Iain Gray: Smokin'

Spotted today outside the entrance to the Scottish Parliament, new leader of the Labour group Iain Gray puffing away on a cigarette.

Don’t get me wrong, I don’t expect our politicians to be saints (and indeed, if I did, I’d be heading for a massive disappointment) and if smoking is something that Iain Gray finds he wants/ needs to do then I don’t think it should be politicised.

I’m not against smoking per se. I was happy that the smoking ban was brought in – as much for the health benefits as for returning home of an evening at the pub and not reeking of smoke. If a person wants to smoke then that is their prerogative.

However, there are times and places for things. Having a sly puff outside the parliament is all very well for a junior parliamentary assistant or a member of the security or catering staff. It’s a wee bit different when the person doing the puffing is the leader of the main opposition party – the person who Labour hope will be the next First Minister.

Much has been made of Alex Salmond building up the role of First Minister, making it much more statesmanlike and powerful. I don’t know if he smokes or not but I do know this – you wouldn’t see him outside the building having a puff on a ciggie between meetings.

I know, I know. Former Presiding Officer George Reid was oft seen outside the building, chatting to people, cigarette in hand. And numerous MSPs are occasionally spotted smoking outside. Why one rule for one and one for another?

Well, for a start, I don’t make the rules. But I think the point is this. George Reid isn’t projecting himself as the next First Minister of Scotland. Iain Gray is. If he is serious about that ambition then maybe the parliamentary fag breaks have to go. Or, at the very least, they need to be less public.