Let's do this again sometime
Intriguing appearance by Alex Salmond before the Scottish Select Committee at Westminster - the first such showdown involving a First Minister.
Not, I thought, for the exchanges over the Lockerbie bomber. There, it was largely retread ground.
Strictly, the committee should have confined itself to its remit - relations between the UK and Scottish governments in the light of the Calman report.
The release of Abdelbaset al Megrahi obviously impinged upon those relations. But, despite occasional interventions by Mohammed Sarwar in the chair, the questions regularly ranged beyond that aspect.
Perhaps understandably, the MPs sought to challenge the nature of the release itself along with concomitant issues such as the ministerial decision to visit Al Megrahi in jail.
Their interest was understandable but, technically, misplaced. The decision, as Gordon Brown repeatedly stressed, was one for Scottish ministers to take. They answer on such matters to Holyrood, not Westminster.
Structural relations
Still, no matter - and, certainly, neither Mr Salmond nor Kenny MacAskill, the Justice Secretary, raised any protests.
Remember their wider strategy which is to co-operate as palpaply with Westminster within the current devolved set-up while simultaneously inviting the voters to infer how much better things might be under independence.
No, I was more intrigued by Mr Salmond's comments about structural relations across the UK. I know, I know, I should get out more - but bear with me.
When devolution occurred, a system was put in place to foster relations between London and the devolved territories. This was the Joint Ministerial Committee, or JMC, mechanism.
As Mr Salmond described, it fell largely into disuse.
The plenary JMC, intended to involve the heads of government, didn't meet for five years from 2002.
JMCs on domestic policy also flopped. Only the committee considering European policy thrived to any extent.
Govern sensibly
That has largely been reversed - partly at the prompting of Alex Salmond and his fellow devolved bosses and partly at the instigation of Gordon Brown who recognised the need for change.
The motivating factor? The new political map of the United Kingdom where parties of different colours are in power.
Again, remember that overarching Salmond strategy. To govern sensibly within the limits of devolved power - while, concomitantly, drawing attention to those limits.
Sensible governance involves mechanisms for sharing information and policy consideration. Hence Mr Salmond's support for the JMC system. Hence his eagerness to return, regularly, to appear before the Scottish Select.
But Mr Salmond lodged a caveat today. What happens if a deal cannot be done, even by ministers of goodwill working within an established structure? What, in particular, if that deal involves finance?
'You are wrong'
At the moment, there is a simple system. If a devolved government has a disagreement with the Treasury, then there is indeed a final arbiter. That would be the Treasury.
To sum up the FM's argument, the Treasury simply say in the final analysis: "You are wrong. We are right. Matter resolved."
Sundry First Ministers have argued that should be changed. According to Mr Salmond, the prime mover in this regard was Labour's Rhodri Morgan who recently relinquished office as FM in Wales.
Broadly, the devolved leaders want an appeal mechanism, especially over finance. For me, it is difficult to see how that would be legally binding. These are, ultimately, political decisions as well as administrative ones. Further, the Treasury will want to retain control of overall UK funds.
But it might be possible to envisage an arbiter who could issue guidance as to whether the case advanced by a devolved government had merit within the rules.
Mr Salmond said he hoped a settlement of this issue might still be reached before the UK general election. If not, it would be a speck of grit within the pile which would land upon the desk of the next Prime Minister. Whoever that might be.
I'm 
~RS~q~RS~~RS~z~RS~12~RS~)
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Once again a sensible and coherent approach from Alex Salmond especially in highlighting the failure of the JMC which was envisaged as the mechanism to try to resolve differences of opinion. Very clever of him to re raise the issue of some form of arbitration when the treasury says no.
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Interesting at this point to see what media interest in this story - none in the Telegraph or BBC Front Page, lead story in Scotsman. On the other hand Mr Campbell is all over the place " down South ". Who might an " arbiter " be Brian ??
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''Broadly, the devolved leaders want an appeal mechanism, especially over finance. For me, it is difficult to see how that would be legally binding''
A BBC pundit suggesting that morally or ethically binding agreements will not be honoured by Westminster, surely not ?
Wansanshoo.
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Alex Salmond before the Scottish Select Committee at Westminster, Mohammed Sarwar in the chair.
Mohammad Sarwar, the MP for Glasgow Central, who has an estimated fortune of £16 million, has claimed close to the maximum under his second homes allowance since 2004.
He claimed almost £2,000 every month for the interest on his mortgage on a £600,000 apartment in an exclusive block in Vauxhall, south London, just over the river from the Houses of Parliament.
Mr Sarwar, the chairman of the Scottish Affairs Select Committee, also claimed more than £3,000 for ground rent and service charges every year as well as around £1,500 for council tax and hundreds of pounds for home phone bills that included calls to Pakistan.
Mr Sarwar claimed a total of £174,882 in expenses last year but turned up for only 55 per cent of votes, spoke in only nine debates and asked 55 parliamentary questions.
Since 2004 he has claimed a total of £86,497 in second homes allowance (Additional Costs Allowance) and a total of £638,640 in other expenses, including office and staff costs.
Yes,I agree, Mr Sanwar should be in the chair.
Wansanshoo.
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What a pity that the BBC's vaunted new Democracy Live - Scottish Affairs Committee has no video or audio of any of this at the time of writing and that the snippet available here is a meaningless "Reporting Scotland" clip with barely 20 seconds of Salmond and MacAskill in a 1m 35s "report".
Two cheers for you, Brian, because at least you tell us something new in your post, unlike this website's risible Lockerbie bomber release rules 'followed'.
For us to be able to post meaningful comments on this, please ask your Democracy Live chums to extract their digits in making the session available, and please give us some timings of the events you cover above above, particularly the "speck of grit" moment.
