The happy gang
What a mess. What an utter and total guddle.
In resigning as communities secretary, Hazel Blears may have concluded her departing message with an exhortation to vote Labour in tomorrow's elections.
However, every other element of her resignation - its manner, its timing - seemed calculated to destabilise the leader of that party to which she professes her allegiance.
By common consent, divided parties do not flourish in electoral contests.
The voters tend to prefer to align themslves with politicians who are capable of internal agreement or at least presenting a front when required. Folk want to join a happy gang.
As David Cameron pointed out in the Commons, Ms Blears was the minister responsible for local government in England.
She has chosen to quit on the very eve of . . . local government elections in England.
Marginal seat
Team Brown could say - and did - that yesterday's leaked departure of the home secretary was simply an unplanned happenstance.
Always intended to go, more time with her family, marginal seat, still backed Brown . . .
But nothing of the sort can be said with regard to Hazel Blears.
This, remember, is the minister who lampooned Mr Brown's YouTube appearance.
This is one of the ministers who were said to be contemplating the PM's ousting a year ago.
She is said to be upset at Team Brown's portrayal of her "unacceptable" expenses claim.
Taking that as read, the timing of her resignation is revenge.
Cabinet reshuffle
Further, the PM was simply unable to rebut Mr Cameron when the Tory leader inquired whether there would be any other unscheduled departures - before the cabinet reshuffle pencilled in for next week.
He was unable to say that the chancellor would still be in office a week's time - although he countered Mr Cameron's grammatical challenge by praising Alistair Darling in the present tense, rather than purely the past.
And, admittedly, Mr Brown had logic on his side when he argued that sorting out the scandal of Commons expenses was not solely dependent upon a General Election.
Indeed, he argued it was incumbent upon all parties - including, he meant, the Tories - to act now.
He linked that to his assertion that he was working "every day" to revive the economy.
But he has demonstrably lost authority. Not all authority: he remains in office. But control, clout. He is not fully in charge of events.
As the SNP will point out next week when they lodge a Commons motion demanding the dissolution of parliament.
Expanses row
So what does it all mean? There are now two serious options. Mr Brown regroups as best he can over the summer recess - and goes to the country at a moment and in a manner of his choosing next spring.
Still would be far from an ideal occasion for Labour - who were lagging in the polls long before the expenses row.
Alternative scenario. Tomorrow's elections prove disastrous rather than merely bad, there is further agitation, Mr Brown is replaced by a caretaker - and there is an election in the autumn.
To repeat, a caretaker couldn't continue in office based upon a mandate originally obtained by Tony Blair and inherited by Gordon Brown.
The public - whose patience is already wearing thin - wouldn't stand for it.
I'm 
© MMIX~RS~q~RS~~RS~z~RS~59~RS~)
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Brian's second - "Tomorrow's elections prove disastrous rather than merely bad, there is further agitation, Mr Brown is replaced by a caretaker - and there is an election in the autumn." scenario currently seems the more likely to me.
We'll know by the weekend, I would think.
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Sad thing is Brian, no matter how bad the election results are tomorrow Gordon Brown will cling on to power like grim death.
The idea of him ever volunteering to leave Downing Street is completely absurd. A sitting Labour Prime Minister is incredibly difficult to shift and an allegedly paranoid, conspiring, emotionally flawed one even more so.
It could get very interesting indeed.
Rumours that Brown's bunker team have more " expenses dirt" on the chancellor to guard against the Flipping badger morphing into Geoffrey Howe can't be true can they?
Doe eyed loyalist wee Dougie Alexander underground with the fuhrer helping to direct operations will also be the stuff of fantasy I'm sure.
Ochone.
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"What an utter and total guddle."
Hurrah!
Taylor at last admits Labour are on the slippery slope of politics!
1. The "guddle" = "we're in a mess!"
2. "The muddle" = "we're a bunch of numpties who didn't realise what we were doing was wrong"
3. "The fiddle" = " okay, we're a bunch of theives"
Followed by the ones we're all waiting for:
4. "The squabble"
5. "The wobble"
6. And finally: "The tumble"
Bring it on!
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This is as crestfallen as I've heard Taylor for months.
Bring on the Euro elections and let's turn it into a rout.
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What a surprise that Baddreamsinvolvingglue has a few posts on this blog already. More BBC/secret organisation/international conspiracies perhaps?
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It was interesting to contrast Brown's performance at PMQs with that of Mr Salmond at FMQs. Mr Salmond was immense in his handling of events, displaying quality and confidence, while Brown was visibly ill at ease, indeed evasive about Darling.
And can someone please enlighten me as to what George Foulkes is all about? Is he just bitter? His point of order seemed silly at best.
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Napoleon, Adolf, Hazel...
What is it with atypically short people that lead them to want to try to dominate politics (despite being thoroughly dislikeable individuals)...?
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I gotta say... I am really enjoying politics just now *;o)
Less than 16 hours to go till placing my wee cross... and it is going to feel soooooo good *;o)
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This is it.
The Death Knell of the incumbent Labour Government. Let us guess how this will play out.
Alan Johnson or David Miliband - after the elections - regardless of results, will challenge Gordon Brown for the leadership of the Labour Party. If Gordo win's, it will be business as usual and a resounding defeat for Labour next spring. If he loses - it's a double whammy - Milliband and Johnson will slug it out - fragmenting the party AND instigating a parliamentary motion to dissolve parliament and call fresh elections. the SNP appear to be getting that motion set in time for just such an instance.
