Gloomy news
More gloomy news on jobs and the Scottish economy.
The Lloyds Banking Group, which now includes HBOS, is to shed around 1000 Scottish posts - although redeployment may reduce the number of permanents jobs lost to around half that figure.
It follows retrenchment at the Royal Bank of Scotland - with jobs going and to go.
In Glasgow, the city council is preparing to offer voluntary redundancy to staff aged over 50. With an eye to the Westminster by-election in the city, the move has been condemned by the SNP.
The Labour leadership at the council says it has a policy of no compulsory redundancy which will stay in force at least until the end of the fiscal year in March 2010. The policy is annually reviewed.
The council says further that the likely redundancy trawl (it has yet to be formally endorsed) is part of a wider reform package which is intended to shake up what the council does and how it does it.
In Dumfries and Galloway, the local authority has agreed to consult on a package of savings which could, inevitably, mean job losses.
Collectively, Scotland needs to review ways of reviving our economy. Is it to be done primarily by stimulating private enterprise - with all the risks, the attendant ups and downs?
Cutting costs
Or should we continue to place reliance upon our relatively substantial public sector - currently, and for the foreseeable future, beset by pressure to cut costs?
Does the public sector enhance private enterprise - or squeeze the life out of it?
Can we do things differently in the public sector, perhaps in a way which would work more coherently with private business?
Should there be a greater role for the third sector, for social enterprise? Should corporate social responsibility become an intrinsic element of business growth, rather than an adjunct?
Good questions all, when voiced dispassionately. But perhaps rather difficult to hear in the raucous brouhaha which masquerades as political debate.
You will tell me that it is impossible to mount such an analytical discussion while a by-election is pending. I accept that. It has already, and entirely understandably, frozen negotiations over next year's Holyrood budget.
Post Thursday, you may tell me that it is impossible to discuss consensually because there is a UK General Election in the offing. Then there will be elections to the Scottish Parliament. Then . . .
Trust system
Me, I like the sound of the approach being adopted by David Berry, the SNP leader of East Lothian council.
With an eye to spending cuts to come, he asked council officials to "think out of the box."
One idea which emerged - in Mr Berry's "smorgasbord" - was a trust system which would allow schools more control over budgets.
He is adamant that nothing is fixed, nothing settled. He is equally keen to stimulate a coherent debate, free from preconceptions.
David Berry didn't need the realistically gloomy Audit Scotland report to tell him that his local authority budget is tight and getting tighter.
When I chatted to him, he sounded notably - and encouragingly - uninterested in apportioning blame for that.
His concern was with sorting it. It's a fundamental approach which - the partisan row over the Glasgow Airport rail link apart - has been followed by Glasgow's Steven Purcell and some other leaders.
Scotland needs a comparably iconoclastic approach from the entire public and private sector.
The way it's aye been will not be good enough. Not by a mile.
I'm 
© MMIX~RS~q~RS~~RS~z~RS~12~RS~)
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Brian
I like the thought of rationalising local government by reducing the number of councils. It means the management layers will be squeezed out of the public sector and an influx of highly trained and competent managers will greatly enhance the Scottish private sector.
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To say nothing of the boost from ex-MPs who's skills they self-rate so highly and who will become unexpectedly available on the jobs market as they are replaced by the SNP candidates at the General Election.
There you are then, the future looks brighter already
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Sorry, it should have read enterprising ex-MPs
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When I chatted to him, he sounded notably - and encouragingly - uninterested in apportioning blame for that.
Yes, Mr. Taylor, I am sure that was nice for you since you most definitely do not want to hear who is at fault. But that's all right. Come the GE, you'll hear anyway.
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For someone who is so blatantly partisan at an organization so blatantly partisan to whine about partisanship is just too pitiful for words. If that weren't the case, perhaps someone could take that article seriously. As it is, it is laughable.
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Well it can't be so gloomy down south, indeed it looks incredibly rosy for all those government employees flooding the Daily Mail, Sun and Times boards , stressing how wonderful a certain G Brown is and how Mrs Janes is just over reacting.
I wonder if they get an hourly rate,a word rate or a tick to recommend rate.
I have never seen numbers like it recommending anything.
Suppose the Guardian staff and some other staff from other areas in the media will be ticking away frantically.
Not even the honesty to say , by gum that letter was an incredible MESS.
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Good questions all, when voiced dispassionately. But perhaps rather difficult to hear in the raucous brouhaha which masquerades as political debate.
The problem is, Brian that you have failed to indulge in anythig which resembles a political debate. You have deliberately avoided anything which one could construe as unglencampbelled political 'Blether'.
You will tell me that it is impossible to mount such an analytical discussion while a by-election is pending. I accept that. It has already, and entirely understandably, frozen negotiations over next year's Holyrood budget.
No, Brian, exactly the opposite. We have been desperate to hear something resembling 'analytical discussion'. You do not accept that.
Post Thursday, you may tell me that it is impossible to discuss consensually because there is a UK General Election in the offing. Then there will be elections to the Scottish Parliament. Then . . .
Again, Brian we would expect you to lead the political debate of the moment but you have, mostly but not exclusively, failed to do so. I can only assume that the above is not aimed at the loyal posters of your blog but to your political masters in Westminster.
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Why not tell us some good news Brian like 'GB steps down and a GE is called in six weeks 24th Dec' then we can hold street parties to celebrate as the bestest of xmas pressies.
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You know--(verbally) disemboweling GB seems to be the most popular sport in Britain these days. Wouldn't it be less PAINFUL for the man if he just stepped down and called an election? Good lord. It's painful even to watch.
(Sorry for the parenthetical but moderators get strange--they would probably assume I meant literally and moderate the post)
Even I'm starting to feel sorry for him but I don't think he'll get many sympathy votes. Sorry if this is off-topic but the GE will be in Scotland too.
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And talking of gloomy news
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/south_of_scotland/8352013.stm
Why won't Labour let the people decide? It really gets up my nose that "they" always know best what's best for us. Nobody knows better than me what I want and what I'm willing to trade to get it. And even if I joined the local Labour party, none of them are ever listened to by their "leadership", such as it isn't.
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#1- Handclapping - now that is what you call out of the box thinking fully agree with you.
one big problem just don't expect many politicians to accept that you are indeed correct!
Sid.
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Brian wrote:
‘More gloomy news on jobs and the Scottish economy.
The Lloyds Banking Group, which now includes HBOS, is to shed around 1000 Scottish posts - although redeployment may reduce the number of permanents jobs lost to around half that figure.
It follows retrenchment at the Royal Bank of Scotland - with jobs going and to go’.
Then this from the Sunday Telegraph an article written by, of all people, Alistair Darling.