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So, there we have it, if the Scottish, Welsh or Northern Ireland governments disagree with the Treasury about the amount of monies allocated to them then the Treasury wins every time. To put it another way; devolution works only if you do as you are told by the UK Treasury. No recourse to second opinion, and even if there was access to a second opinion it would be by an official backed by the UK government; whose Treasury official said no.
It is interesting that you mentioned Mohammed Sarwar, I can hardly wait to read the transcript of this meeting. You are obviously telling us something here, Brian. I wonder what it can be?
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Still nothing on Democracy Live, but the full session is now available at:
http://www.parliamentlive.tv/Main/Player.aspx?meetingId=5537
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Why not miss out the middle man and just have Alex Salmond write these posts himself?
In summary, and correct me where i go wrong here Brian-
Alex Salmond went to Westminster. MPs wanted to focus on the single biggest issues that has affected Scotland's image in the world since devolution. They were wrong.
Alex Salmond wanted to discuss a hypothetical process issue which is of interest to the sort of politically myopic readers who populate the Scottish blogoshpere. He was right.
To the above comment questioning the media coverage. You state that the Scotsman is the only organ to put this on the front page. Compare and contrast Scottish readership figures between the Telegraph, BBC Online versus the Scotsman. Could it be that the former understand their audience better?
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409. clachangowk
"Murphy: Independence vote a distraction from economic recovery
"
Wait! Wait! A few weeks ago an independence vote was a distraction from the recession.
What will it be a distraction from next week? The school football game?
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All it takes for evil to prevail is for good men to remain silent.
Lets hope some good men and women in the media waken up!
I read with horror that the first no jury trial is taking place in the UK.
Then I realised that we'd had one on some foreign field when Mr Megrahi was tried without the benefit of a Scottish jury.
I also read with horror , that the " shock jock " is to remain on a list compiled by Jacqui Smith as undesirable, and will not be allowed entrance to the UK.
Such a pity that the Westminster Government is so careless about illegal immigrants and such sticklers for stopping the obnoxious (?)- I have no idea if the radio presenter is obnoxious but it seems that free speech has now become a thing of the past, along with truth , integrity and honesty.
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The recording of this meeting, mentioned by #7, has two audio tracks superimposed on each other, both from the meeting but from different times. This makes the committee discussions difficult if not impossible to understand. When the recording is paused it freezes the video and it cancels one of the audio tracks. This makes it possible to hear an uncorrupted audio recording of the meeting but the picture is frozen.
Is anyone having the same trouble?
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Seeing as the BBC are rehashing many of the attacks on the Scottish government over the Al Megrahi's release it seems appropriate to remind readers of the behaviour of the BBC at the time.
Enjoy:
The BBC first entered the fray proper when in quite dramatic fashion it confidently announced on 12th Aug, fully eight days before the actual announcement, what Kenny MacAskill’s decision would be and when it would be announced.
This ‘leak’ signaled the beginning of a series of attacks by Unionist parties in Scotland on The Justice Minister. Incredibly, those attacks included allegations that it was the Justice Minister himself who had leaked to the BBC – quite why Kenny MacAskill would deliberately bring such pressure on himself was never fully explained.
One week later and the hours immediately after the decision the BBC coverage was much as expected, the same Unionist MSP’s were again given a platform to utter much the same rhetoric as they had done the previous week. However, Iain Gray’s sudden declaration that, had he been First Minister then Megraghi would have died in a Scottish jail was new and a clear departure from Westminster Labour who had negotiated a prisoner transfer agreement with Libya. The refusal of the BBC to ask Iain Gray to comment on the Prisoner Transfer Agreement was a very noticeable failure to scrutinise equally.
As the day wore on a crescendo of additional voices against the decision flooded onto our screens and radio’s. Families of the victims, with the exception of Jim Swire, were particularly vociferous in their condemnation. Whilst leading American politicians also joined the chorus of disapproval – all of this was dutifully reported by the BBC.
And so at the end of the evening we tuned into Newsnight Scotland hosted by Gordon Brewer, Glenn Campbell was there to provide 'expert' analysis of both the decision and the hitherto unseen footage of Megrahi’s arrival in Tripoli.
Almost immediately we were presented with images of a frail Megrahi descending the steps of the plane onto the Tripoli tarmac. A crowd of people could be seen welcoming him home – however, clearly visible in this crowd, were two saltires!!
Here the BBC’s handling was less than professional. The images of Megrahi being warmly received will have been interpreted by many viewers as an inappropriate celebration of a convicted bomber – the saltires being waved demanded some sort of explanation.
Sadly, Glenn Campbell decided that no informed analysis was required, the scenes, he tells the viewer, will heap further pressure on the SNP government. Campbell also declares that this day may well turn out to be a defining moment for this SNP Government and that “MacAskill is the toast of Tripoli”. The tone and nuance of Campbell’s delivery make it clear that in his opinion the SNP will suffer. Rather than educating the viewer, Campbell simply leaves them ignorant and his comments merely serve to confirm his own prejudices.
Campbell had failed the viewer by refusing to offer even the most basic explanation of the scenes. The ‘crowd’ welcoming Megrahi home were to be expected, Libyan culture includes a strong sense of tribal belonging, those people were mostly members of Megrahi’s tribe. Equally, the saltire waving surely demanded at least an acknowledgement that Libyans considered Megrahi to be innocent. Far from being waved in celebration at the return of a bomber, the flags were actually being waved as a sign of gratitude for the mercy shown by Scotland to an innocent and dying man.
