John McTernan

Interesting news in today's Scotsman that John McTernan, previously Tony Blair's politicial secretary at Downing Street, has been appointed special adviser to Des Browne, the Scottish Secretary, so there is in fact life after Blair. McTernan is a bright and decent chap who also used to do a thoughtful column for Scotland on Sunday; this blog wishes him well, particularly as he has to help reconcile his new boss's line on extra powers for the Scottish Parliament with Wendy Alexander's, which the Scotsman seems to think are in conflict.

Update: 23 August 2007
Not so, reports the Scotsman today. On a visit to Edinburgh yesterday, the Scottish Secretary insisted that he meant the SNP's referendum white paper was a 'Trojan Horse' for independence, not greater powers for Holyrood.