Either way - Labour have no viable contingency and no consensus to lead if another cabinet minister leaves. As much as Cameron wants this - I can't see the Tories making any more improvements in the next election, soooooo...
I'll expect a lot of rhetoric and grandstanding from the Tories and probably a marked shift in support to the Liberal Democrats.
How jolly exciting!
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The SNP/PC attempt to 'force' a disolution is a wanton waste of public money.
Turkeys don't vote for Christmas, and Labour MPs aren't going to vote to bring about an early election - in which all too many of them will not be returned.
Besides, Parliament can ONLY be dissolved by exercise of the royal prerogative.
Whilst this is usually at the behest of the Prime Minister, it need not necessarily be so.
Since the PM won't do the 'decent' thing, perhaps we should turn our attention to HM: Give us an election, or PoW will never get to be King!?
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Would be amusing to see the front of tomorrow's Daily Record urging us all to "do the right thing" and vote Labour!!
"... After all, deep down, you know it makes the best sense ... blah blah ..."
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#5 Reluctant-Cowpat
Yes, obviously I'm quicker than you, smarter than you, and still knocking spots off you on the previous blog!
P.s. I'm munching a snadwich as I'm doing it!
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No matter the results from Thursday's election I don't believe there will be a General Election until the last possible minute. Apart from any other consideration our unionists masters all realise that a General Election now will hand the keys of Scotland to the SNP.
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There is always a tendency to suggest that you can tell by the smell (or stench) when governments, like the contents of the larder, have passed their sell-by date. The last Tory one is an obvious example with the Labour carrion crows already picking at the carcase before it was certifiably dead, but that of course is almost in the realms of history.
Partisan politics aside its pretty obvious that the present government has had it and is so pre-occupied with its own troubles as to be quite unable to devote the necessary time and energy to running the country - far less the economy which Mr Brown assures us he is dealing with every day (how exactly?).
However I would like to ask, purely in a spirit of honest enquiry, when was the last time the collapse or crumbling of a government was so catastrophic and played out so publicly?
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#7 Older than the Pyramids
"What is it with atypically short people that lead them to want to try to dominate politics (despite being thoroughly dislikeable individuals)...?"
An abnormal obsession for power and control arising out of a fear that everyone will discover how truly small and inadequate they actually they are compared to the puffed-up, self-important ego they portray to the world.
Reference: David McClelland, "The Achievement Motive" (1953)
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12. Yep, that's exactly what is going on! You are just so awesome!
Say hello to your woodland friends and watch yourself sliding down that rainbow!
But, whatever you do, do not stray too far from that big bright light, as beyond that is where the rest of us are. Ok?
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Brown will hang on in power, until the men in the white coats carry him out of Downing Street to the waiting ambulance. The longer he hangs on to power however the lower Labour's chance of retaining seats at the next election becomes. Soapy S must be the happiest man around, he doesn't have to convince anyone now that independence is essential, Brown and his cronies are doing it for him. Labour was the biggest bar to Scottish independence but after the next election Labour's influence in Westminster will be minimal and after the next Scottish elections, will be non existent in Scotland. It will suit the conservatives down to the ground to have Scotland independent, sixty Labour MPs less in Westminster will be regarded as no bad thing, and no SNP group in opposition in Westminster will not be regarded as a loss. Roll on Gordon , you're doing fine, you bankrupted Britain and now you are tearing it apart.
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"Communities Secretary". What IS that? Hazel Blears. How on earth did that irrelevant wee nyaff ever get to matter in the first place?
On yer bike, hen.
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I don't go along with the idea that no Labour MPs will back the motion to dissolve this rudderless Parliament.
If the election isn't till next year, that will be plenty of time to ensure that those not standing will not get any of the severence benefits from serving a "full term". The media will make sure of that.
Go to the electorate now and all will get the payoff as they will have served a "full term".
Perhaps a September election in the offing, if not sooner.
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#16 Reluctant-Cowpat
"Yep, that's exactly what is going on! You are just so awesome!"
Tnank you, but not much point in re-stating what everyone else can see for themselves!
The searchlight of reality has been shown upon all your Unionist MPs and we now know their dirty little secrets.
Why should Scotland wait for them to clean it up?
Tomorrow is the beginning of the end for all your Labour and Tory thieves.
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18. LOL! If there was ever a politician not to be taken seriously....well, after Prescott.....and Iain Duncan-Smith......and Michael Foot......and Christine Grahame......and Prescott deserves a second mention....okay, so she's not alone.
Shut all the National Offices down and create a combined Department of the Interior with one 'Secretary for the Interior' (although come up with a more fabby name as 'Interior' is coma-inducing).
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How does the saying go,"Hell has no fury like a women scorned"Get your CV up to date Broon you will soon be gone,I wonder if Blears will go for the leadership of Lab ,don't trust that very toothy grin she has.
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#21
How about Ministry of the Inferior? Or would that be parliament as a whole?
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22. If anyone, it will be Miliband seeing us through to the next election. Whoever takes over, if anyone, expect a highly populist and reformist effort.
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I thought Cameron let Brown off the hook a little today at PMQ's to be honest. In saying that it was still a dismal performance from Brown.
In contrast to FMQ's, I thought Salmond completley destroyed Gray.
I know he has no ambitions to be Prime Minister, but I wonder just how good a PM Salmond would have made
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#10 - "The SNP/PC attempt to 'force' a disolution is a wanton waste of public money.
Turkeys don't vote for Christmas, and Labour MPs aren't going to vote to bring about an early election - in which all too many of them will not be returned."
