NOTHING has a more magnetic effect on politicians than good news.

Anything which people see as good and there they are, whizzing towards it at the speed of light then clinging like limpets to a rock.

Witness the Downing Street fawning over Andy Murray last year when he became Wimbledon Champion and the group of men from England who beat Australia at games of rounders a few years ago.

I don't see David Cameron clamouring over England's currnt cricket team. He doesn't want his career in ashes as well.

This week there was a positive set of unemploy-ment figures for Scotland, with the jobless rate falling by 25,000 in the last three months. Employment was up as well.

Great news, especially for those who have managed to get into work.

Even better news for the politicians who are eager to claim the credit.

Finance Secretary John Swinney was quick to gravitate towards the statistics. He said it was proof the policies of the Scottish Government were working and Angela Constance, his youth employment minister said it was down to her efforts on behalf of young people.

SCOTTISH Secretary Alistair Carmichael's office released the figures and he wants to claim the credit for the UK Government.

He said the fact the sun is now poking through the jobs gloom is down to his Westminster Coalition pals George Osborne and Danny Alexander.

He said the "difficult and responsible decisions" of the UK Government's long-term plan is working.

All of a sudden the magnetic good news field is getting a bit crowded - it can only take so much, someone has to go.

So Mr Carmichael says it is proof that the UK is working for Scotland.

"The figures reflect how well Scotland is doing as part of the UK" is how he put it. I don't recall his predecessor or the Chancellor taking the blame when the figures were on the rise and youth unemployment was at crisis point.

No statement from the Scotland Office along the lines of 'Well, this really shows we don't know what we're doing and frankly Scotland would be better off shot of us."

Similarly Mr Swinney said the improving news for UK and Scotland on unemployment was more reason for Scotland to go it alone. He said Scotland's economic health was improving "with the limited powers over the economy we have".

When joblessness was rising, it was proof we needed independence. Now it's getting better it's also proof we need independence.

It's little wonder people don't believe a word politicians say.