It begins:
‘Every week I meet business people from all different sectors and industries. And I am always impressed with their ingenuity and endeavour, it is these people – and their drive and inspiration – who give British business its huge capacity to innovate and its relentless ability to grow’.
It then continues in the same self congratulatory vain.
A simple walk down any High Street with its closed down and boarded up shops would tell Darling a totally different story.
‘Nuff said!
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By the way the Labour Party is brassic. In England I note that CLP’s are starting to merge in order to sell of property to prop up the PLP.
Has anybody heard of any such occurrences were the NuLabour Northern Branch are doing the same.
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Brian,I'am fed up with the Westminster labour goverment being anti Glasgow.By withholding 300 million pounds allocated to Glasgow under the Barnett Formula for inner city regeneration,it is stealing from the poor people of Glasgow.
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"Me, I like the sound of the approach being adopted by David Berry, the SNP leader of East Lothian council. With an eye to spending cuts to come, he asked council officials to "think out of the box.""
The alternative, "the dead hand of labour".
Failed and repeated policies of labour, this could be 1979 and not 2009.
Jack Straw announces that murder by knife in England will see minimum sentence rise from 15 to 25 years. There must be an election in the offing!
What should be the sentence for Blair, Brown and Straw if they are found guilty of lying about Iraq?
25 years is not enough!
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two thirds of the thread, bog standard Labour smear and scare story stuff oh and forgetting to mention who caused the problem in the first place.
TRUST SYSTEM
at last some positive stuff. what we require in Scotland is a hell of a lot more people like David Berry no matter what party they represent as brian says "the way it has aye been will not be good enough. not by a mile." At last some truth! time to get rid of the dinosaurs once and for all. Sid
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13. Roll_On_2010
What are the laws regarding election funding? Their best bet for holding seats is in areas like (unfortunately) Scotland. Can they flood those areas with what cash they do have? Is there actually a division between English Labour and Scottish? I thought they were really the same thing and being Scottish was just pretendy.
Sorry for my ignorance on these points.
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6. Diabloandco
What baffled me is that it would have been SO easy for anyone else to say, "I am so sorry to have added to your pain in this time of grief. I meant well. Please believe that."
End of story. God. He has to be the world's WORST politician.
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This is the real underlying political debate for the next poitical generation, how do we create an effective economic structure to provide employment, generate tax revenues, alleviate poverty and to ensure social inclusion. Currently in Scotland, the state is simply too large to be sustainable as we seek to invest in the industries of the future. Like it or not, we as a nation must seek to foster an environment whereby wealth creation is seen as something worthy of respect and not derision. How we do that will see us soar towards levels of prosperity or be continually dragged back by the actions of Westminster dinosaurs. However, before we see the rhetoric, we'll never have a sovereign wealth fund of Norwegian scale, so we have to build "businesses" and these can be private, state or third sector. As Brian says, if council officials can be encouraged to think outside of the box, then we all can.
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#18 JRMacClure
"He has to be the world's WORST politician."
For a man who seems to model himself on Richard M Nixon but lacks the personal charm and ready wit, perhaps that's the slot in the history books he's aiming for. On the bright side, without him the NuLab project might have lasted another decade.
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Online Ed Here
It's a fundamental approach which - the partisan row over the Glasgow Airport rail link apart - has been followed by Glasgow's Steven Purcell and some other leaders.
What partisan row?
Labour are running a campaign that quite dishonestly states that the SNP are both biased against Glasgow and are "Ripping Glasgow Off". GARL has been used as a political pawn by doshonest Labour politicians.
The SNP and other parties have treated this campaign slogan with utter contempt - they have admitted that the rail link would have been welcome but couldn't be afforded in this climate.
Our media, you included, have a duty to highlight such misinformation instead of describing it as a 'row'. Official figures destroy completely these Labour claims so why not simply publish them?
Tommy Sheridan in one podcast statement completely and utterly destroyed Willie Bains slogan.
The Labour party are the main obstacle to Scotland's development, populated as it is with people who see it as a vehicle out of the stagnant environment the party has created.
Take a look at Willie Bain, a man who has for years been preparing himself for the time when he can hop aboard the gravy train. Michael Martin's agent, he has simply waited in line for his time.
Like Murphy, Bain has nothing to offer Scotland as she evolves - they will fade into obscurity.
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When a recession is on we often start to hear that it is public sector workers who have to lose their jobs, it's public sector workers who have it easy blah blah blah. In Scotland without public sector workers most local economies will go down the toilet, if the private sector is so great why has most of it left Dundee where I currently stay. The banks to pay off a 1000, again workers pay for the failings of management. Most of the face to face staff in both the private sector and the public sector are low paid, work hard, spend their money in local shops and prop up the local economy. So when they start to pay them off, more shops start to close, more young people on the streets, more crime, and a return to the 80's ( I remember what Dundee looked like then, a dump )then can we please remember that it was the bankers and the politicians who got us into this mess, poor people will have to pay for it and won't the Torries make us pay, so on Thursday I hope that the people of Glasgow East will send a message to the mainstream parties ( Labour/Conservative/Liberal) enough is enough. We are not going to keep paying for your failings we are going to vote for anyone other than you and maybe just maybe we will start to take control of our lives back and make the people we choose to represent us listen.
And before the ranters come on the blog and slag this post off, it comes from the heart and it comes from someone at 40 years old who has probably had enough of the establishment and their greed while people like myself across Scotland will be left to pay the bill, probably with our jobs.
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Online Ed Here
On BBC Radio Scotland earlier was a discussion on a certain newspaper.
The hypothetical question being asked was would that newspaper suffer due to it's continued smear story aimed at one politician.
With me so far?
OK, the newspaper was The Sun and the politician was Gordon Brown.
Now, if this is considered a newsworthy topic then why don't we have a similar discussion over The Daily Record and it's appalling smear campaign aimed at David Kerr?
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Brian
Here is a typical piece of gloomy news caused by the great and the good thinking well inside the box:-
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/uk/scotland/article6910329.ece
As I said to gedguy on the previous thread:-
Even Dr Hughes admits we've got skills in decomissioning so why not build on that. There are going to be plenty of redundant nuclear stations around the world soon enough. We don't need to be experts in everything, we are only a small country. We should find something we are good at and work on it till we are the best.
That's what we should be taking out of gloom pieces like the one above.
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#16 sidthesceptic
Here is a better link. to explain about inserting links into a post.
It is also useful to use the preview button before you post your comment. It gives you the opportunity to try your link before posting it.
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On the other hand, (sorry to bring up US politics) I voted for a president who can not make up his mind about Afghanistan. Even Brown was more decisive. Mind you, I will disagree and disagree strongly with his decision. I know that. I now believe my vote was -- well, not a mistake because McCain was worse. But at least he should make up his ****ing mind!
