Guido doesn’t usually do local, particularly not local Scotland. However this is a bit too fun to ignore. Some thoughtless council official has made the mistake of putting this minute on the North Lanarkshire council website and it has put into the public domain the entire short list of applicants for the job as their Head of Spin.

Looks like there is a rush to get out out of the Dead Tree Press and into the safe harbour of the public sector with easy hours and gold plated pensions to accompany the job security.

• “J. Allardyce” must be Jason Allardyce, associate editor of the Sunday Times Scotland.
• “A.F. Carlin” could be Tony Carlin, Group Content Editor of Herald newspapers
• “J.B. Currie” could be Brian Currie, former Evening Times’ political editor and now group political editor of Herald newspapers
• “S. Dalgety” is probably Susan Dalgety, a former Labour councillor and aide to First Minister Jack McConnell and formerly of publishers Holyrood Communications.
• “T.J.J. Little” must be Tom Little, Scotland on Sunday columnist
• “S. Penman” is almost certainly Stephen Penman, currently Deputy Editor, Sunday Herald
• “K.C. Symon” sounds like Ken Symon, currently with public affairs company McGarvie Morrison Media

One surprise, “J.P. Murdoch” – surely things can’t be that bad….