The Scottish Tories have taken on John Read as their head of communications for the election. John was previously Paddy Ashdown's public relations adviser. John has obviously been to work already and just this week Annabel had a full page feature by Catherine MacLeod in The Herald. Presumably John's work as Catherine is Westminster based and he will know her well.
However, there is only so much a PR person can do when the "product" being sold isn't really up for changing.
Annabel made a fair enough point when she said: "I do think the world of Scottish politics is quite a macho environment. For instance, it is predominantly populated by men on the media side. I think slightly different criteria are applied by the media when they are looking at a prominent woman politician and I have been quite struck by some of the comments that have been made about me which I know would never have been made about a man. Observations like matronly, aunt-like, comfy and all the rest of it. I just don't think these remarks would be made about a man of comparable age and I find that quite intriguing".
I completely agree with her, but really, is that the message to be putting across when presented with a great full page feature article opportunity? Surely she should be promoting her dynamism, thirst for power, pointing out how things could be so different if everything wasn't so tightly controlled and dominated by the Labour Party and other left wing groups.
It was quite clear throughout the rest of the article that she is impressed that Cameron has turned the party around down south, but has no intentions of following that plan in Scotland. Great.
(Now into week three without broadband and started pleading with people at BT to even talk to me.)
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