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Actually, I think it's a brilliant strategy. Although all political parties have been damaged by the expenses scandal, Labour have been damaged the most. This kind of thing is expected of the tories, we're talking small fry with the likes of Lib Dems and SNP, etc., but for the party of the people to act like this has left most traditional labour supporters totally lost as to where to place their votes (many just won't vote). If Labour MPs compound this digust by trying to hold on to power, especially when the likes of the tories can claim they are showing contrition and supporting the dissolving of parliament, many of those still willing to vote labour will turn away in disgust, leaving only the die hards such as those that frequent these blogs.
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#25, mysteriousRiverclyde:
"I know he has no ambitions to be Prime Minister, but I wonder just how good a PM Salmond would have made"
I had always presumed that Salmond DID want to be Prime Minister - Prime Minister, that is, of an independent Scotland.
Are you suggesting that, rather than Head of Government, he now aspires to be Head of State?
President Salmond?
Emperor Salmond?
Overlord Salmond?
Alexander IV, King of Scots?
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Blink and you'll miss it !!
A few days ago I suggested that there might be more than met the eye to the 'non return' of the long term prisoner who was being readied for release.
The police have just issued a statement regarding this person and they say that his non return doesn't make sense, is against his character and that he "may not have done it willingly", it was on the BBC Scotland website earlier.
The police don't make such statements willy nilly, so they must have a reason for suggesting that this 'soon to be released' prisoner is being forced to stay away from the open prison.
I said on the other blog Watch out for this story being buried !!
It's already been moved from the BBC Scotland website and is now just a link, disappearing faster than Brown's cabinet.
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Where can I see today's First Ministers Questions on the BBC website?
Normally I can watch on I-Player in the evening (ie. about now) as I am at work during the day.
Can the mods help please?
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Greenockboy, I am glad you are awake dude.
...most of the population are asleep and blindly believe at face value what they see in the media. It takes alot of work and experience to see clearly through the fog.
There are certainly questions needing answered regarding the non-return of the prisoner... I am sure more revelations will come out in the next weeks.
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Why is there no link to footage of today's FMQ's via the BBC Scotland politics page?
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Normally I would have said that Brown would have held on to power with his fingertips if need be, however, the fact that our dear Brian has, more or less, told him that the game is up leads me to believe that it is indeed over for our dearly beloved Gordon.
It looks like there might be an early General Election, for the reason that Brian has stated above, but I am still a little wary of there being a rout of the Labour support in Scotland as some of the posters are alluding to, especially if the Daily Record sticks by the party. If the new leader of the Labour Party, whomever and whenever that may be, can quickly bring in the parliamentary reforms that the public is baying for, then they, the labour Party, might have a chance of retaining quite a lot of their staunch supporters and thus, MPs. If that is the case where they retain enough MPs in Scotland to substantially outnumber the SNP MPs, then it will be difficult for the SNP MSPs to forge ahead with a referendum.
Interesting times.
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#24, Reluctant_Expat
Re Prime Minister Miliband
I hope you mean Ed and NOT (under any circumstances) David...!
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This comment was removed because the moderators found it broke the House Rules.
The BBC has a copy of an MP's letter calling on Brown to step down
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#27 Older than the Pyramids
He has no ambitions to be Prime Minister of the UK.
He will make a great Prime Minister of Scotland though ! Assuming we have that particular title.......
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Certainly an interesting time, tomorrow will make it even more interesting to say the least. I actually think that all of the parties will suffer in Scotland apart from the Greens. I am normally an SNP voter but seriously thinking about the Green vote tomorrow. Not as a protest vote but because out of all the flyers I have seen, the quotes I have heard or read, they are actually talking about Europe while the others treat us as if we are thick with flyers concentrating on the domestic issues.
Regarding Gordon Brown, he is finished, Labour is finished and while an early election is what is being demanded I would still hold off a little longer until the dust settles and people get the chance to make informed choices. I do think I am watching the death of New Labour in Scotland, well I hope so, as Labour gave up their principles a long time ago. I saw the Torries die in Scotland and now Labour, now is the time for Scots to make the informed choice on the future of our country as Labour, Conservative and Liberal parties are all a waste of time. Maybe it's time for change, maybe it's time to really think about the future of Scotland and what we want it to be not what the main parties have allowed it to become.
Bring it on.
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28 greenockboy
I've also been thinking there is something rather fishy about that guy going missing so near his release. Not even someone terminally stupid would do that, IMHO.
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#17 kaybraes
Quite right
Finally domestic issues in Englandshire are such that Scottish Independance is seen as a benefit rather than shaking Our English Role as a World Power status - Security council seat, strategic Nato bases etc
Well done El Gordo - just don't bother to try and pick up a political career in Scotland together with your Westminster unionist cronies - Darling etc if Scotland was too small for you then try somewhere else
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#29 BoNG0_1
"Where can I see today's First Ministers Questions on the BBC website?"
and
#31 Bandages_For_Konjic
"Why is there no link to footage of today's FMQ's via the BBC Scotland politics page?"
Aunty Beeb used to put it on the inline player for us expats, but have stopped doing so for the past month - perhaps because of the dire performances of Mr Gray.
Fortunately, it's always available from holyrood.tv, but bringing it forward a day seems to have been missed by their web people, so it's not there yet. Should be worth looking at the link late morning tomorrow.
Post or reactive moderation for all except CBeebies, please!
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"Det Sgt Jim Smith from Tayside Police said: 'We are concerned because there is nothing to suggest that John would have willingly absconded. He has been in jail most of his life and judging by his prison record this is completely out of character for him.'"
