THE expenses scandal engulfing Westminster shows how inept MSPs are when it comes to fiddling the public purse. Henry McLeish was forced to resign as First Minister when his "muddle not a fiddle" cost him his job.

The row over his office expenses hardly compares with Alistair Darling, the Chancellor - should that be Chancer? - of the Exchequer's flipping of homes to jack up his allowances, always "within the rules", of course.

Mr Darling may have made a mess of the country's finances but he certainly knows how to look after his own.

It would almost make you feel sorry for David McLetchie who quit as Scottish Tory party leader over a few dodgy taxi fares.

That's not really in the same league as Douglas Hogg who claimed for the cost of having his moat cleared, piano tuned and stable lights fixed at his country manor house on his second home allowance.

What this expenses rip-off shows is how well the scrutiny of expenses at Holyrood compares to Westminster.

Reforms were introduced when LibDem Keith Raffan resigned on health grounds after it emerged he had claimed car mileage equal to three times round the world.

And then, of course, there was the discredited Edinburgh accommodation allowance which allows MSPs outwith commuting distance of the capital to charge the public for mortgage interest on property in Edinburgh. That's to be abolished in 2011.

As more details of the Westminster outrage emerge, it appears more MPs have swimming pools at their homes than some MSPs have in their constituencies.

The SNP attack on Glasgow City Council leader Steven Purcell for clearing his diary to campaign in a local council by-election was to be expected.

After all, how could he possibly pass up the chance to meet Education Secretary Fiona Hyslop?

According to the SNP, Mr Purcell is letting the city down, and Scottish National Party MSP for Glasgow Bob Doris condemned him as "part-time" Purcell and accused him of abandoning his constituents.

It's a reasonable line of attack but raises a couple of interesting questions over the SNP's own behaviour.

The by-election was caused by the resignation as a councillor of Bill Kidd who became an MSP two years ago and has held down both jobs ever since.

He may not have let his constituents down but his shadow has seldom darkened the City Chambers committee rooms since he was elected to Holyrood.

Then there's three-jobs Salmond - First Minister, MSP and MP.

The nationalists have every right to score points during the election campaign and the only surprise about the attack was the tepid response from Mr Purcell.

Scottish politics can be depressing at times and that seems to be borne out by the reaction to a new book, published this week, on the 10 years of devolution.

According to online retailer Amazon, people who have bought the book are also buying Leonard Cohen albums - so don't pick it up if you're looking for a good laugh.