We are being punished, I've come to believe. KARMA has come home to roost for BOTH of our nations.
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#17 JRMacClure
Yes there is a cash limit and a fixed date before an election when that kicks in. Prospective Candidates have to declare how much they spend on their campaign. Political parties also have limits on cash donations that they receive and have to declare them and the donation source. The source has to be from someone on the electoral register… ie. Not Non-Doms…. ask Bendy Wendy she knows all about that.
The trouble with the above is that parties tend to get round them. One particular example is were Ashcroft, a big Tory donor and member, spent huge amounts of money on doing specific polls in marginal constituencies prior to elections being announced. There is more to this story I will dig it out for later.
There is only one Labour Party and Duff Gordon is the leader. The Grey man is only the theoretical leader of the Labour North Branch of the Labour Party. In actual fact he is the leader of the NuLabour Group in Holyrood for what it is worth.
It has been quite some years that I was involved in an election therefore I am a bit sketchy about the details but feel sure that other posters will chip in to plug holes and make corrections.
You will probably not be aware of the cash for honours under Teflon Tony so I will dig out some information… or you can just Google it!
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24. handclapping
Power for U.S. From Russia’s Old Nuclear Weapons
Key oil figures were distorted by US pressure, says whistleblower
Where they are going to get fuel to run them and more importantly where are they going to get the energy to dismantle and store the waste isn'nt anything the nuclear industry worries about as long as they get long term employement.
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Brian -This is your most embarrassing post yet ....and that is saying something! Are you genetically incapable of criticizing the labour party ?
I am sure Mr Berry isn't "uninterested in apportioning blame" and THAT IS WHY HE IS IN THE SNP ! Everyone knows the enormous cuts are fault of labour, and labour alone, and that should be made clear in any report. Especially a report that I have to pay towards.
Regarding GARL this is a labour attack as unsubstantiated as it is stupid however repeat a lie often enough ......
The point 'online ed' makes @23 is worthy of a blog although this will not happen as you appear incapable of telling the undiluted truth about labour and their smear tactics.(Encouraging more newspaper ads..... I wonder why ?)
Penultimately we still know nothing about wher 'bain of glasgow' lives or how much labour MPs have scammed.
Finally Brown can be criticized for many things but criticizing him for trying to do the right thing is simply wrong. Although I can fully understand the poor mother's distress, the matter should have been dealt with privately. This was a story the media should have avoided.
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27. Roll_On_2010
Actually I am quite well aware of the Cash for Peerages. If a "Brit" makes me mad enough to start listing "sins of the Empire", I invariably drag that one out. (I usually resist that since we in the US have enough sins of our own but you lot have been at it longer, hence have a longer list--a bit cheating, I admit. I tend to say that at least we in the US learned from the best having been tutored by Britain)
I read that story about Labour being cash strapped and need to re-read it to try to understand exactly how it will affect the GE. I'm not sure the extent to which they can move money around to support the most likely seats to be kept which would normally be considered a good policy when you're in for a drubbing. I assume they'll do so as much as possible.
As someone who's been involved in and followed politics for a long time, I can tell you that money is -- important doesn't even come close. Hence, my comments yesterday about the SNP choosing its fights. Rumor has it that their war chest is not unlimited.
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This comment was removed because the moderators found it broke the House Rules.
I can make quite an amusing list of British sins if I'm put to it. (I can do the same for my own country but it doesn't amuse me nearly as much) It tends to make Brits absolutely foam at the mouth. I only do it if I'm really angry though.
I am, by nature, a bad and evil person or that wouldn't be funny.
I expect both of our nations are paying for our sins and are going to keep paying and keep paying. (Unless you get independence and then maybe you can cut some of your losses) One of my aims in life as I get older is managing somehow to convince my family that getting out of the US is the best call anyone can possibly make. They are all that holds me here.
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evening all, for those that missed it on the previous thread here is some Scottish Investigative Journalism .
you will find it
ahref="http://www.scottishreview.net/IMcLeod166.html">here>
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Good blog Brian.
You have focussed on critical questions - and they're hard!
It's perfectly understandable that those who have jobs under threat want the status quo to be preserved. There are those who automatically assume public sector bad, private sector good and those who believe the exact opposite. Both I think are wrong.
I'm not going to make facile arguments as to how other people should solve our problems. We need to create a society which is cohesive but also innovative and self-reliant. That means losing the last of the "Scottish cringe". None of that will work, however, without the support of Government.
The computer games industry in Scotland is a big money earner. The Irish are trying to tempt them away, by Government action. The Scottish Government has no access to the levers involved. The UK could demonstrate their ability to protect and boost every part of the territory that they govern. They don't.
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#23 Online Ed
Funny you should mention the Daily Record:
Scottish serviceman and comrade died because patrol had too few metal detectors, inquest hears.
A coroner heard today that the patrol had only one Ebex metal detector between six vehicles, meaning a vulnerable river crossing was not exhaustively scanned for IEDs (Improvised Explosive Devices).
What a stupid waste of life all because of the lack of basic equipment.
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33. sidthesceptic
Now here is something that Brian Taylor could have covered.
But if he did he might have to cover little details such as who is responsible for this? Not glencampbelly enough for the BBC or the Daily Record.
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Talking about the Irish ..... I was sent this today .
Irish Government makes €26m of funding available to green technology start-ups
9th November 2009
Mary Coughlan, Irish Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment, has launched the €26m Bank of Ireland Seed and Early Stage Equity Fund, which will benefit start-up green technology companies.
The new fund will invest in start-up and early stage companies, with a focus on export-orientated companies that operate in green technology, technology, food and financial services sectors, and support patent projects within Irish universities. It includes an investment by Bank of Ireland of €17m, €8m from Enterprise Ireland, and €1m from the University of Limerick Foundation.
Minister Coughlan said, ‘I am delighted to announce the launch of this new fund by Bank of Ireland as part of the Government’s bank recapitalisation initiative, marking a significant increase in the supply of seed capital available for new Irish businesses and campus spin-out companies.’
The fund will be managed by Irish venture capital fund Kernel Capital Partners on behalf of Bank of Ireland and the other partners. It represents the eighth new fund supported by the Irish Government through Enterprise Ireland’s Seed and Venture Capital Programme running from 2007 to 2012.
Its launch will increase the funds under management by Kernel Capital and associate firm Seroba Kernel to €190m.
‘A healthy seed and venture capital environment is absolutely essential for stimulating the growth of new and innovative businesses that have real potential to grow and expand into export markets. This fund underpins Enterprise Ireland’s strategy to stimulate entrepreneurship and increase the flow of new high potential start-ups which are the life blood of a thriving indigenous business sector,’ Coughlan added.
Spot the difference.... Here it's money for bankers... In Ireland it's money for business builders.