These subtle omissions were compounded by the interviews that followed. Gavin Esler’s ‘interview’ with Kenny MacAskill for Newsnight UK was surely a low point in Esler’s career. Esler’s face contorted in bitterness and rage as he shed any pretence of professionalism and spat one emotive accusation after another at Scotland’s Justice Minister. Gordon Brewer’s interview that followed was handled better, but not much better.
Worse was to follow as throughout the weekend we were treated to interviews and sound bites from anyone and everyone who wished to attack the decision. When two former First Ministers each took different views it was the anti-MacAskill view that prevailed. Jack McConnell had decided that MacAskill had shamed Scotland whilst Henry Macleish supported the decision – Macleish was sidelined by the BBC in favour of McConnell. Far from presenting both sides, the BBC seemed intent on giving a platform mainly to one.
As we entered the start of the following week the BBC’s behaviour became more and more questionable. Monday morning’s daily phone in on Radio Scotland covered the Megrahi decision and what followed suggested that the portrayal of a massive anti-MacAskill sentiment by the BBC mightn’t be as accurate was being suggested.
Caller after caller supported MacAskill, overwhelmingly so. So many texts, emails and phone calls were in support that show host Shereen Nanjiani began to plead for any listeners who disagreed with the decision to get in touch. Radio Scotland’s Drive Time was similar as again texts were overwhelmingly supportive; show co-host Laura Maxwell also implored anyone who disagreed to contact the show.
That afternoons emergency debate at Holyrood was the single most important debate in the history of our parliament, a high profile event where every nuance and word would be scrutinised. Proceedings were broadcast live as Labour, Conservative and Lib Dem MSP’s lined up to accuse and attack Kenny MacAskill.
So imagine the gasps and resultant applause when, amidst the baying mob, Labour’s Malcolm Chisholm stood up and declared that he supported Kenny MacAskill’s decision, Chisholm then launched an attack on Iain Gray’s politicising of the issue.
Such a symbolic attack from a former cabinet minister on his own leader in the most high profile arena Scottish politics had ever witnessed should have been the day’s biggest item – bar none. However it was given scant coverage by the BBC and wasn’t considered worthy of pursuit by their Chief Political Correspondent Brian Taylor who didn’t even mention it in his blog.
Indeed Newsnight Scotland that evening featured representatives of the four main Holyrood parties, including Iain Gray. Again though the BBC interviewer completely failed to mention Malcolm Chisholm’s attack.
Newspaper letters, online polls, phone in’s, texts and emails to radio shows were indicating strong support for MacAskill’s decision, the Unionist parties and indeed the BBC itself appeared out of step.
BBC Scotland’s response to this show of support was to have another phone in. Tuesday’s phone in would be on the same subject, this time however the BBC decided that trailers for the programme would echo a phrase uttered by Labour’s Iain Gray in Monday’s emergency debate at Holyrood – the BBC trailers called on Iain Gray’s “silent majority” to get in touch. The BBC was now openly soliciting views from only one side as they desperately tried to harvest some kind of anti MacAskill feeling. Tuesday’s calls if anything were even more supportive of MacAskill with many venting their anger at the disgraceful behavior of the opposition in Monday’s emergency debate.
Indeed not just the public but also respected religious and legal institutions who expressed a view were overwhelmingly supportive of MacAskill. The Scottish Law Society endorsed the decision with Ian Smart stating “the decision had upheld the reputation of the legal profession”. Retired judge Lord McCluskey said “There is no reason for us not to show compassion”. Even the normally rabidly anti SNP Scotsman newspaper had calmed down it’s rhetoric and reverted to a more balanced coverage, even sympathetic at times to MacAskill.
The BBC however had other ideas and what happened next is probably one of the most blatant abuses of BBC privilege I can recall.
The role of the BBC is to present a non partisan view of events, to educate, inform and entertain – neutral political coverage and informed analysis is key to the BBC’s reputation. It is for precisely these reasons that we, the viewers, are compelled to pay the licence fee.
Instead of simply covering the news and reporting the facts the BBC decided to influence the news as it hastily commissioned a poll from its favourite pollster – ICM. The resultant poll apparently showed those against the decision outnumbered those who supported the issue by almost 2:1. The BBC announced that Scots were ‘opposed’ to the decision; Brian Taylor shamefully declared that ‘Scotland’s flag hangs a little more limply tonight’.
By the end of the week the poll had been headlined by the Scottish press and used as ammunition against the SNP by many Unionist politicians – in the opinion of Newsnet Scotland the BBC had deliberately influenced the political debate in Scotland.
It wasn’t finished there though, for when documents released by both the Scottish Government and Westminster revealed that Jack Straw had been heavily influenced by trade deals when negotiating the Prisoner Transfer Agreement with Libya – an agreement that the SNP had always opposed – the BBC decided to conflate the story with the compassionate release of Megrahi.
A revelation that badly damaged Labour was reported by the BBC as though it was related to Kenny MacAskill’s decision. The BBC were reporting two completely separate events as though they were part of one and the same – it exemplified the BBC’s coverage of the whole issue.
BBC Scotland followed this up by sending political correspondent Glenn Campbell to the USA to cover Gadaffi's visit to the U.N. - and sound out US reaction to the release.
Newsnet Scotland covered Glenn's visit here
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bigboxweebox @4.47
"In summary, and correct me where i go wrong here Brian-
Alex Salmond went to Westminster. MPs wanted to focus on the single biggest issues that has affected Scotland's image in the world since devolution."
OK I will correct you, Alex Salmond was invited to the Scottish Affairs Committee to speak to the topic raise by the committee, which was Scotland and the UK: cooperation and communication between governments
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Interesting take of todays events in the Herald:
http://www.heraldscotland.com/news/politics/salmond-trying-to-include-megrahi-in-desert-deal-was-a-mistake-1.998153
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#12
Once again can I just thank you for all you efforts to show up this corrupt and now ridiculously biased and partisan BBC.