The logical inference from this police officer's statement is that this prisoner may have been forced to abscond against his will.
There must be an immediate investigation by the Scottish government into whether any pressure was applied to this prisoner to abscond from the open prison.
This investigation must identify who was in a position to apply such pressure.
If it subsequently proves pressure was applied then the person who applied it must be compelled to reveal why they did that and if they refuse to do so they should face serious legal sanctions.
If any evidence surfaces that the pressure was applied so Alex Salmond could be criticised in parliament then things look very grim indeed for Labour in Scotland because they so obviously tried to make politicial capital out of it.
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38. At 7:50pm on 03 Jun 2009, Blumphie wrote:
"28 greenockboy
I've also been thinking there is something rather fishy about that guy going missing so near his release. Not even someone terminally stupid would do that, IMHO."
Look, do you honestly think that someone in the Labour party has "forced" this prisoner to abscond? Than in itself is a criminal offence. The police statement is not unusual. Long-term prisoners get institutionalised (hows that for a word!) and can behave irrationally.
If it turns out you are correct, then I'll hold my hands up. But this is just a bit far-fetched.
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39. At 8:11pm on 03 Jun 2009, Aikenheed wrote:
I-N-D-E-P-E-N-D-E-N-C-E
tsk tsk spelling. Oldnat will have you in for detention.
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Well, despite Ms Blears departure, I still think an election is unlikely until Brown is replaced. My betting is still on Alan Johnson. There is something about Milliband I do not like. He's not exactly a great foreign secretary and the old brigade in Labour would probably prefer Johnson.
So, slaughter time tomorrow, and I think the turnout will be low. Brown gets ultimatum at the weekend and is replaced within a fortnight. Alan Johnson goes for the September general election, loses, but not too badly.
But I tried to predict the lottery every week.............
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The BBC's coverage again of Scottish politics is abysmall. Currently we have...
1. "Fewer teachers in permament work!"
2. "Legal opinion over Sunday sailing!"
3. "'Teenage dream' - David McLetchie on devolution!"
4. "MSPs approve new hate crime laws!"
5. "Sexual diseases in children rise!"
and finally... 6. "Final push ahead of Euro voting!"... which has actually been there for possibly days now!
I am not suggesting that all the others story's are not news-worthy, but come on... there really is only one contender for the front page headline, or am I getting something wrong?
So BBC, where is FMQ's? According to MysteriousRiverClyde (post #25 on this thread), in his opinion "Salmond destroyed Gray"
It wouldn't be that, the day before an election, the BBC might not like us ordinary plebs being furnished with such 'vote-inspiring' footage, as it just would not be fair to certain other political party's?
Where is the link to FMQ's BBC??? WHERE???
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#35 cynicalHighlander, very interesting. What I do not understand is this: if the BBC has a copy of the letter, why do I have to go to the Sky News website to read it?
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Oh well, Blinkie Blears has gone. This fatuous little imp has been smiling and smirking her way around my TV set for far too long. So she's miffed at GB referring to her behaviour over her expenses as, "unacceptable". Well duh!!! It IS unacceptable, she flipped for all she was worth, and she seems to be worth quite a lot when she can trot out a cheque for 13 grand!!
Who was this woman? Well the pundits at White City were full of little comments about her being, "the daughter of a factory fitter" as if this was some occupation similar to dung-shovelling. Of course, anyone with a job in a, 'fectory' cannot be seen as the right kind of person and that any off-spring must of necessity go off and become a Blairite babbler and be reborne into the New Labour Church of the Vile and Damned.
I well remember her appearing on TV (usually weekends coz the REAL ministers were playing croquet) telling us all how we needed to go into Iraq for our own safety and that of the Iraqi people. Oh how the the Blairese rubbish dripped off her slightly petulant-looking lips. My opinion then as now of her is that she is a mere lightweight, a Blair-Babe, Quota-Quickie!
So, let's forget about this impudent and imprudent imp and get on to seeing how Herr Braun will deal with this rapidly growing putsch. His replacement? Did someone here seriously say, David Millipede??? Good God in Govan. That's all we need, another school-sneak with all the charm of a discarded chip-poke on the streets of Port Glasgow.
Our Gracious Majesty could in theory invoke her one remaining real prerogative by demanding a Dissolution of Parliament. And, if one looks at all this mess of expenses and a bunker-bound executive she might be right to do so. However, I'm sure that Elizabeth Alexandra Mary Windsor would not be prepared to do it this close to the end of her reign. Pity, it would give the Monarchy a big filip (NO not Philip) and might make the people regard the system as useful once again.
Well, may the best party win tomorrow because, tomorrow belongs to Scotland!
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Here brian
perhaps you should tell gordon brown that braces and underpant elastic are the only types of support he will now be able to rely on.......
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# 42 No I didn't I wrote I-D-E-P-E-N-D-A-N-C-E I have a dyslexic keyboard plus I omitted we are going to advence send three and fourpance- what's your problem?
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Stop Press
Greenockboy really is Mystic Meg.
As predicted the last minute attack on Alex Salmond to try and divert attention from Labours disasters.
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/uk/scotland/article6425309.ece
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/comment/columnists/alancochrane/5438440/Alex-Salmond-Political-Speeches-By-Our-Great-Leader.html
In the Telegraph Cochranes piece contains this gem,
"Largely because he has some smart backroom staff and because he and they knew he was in trouble over this issue, Mr Salmond produced a whole host of people ranging from sheriffs, through chief constables to prison officers, to say that hed followed the correct procedure"
Is Cochrane suggesting here that these people said this to help Alex Salmond? and not because it was true?