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34. oldnat
"None of that will work, however, without the support of Government."
I believe you left out an essential, Oldnat.
None of that will work without the support of the Government OR the media.
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I used to enjoy this blog.
No more though. Too many of you are simply mud-slinging; just like weans-a big boy done it & run away.
I'll no doubt lurk occasionally, but until some of you grow up............
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BBC London promotes "Anyone but Labour"
BBC Scotland promotes "No one but Labour" (see Glasgow NE coverage)
Pandering to different political masters,will maybe result in
you,Glen and Catriona employed as SKYs support staff!!!
Maybe political careers are ahead for you all!!!
Think Kerr/Davidson!!!
Brian,would you live in the constituency???
2 days left to ask Bain,
where he lives,not where he gets his socks ironed!!!
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39. Gaelstorm
"just like weans-a big boy done it & run away."
So says someone as he runs away. =)
But good luck to you as you lurk.
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Online Ed Here
It's being reported [The Telegraph] that Labour are ahead in the postal vote count in the Glasgow NE by-election; no figures though.
Now, I'm quite certain that in Glenrothes an enquiry as to the breakdown of the postal votes met with a response that it was not possible to ascertain due to the method of counting.
Apparently in Glenrothes the postal votes were sorted into bundles of 100 and then simply added to the traditional ballots to be counted.
So I'm not at all sure how The Telegraph know for sure that Labour are ahead in that count.
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40. spinspamspun
"2 days left to ask Bain,
where he lives,not where he gets his socks ironed!!!"
Labour Candidate William Bain finally admits he doesn't live in Glasgow North East
"Bain says;
"I've lived in Glasgow North East and I know the problems knives cause”."
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Conan's Not the Hootsmon Headlines say it all about Calman.
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31. cynicalHighlander
google MORIDURA
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29. astonishedII
Even the most blinkered amongst us must realise that politicians of all parties must take a share of the blame. This ridiculous notion that forthcoming public spending restraint can be blamed on one party is disingenuous to say the least.
None of the parties were campaigning on tighter regulation of the financial sector, none were predicting this recession, everyone, including Alec was holding Sir Fred up as a shining example of the brave new world.
So in my mind it is time for them all to accept a share of the responsibility for the mess. They all played a part.
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Actually Gaelstorm makes a good point. We used to have debates on here. This thread should have provided the opportunity.
I had intended to make some points about the management of education in response to Brian's last section, but they would be drowned out by the posts on the media bias against the SNP. We've known about that forever. Let's move on.
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47. oldnat
We don't often disagree, but I don't think that having known about the media bias forever means that it should now be ignored. Maybe addressing it won't change it, but for sure, ignoring it won't.
And I don't see why that means you shouldn't post about education. In fact, you ignored that I asked your opinion of the Trust Schools on the last thread--so I'm wondering what you're complaining about.
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47. oldnat
And just to make it clear, in case it isn't, I totally disagree that this post by Mr Taylor, two days before a bye-election and with a lot of important issues facing people, is a good or admirable one. I nearly choked when I saw you say that. You have a right to your opinion, of course, but people who think it is weak and waffly also have a right to theirs. And to express it.
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Online Ed Here
Yours sincesmearly
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48. JRMacClure
"I'm wondering what you're complaining about."
"Complaining" is too strong - "commenting" is more appropriate. I have no real interest (except when I'm really p**d off about something) in posting - except to persuade even one lurker that voting for Independence is a good idea. My guess is that a number of them will have a similar response to Gaelstorm, and that they will be switched off from one of the few blogs that used to provide a constant stream of positive pro-Independence arguments, and active debate about how we can construct the new Scotland.
I must have missed your comment on the last thread - far too busy building cupboards for my daughter!
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49. JRMacClure
"but people who think it is weak and waffly also have a right to theirs. And to express it."
Fighting with friends is usually good fun! :-)
The by-election is unimportant. Even if the SNP win it on a reduced turnout, the UK GE will be within 6 months. You and I agree that the fight for the Scottish Parliament is what really matters. The issues BT raises are ones that can persuade people to vote SNP/Green/SSP for it - but we need to construct the realistic narrative for it.
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I hadn't seen The Scotsman piece that Conan the Librarian referred to so I had to look it up. For anyone else who missed it:
Calman Commission was 'a messy fudge'
The short article actually pretty much just gives both sides of the argument without a lot of bias, something that some of us would like to see more of.
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JRMacClure
Time the Worlds bully was reminded of a few facts!!!
#30
You say you were tutored by the best!!!
You gave the nuclear bomb to the Indian sub-continent.
You invaded Grenada.
You armed the Teliban against the soviets,as you had done in Africa for decades!!!
#32
You say you can list British Sins!!! I could list some that
would make a Yank squirm!!!
USA have learnt nothing,sinning every day in every country!!!
Iraq-finishing what Papa Bush was right to oppose!!!
Iran-Contra,oil for arms,"cowboy"Reagan et al
Support for any Facist/19c regime,eg Saudi Arabia.USA to use up everyones
oil before your own supplies run dry!!!
Didn't do too bad in 2ndWW,after the Japs riddled your conscience!!!
USA fought hard,but sold us 2nd class ships and demanded the reduction in
British influence!!!
JRMaClure,your banter,the responder to the world's problems,might end
when world oil prices are quoted in Yuan's
JRM stop being a smug -------!!!
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I am very concerned about how the Ft. Hood shooting is going to be used politically:
Five days after the attack, the president and first lady Michelle Obama flew to Texas, where he honored the victims in public and met privately with their families and some of the 30 people wounded in the shootings.
"We are a nation of laws whose commitment to justice is so enduring that we would treat a gunman and give him due process, just as surely as we will see that he pays for his crimes," Obama said.
Obama invoked the September 11 attacks of 2001 as he tried to rally the spirits of the troops.
"These are trying times for our country. In Afghanistan and Pakistan, the same extremists who killed nearly 3,000 Americans continue to endanger America, our allies and innocent Afghans and Pakistanis," he said.
http://www.reuters.com/article/politicsNews/idUSTRE5A94YZ20091110
I remember too well how the 9/11 attack was used and combining it with this horrific incident is alarming. Very alarming.
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Re Online Ed Here
Can you explain the complexities and issues around the postal votes; we're hearing a lot about it but I think some pointers from you would help us all.
#47 oldnat
Brian, please take note (if you read our comments?). We need you to kick start the debate that Oldnat refers to. Please, please, post some good material that we can get our teeth into. If you have a KPI (Key Performance Indicator) against which you are measured, connected to the volume of contributors to your blog, then do the necessary.
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46. northhighlander
The cause is past, regulation still not in place - only the UK govt can do it (and even if they wanted to unilateral action is unlikely).
