The greasy pole has been experiencing a lot of attention in Scotland this month, as two of the main opposition parties hold leadership contests.

The two leaders, Wendy Alexander for Labour and Nicol Stephen for the Liberal Democrats, resigned in the last two weeks. Ms Alexander’s party stabbed her in the back (or “forced her to step down” in journalese) following the Scottish Parliament Standards Committee’s recommendation to impose a one day suspension when the Parliament returns from its summer recess (like most public school institutions, the Scottish Parliament’s summer holiday is two months long). This followed her admission that she had failed to record donations to her leadership campaign on the Parliament’s register of interests.

Mr Stephen, however, resigned for seemingly more wholesome reason: to spend more time with his family. For once, this phrase has been employed without euphemistic intent.

And so on to the challengers. Given the current state Labour is in, you would be forgiven for thinking nobody would step forward to sign their own death warrant and accept the leadership, but thus far three people have stepped forward and two more are widely expected to stand. The unlucky quintuplets are: Cathy Jamieson, Iain Gray, Charlie Gordon, Andy Kerr and Margaret Curran. Of interest are the final three.

Charlie Gordon is the MSP who solicited an illegal donation from a Jersey businessman for Wendy Alexander's leadership campaign fund. This cost him his job as Labour’s transport spokesman. Andy Kerr is the bookies’ favourite, yet hasn’t confirmed whether he will stand. And finally, Margaret Curran is currently standing for the Westminster seat of Glasgow East and it’s unclear whether she will seek the leadership if she wins. The Labour party has announced it will not begin the process of choosing Ms Alexander’s successor until after that by-election.

For the Liberal Democrats, Tavish Scott, Ross Finnie and the ominously titled Mike Rumbles have declared an interest in running for the leadership. In this case it is Mr Scott who is viewed as the frontrunner, with Mike Rumbles a distant third. According to The Times, Mr Scott, has won the backing of six of the party's MSPs and five MPs, as well as the support of former UK party leader, Sir Menzies Campbell. The party will announce the winner on 26 August.

With so much pole climbing over the next two months, manufacturers of abseiling equipment are sure to enjoy a bonanza summer.