I eagerly look forward to each edition of newsnet and you have my full backing when it comes to showing up this bullying baying mob that are the BBC political journalists.
I know there is a Pro-Labour agenda at BBC Scotland, I've heard it from people who work there. The folk that don't agree with it just get on with it though, what option do they have?
It's just good to know that there are people out there who are using the internet to get some sort of balance out there for people to read. And in any case most people aren't stupid, they can tell when they are getting shovelled a load of nonsense i.e. the GritGate. The BBC just continues to go down in a lot of peoples opinions. Their days are numbered.
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Any truth in this article?
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2010/jan/12/alex-salmond-tony-blair-megrahi
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Other news breaking today:
The inauguration of the Dauletabad-Sarakhs-Khangiran pipeline on Wednesday connecting Iran's northern Caspian region with Turkmenistan's vast gas field. I just wonder if it may go unnoticed amid the Western media cacophony that it is "apocalypse now" for the Islamic regime in Tehran.
The event sends strong messages for regional security. Within the space of three weeks, Turkmenistan has committed its entire gas exports to China, Russia and Iran. It has no urgent need of the pipelines that the United States and the European Union have been advancing. Are we hearing the faint notes of a Russia-China-Iran symphony?
The 182-kilometer Turkmen-Iranian pipeline starts modestly with the pumping of 8 billion cubic meters (bcm) of Turkmen gas. But its annual capacity is 20bcm, and that would meet the energy requirements of Iran's Caspian region and enable Tehran to free its own gas production in the southern fields for export. The mutual interest is perfect: Ashgabat gets an assured market next door; northern Iran can consume without fear of winter shortages; Tehran can generate more surplus for exports; Turkmenistan can seek transportation routes to the world market via Iran; and Iran can aspire to take advantage of its excellent geographical location as a hub for the Turkmen exports.
Looks like the US and UK has once again been well outmaneouvered in their attempt to build the proposed pipeline through Afghanistan and Pakistan which was to be headed up by Mr Karzi.
No longer any need for a war in Afghanistan - our boys can come home.
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'12 excellent post.
I haven't had the chance to see, hear or read about the First Ministers appearance today but hopefully will over the next few days. There is no getting away from the fact that the decision to release Abdelbaset al Megrahi was the correct one and was supported by many people. In the longer term I believe, if we ever get to the truth, will be proved beyond doubt to have been correct.
The BBC stopped being impartial a long time ago, anyone who has had the misfortune to watch Kirsty Wark and the Glen Campbells of the world will have seen the total distaste they have for the SNP. If that is their personal political view then I have no issue with that but I do have an issue when they are being paid by us to present all sides of the argument. This is something the BBC just don't anymore in Scottish politics, as well as, much of the Scottish media.
Even when I post on here now I expect to see a post somewhere informing me that this blog has been hyjacked by SNP supporters, implying that if you are a nationalist you don't have the right to an opinion. If news broadcasters actually covered all sides of the argument then people wouldn't have to resort to blogs to get their point across.
As far as Westminster goes, I feel it will do whatever it wants regardless of the views of the devolved governments/assemblies within the UK. While this in many ways is wrong there is a part of me that is happy for it to happen because it may actually demonstrate to the Scottish public that ' you know what, Westminster actually does not represent the wishes of Scotland'. The sooner people relaise that and we have a vote on Independence or a muti option vote the better, the people are here not to serve the government but the government to serve the people. We appear to have lost that a long time ago and we need to reclaim it in the voting booths, we need to reclaim it in the media and we need to reclaim it in our daily lives by taking repsonsibilty for the state of our country and for the state of ourselves. For me they come hand in hand with each other and now that I have reached 40 I am looking for this stage in my life to my crumpy one and let people know what I think.
In defence of Brian, what do you expect from someone who follows Dundee Utd, if that is not misguided I don't know what is.
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One of the arguments the unionist attack poodles use against Scottish 'seperatism and isolationism' is that an independant Scotland would no longer recieve the 'B'BC and we would miss out on Big Brother and Camberwick Green.
However, with the blatant bias and abysmal standards of reporting I think most people in Scotland would regard that as a blessing.
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''Broadly, the devolved leaders want an appeal mechanism, especially over finance. For me, it is difficult to see how that would be legally binding''
Presumably appeals on finance issues would be to extract additional funds from the UK Treasury.
As Scotland (and also Wales in particular) do very well already compared to England this certainly helps to whip up anti Union sentiment in England and is a clever play by Alex Salmond.
My hope is that continous arguments like this will eventually lead to the breakup of the UK particularly so England can have these enourmous burdens removed.
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20. At 6:18pm on 12 Jan 2010, supermk wrote
'so England can have these enourmous burdens removed'
England has had more oil revenue over the last 30 years than Kuwait thanks to it's theft of Scotlands natural resources.
Some burden, eh.
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20. supermk
"My hope is that continous arguments like this will eventually lead to the breakup of the UK particularly so England can have these enourmous burdens removed. "
*sigh* I suppose that there is no use in expecting most English not to have bought the Westminster lies about who supports whom, but in the end they're doing Scotland a favor with this nonsense.
And Yes, it would do the English a favor to force them to stand on their own feet and fend for themselves. It's time they stopped digging themselves out of these holes they get themselves into with Scottish resources.
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Good performance as to be expected by Alex on the Scottish Select Committee.
Jim McGovern sulking in the corner seemed to typify Labour's position though to be fair Lindsay Roy tried to be positive.