The recession isn't simply caused by the failure of banks, but by the nature of the subsequent actions.
The subsequent actions are entirely in the hands of the UK government, the FM has called (from very early on if I recall) for more investment to reflate the economy. That bottom up aspect of a solution is entirely lacking in the UK's response to the situation, consequently the massive funds used to prop up banks is gone from the economy (sucked out at the top, with nothing coming in at the bottom).
So while you are broadly correct that none of the parties called for adequate regulation, the recession and how it is dealt with is a different story which isn't reflected accurately in your post. There, we can find differences, the SNP have no powers to raise the funds to exert any control, but an investment based approach has been their pitch on a consistent basis throughout, Tories and Labour are all for cuts instead of investment, I think the LD's were talking cuts as well (but who really cares what they think at any arbitrary point in time?).
Which approach do folk think best?
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47. oldnat
"I had intended to make some points about the management of education"
I look forward to them.
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JR
You've posted before about Afghanistan and the lives ant treasure being wasted there. Have you seen this article?
http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/cifamerica/2009/nov/10/coffins-conquer-amnesia-afghanistan
One of my principal reasons for wanting Independence is that while most NATO countries have small forces in Afghanistan, only the UK is pretending to be an imperial power (while the USA is, of course, a real one).
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39. Gaelstorm
"Too many of you are simply mud-slinging"
Do us all a favour and point out the mud-slinging that so dominates this blog before you go.
Better still - call people out on it if you are serious. Factual inaccuracies are pretty easy to lay bare.
Seriously, if you genuinely believe that mud-slinging is what is going on, expose it for what it is. Tell us what is actually needing discussed, post your opinions on them, defend them promote them - there are many (the vast majority IMO) on this blog who are keen to have someone to put alternative viewpoints that are substantive enough to be debated.
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22. Bruce206
"And before the ranters come on the blog and slag this post off"
No slagging from me. I'm with you.
The private sector is full of itself. It's no better or worse than the public sector. We need the right mix of both sectors being successful.
More generally, I think part of the trouble is that we're not very good at capitalising on our successes - oldnat makes a good point re: the games industry in Dundee. Apparently Dundee was connected with every nomination in the digital media category at the recent BAFTA Scotland awards. It's really good, but Ican't help think we aren't generating enough new businesses and jobs off the back of our successes - i'm sure many parts of Scotland tell similar stories with different sectors.
I believe an independent Scotland would better capitalise on its successes, and help lay the ground for the right ecology of businesses to make the best of our natural and human resources.
btw - how far behind are we going to fall in renewables tech, before we have enough resource to actually get into it?
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52. oldnat
"Fighting with friends is usually good fun! :-)
The by-election is unimportant. Even if the SNP win it on a reduced turnout, the UK GE will be within 6 months. You and I agree that the fight for the Scottish Parliament is what really matters. The issues BT raises are ones that can persuade people to vote SNP/Green/SSP for it - but we need to construct the realistic narrative for it."
We are agreed on that it is Holyrood that matters and that debating with friends (even vigorously) is fun. ;-)
I did want your opinion on the education issues that have been raised in the past few days since you're one of the few people who posts here who is really knowledgable on those issues. So please do comment.
And I do think people can comment on media bias as well as other issues. In fact, people who lurk here might have not had the extent of media bias brought to their attention before coming here.
I hadn't. I had my eyes rather opened on realizing how much bias there is.
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#47 oldnat.
I totally agree.While I think there is anti-nationalist bias aplenty at the BBC,we shouldn't obsess about it.The case for independence makes economic,political,social,cultural and environmental sense.If that case is positively put forward again and again it will prevail no matter how much pro-union media bias there is.
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" Does the public sector enhance private enterprise - or squeeze the life out of it?"
Interesting article. As someone who works in the private sector in personal insolvency, the actions of the government led Accountant in Bankruptcy are interesting in so far as they are attempting to take work from the private sector and place it into the public sector. The reasons for this appear unclear (however its fair to say the individuals in debt are not at the heart of the matter), and as a result there's a fair chance i shall be made redundant as a result of these changes. On the face of it then, the Scottish Govenrment have a long way to go before they persuade me of their support for private enterprise.....
The bill is currently being considered by the SG currently.
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54. spinspamspun
I think you missed the part where I freely admitted I could list my country's sins just as I can yours. No, you can't make this Yank squirm. I have spent most of my life fighting to end the sins of my own country. We armed the Taliban.
You had TWO WARS with China to force them to let you addict their people to opium. Ever heard of a country called Kenya? I can point you to news articles about your widespread torture there. I suggest you skip the self-righeousness.
I think you missed the part where I pointed out that with the world's depleting oil supplies that Karma is being visited on BOTH of our houses.
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"Should corporate social responsibility become an intrinsic element of business growth, rather than an adjunct?"
Interesting point that by Brian especially in the light of the article in the Herald today – page 4. “Minimum pricing fight back by whisky industry” where the industry body, the Scotch Whisky Association are reported to be hiring a PR firm (McGarvie Morrison Media) as “ a more assertive and populist message is now thought to be necessary with the clear objective of securing the absence of minimum pricing in the (Health) Bill. Or failing that the SWA said that the successful lobbying company had to help to remove minimum pricing “from the Bill at the earliest opportunity in the parliamentary scrutiny process and absent from the final act”.
SWA comprises of Diageo, Chivas Brothers and Erdington group.
The article goes on to describe Scottish Labour as being a key player as Labour have the power to kill (or approve) the measure given that the Conservatives and the Liberal Democrats are against it.
Mmmm how does that fit in with corporate social responsibility then? I would have thought the social responsibility associated with selling a legalised poison might have made them recognise that this was something to live with. After all, better a live drinker supping up on a steady basis than a dead one caused by overindulgence on cheap booze? Silly boy Rob, it’s the profit thingy again other folk might adopt this daft idea!
This is an interesting dilemma for Labour. Are they the party of the people who will put the health of the people first and support the SNP or are they the party of big business and stuff the people’s health?
My prediction – Labour will fold and then go all Glencambly and attempt to blame the SNP for failing to answer the questions asked in respect of the answers given to the original questions!
It’s a very useful sabotage technique in any walk of life to keep asking questions on the answers given to you in respect of your original questions. Then you can always pull out claiming you didn’t get the answers you wanted. Watch this space!!
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#54 SSS - WOW, Nice rant! Are you going for a lie down now?
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59. oldnat
"One of my principal reasons for wanting Independence is that while most NATO countries have small forces in Afghanistan, only the UK is pretending to be an imperial power (while the USA is, of course, a real one)."
I agree with you and one of the reasons I post here (after my original indignation over BBC misrepresentation about the al-Megrahi release) is that I think that you're right. No one but the UK is doing more than token support for our adventure in Afghanistan.
