Farewell Reception for Interns Dec 2010

Interns’ Farewell Reception

December 2010

Frank McAveety MSP alluded to Lewis Grassic Gibbon’s famous novel Sunset Song which ends on the image of a lamp in the window, saying that he hoped that the interns’ memory of Scotland would warmly glow like a lamplight whenever they think back on their experience in Edinburgh and the Scottish Parliament. Another eighteen students celebrated their successful conclusion of the fifteen-week-long Parliamentary Internship Programme offered through the Institute of Governance at Edinburgh University.

Professors David McCrone and Charlie Jeffery and course convener Paddy Bort thanked the students for their motivated work and expressed their hope that they gained useful insights into the politics of Scotland. And, Paddy Bort added, if ever the politics let them down, the weather was certainly something to write home about. And, indeed, some students faced problems getting home in time for Christmas, due to the severe snow conditions in Britain. Thanks were also due to Margaret MacPherson who runs the front office at Chisholm House.

David Stewart MSP had clearly done his homework. He regaled the party in St Cecilia’s Hall with a few excentricities of Colorado (where his intern hailed from); other MSPs praised the spirit in which the interns had gone about their work. Rob Gibson MSP said that the interns were making an important contribution to the Parliament through their research projects; Bob Doris MSP reminded us that he had initially been sceptical about the idea of having an intern but was now a complete convert. Jackie Baillie MSP stressed the good fun that was part of the internship as well as their committed work. And Alasdair Allan MSP commiserated with his intern who had got stuck in the snow for days in Stornaway.

All in all, the farewell reception was a jolly occasion. Accompanied by rounds of hearty applause, the interns received their certificates from David McCrone, before they all gathered for the obligatory group photograph.

This page was published on 1 March 2011