Has he (Cochrane)finally lost it?
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In the past, when FMQs has not been shown live, it could be found slotted into BBC TWO Scotland late night (after Newsnicht).
Not so on this occasion!
Why?
Meanwhile, on BBC PARLIAMENT, 2330: Prime Minister's Questions, followed (at midnight) by today's edition of "The Daily Politics" (including, believe it or not, yet another chance to see Prime Minister's Questions!)
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Bongo
Where is the link to FMQ's BBC??? WHERE???
I think you know but try "scotland.gov.uk" then search for FMQs.
You can listen to podcasts of it at least, but todays are not uploaded yet.
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#42 Neil_Small147
"The police statement is not unusual."
Just for once let's test if the above is actually true or not.
Provide a single similar statement from the police that has appeared on the BBC news website in the past.
Since you believe such statements are "not unusual" this should be very easy to do, right?
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*27 - OTTPs
"Are you suggesting that, rather than Head of Government, he now aspires to be Head of State?
President Salmond?
Emperor Salmond?
Overlord Salmond?
Alexander IV, King of Scots?"
*************************************
Your nae right in the heid are you? Is there 2 of you using the same login or something?
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A BIG BIG BIG CONGRATULATIONS to CynicalHighlander...
...he broke the 'HOT' news in his post #35 at 6:55pm...
....Well over 2 Hours before the 'wonderfull' BBC even had a clue *;o)
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Independence, an idea whose time has come.
Which is why all the efforts of Taylor, Campbell, Brewer and the rest of the Brit Nats in BBC land and the Scotsman have come to nought.
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The reason that we should not have a general election now is that we need to know the facts about the expenses of all MPs before we cast our votes. It will be a bigger mess if we return MPs whose misdemeanours have not been disclosed. Regarding Scottish MPs, I find it hard to maintain respect for those mentioned in the Telegraph. But some of them have paid back money and Conservatives, Labour and Liberal Democrats are trying to sort out the muddle. If only they would treat erring citizens with the leniency they apply to themselves, my respect for them might be restored.
Perhaps a well satisfied stomach at taxpayers' expense has clouded our First Minister's judgment. His monthly food claims, including those for periods when Parliament was not sitting, appear to be about 80% of the basic state pension. There are others in his party whose claims are questionable. But then as so many of the others tell us they were acting in accordance with the rules.
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#44 Skip_NC
"why do I have to go to the Sky News website to read it?"
Beats me, but thanks for the heads-up. The lazy can click on: Labour MPs Calling For Brown To Go.
Can't say I approve of the intro, but I can't fault the logic.
Post or reactive moderation for all except CBeebies, please!
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The stushie being made over Salmond's £800 food bill is quite incredible, especially when you compare it to in some cases tens of thousands people claimed for non-existent mortgages (clear-cut fraud).
The Times rants on: "Mr Salmond's spokesman later claimed that Mr Salmond, in the interview, had made clear that he was only in London for periods of the 2005 recess. Commons rules say that such expenses can only be incurred wholly and exclusively on Westminster business."
Only an idiot wouldn't be able to see through that last bit of garbage.
Salmond can incur expenses "wholly and exclusively on Westminster business" whilst he is in London.
It doesn't mean he has to remain present in London for a certain number of consecutive days.
Given that he's a Scottish MP and the First Minister of Scotland how on earth could he do that? And why on earth would he?
Do they demand the same of other politicians who have constituencies outside London? No!
They'll be telling us next Salmond is a "naughty boy" for daring to leave London and return to Scotland without the Times giving their approval first!
What utter tripe.
The petty Unionist attacks on Salmond have become so desperate one feels collapse of their widespread systematic fraud on the taxpayer must be due within weeks if not days.
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Dubbieside:
#48.
I thought it amusing that a person from England was commenting on the idea a person should not be an MP or MSP, that it was ridiculous Alex Salmond claims both salaries and that Alex Salmond should publish his expenses.
This is wrong, all wrong. Thankfully this person is based in England, but who else in Scotland belives this type of nonesense? For the record Alex Salmond campaigned on the idea of one day becoming First Minister, by rules Salmond must accept his MP salary and 1/3 of his MSP salary but we know that his MSP salary is donated to charity and Alex Salmond has already published his expenses and has proved that they are in order.
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#48 Dubbieside,
I quite liked Cochranes next line;
"Iain Gray, the Labour leader, tried manfully to compete with Mr Salmonds admittedly impressive list of witnesses, saying that the ministerial code says plainly that ministers should be as open as possible with the Parliament and the public. "
...I don't know if any ammount of macho...LOL *:o) from Gray (or anyone else IMO) will help him win a lost cause argument.
Salmond Rocks!
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"Scotland's beloved First Minister appears congenitally incapable of displaying humility or frankness, says Alan Cochrane."
Oh dear. The obvious sneering, hateful, and frankly defamatory tone of this "article" is betraying virtual panic in the Unionist ranks. The tone of this attack is bordering on hysteria.
Note the contemptuous way "Scotland" - actually the people who voted for Salmond as First Minister - are dismissed with the words "Scotland's beloved First Minister". This is OUR (and Cochrane's!) "Scotland" that he's belittling and demeaning in the most appalling fashion.
Clearly Salmond really is "beloved" of those Scots who voted to put him into power. That leaves Cochrane belittling his own country and the people in it in order to defend his "beloved Union". How very, very sad.