And part of the reason for my growing alarm over the shooting at Ft. Hood is that it will be used to justify an anticipated huge increase (I fear) in our involvement. There are talks about a possible increase of 30,000 or more of our troops.
I voted for this president to get us out of this mess not plunge us ever deeper.
I truly and sincerely hope that you can get your independence and stop having your people sent to die in what is in point of fact our war.
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58. mrbfaethedee
Scottish education has been horribly mismanaged for the last 30 years - largely because of the growth of centralising power and the growth of managerialism.
Newsnicht has an item on this, so I'll watch it and post afterwards.
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67. Robabody
*chuckes* I like your response better than mine.
I'm in a bit of a panic with what's going on over here--Ft. Hood and all. On top of grim thoughts on your Remembrance Day a few days ago, things don't seem too bright and shiny. I shouldn't have mentioned that Britain has done one or two things to be ashamed of. It's always a sensitive subject when we start comparing atrocities and not very diplomatic of me.
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66. Robabody
"My prediction – Labour will fold and then go all Glencambly and attempt to blame the SNP for failing to answer the questions asked in respect of the answers given to the original questions! "
Wasn't a certain Gray man going on about how anti-business the SNP is in the last FMQ? I had a feeling that might be a lead-up to exactly what you're referring to, although that might be more planning that he ever does.
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#63 MD
"If that case is positively put forward again and again it will prevail no matter how much pro-union media bias there is".
All I've every asked is for a level playing field when it comes to the media, unfortunately we'll never get that in Scotland. So any attempts to get the case over will be twisted and distorted and used to deny the case. Think back a few years ago to when the SNP were monsterd by the press and forced to print their own paper. A blush on any national jurno's cheeks with embarrassment? Not a chance. So I would argue we need to keep drawing their bias to the attention of the people so that they understand what it is they are reading/hearing/watching, then we'll win the case.
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# 70 JR - no worries JR, we've all got them, lurking in the cupboard waiting to fall out when we least expect them. And you are right, it has been a dreadful week. Commiserations to you and yours.
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Arrgh.......I've suddenly realised I've been spelling Glencampbly incorrectly in my posts. I've been writing Glencambly - he'll think I've been taking the P out on purpose
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70. JRMacClure
Don't blame you for Ft. Hood preying on your mind.
exiled online had a good post up a couple of days ago on some of the different arcs worth watching.
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Here. To make up for my being undiplomatic, let's listen to the late Roy Williamson singing one of my favorite songs:
Loch Tay Boat Song
[Unsuitable/Broken URL removed by Moderator]
Yes, I know it's very old-fashioned, but I like old-fashioned music.
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Oops. They didn't like that link. Oh well... It's a good song.
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Re when the BBC does a piece about the Glasgow North East by-election - at the end, when they are obligied to show a list of all the candidates, they give the British National Party and the Scottish National Party in the abbreviated form of 'BNP' and 'SNP'. I haven't noticed if they have been doing this with other parties ( Labour and Conservative aren't cut back) I don't believe an abbreviation is the correct way to display such important information. Not everyone watching would know what the abbreviation stands for. The BBC should give the participating individuals and the parties their proper names. If this gripe has already been mentioned elsewhere on the blog my apologies! I can only look in now and again:)
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#42 Ed
I don't think the postal votes ought to be a worry. There has been a steady increase in postal voting at all elections and as an alternative to going out in a wet, cold, dark Glasgow it gets my vote. Especially as you don't have to have a reason, you can just choose to do it that way.
Some of the postal ballots are opened for checking prior to the close of voting but the numbers should be very small this early on, unless fraud is evident or strongly suspect and certainly those doing the checking should have been covered by the non-disclosure provision incumbent on the returning officers staff. So I suspect the Telegraph is making bricks without straw for their owners own political purpose or purely out of conservatism against this new fangled idea. What will they make of electronic voting?
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Education Management
For those of you who didn't see the Newsnicht item on education.
Gordon Brewer's researchers had done their stuff! good questioning.
SNP leader of East Lothian Council (forgot to note his name) - very impressive. Not trying to provide a model for Scotland, but for his own area. They have 6 distinct communities which match their High School and associated Primary intakes. No prescriptive model being imposed but wanting to transfer the large proportion of the education budget spent at LA level to the communities, for them to spend it better.
Really this is an extension of what the Tories introduced in the 80s - devolving financial administration to schools. They were absolutely right to do so. I'll give you one example. Formerly, in Strathclyde, the PE advisors commissioned a firm to conduct a firm to conduct a H&S audit of PE facilities, and then to do the repairs that they identified as being needed. In the very first year of DMA being introduced, for every school in Strathclyde, the H&S assessment was sent direct to schools. I think everyone's response was as horrified as mine. Fault - worn rubber feet on gym benches. Cost of rectification £100 per rubber foot! We all refused to commission the work at that cost and the firm collapsed.
Some services are better controlled centrally, but East Lothian is taking an imaginative approach. I can't see it working in the cities, however. But why should we have a one system fits all imposed on every Scottish community.
Prof Eric Wilkinson - has a bit of a reputation as being a rent-a-mouth on anything controversial. Said nothing of substance.
Prof Brian Boyd - good guy - concerned that any system had to ensure social equity, but willing to see experimentation to produce better systems. He emphasised that the supposed greater expenditure on education in Scotland for no greater output was largely due to the island communities. Neither he nor I (nor I suspect many of you) would want to sacrifice their education, just because it costs a lot more to provide.
He once said I'd "given him nightmares" after a seminar in which I had exposed that there was no evidence to support that (the hugely expensive) system of educational statistics could demonstrate any evidence that the policy of targets and "evidence based" management had produced any improvement whatsoever. (Since then I've identified basic arithmetical errors in the statistics that have been relied on since 2000).
Scotland is a diverse country. To assume that a single system can ever meet the needs of areas like East Lothian and Glasgow is inherently improbable.
UK politicians think of Scotland as "one system" (when they think of us at all. The only sensible procedure is to look at the variety of Scotland's communities and design systems to match those communities.
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Sorry to not respond to your very good post, Oldnat, but I'll leave that to Scots. It contains a lot of information to think over.
On another topic, my alarm is not lessening at all. I can only hope this is rebuffed but I have no confidence in it:
US wants more Nato troops for new Afghanistan surge
Now where would THOSE come from do you suppose?
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81. JRMacClure
"US wants more Nato troops for new Afghanistan surge"
I'm reminded of Bush's policy of effective devaluation of the dollar to ensure that all those holding dollars would pay their "share" of his wars - whether they wanted to or not.
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80. oldnat
"Scotland is a diverse country. To assume that a single system can ever meet the needs of areas like East Lothian and Glasgow is inherently improbable.