Highlight was Jim Devine - remember him - getting his name plate in a prominent position considering that none of the nameplates of actual participants was visible
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'22' back to the old chestnut again oil,so if england has milked all of scotlands resources what has happened for the 260 odd years before north sea oil was found???
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Might still be time to check out the editing on Reporting Scotland where it cuts just as the Justice Minister says, "Many people are still concerned about Lockerbie..........." missing out the bit about the soundness of the conviction and making it look like he's admitting that the decision to release was itself unsound.
Cynical? Me?
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#24 craig
"back to the old chestnut again oil,so if england has milked all of scotlands resources what has happened for the 260 odd years before north sea oil was found???"
What indeed Craig, please enlighten us all with your historical facts and figures for the Scottish economy for said 260 years, or was that just an unfounded retort?
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#17
Can I use your excellent analysis in a newspaer article I am putting together?
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#20 supermk very sad that you just take what you are forced fed by the unionist media as granted! but hay ho , thats your problem!
As a once famous politician of these here parts once said
BRING IT ON!!!
the sooner the better.
once you go away and work out why westminster is so desperate to keep the spongers, lay abouts , benefit cheats , druggies and drunks that make up the majority of Scotlands population ,(if you were to believe everything that the unionist press printed and the unionist media broadcast, ) feel free to post again!
ps it is certainly not through the goodness of their heart now is it!
eejit!
Sid
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23 Jim Divine proposed that everyone on the committee had larger name signs but the motion was shelved...... I'll get my coat.
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Just finished watching the whole of Alex Salmonds appearance at the SAC. What struck me was how he impressed as a man in charge of his brief, the committee members asked him good questions about the way forward to improving the cooperation between the two governments, there were good suggestions and ideas coming from both the committee members and Alex Salmond. There was none of the soundbite nonsense no mud slinging, no petty digs, rather we had adult discussion conducted in a sensible and courteous manner.
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Supermk:
#20.
How many times is this myth discovered nonesense...
Scotland does receive more in average... but London receives more then Scotland... perhaps the English should recognise the difference in spending between their own regions before saying we have it good ;-)
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24. craig
"'22' back to the old chestnut again oil,so if england has milked all of scotlands resources what has happened for the 260 odd years before north sea oil was found???"
Yeah that "old chestnut". The one that is supposed to save the UK's bacon yet again.
As for the 250 or so years before that, it was also before the current financial "solution". Or are you saying that Barnett has been in place for 260 years. =)
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post 12 - Thank you ED for that very worth while recap.
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#26 my point is why does it always end up arguing over oil?? i don't have any historical facts on the scottish economy or the english one for that matter.If the UK breaks up so be it i just hope it benefits all the home nations.
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12 online ed - excellent article:- truthful, fair and explanatory. Delighted to see your circulation is increasing.How unlike the hootsmon,herald and good morning labour radio.
Brian - Could you send on my licence fee to online ed ? He deserves it. And Brian are you trying to insinuate that the millionaire mr sarwar spent the time trying to make cheap political points ? If so then why not say that ? Oh, aye right, I understand.
Unluckily I heard ex-labour cooncillor,although she is entirely impartial but just hates the SNP, catriona (I usually make it up)renton. "Reporting" on the radio, she glossed over the legions who point out that minimum alcohol pricing is neccessary and instead said that the move was very unpopular in an unnamed pub she was in. I am giving her the benefit of the doubt and can only assume that this pub is frequented exclusively by ex-labour councillors.So far - so glencampblly.But is it journalism or storytelling ?
Brian -Why not in your next blog explain why this report from Ms renton is simply excretable, partisan storytelling rather than journalism ?
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If I was a ScotInNotts, I would try to untie myself but it might require a bit of help. The process of the young new Scottish parliament must continue, that's it's natural right and Westminster is a hurdle, in terms of holding all the important keys.Scotland needs to flourish under it's esteem and fiscal control is now paramount to that forward prgression however I do envisage that Scotland remains tied to the crown and the armed forces and foriegn policy with a full-time member present in the westminster cabient.No one can deny that westminster must evolve and write a new constitution.W e can all play apart in the process of a new constitution or we crumble, fall and head full into civil dispute unrest and total chaos. I would think that SCOTLAND WOULD HAVE A STRONG CASE to take to the European courts, in terms of it's financing and ability to borrow as parent nation.
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28.
This is what irks me. If we are such spongers and lay-abouts WHY oh why does westminster want us onboard sooo much, doesn't want to lose us. Come on unionist please inform me why. It cant just be sentiment for being british?
20. supermk
Can you please enlighten us to why since we are such drains on the UK economy that the folks in charge in successive UK governments would want to continue in this union if it wasn't to the benefit of the majority of her people especially in the face of rising nationalism, surely they would seaze that oppertunity to offload the burden of the scots!!
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#12 Online Ed
I posted the results from three other polls as well as the BBC poll which asked Scots their opinion on the release of Megrahi in a comment on Brian at the time.
The BBC poll was wildly at variance with the other three but we never heard a peep from the BBC to explain why their poll was such an outlier or any reporting on the results from the other polls which showed Scots as pretty evenly split on the issue, especially the SNP/YouGov one.
I was listening to Radio Scotland on the morning when Shereen Nanjiani pleaded for viewers to phone in with anti-MacAskill comments. I think it was couched in begging terms for the "silent majority" to get in touch as all the comments they had so far were pro-MacAskill.
Kenneth Roy has a good article on it on the "Scottish Review"
I used to be quite proud and protective about both the Scottish press and the BBC but I'm quite indifferent to any threat to them now.
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I also have to point out something else to the person who posted #20.
Northern Ireland receives more compared to the English average, Scotland and Wales, but do you see Scots complaining?
