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GregorAddison

Listed below are comments made by GregorAddison between Wednesday, 7th May 2008 and Thursday, 1st October 2009.

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Trusting the trust 5:34pm on 01 Oct 2009 #3 and #13

A Tory agreeing with a Tory...who'd have thunk it... I look forward to the next Holyrood elections when the SNP will no doubt take around 37% of the vote or more, while the Tories continue their run of popularity on around 17% (and that's me being generous).
Legislative programme 11:21am on 04 Sep 2009 A referendum on Independence gives us a decision on our future that we can and should make for ourselves. Often one reads comments of the sort - "if the Scots want independence why don't they just go for it" - but of course, in order to do so a referendum is required. Frequently, decisions on Scotland's future are taken furth of Scotland or, like the Calman Commission, without asking the wider public for their views. Micro-managing devolution is only likely to urge more people on to independence.

I feel strongly that the decision be made in Scotland. After all, if Scotland were to vote NO and England YES, or vice versa, where would the Union stand then? Also, if Britain were to have a referendum on joining the Euro would it be reasonable to expect that the right to decide Britain's position be extended to all of Europe? I suspect not. If, as many believe, we are to be a mature nation taking our own decisions, then this would be the place to start.
Redirected controversy 3:57pm on 02 Sep 2009 I believe that Labour thought they had safely dumped this decision onto the SNP and, thinking they'd pulled off the coup of the century, got a little beyond themselves and thought they could either damage the SNP by bringing down the Justice Secretary or even the Scottish Government itself. As usual, Labour has let its hatred of the SNP blind itself. I thought last week they'd over played their hand; it seemed clear that with the release of the documents it would come back and bite them. It has.

Now Brown has to explain why he didn't want Megrahi to die in prison - was it because he shared Kenny MacAskill's view that compassionate release was the correct decision? If so, why didn't he just say so earlier. Why stand by silently while Scotland got a mauling from all and sundry? (It confirms my view that Labour sought to damage the SNP by trying to keep silent themselves and attempt to make out that Labour take no view on such issues of British Trade and Foreign Policy - a view that is not only not credible, to believe it would be incredible).

Alternatively, if Brown doesn't believe in compassionate release, what were his motives? As for the Scottish Labour leader Iain Gray, he has said that he would not have released Megrahi had he been First Minister, either under the Prisoner Transfer Scheme put in place by his Westminster bosses, or on compassionate grounds which Gordon Brown may, or may not support. Is he not at odds with the Prime Minister? Again, it is another example of Labour playing to the galleries for short term political gain.

I'd like, for what it's worth, to add my voice to those who want Iain Gray to answer whether or not he agrees with the Prime Minister or not, as it seems to me he is solely focussed on petty political gain. Nelson Mandela, David Steel, Charles Kennedy, Shirley Williams, Henry McLeish, Malcolm Chisholm, John Prescott, Roy Hattersley, all have agreed that Kenny MacAskill's decision was the correct one. So what exactly is it that Iain Gray thinks he has grasped that they have not?
To infinity and beyond 4:05pm on 20 Apr 2009 Hi Brian,

My problem wasn't with the math problem but with the fact that the Scotsman used it to try and smear the First Minister. The intention was clearly to suggest that if he can't answer a math's question, he can't be capable of running the country.

So in the end the problem isn't a maths problem, it's a problem relating to the propaganda generated by those with access to the media who share an almost pathological hatred of all things Salmond/SNP.
Honeymoon ends 11:45am on 07 Nov 2008 #12,

I stand corrected. Perhaps the 5% swing to the SNP has come from different sources. It looks like the collapse in the Lib Dem vote saw their voters turning to Labour and the SNP. And I'm sure there were a few ex-Labour voters who voted SNP. That, of course, is difficult to know. The Lib Dems, however, can't be too pleased to have lost just under 4000 votes and their deposit. It doesn't bode well for Tavish Scott. The two horse race between Labour and the SNP seems set to continue.
Honeymoon ends 10:37am on 07 Nov 2008 This is a disappointment for the SNP and a clear setback but it does not yet indicate a long term reversal. Labour know they are not out of the woods yet (though this undoubtedly helps), and the fact that around 4000 less voters gave their vote to Labour this time, along with a 5% swing to the SNP, confirms the fact that the loss of Labour's domination of politics in Fife has left the political landscape changed. However, on the day, all that matters is a win. Congratulations to Lindsay Roy.
Battle begins 4:28pm on 03 Jul 2008 I support the SNP and the cause of independence but, that aside, there seems to be only one reasonable option open to those parties who would oppose them; that is to embrace federalism. However, I have barely heard a peep out of the Lib Dems on this issue. For a party who pride themselves on being federalists they certainly like to keep quiet about the details. They are in danger of being side-lined by the Labour party who, in their recent desperation, have begun mumbling the F word.

Of course, the Scottish parties would have to win that argument with their Westminster counterparts; it is a viable alternative to our unequal union as it stands(unequal for the English voter too), and it may well reward the party who annunciates it with more clarity some handsome rewards in terms of votes. Labour and the Lib Dems have a lot of deep thinking to do. Meanwhile, Alex Salmond's honeymoon looks set to continue into next year.
Not just any referendum 3:29pm on 08 May 2008 Should a referendum now be called early, who really trusts Wendy Alexander to run her side of the campaign?

It looks to me like there is absolutely no political mileage in this manouvre. It is simply another Labour launch; another attempt to rebrand; another attempt to gain the initiative. And another failure. It really is time Wendy went.

The problem for Labour is that there are no obvious leaders waiting in the wings, and after their recent troubles (including the donations fiasco) who would be prepared to write them a cheque? Labour can barely afford a leadership election never mind a referendum.
Where's your referendum now? 2:01pm on 07 May 2008 I think this is a big mistake. Labour are either very sure they will win a referendum at a time when their support is faltering, not only in Scotland but across Britain, and the likelihood of a Tory government is on the horizon; or else they think they can derail the process by wording a question in such a way that it will not be acceptable to the SNP. The danger with the latter is that they might alienate large sections of the electorate who feel that their money and time is being wasted in being asked to vote on a non-question. I think that would be an incredibly stupid move but one that is certainly not beyond Labour. I predict a decline in support for the Labour party in up-an-coming polls in Scotland and a rise in support for independence. This has been a catastrophic error.

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