UK politicians think of Scotland as "one system" (when they think of us at all. The only sensible procedure is to look at the variety of Scotland's communities and design systems to match those communities.
"
Ok, going back on my no comment comment... :-)
Do you have thoughts on a mechanism for doing that? Would it be possible within the present system? And what would be the position of various political parties on that?
I suppose that's not a comment, but questions though so it doesn't count. ;-)
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This comment was removed because the moderators found it broke the House Rules.
80. oldnat
Thanks oldnat. Off for now, but thanks for the recap of the programme (i had lost control of the tv :(
Briefly, is it possible to allow significantly different management approaches in different areas?
I hope so, I think as a general rule (if accountablity is there) maximising flexibilty in implementation is desirable. Allowing adaption to local circumstance and opportunity should be a no-brainer. I don't believe that sort of thinking is restricted to the education debate.
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#72 Robabody
I certainly wouldn't advocate letting media bias go unchallenged.I just feel we have to be as positive as possible.You said that we'll never have a level playing field.Absolutely right.But the SNP won in 2007 despite the bias.Let's leave the unionists to tangle themselves up in their own negativity, which is noticed by voters.
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An interesting side effect of devolution is that the Left-leaning English media is becoming increasingly "English", as opposed to "UK".
http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/2009/nov/10/gordon-brown-minister-childcare-vouchers
Small point, but "The vouchers can be used to offset the cost of childcare from Ofsted-registered providers" is wrong. Ofsted only operates in England, and the vouchers are available to registered providers throughout the UK.
On a wider point "Some of the signatories to the letter have likened the revolt to the way the government was caught on the hop over opposition to the abolition of the 10p tax band." Brown and NuLab have become the most right wing of any of the main parties.
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67#
Why lie down!!
Tired of USA rants!!! The perfect demoncracy!!
Squealing about the sins of the fathers!!!
The drip drip of JRMacClure comments reminds me of
the Reagan years!!!A so called new democracy,this decades bully,telling
the poodles of the world to respond until the Yuan is the oil currency!
If the USA could stop being the worlds THUG(hope with Obama)!!!
lessenng of International Crap,the world could accommdate the views of
JRMacClure and stop the mealy mouthed sins of whoever and contribute any positive contribution towards the lesser NATIONS.
2mor is a new day.Don't bore us to death!!!
We are so bored!!!
JRM address the blog and stop boring us with your USA drivel!!!
Being pompous in Scotland is not acceptable!!!
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83. JRMacClure
"Would it be possible within the present system?"
I can become even more boring on this than I am normally! :-)
Under current law, it would be OK - but LAs still have a responsibility to improve performances on the "defined measures" (a bit like the "No Child Left behind" ones in the US).
The 2000 Act which introduced this, however, was so badly drafted (almost all the MSPs were so new that they weren't able to seriously scrutinise legislation) that technically it is illegal in Scotland for schools/LAs to prioritise pupils who might attain 4 Highers - while it is mandatory for them to prioritise those who might attain 3 Highers or 5 Highers.
That is one of the many reasons why I say that Scottish education has been appallingly managed by the Unionists. The idea that education (or many other things)could be micro-managed from Edinburgh is a particularly Unionist concept. Since 2007, this approach has been largely abandoned - though the SNP don't have the legislative clout to abandon the worst aspects of the 2000 Act, they have used their administrative authority to weaken it significantly, and move power from Edinburgh to LAs/schools.
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88. spinspamspun
You need a nap.
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89. oldnat
Not boring at all! It's amazing how anal government bureaucrats can be about trying to micromanage. It's not confined to Scotland, obviously.
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I got a good laugh over from the comments over at Hootsmon Headlines
Andrew said... Conan Can you produce a Scotsman front page which says "Sorry, not one 'SNP accused, criticised, policy ditched/in tatters, attacked by CBI, popularity waning' article today. We tried but we've scraped the barrel dry"
Conan the Librarian™ said... Andrew, I do satire not fantasy...
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82. oldnat
You just touched on my worst nightmare! That President Obama might turn into another Bush.
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93. JRMacClure
"Obama might turn into another Bush. "
I admit to concerns.
I was excited when the Obama team phoned my son's phone to say that he was speaking in Asheville HS stadium. A Democrat campaigning in NC in October!!!
But the military/industrial complex that Eisenhower warned of seems to have become over powerful. It may not matter who you guys elect.
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94. oldnat
You may be right and you can imagine how alarming I find that. What's more the entire world should find it alarming.
From a position as a nationalist, I would be concerned. You know that certain covert forces have taken an interest in what happens in Scotland. With UK the only nation sending troops to Afgahanistan, an independent Scotland is not in the US interest--from a government point of view.
I don't mean to be either an alarmist or a conspiracist, but it is hardly a secret that the US has a history of interfering in other countries' internal affairs.
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War has recently been much in people's thoughts of late, and I was reminded of this. It was found in the kit of Charles Hamilton Sorley after his death in the Battle of Loos.
When you see millions of the mouthless dead
Across your dreams in pale battalions go,
Say not soft things as other men have said,
That you'll remember. For you need not so.
Give them not praise. For, deaf, how should they know
It is not curses heaped on each gashed head?
Nor tears.Their blind eyes see not your tears flow.
Nor honour. It is easy to be dead.
Say only this, "They are dead." Then add thereto,
"Yet many a better one has died before."
Then, scanning all the o'ercrowded mass, should you
Perceive one face that you loved heretofore,
It is a spook. None wears the face you knew.
Great death has made all his for evermore.
Just something I was reminded of.
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I keep posting depressing stuff. Ack. Sorry.
Afghan war is bad for security, voters say
I'm afraid my reaction is something that would get moderated. What do you think caused Ft. Hood? But the President is bound to somehow use as an excuse to send more troops.
I won't post again until I can manage to say something cheerful.
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Online Ed Here
Given the latest newspaper smear aimed at Salmond I decided to post this link again.
Yours sincesmearly
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# 34 oldnat
I would accept that Brian's blog would be of interest if the timing had been different. We have a couple of days to go before an important by election in which the SNP have a chance of winning a seat from Labour that was/is deemed to be ultra safe. Ok, maybe not a huge chance but a possible turnover. If the media in Scotland had in anyway been unglencampbelled then it is possible that the Scottish voters would have sent Westminster a huge shout of "we will not be treated like this!" However, Brian is using his normal technique of avoided talking about something that is of importance to the people of Scotland. Do you remember when the 'snouts in the trough' story broke? How long did it take Brian to even mention that? This is another one of his 'I'll try and avoid my posters discussing this' blogs. There are so many political stories that have broken over the last couple of years but the media in Scotland is determined not to mention them in case the people of Scotland turn their attention to the good works being done by the SNP when compared to the disgraceful anti Scottish attitude of the Scottish Unionist parties.