The Unionists are clearly trembling with terror that tomorrow is going to be a total rout.
If we are to take anything from the rabid tone of this article it's that Brown's empire is in imminent danger of collapse.
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Ooops. The URL in my #56 seems too complex for the BBC parser to handle. You should find it's currently the first story on http://news.sky.com/
Post or reactive moderation for all except CBeebies, please!
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"The public - whose patience is already wearing thin - wouldn't stand for it."
Hate to say, but this doesn't matter as there is no mechanism to depose a sitting government other than a no-confidence vote. which is upto the House of Commons. However another 6 months of bad headlines should be enough for the next Labour leader to choose to go in the Autumn.
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This is the letter I could of been less verbose!
Dear Gordon,
Over the last 12 years in government, and before, you have made an enormous contribution to this country and to the Labour Party, and this is very widely acknowledged.
However we are writing now because we believe that in the current political situation, you can best serve the Labour Party and the country by stepping down as party leader and prime minister, and so allowing the party to choose a new leader to take us into the next general election.
Yours,
XXXX
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Cochrane's contradicting himself in his own article.
He writes: "Mr Salmond produced a whole host of people ranging from sheriffs, through chief constables to prison officers, to say that hed followed the correct procedure. Iain Gray, the Labour leader, tried manfully to compete with Mr Salmonds admittedly impressive list of 'witnesses'"
But shortly after this he writes: "(Annabel Goldie) really nailed him (Salmond) and his style when she swatted aside all those hed called in aid of his ludicrous position."
So according to Cochrane Salmond has an "admittedly impressive list of witnesses" one moment, but he's taking a "ludicrous position" the next! What on earth is "ludicrous" about Salmond having an "impressive list of wintesses"?
Really, these Unionistas are losing it big time!
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Re Salmond. We're talking £100 a week for food. Now unless you expect the FIRST MINISTER i.e. PRIME MINISTER of SCOTLAND to go and eat at the greasy spoon or local KFC (same thing) he, or anyone else for that matter, could spend £100 on food in 3 days easily at a decent restaurant....bearing in mind we are talking 3 meals a day with perhaps a night cap at eh night...
Let's forget the food and concentrate on Mr Divine's shelves. Between those disappearing from his offices and an entire company in London moving and taking the street with it, the poor man's near demented.
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Link to First Ministers questions today.
It is in with politics Scotland, and FMQ starts about 4 minutes in.
Watch for the Macleod attack at the end of FMQs. You could not make the bias up.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b00kttpp/Politics_Scotland_03_06_2009/
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Brilliant BBC!
the link to Brian Taylors Blog is now missing off...
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/scotland_politics/default.stm
...lucky I still have Internet Explorer history to get back into the site...
...but what about anyone else who would like to see what peoples opinions are??? Eh???
In the words of Voltaire; I may disapprove of what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it.
...Freedom of opinion that the BBC seem determined to stifle.
Very sad for us all!
Saor Alba & Bring on tomorrow!
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BoNGO_1
First Ministers Questions link...... (Hope the link works)
http://video.stv.tv/bc/catchup-fmqs-030609-first-ministers-questions/
-----------
Alex Salmond fights back & demands an apology from Cameron ...
http://www.publicservantscotland.co.uk/news_story.asp?id=9652
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The link to this blog appears to have gone from the BBC Scotland politics page.
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This comment was removed because the moderators found it broke the House Rules.
cynicalHighlander, thanks for posting the text of the e-mail. It is indeed more verbose than necessary. Given that Labour is into borrowing (policies from the Tories, as much money as the country earns in a year from anyone daft enough to lend it to them) why did they not just borrow a phrase from, I believe, Oliver Cromwell?
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#65 BrianHill
How do you know Salmond spent the money on food just for himself?
Is there some rule that says if Salmond invites someone for lunch at the Commons he has to tell them: "Sorry you have to pick up your own tab. HM Government doesn't stretch to yours!"?
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43. At 8:48pm on 03 Jun 2009, BoNG0_1:
The BBC will argue that as a public service broadcaster, it must give a wide range of news and current affairs.
Whereas Sky is commercial and will put whatever they want on if it is going to attract viewers.
Easy way out for them.
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60. At 9:55pm on 03 Jun 2009, bighullabaloo wrote:
"The Unionists are clearly trembling with terror that tomorrow is going to be a total rout.
If we are to take anything from the rabid tone of this article it's that Brown's empire is in imminent danger of collapse."
It is desperate stuff, but what's the betting that a lot of Labour MPs WANT a rout in the Euro elections, since they are not really going to affect them. It gives them the opportunity to remove Brown before the real test with the hope that more of them will survive. If I was an MP wishing to get rid of the leader without appearing disloyal, this is the perfect opportunity. Someone will be lined up as the sacrifical lamb to force the contest, with the heavyweights following up.
Best way to remove a chief executive is a set of very poor results.
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'What a mess. What an utter and total guddle.'
Well, kinda. The mess is Brown and his Cabinet. Its dismal dribbling apart is a natural consequence of this.
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The Trudigraph have a new YouGov poll [not yet on the YouGov website] with a few details re the Eurovote on their: Poll indicates Labour could finish fourth.
Just the shot in the arm the letter writers may need to press the Send button, it shows that of those certain to vote, their sample gave: Con 26%, UKIP 18%, Lab 16%, LibDems 15%, Greens 10%, BNP 5%
Do beware, folks, that the mods are likely to be especially picky tomorrow while the polls are open, as the special election day house rules will apply and that too many referrals may get the whole blog blocked.
