McConnell faces uncomfortable day

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When the first minister said he was "very happy to help the police" with their cash for honours inquiries it was a thin veil for his true feelings.

Jack McConnell could do without his name being publicly linked with this investigation, especially when he's trying to fight a crucial election campaign.

Jack McConnell offered to give evidence in writing to the policeOfficially, he describes his interview with officers from Scotland Yard in London on December the 15th as a "distraction"

from the Holyrood contest.

Unofficially, he's let it be known the interview was not, in his view, the best use of his time or police time.

Apparently, he offered to give evidence in writing. It seems the Metropolitan Police insisted on meeting him face to face.

A source close to the first minister said the episode has left him "irritated".

No wonder. Jack McConnell's now been drawn into a police inquiry triggered by his principle political opponents, the SNP, when he's trying to stop them challenging for power.

That means uncomfortable headlines for the leader of Labour's Scottish Parliament campaign, when not even the Nationalists think he's done anything wrong.

Routine move

The SNP leader, Alex Salmond, says he doesn't think "anybody seriously believes the first minister, personally, has been selling titles for cash".

Jack McConnell has only nominated one person to the house of Lords, the former Lord Advocate Colin Boyd who now sits as a cross-bencher.

Lord Boyd of Duncansby is not thought to have donated anything more than an occasional bottle of whisky to the Labour Party, of which he is a member.

It is routine for Lord Advocates, including Colin Boyd, to be made life peers

It is routine for Lord Advocates to be made life peers.

Colin Boyd was nominated fin 2004 but his appointment was delayed until last year because of the general election in 2005.

It is that delay which seems to have brought it within the scope of the police investigation.

What impact will all this have on the election campaign? Mr McConnell's team say "none whatsoever".

They may be right. After all, the first minister was interviewed as a witness and not under caution. He's not expecting further questions.

Then again, the mere association with the cash for honours inquiry is unlikely to be a vote winner for Scottish Labour.