DOUGLAS Alexander usually seems pretty pleased with himself.
The Scottish Secretary has much to be pleased about. He defenestrated Ian Murray in spectacular fashion last year and has since become one of the UK Government’s better communicators in the media. Not to damn him with faint praise.
And in the increasingly likely event Keir Starmer gets the boot, he’ll fancy his chances of a big promotion under the new boss.
But it seems not everyone is so enamoured with Alexander the Great.
The Scottish Secretary is said to have been desperate to give a speech at Thursday’s Commonwealth Games reception hosted by the First Minister.
Relationships between Alexander and John Swinney are not what they could be.
Swinney blasted the Scottish Secretary’s “juvenile” response when he wrote to request a briefing on a Russian-flagged oil tanker which was seized by the US Coast Guard and then moored in Scotland.
Pride, as they say, comes before a fall. We’ve been passed an email which shows the UK Government said that Alexander wanted to attend the Commonwealth Games shindig but only on the proviso that he’d get a speaking slot.
To Alexander’s chagrin, no invitation was forthcoming. In his stead went Sports Minister Stephanie Peacock. Alexander himself would tell you that's what they call a downgrade.
READ MORE: Anas Sarwar says John Swinney 'misled Holyrood with an invented quote'. Did he?
Still, not one to pass up the opportunity to hear the sound of his own voice and finding himself at a loose end that night, he opted to appear on Question Time instead.
A source inside the Scottish Government told the Worst of Westminster: “Douglas is famed for his vanity, but this really takes the biscuit. He’s thrown his toys out the pram because he wasn’t given top billing at a Scottish Government event.
“Feverish with main character syndrome, Douglas chose to snub Scottish athletes at this key event to serve his own interests on the telly.
“But there’s been whispers in the civil service for weeks that Douglas has been on an ego trip since he stabbed his pal Ian Murray in the back for the top job.”
Alexander’s ego may find some solace the next time he is in Edinburgh; a nice portrait of the man himself has been hung beside no lesser figure than King Charles at the Scotland Office's headquarters in the capital. Judge a man by the company he keeps.
A UK Government spokesperson said: “The Sports Minister was delighted to attend the First Minister’s reception on behalf of the UK Government.
“The UK Government is helping to bring the Commonwealth Games to Glasgow by providing £2.3 million to underwrite the security costs. It will be a fantastic sporting event as well as a big boost for Glasgow.”
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