Post or reactive moderation for all except CBeebies, please!
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#68 Big Thanks Scottish_Solstice,
your timing is impeccable... I've just finished watching Newsnicht and I will wath FMQ's with interest...
...speak soon. *;o)
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"It would be entirely inaapropriate for the First Minister or the Cabinet Secretary for Justice to make any public annoucnement regarding an abscondee when an operational decision had not yet been made by the police to release that information, which was the case this week."
Patrick J. Shearer, President of ACPOS (Association of Chief Police Officers in Scotland) and Chief Constable of Dumfries and Galloway Constabulary, 3rd June, 2009
Scotland's top policeman says Salmond should NOT have announced the abscondee in parliament. As people are so fond of saying around here: "End of".
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#68 Scottish Solstice, thanks for the link.
Alex was the usual master of the ring.
However, Grey was dire! Why is he still banging on about the absconded prisoners? Is that the best he can come up with. Village Idiot.
Freedom
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#73 Neil_Small147
"It is desperate stuff, but what's the betting that a lot of Labour MPs WANT a rout in the Euro elections, since they are not really going to affect them."
Oh really Neil? Why is that? Have they developed a new Star Trek deflector shield?
Let me explain one tiny way they could be effected:
1. Labour routed so badly at the Euro elections that their Westminster backbenchers say "enough is enough" and demand that brown go immediately.
2. Mr Brown is replaced by a caretaker - and there is an election in the autumn.
3. Labour get routed so badly at the autumn election that David Cameron becomes the new UK prime minister.
So, not really difficult to see why Labour MPs DON'T WANT a rout in the Euro elections after all, is it?!
I notice you offer not a not in response to my request for a SINGLE SENTENCE of proof in my #51.
Why am I not surprised?
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"To repeat, a caretaker couldn't continue in office based upon a mandate originally obtained by Tony Blair and inherited by Gordon Brown."
Brian, you appear to have confused our elected representatives with people of propriety and morality beyond reproach.
Acting "within the rules" is all that matters to current MPs, and all will point to the fact that they still have tenure for around a year.
The sooner we have fixed terms for Westminster parliaments - like ALL other levels of government (councils, Holyrood, Strasbourg) - the better...
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#178 waitingformyman (from last topic)
Of course R-E is not a Scot. Does he say where he's been expatriated from? I believe him to be domiciled in Scotland, reluctantly. It would tend to explain his frothing about the state of Scotland. If he wisnae here, why would he care?
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Thanks scottish_solstice, just watched FMQ's (twice)...
... and to be totally honest, it is one of my top 10 (at least, possibly even top 5) performances by Alex Salmond. (the top three are Versus Bendy (check youtube *;o))
Not only did Alex Salmond destroy Ian Gray, Annabel was seriously wanting too... I have to agree with mysteriousRiverclyde on post #25, yep... Alex was a pro!
...but hey? it is easy to win an argument if you have truth on your side!!!
...only 6 and a half hours to go until polling *;o)
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It would appear that the UK parliament is utterly discredited and needs to be dissolved, because it no longer reflects the will of the people, who no longer respect it. Additionally, Mr Brown is faced with the fact that, as BT has observed, he "has demonstrably lost authority", as was the case with Speaker Martin not so long ago.
Several factors have contributed to this, of course, but an underlying problem for Scottish holders of high UK political office seems now to be, as one may gather from the NR blog, that substantial elements of the English electorate are now decidedly disinclined to tolerate them or respect their authority in view of the existence of a Scottish government, whose powers they are largely unfamiliar with, of course, but which they presume to be privileging Scotland vis-a-vis England, especially now that the Scottish executive has fallen into the hands of a pro-independence party.
So, in addition to the "guddle" factor, Mr Brown's position as UK PM appears to have become untenable because the UK state has become constitutionally unstable and looks rather as if it is no longer viable. If Scots may no longer aspire to the high offices of the UK state, they are effectively second-class citizens of it.
I remember Jack McConnell once saying that Scotland did not need independence because devolution meant that Scots could have their cake and eat it. It was naive to think that that could last. England does not like the Scots having their cake and eating it, does not like devolution and is reacting against it, as you may have noticed.
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Before I go to bed,
Has anyone else noticed Brian Taylors' title for this thread...
... "The Happy Gang?",
Is he perhaps referring to the majority of posters on here *;o)
Good night all, sunrise should be a good one when it comes!
Ps. remember and vote now!
Saor Alba!
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72 bighullabaloo Well of course that's the other point bhb. Salmond hardly ate every meal alone and at times he would be obliged to pay for his guest's meal.
The point is, it doesn't take long to get through 100 pounds on restaurant food these days especially in decent London restaurants.
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As a biker - the one thing I share with Little Miss Sunshine, I suspect - I was particularly drawn by Peter Brookes' latest cartoon in the Thunderer this morning.
Goodnight all.
Post or reactive moderation for all except CBeebies, please!
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As well as the Thunderer's politics section, today's main leading article is well worth a read, and the title is pretty noteworthy, if only to indicate that Duff Gordon has lost Murdoch's support. See Today is election day for local councils and the European Parliament. Now two more elections are needed: an election for Labour leader and a general election.
Post or reactive moderation for all except CBeebies, please!
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There is clearly a difference of opinion on what is a proper basis for claiming an allowance for food. One should only claim the additional costs of the food which arise because of the job. When on business in London I never claimed for meals such as breakfast roll which I would have bought had I been in Scotland. Likewise as I paid for lunches in Scotland, I paid for them in London. But without a house in London in which I could have cooked a normal meal, I felt that the costs of evening meal in a restaurant were occasioned by the job but should be kept to a reasonable amount. The circumstances in which one should charge the employer for others with whom one eats are very limited. They must be necessary for the job.
