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AMID the apocalyptic warnings there isn’t a lot to find amusing at COP26. Which is as it should be. Serious times and all that.
But if you were determined to mine a few wry smiles from the occasion there is always the publicity battle going on between Nicola Sturgeon and Boris Johnson. After the thrilla in Manila (Ali/Frazier) and the rumble in the jungle (Ali/Foreman) we give you the rumpus on the campus, the KO at the Hydro, Armageddon at the Armadillo … you get the idea.
The tussle for media attention came out into the open at The Conservative Party conference of 2019 when Boris Johnson told activists of his plans to brand COP26 as a UK event.
“I don't mind seeing a Saltire or two, but I want to see the Union flag and I don't want to see Nicola Sturgeon anywhere near it,” he said.
In response, the First Minister said all that mattered was COP26 delivering an outcome to meet the Paris Agreement of limiting global warming to 1.5 degrees, and politics should not get in the way of that.
Fast forward to the day world leaders began arriving at the summit and newspaper ads from the SNP proclaimed, “A nation in waiting welcomes the nations of the world”.
While opposition MSPs were unimpressed with what they saw as a push for independence, the FM was today unrepentant, saying the ads were simply welcoming visitors to Scotland.
It would be a strange political leader who did not take advantage of the eyes of the world being on their country. Can anyone imagine her predecessor holding back? Boris Johnson, meanwhile, has hardly wanted for publicity, including those must-have “family photos” with fellow premiers.
FM and PM have chosen different tacks, with Ms Sturgeon almost positioning herself as an outsider. Hence the photo with Greta Thunberg. She has made it her job to raise expectations, while the PM seems to be doing his best to lower them.
Both have a stake in the conference being a success. Ms Sturgeon wants to show the SNP-led Glasgow in a favourable light (or at least not have it portrayed as a tip), while Mr Johnson sees COP26 as part of the push to show “global Britain” reclaiming its place in the world.
Win or lose, neither will give up the publicity fight till the last camera has gone.
AMID the apocalyptic warnings there isn’t a lot to find amusing at COP26. Which is as it should be. Serious times and all that.
But if you were determined to mine a few wry smiles from the occasion there is always the publicity battle going on between Nicola Sturgeon and Boris Johnson. After the thrilla in Manila (Ali/Frazier) and the rumble in the jungle (Ali/Foreman) we give you the rumpus on the campus, the KO at the Hydro, Armageddon at the Armadillo … you get the idea.
The tussle for media attention came out into the open at The Conservative Party conference of 2019 when Boris Johnson told activists of his plans to brand COP26 as a UK event.
“I don't mind seeing a Saltire or two, but I want to see the Union flag and I don't want to see Nicola Sturgeon anywhere near it,” he said.
In response, the First Minister said all that mattered was COP26 delivering an outcome to meet the Paris Agreement of limiting global warming to 1.5 degrees, and politics should not get in the way of that.
Fast forward to the day world leaders began arriving at the summit and newspaper ads from the SNP proclaimed, “A nation in waiting welcomes the nations of the world”.
While opposition MSPs were unimpressed with what they saw as a push for independence, the FM was today unrepentant, saying the ads were simply welcoming visitors to Scotland.
It would be a strange political leader who did not take advantage of the eyes of the world being on their country. Can anyone imagine her predecessor holding back? Boris Johnson, meanwhile, has hardly wanted for publicity, including those must-have “family photos” with fellow premiers.
FM and PM have chosen different tacks, with Ms Sturgeon almost positioning herself as an outsider. Hence the photo with Greta Thunberg. She has made it her job to raise expectations, while the PM seems to be doing his best to lower them.
Both have a stake in the conference being a success. Ms Sturgeon wants to show the SNP-led Glasgow in a favourable light (or at least not have it portrayed as a tip), while Mr Johnson sees COP26 as part of the push to show “global Britain” reclaiming its place in the world.
Win or lose, neither will give up the publicity fight till the last camera has gone.
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