It's nice to see a bit of anti-Scottish attitude, though. We know it's there, they say it's not but we really know what exactly you mean and why you say it.
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29. At 7:04pm on 12 Jan 2010, Guy Wersh wrote:
23 Jim Divine proposed that everyone on the committee had larger name signs but the motion was shelved...... I'll get my coat.
What shelves was the motion put on?
Or could it be that there is some spare wood kicking about that could be put to good use as nameplates?
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37. At 7:21pm on 12 Jan 2010, jediirnbru wrote:
28.
This is what irks me. If we are such spongers and lay-abouts WHY oh why does westminster want us onboard sooo much, doesn't want to lose us. Come on unionist please inform me why. It cant just be sentiment for being british?
No, all the spongers and layabouts live in Glasgow, according to a few people.......
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#36 kered
Hi kered, mind explaining why you directed that post at me?
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42
I just had a notion that the name was a far off name yearning for a good solution to the West lothian question, other than that, no real hard reason.
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25. At 6:56pm on 12 Jan 2010, Guy Wersh wrote:
Might still be time to check out the editing on Reporting Scotland where it cuts just as the Justice Minister says, "Many people are still concerned about Lockerbie..........." missing out the bit about the soundness of the conviction and making it look like he's admitting that the decision to release was itself unsound.
Count me as one of those who were fooled then - very, very sneaky and effective.
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41.
As scots we should be above this East/west nonsense. It's just daft. We are in this together and this silly bickering (I appreciate some can be quite scathing mind you) should be put to bed. We are better than this! I know it
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#43 kered
Slightly wide of the mark then, perhaps that post would have been better directed at someone like #20.
Cheers, a Scot in Notts
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Brownedov
Thanks for the link. Just watched it all.
Good performances from Salmond & McAskill - clear, co-operative and on the whole good questioning from the committee.
The exception ws Mundell. I can see why there isn't a snowball's chance of him being the Tory SoS!
As to the "speck of grit" that Brian mentions, I think that will be a reference as to the "dispute resolution" issue that Salmond hammered home again and again. Difficult for the UK to accept, but politically impossible to resist - especially if Cameron wants to reduce the powers of Scots MPs.
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34. craig
"i just hope it benefits all the home nations."
Obviously, some of us think it will benefit people not to have these attitudes of resentment and anger--on both sides. Everyone does for themselves as nations are SUPPOSED to do. Sometimes things are lush and sometimes they're rough, but you manage.
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46 ScotinNotts
Cheers ScotinNotts, perhaps/perhaps not but Hey Ho! the messenger is not important.
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47. oldnat
"especially if Cameron wants to reduce the powers of Scots MPs."
Mr. Cameron is going to have some interesting problems to deal with. My understanding is that his party traditionally has no liking whatsoever for devolution and still has opponents to it. Nor, for that matter, has he shown any signed that I've seen of that "respect for Scotland" he once mentioned. But, as you so sagely point out, there are obvious advantages to coming to some accommodation with the Scottish government and the SNP.
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"Obviously, some of us think it will benefit people not to have these attitudes of resentment and anger--on both sides. Everyone does for themselves as nations are SUPPOSED to do. Sometimes things are lush and sometimes they're rough, but you manage."
Lush and Rough............Mae West!
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Oldnat,
I was under the impression David Cameron, to an extent, seeks no change to the power of a Scots MP. Yes, Scots MP will be limited but will still have a say on the final 'English-only' Bill.
If that existed, Labour MPs in Scotland could have forced upon the English much of the policies that has upset the people of England anyway, right?
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small print. they have needs we have needs and I think scotland chose the nationalist route because they felt those needs weren't being respected.
I don't know all the details but in the here and now there are peices to fit together. years ago when I was out carol singing with a couple of friends we made 18 pounds on the songs and we split it 3 ways and tossed a couple of pennies down the stairwell.
Another time I was splitting some herbal medicine with a guy and paid 50/50 and I noticed he was sort of tilting the scale in his favor. Did I care? No. thought it was corny. blow his mind if he wants I was just trying to fit in.
So what do they want that we can trade please, don't make it personal, but there must be some items that we value less than they that they can exchange.
I bought a novel for 20p in a car boot sale that was selling for a tenner nobody wanted it except me and I enjoyed it and when I finished with it gave it away.
Bargain hunt rummage ask look around do what is right for you and see if you can reach an agreement. There is no point in making it rougher than necessary in my own opinion.
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# 49 kered
Derek, why do you feel the need to keep changing your name? We know it's you after the first couple of posts. We can tell by the style of your writing. At least this new transformation is only a reversal of your name. Are you trying to hide something or from someone? Is your lodge getting suspicious of you? ;-)
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I've just been watching BBC Parliament's live coverage of the Commons( must have really been stuck for something to do).They were debating the Personal Care At Home Bill which is for England and Wales only.Up pops Tom Clarke to ask a question after getting a front bencher to give way.So we pay our taxes for some Scottish MPs to play at being pre-devolution members of the Commons.
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53 jobsw32
'Cheap as chips' 20p even cheaper than the 'SUN'
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54 gedguy2
A red blooded male such as I, has no problem addressing the big steaming pudding.Talking about puddings....who are you ya wee veggie!.
Address the name correctly please kered.
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#56 kered
"'Cheap as chips' 20p
Chips for 20p? Another timewarp?
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58 albamac
Just a little Bargain Hunt! quote!
OTOH, 20p chips because there's not salt!.
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s'only worth what you're willing to pay
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4. Wansanshoo, thanks very much for the wee biopic of Mr. Sarwar. NFS you can relax, see Glasgow's not so bad. Even if you're an old fashioned socialist with only 16 million to your name you can still struggle by.
