The real issue behind the conviction of Jim Devine

Jim Devine, the former Labour MP for Livingston, was today convicted of two offences under the Theft Act. Caron's Musings fairly describes it as "an inglorious end to a chaotic career" and provides enough background to suggest that is rather a kind judgement on him.

The deeper question that watching the video above gives rise to is how such a stupid, incoherent figure ever got elected to parliament in the first place. The answer must have something to with the curse of the safe seat and Scottish Labour's cynical machine politics.