out of it but, on a more positive note, Margo Macdonald also brought her vigour and verve to that particular workplace.
* LABOUR’S NEIL Findlay got all self-centred when it came to Gordon Brown’s retirement. Wrapped up in his leadership bid, he made a bit of a booboo.
A press release was issued: “Neil Findlay MSP praises Neil Findlay’s huge contribution.” It only took half an hour for a second email with the subject: “CORRECTION Neil Findlay praises Gordon Brown’s record (but you knew that)”.