Re the topic under discussion, the media's handling of the release of Mr Al Megrahi was just further depressing evidence that the BBC and Labour in Scotland are like hamsters in a sack.
As for yesterday's call by Pauline MacNeil for 18 year olds to get a years free subscription to a newspaper of their choice, Conan had it nailed with his spoof page which wasn't really a spoof at all and could be summed up as,
Let's get the nationalist Government to pay for Labour propaganda.
I sincerely hope their answer will be "Aye cheers Pauline, we'll think about that one and when we've stopped laughing we'll get back to you."
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#54 gedguy2 - well spotted .we should all have spotted the tell tale signs - nothing positive to say about anything, bereft of new idea's ,hankering for the "old" days, just like Labour really.
next thing we know he'll be looking for expenses!
watch out Brian
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52. Tom
Cameron is no fool. Scots MPs would have no role in holding Bills up at 1st or 2nd reading or in Committee. The prospect (if the numbers were appropriate) for Scots Labour/LD MPs to come in at 3rd Reading and overturn a Bill that English members had voted for previously would provoke a constitutional crisis that Labour would fear, so it wouldn't happen.
Since 1997 there has never been a need for Scots Labour MPs to push through English legislation, as England has a majority of Labour MPs.
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I've obviously been doing missionary work too long, and gone native!
A Labour poster on UK Polling Report got very confused because she assumed I was an English Nat!
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50. J R MacClure
There are no advantages whatsoever in David Cameron making any comment on the current political settlement in Scotland. The devolution settlement was created by Labour and Labour has to live with the problem it created. David Cameron has indicatec his respect for the Scottish Parliament by saying nothing, because he doesn't have to say anything.
The reality is that the SNP Government can do nothing without Conservative support. Alex Salmond's main opponents are Labour, so he is not going to rock the boat with the Conservatives.
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#64 oldnat
I wouldn't worry about it, it must be something going around.
Kered (Derek?) had me pegged as someone requiring a lesson on why Scotland needs further powers earlier and a solution to the West Lothian question?!?
Granted Notts is in my moniker, still....
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Brian Taylor seems to be SNP bashing just by duplicating his Labour Media Unionist chums by throwing in a Scottish soundbite at the end like 'toodleoothenoo' to remind them how Scotish he is. Theres nothing more Sickening than an anglo Scot.! What's next...Gray and his cronies singing 'my grannies highland hame'? 20 Years from now historians will be looking back on how currupt the Scottish media and the BBC were and wondering how the hell they got away with it for so long.
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65. gordon mccaskill
"There are no advantages whatsoever in David Cameron making any comment on the current political settlement in Scotland. The devolution settlement was created by Labour and Labour has to live with the problem it created. David Cameron has indicatec his respect for the Scottish Parliament by saying nothing, because he doesn't have to say anything.
"
There are a couple of problems with that.
If David Cameron becomes prime minister he has to live with devolution just as much as Labour or any other party. In WHAT way do the Tories not have to live with the "problem"?
Funny thing. I thought devolution was supposed to be a solution to giving Scots the ability to control their OWN affairs. I take you that you don't see it that way.
As far as Cameron's respect, it has been rather blatantly lacking in his comments about the Scottish First Minister's irrelevance.
Incidentally, the devolution "settlement" was created by vote of the people of Scotland. You have something against democracy?
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66 ScotinNotts
Pegged on the line! talk about airing your dirty washing.
Never mind? what does the Notts bit represent? A uni fied message?.
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64 oldnat
"I've obviously been doing missionary work too long, and gone native!"
Does Mrs Nat agree!
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22. JRMacClure
What I note form your post and the one immediately above it from Supermk, is how little difference there is between the attitude of a Scottish nationalist and an English Nationalist.
Really your opinions are the same, small minded and equally odious.
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12. Online Ed
"Incredibly, those attacks included allegations that it was the Justice Minister himself who had leaked to the BBC"
It's a pity we don't have journalists in Scotland any more. Where this leak came from would be a belter of a story, and would no doubt answer many questions.
I still believe that the meeting between Mandelson and Gadaffi's son in Malta is highly significant. There was skulduggery at Westmonster regarding al-Megrahi's release, and we haven't heard the last of it. Jack Straw has a lot to answer for.
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64. oldnat
Is there that much of a difference?
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I'm not sure I appreciate being called small minded. Seems a bit of scathing assesment to apply to all nationalists.
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73. northhighlander
You're in a snide mood tonight!
But I'll do you the courtesy of treating you seriously. Yes, there is a difference. English Nationalists at the moment remind me of many in the SNP in the early 60s (which is why I was a Liberal then). They still haven't come to terms with what being "English" means - in other words they still haven't understood the concept of civic nationalism, and it's too tainted with vague concepts of ethnicity.
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74
How about a compromise then' say SMALL SOLDIER!.
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76. To be perfectly honest that flies straight over my head. I'd prefer no name calling, i aint a 6 year old in the playground. I'm sure we are more than capable of rising above that kind of behaviour. We aren't politicians after all
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75
Colonel Snide! sounds like someone is trying to be a Hoogans hero.
Now! that brings back some memories.
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77
Couldn't agree more jediirnbru but dont confuse humor with conkers!.
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75. oldnat
Your courtesy is appreciated as always. I see your point but when you see the sentiment shown elsewhere on these blogs, your sense of civic nationalism is far from a universal concept amongst our fellow Scots.
The ethnicity concept is never that far from the surface. Maybe it is just me but I sense this has become a stronger part of the sentiment on these blogs.
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To everyone quite rightly complaining about increasingly blatant bias of the media wing of the Labour party (formerly known as the BBC), there is a way in which the SNP can clip the BBC's wings, if they're so inclined.