My concern is that all MPs have been too lax in making claims for food and I wish that First Minister would understand why we are disturbed by this, including his own claims and not just for the two disputed months. He had a flat in London paid for at our exprense. Why was he claiming for food? While other leaders are trying to understand public anger, he appears to feel free to ignore it.
The nasty part of the problem is that their allowances are tax free but if paid to a normal employee would be taxable. Thus they shield themselves from the consequences of their tax rises.
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As an aside, here's an interesting little video which may explain the behaviour of some of the more, erm, excitable posters on this blog:
http://wimp.com/superiorityillusion/
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Let's try and understand this ridiculous attack on AS over his claiming a paltry sum for food. My girlfriend went out for a meal with her friends last night and paid GBP 45. She did not have a starter, did not have a dessert and only one glass of beer. Neither did she visit any of the more expensive restuarants in London, in fact, she visited a little restaurant on the Thames in Chiswick, London. So, unless you have had personal experience of paying for a meal in London then you should really keep your comments to yourself. Unless, of course, you are an habitual user of the more common high street eating establishments that have been in the media lately for being dangerous to your health, in which case; change your eating habits.
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If MPs seriously think that the sums claimed for food are reasonable, then perhaps the House of Commons should be supplying all MPs with a set of cookbooks and/or lessons in how to prepare nutritional meals on a budget.
(It is already the case that the other great beneficiaries of state - the long-term unemployed - are offered just such tuition in how to avoid relying upon 'junk' food.)
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#90, gedguy2:
"So, unless you have had personal experience of paying for a meal in London then you should really keep your comments to yourself."
Interesting that gedguy2 thinks that 'paying for a meal' involves paying someone else to procure the ingredients, someone else to prepare the food, someone else to do the washing-up, etc.
Supermarkets are wonderful things, you know.
Why not have a House of Commons 'NAAFI'???
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Given that a weekly curry 'may fight dementia', perhaps we should be insisting that our MPs partake of this no-longer-exotic fare.
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On the 65th anniversary of D-Day, and presuming that not already having done so (by post or otherwise), I hope that everyone intends to show respect for the sacrifices of generations past and exercise the right to vote.
(It's just a pity that we don't have a minimum threshold for participation in order to validate elections, esp. FPTP: no person failing to attract 20 per cent of the available votes has any mandate to serve!)
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#90, gedguy2
Try watching "Put Your Money Where Your Mouth Is" (BBC2 weekday afternoons) to find out how little even top chefs pay for their ingredients, and note the whacking great markup they put on before it reaches the pu8blic.
Of course, there are all manner of overheads and staff costs involved, but even without volume discounts, ANYONE can create a satisfying and nutritional meal for under a fiver a head - including starter and dessert!
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#79 BigH
I do not have to give you proof of anything. As for prisoners absconding, it is not that unusual. Having worked for a charity not so logn ago, with many of the clients being individuals who are re-entering society, many of them are institutionalised and being placed in a relaxed regime can make them behave irrationally.
But hey, unless someone agrees with your views on this blog 100%, you like to respond in an aggressive manner, which might explain why some of the once-regular posters have gone.
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Hey Older than the Pyramids , please come to my house and prepare a three course meal for me!From scratch mind , none of yon prepacked rubbish!
I have voted , the polling station was quiet.One man was there when I arrived ,another arrived as I left.
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#68 scottish_solstice -
Many thanks for the link. Wednesday's FMQs were enormously entertaining.
I particularly enjoyed Alec Salmond's off-the-cuff comment that Annabel Goldie's letter to the FM about reporting absconds to Parliament was "more literate" than Iain Gray's.
However, it can't have escaped the notice of others on here that the BBC have posted a link to FMQ's on their 'Scotland Politics' front page but it's not a link to the whole of FMQs, it's only an extract covering the FM's latest report on Swine Flu and it's not captioned as coverage of FMQs, it's just labelled "Fourth swine flu case in hospital."
In other words, someone at the BBC has gone to the trouble of editing the FMQs coverage, has cut out the footage of Iain Gray getting what can only fairly and honestly be described as an absolute kicking and has put it up with a caption that effectively disguises the fact that it's got anything to do with FMQs at all.
Now, why on earth would anyone want to do that on the day before the European elections, I wonder?
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BigH
Where did you find the comment from Patrick Shearer in #77? I've done a few searches and can't find it, as you said this ends all the speculation, pity some bbc journalist didn't think of asking the police in the first place.
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Of course, the great expenses fiasco was really triggered by these MPs conveniently keeping rather silent about their expenses claims - doing their best to keep such matters from the public eye - despite the money coming from the public purse.
Interesting to see that BBC managers seem to be acting in much the same way in refusing to tell the National Audit Office the remuneration packages of some of its 'stars' thus preventing anyone scrutinising the BBC management's ability to achieve value for money.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/8081083.stm
Perhaps the BBC Trust needs to look at the management abilities of the people who got them into these 'secrecy' arrangments and decide whether these managers, let alone the performers, are really worth the level of remuneration that they get.
In my view they have failed to manage the BBC-Public interface as wisely as they need to.
Who knows, perhaps some mole will sell the information to the Daily Telegraph or other investigative journalists and that's how we'll find out just who gets paid how much for what from the public purse by Auntie.
Now that would be kind of ironic, wouldn't it?
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