Like I said at the beginning, this would have been a good post, but not at this time.
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Online Ed Here
Massive orchestrated smear campaign underway against Salmond.
Taylor disgraces himself on Good Morning Scotland (around 07:50) by conflating Salmond's invite to a function with Westminster's very real sleaze.
I have no respect for Taylor at all now - none.
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Again the 'drip', 'drip', 'drip' of our rights slowly being taken away from us as Labour forces secret inquests Bill through the Commons.
This is meant to be the party which looks after our interests.
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Is this the type of society that you want to live in where Labour are allowing the police to hold Innocent peoples' DNA to be held for 6 years. This is the type of people that you will be voting for tomorrow.
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Could this be the real reason that certain blogs are not willing to discuss this by election? Could Glasgow North East offer Brown hope?
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#93 "You just touched on my worst nightmare! That President Obama might turn into another Bush."
Wakey Wakey America... Obama IS just another Bush!!!
Otherwise America would have voted for the only guy who really could have made a difference 'Ron Paul'!
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morning all, #103 gedguy2 - Angus at his best ,gave up counting the mistakes in the report. sad thing is an awful lot of people will believe it cos it's in the times
quite pleased that Pravda Scotland spent all morning on GMS telling us that labour had this bi-election in the bag.
they didn't mention why they thought this, but i bet they sighed a large sigh of relief when the post strike was finished !
hopefully this will mean less and less labour supporters bother to go and vote.
Sid
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#78,
"The BBC should give the participating individuals and the parties their proper names."
Agreed, and I'm sure you'll agree the same should extend to the ballot papers. No more nonsense like "Alex Salmond for First Minister" as appeared on the 2007 Holyrood papers instead of the proper Party name.
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If any one wants to see how aware and proud the Norwegians are about the the vast deposits of oil and gas under the north sea, just search you tube for the "Ekofisk Song"
Oil and Gas and the transformation, security and wealth this huge asset has brought ordinary Norwegians is something they are very proud of. Now contrast this to the Scottish or even the British. Our media very rarely acknowledges the existence of our oil and gas industry, especially the press. And sadly when they do it is only when there is a serious incident or fatality.
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#106 - bingowings87
morning , be careful what you wish for.
not all is as it seams which one of these is "legally"correct or actually exists:
Scottish Labour party,
Scottish Conservative &Unionist party
and the Scottish Liberal Democrats
all 3 ,just2 ,just 1 ,or none of the above
I am sure plenty of people on here will keep you right!
Sid
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95 JRMacClure
I agree it is a concern. It is Westminster desire to continue to be a player on the world stage, that makes the continuation of the UK so strategically important to them. See [Unsuitable/Broken URL removed by Moderator]
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#100. Gedguy2, you knew that you'd start seeing real desperation and this is the start of it. I thought accusing Salmond of sleaze for GIVING AWAY a few measily tickets was pretty pitiful, frankly. I suspect, as usual, Scots will see through that wheeze.
However, if they tell enough Labour voters the election is in the bag, you realize it doesn't necessarily help getting out their vote though.
Bongo, as far as Ron Paul, take a look at his ideas on health care and tell me what a wonderful guy he is. His idea of care for the poor--charity wards where they can go to die. He wants to not only take away the right of a woman to have an abortion but once more throw doctors who perform them in jail. I'll be happy to send him over to you if you like him.
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I've posted several times before about what I see as the rather limited nature of the independence debate and how in particular it fails to take into account many of the predicted changes/challenges which we face over the next few decades. I was interested to see in the latest edition of the Sunday Times a report that a former government adviser on climate change is predicting a possible increase in temperature of 6 degrees celsius in parts of southern Europe by 2060. If this happens then there will be huge amounts of immigration from southern to northern Europe. Indeed, I suspect that a temperature rise of even a couple of degress will cause large amounts of population movement. This could happen much sooner than 2060. Will the EU with its freedom of movement rules be able to cope with this? Would an independent Scotland want to be part of the EU? I've not heard any politicians debate this. None of them seem to look over a time horizon of a couple of years.
On a totally unrelated point, I listened with interest to a piece on Radio Scotland's GMS yesterday on a report by the Gender Equality Committee of the Scottish Parliament on women prisoner numbers. From memory, these have doubled in the last 10 years. The report commented that 80% of the prisoners had mental health problems and many of them suffer from alcohol and drug addiction. This is no doubt true but is probably also true of the whole prison population. The report ended with a comment that women prisoners currently make up 5% of the prison population. This was said without any irony. I would be interested to learn if the Gender Equality Committee has ever reported on why the male prisoner population stands at 95%? Where is the equality in that?
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#103. Notice how Willie Bain is described as "articulate and confident" while David Kerr is "smooth-talking".
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We'll need to keep an eye on this Alex Salmond. Next thing he'll be using public money to invade other countries.
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#113. Absolutely. And having an official dinner party at Bute House of which he is accused--surely no OTHER First Minister ever did anything so shocking!
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#112 mistydougie.
morning, see what years of working and living in London can get you. LOL ,
Sid
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My #109 link removed
Google "frozen frontiers and resource wrangles: conflict and cooperation in northern waters"
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#111 nedafo2
Interesting take on the UK's Position in the EU on the taxpayers alliance website.
if link removed google "thrive-outside-eu"
http://www.taxpayersalliance.com/media/2009/11/the-sun-trevor-kavanagh-survive-no-wed-thrive-outside-eu.html
Funnily enough so much of it could be applied to Scotland's position in the UK.
Some quotes from the article
"The book, published by The Taxpayers' Alliance, describes how our economy would be liberated from EU waste, fraud and red tape"
"Threats of a trade boycott are just bluff. As a net importer, they need our markets just as much as we need theirs"
"If Britain decided to quit, it would shake the foundations of the European Dream and put the whole undemocratic enterprise at risk.
Brussels will make it as difficult as possible to quit. But no treaty is unbreakable"
"Can we survive outside the EU? We should do better than that"
Change that to
"The book, published by The Taxpayers' Alliance, describes how our economy would be liberated from UK waste, fraud and red tape"
"Threats of a trade boycott are just bluff. As a net importer, they need our markets just as much as we need theirs"
"If Scotland decided to quit, it would shake the delusions of British empire and put the whole undemocratic UK enterprise at risk.
Britain will make it as difficult as possible to quit. But no treaty is unbreakable"
"Can we survive outside the UK? We should do better than that"
All sounds so familiar.
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#117, absolutely :)
Ps. This is exactly why nobody up here is Scottyland cares about UKIP it must be said.
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#108 sid,
I believe that all parties should be properly & correctly identified on ballot papers. No exceptions.
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