Republican John McCain might have been advised to take some lessons from a Northern school pupil. With the countdown approaching to the elections in America, an equally intense election was taking place at Dame Allan's School, when Ian Joseph, standing as John McCain, won by a very narrow margin of one vote. Six-former Mr Joseph said: "I could not persuade any of the girls to take the role of Sarah Palin, but with my powers of persuasion, Jake Scott ran with me and we debated key issues such as the Iraq war." Mr Joseph attends the United Hebrew Congregation with parents Barbara and Eric.