IF there’s one thing politicians are good at, it’s photo opportunities. Just ask Willie Rennie.
And if there’s one thing global conferences such as COP26 are good for, it’s photo ops.
Leaders have been queueing up to take snaps with each other, from Boris Johnson with Narendra Modi (below), to Nicola Sturgeon with Angela Merkel.
However, it seems that this pretty standard behaviour from politicians worldwide has irked some - but only when it’s Scots politicians doing it.
“Not sure about Scot Gov ministers tweeting pics everytime they bump into a current or former politician from another country. Does it make them look like fan boys and girls? Should we be so in awe? Does it make us look small? Should it make the front page of a national newspaper?” Holyrood magazine editor Mandy Rhodes tweeted earlier on Friday.
Predictably perhaps considering the jibe was aimed at politicians, a lot of politicians have a thing or two to say about that.
“This is literally the most normal thing - especially at an international summit. Ditch the cringe,” SNP MP Stewart McDonald responded.
This is literally the most normal thing - especially at an international summit. Ditch the cringe. https://t.co/hbuRISYA2a
— Stewart McDonald MP (@StewartMcDonald) November 5, 2021
“Only in Scotland would our elected representatives engaging in diplomacy be questioned like this,” one Marcus Carslaw added.
“Ach, much better for journos if they don’t ‘cos they can then be accused of having secret meetings,” former cabinet secretary Roseanna Cunningham quipped, adding: “Are you seriously trying to manufacture a grievance out of this?”
Former MSP Paul Wheelhouse said: “Surely it’s especially useful, post-Brexit and in context of trade disputes/actions elsewhere, to show folk Scotland are well-engaged with EU members and other nations and that those others are interested in what Scottish Gov’t & their agencies are doing on the Climate Emergency?”
One Roddy McGlynn pointed out the obvious - that this tendency is far from exclusive to “Scot Gov ministers”.
https://t.co/5XhVDfIaZP pic.twitter.com/ZC9NAFB8Si
— Roddy McGlynn (@roddymcglynn) November 5, 2021
Gary Paterson added: “You only need to look at leaders from other countries to see that it's entirely normal, and I couldn't imagine their media being quite as baffled as to why we would want to communicate to the world as some appear to in Scotland.”
Quite.
Why are you making commenting on The National only available to subscribers?
We know there are thousands of National readers who want to debate, argue and go back and forth in the comments section of our stories. We’ve got the most informed readers in Scotland, asking each other the big questions about the future of our country.
Unfortunately, though, these important debates are being spoiled by a vocal minority of trolls who aren’t really interested in the issues, try to derail the conversations, register under fake names, and post vile abuse.
So that’s why we’ve decided to make the ability to comment only available to our paying subscribers. That way, all the trolls who post abuse on our website will have to pay if they want to join the debate – and risk a permanent ban from the account that they subscribe with.
The conversation will go back to what it should be about – people who care passionately about the issues, but disagree constructively on what we should do about them. Let’s get that debate started!
Callum Baird, Editor of The National
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereLast Updated:
Report this comment Cancel