ONE of the keys to success in politics in keeping yourself in the public eye.
This week, David Mundell gave a masterclass in the practice.
With the mediaโs attention focused on the Tory leadership race, the Scottish Secretary found the perfect way to insert himself into the news cycle.
Key to the strategy is adopt a position that will grab peopleโs attention โ a completely contradictory one, for example.
WATCH: David Mundell squirms when asked about old Boris Johnson quote
Asked by ITV Borders if he would serve in a cabinet led by Johnson, Mundell claimed: โIโve never said that I wouldnโt serve under a Boris Johnson government.โ
Thatโll do it.
Remember, in December last year Mundell told the BBC: โGiven my views about Mr Johnson, which are well known, that would be extremely difficult.
โMr Johnson and I donโt agree on a whole range of issues and I donโt see myself being able to serve in that way.โ
'I have never said I wouldn't serve in a Boris Johnson government' @DavidMundellDCT tells us, when challenged on his previous comments about the Tory leadership frontrunner.
โ Representing Border (@ITVBorderRB) June 13, 2019
The Scottish Secretary today revealed he voted for Matt Hancock pic.twitter.com/ily8XmVGjz
And so for the next 58 seconds, the Scottish Secretary stuck to his guns, despite repeated reminders from the interviewer that he was contradicting himself.
It made for a truly excruciating watch โ exactly the kind of stuff thatโll catch peopleโs attention.
Judging by the response on Twitter, Mundell did just that.
MP Mhairi Black expressed solidarity with him, recalling having to face a similar dilemma.
I have never said I would push my granny aff a bus, but Iโve been very careful not to rule it out, regardless of whether or not sheโs my mammyโs mammy. https://t.co/LMCoiHFW5B
โ Mhairi Black MP (@MhairiBlack) June 13, 2019
Scottish football pundit Michael Stewart put it a bit more bluntly.
Pathetic, embarrassing & unbecoming @DavidMundellDCT itโs quite clear to everyone that you have no self respect so how on earth would you stand up for Scotland when you donโt even stand up for yourself.
โ Michael Stewart (@mstewart_23) June 14, 2019
He is by no means alone..... https://t.co/KrOESn2QyS
National columnist Andrew Tickell was full of praise for the โTory triangulation strategyโ.
I see the Scottish Tory triangulation strategy, that there is and has never been an "Operation Arse," continues to go as well as can be expected. https://t.co/anl0IxsawV
โ PeatWorrier (@PeatWorrier) June 13, 2019
Independence campaigner Doug Daniel did Mundell the honour of comparing him to Ruth Davidson.
No matter what Ruth Davidson says or does, she can always rely on Mundell being a bigger coward. What an absolute embarrassment to this country. https://t.co/mpRSCr2Zxv
โ Doug Daniel (@DouglasDaniel) June 13, 2019
SNP politician Paul Monaghan got to grips with the Scottish Secretaryโs new position.
Mr Mundell has ruled himself back in to serving in a Boris Johnson government. https://t.co/QIL8XZDmAt
โ Dr Paul Monaghan (@_PaulMonaghan) June 13, 2019
Councillor Elena Whitham commented on his political flexibility.
Sleekit, slippery sham of a Scottish Secretary. Mundell the epitome of a weather vane politician #cannaebetrusted https://t.co/sg1SlSvAHl
โ Cllr Elena Whitham (@ElenaWhitham) June 14, 2019
The tributes didnโt end there โฆ
For f*ck sake! If you have a delicate stomach I recommend you dont watch this..... https://t.co/XP1t7bgKat
โ YES Eildons ๐ด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ณ๓ ฃ๓ ด๓ ฟ๐ช๐บ (@YesEildons) June 13, 2019
"I strongly implied something when I thought it wouldn't happen, but now that it is happening I don't want to be held to it" is very UK politics 2016-19. https://t.co/6ecxrGeT5k
โ Duncan Hothersall ๐น (@dhothersall) June 13, 2019
This is Scotland's Tory 'Secretary of State' in all his bewildered glory. Aren't we lucky ๐https://t.co/IavwswEUcq
โ SuperAye (@SuperAyeDotCom) June 13, 2019ย
See if this was my MP, I'd be raging. https://t.co/7ApihGisFW
โ ๐ฃ๐ฎ๐๐น ๐๐ถ๐๐ธ๐ฒ๐ป ๐ด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ณ๓ ฃ๓ ด๓ ฟ๐ช๐บ (@mrpaulaitken) June 13, 2019
Oh my this does not look good https://t.co/NODCkBIPXt
โ Ross McCafferty (@RossMcCaff) June 13, 2019
This is a spectacularly embarrassing interview performance from David Mundell.
โ Scott Macdonald (@scottymacadamia) June 13, 2019
It is a genuine struggle to envisage a worse Scottish Secretaty than him.#ConservativeLeadership https://t.co/zJa7bzLQMA
I used to hear David Mundell and almost always get a bit annoyed at what I heard.
โ Neil Hay (@Hay_NW) June 13, 2019
Nowadays I find it impossible not to laugh - often out loud. https://t.co/FP4rq8zR1b
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