Whilst power of broadcasting is reserved to Westminster, enforcement of the TV licence depends on the administration of criminal justice, which is devolved. As far as I can see, there is nothing that the BBC can do if the SNP decide to decriminalise non-payment of the licence fee. Imagine – Kenny Macaskill announces a press conference at which he advises Scots that, should they decide not to renew their TV licences, they will not be prosecuted. There would be joy unconfined, and each household would be given a personal fiscal boost of £142.50. Perhaps it might even leave room for an unbiased national media to grow afresh.
That should be the stick with which Salmond threatens to beat the BBC, unless they promise to provide a level playing field from now on. It's time to take the gloves off, Alex.
R of S
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#69 kered
Your WUM in a million Derek, nice to have you back. Now if you could only persuade Dean back we'd have some cross party representation on these pages again.
Hows the Labour election campaign going for you, got any new coups going?
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81
Those are strange gloves RepublicofScotland just out of curiousity! how mant Scots are employed by the BBC? and of course this web-site would be forced to close as well. Err! have you thought about this R of the S.
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82 ScotinNotts
Kered please! shockingly poor! Frank Field now goes and watches D. Cameron speeches?. H and H are making fortunes off their contact books and Purnell is trying to convince everyone he is Atlee's ghost.O' and Campbell thinks the 45 minute claim was entirely accurate...Wow! and no-one can fight Scotland's corner for fear of their expenses being highlighted. A part from that! when will the nats start their campaign?.
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#80 northhighlander
Has this perceived sentiment, whatever it is, been portrayed by particular posters or are we all going to be tarred with the same brush because we hold certain political views?
I'm intrigued to know how you've managed to divine how those that desire independence came to hold our political beliefs.
You seem to be implying something sinister, perhaps you'd care to eleborate on your assertions, then we could see if they have any validity.
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81. RepublicOfScotland
"Imagine – Kenny Macaskill announces a press conference at which he advises Scots that, should they decide not to renew their TV licences, they will not be prosecuted. There would be joy unconfined, and each household would be given a personal fiscal boost of £142.50. Perhaps it might even leave room for an unbiased national media to grow afresh."
What a BEAUTIFUL idea. Everyone in Scotland who reads this should contact Mr. Macaskill suggesting such a step. Decriminalization would be a wonderful thing. =)
I suggest starting a campaign this instant.
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While you are debating the subject of the tories maybe winning the next London election, what does this mean for the labour boys in Edinburgh?
Do Labour still remain as the official opposition in edinburgh as runners up in the last vote here or does this change to the tories because they are the winners in London? I would assume that it stayed as Labour but stranger things have happened.
If the Tories win in London and Labour are still the main opposition party in Edinburgh, what position does this put them in? Do they support the Tories in London to muck about with the SNP or do they side with the SNP to muck up the Tories?
What would be their election strategy for the Edinburgh elections the next year?
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North Highlander:
#80.
"The ethnicity concept is never that far from the surface. Maybe it is just me but I sense this has become a stronger part of the sentiment on these blogs."
I agree, slightly. Identity is strong, well always has been strong and I suspect always will be strong. It makes us passionate and I also suspect it's the one thing we share together with every other human being in this world.
Ethnicity, although quite different is also a difficult issue. I always believe it's personal and no other person should be able to define another persons nationality.
However I do love posters attemtping to label 'Scottish' MPs... Alistar Darling, born in England but represents a Scottish constinuency and Tony Blair, born in Scotland but represented an English constinuency.
I always ask, define a Scots person and I never get an answer.
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80. northhighlander
"Maybe it is just me"
I suspect it is.
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"Maybe it is just me but I sense this has become a stronger part of the sentiment on these blogs. "
Yep! It is just you!
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81. RepublicOfScotland
Unfortunately for your idea, UK statute law applies in Scotland.
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did anyone else see Angus MacLeod's piece in today's Times?
"Boundary alterations could help Labour to beat SNP"
Far-reaching plans to change the boundaries of Scottish Parliament seats could help Labour to win the next Holyrood election — even if it gets fewer votes than the SNP.....
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/uk/scotland/article6984356.ece
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71. northhighlander
"What I note form your post and the one immediately above it from Supermk, is how little difference there is between the attitude of a Scottish nationalist and an English Nationalist."
In the US, we kicked you lot out a few hundred years ago to do just what I said: Stand on our own feet and fend for ourselves. At times it has gone well and at times not so well, but I note we've never begged to be taken back for care and nurturing.
I'm fascinated that this is small-minded and odious but you unionists always have your own ways of looking at things. =)
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91.
Hahahahaha the BBC were pretty quick to let that comment through the moderation game!
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88. Tom
"I always ask, define a Scots person and I never get an answer. "
I suspect similar to the definition most people would give to "American".
Someone who resides in that country and/or gives their allegiance and loyalty to it.
Simples.
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87 Highlandarab
Great question! what will Scottish labour do if Cameron wins the election! So far we remain silent, many would say we have been silent for 12 years and I wouldn't argue against that.
Scottish labour must campaign and fight for the rights of the Scottish people.The Scottish parliament must have stronger powers, especially fiscal and borrowing powers.The people of Scotland have more in coomon with our European neighbours than we do with England ,in terms of political systems, wants and needs.
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JRMacClure,
Considering the amount of Americans that choose to link themselves to Scots, Irish etc do you not think it's a funny statement to claim you got rid of the British?
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#47 oldnat
"Thanks for the link. Just watched it all."
You're welcome, and lucky you - I've only just finished watching the lot thanks to numerous interruptions.
"Good performances from Salmond & McAskill - clear, co-operative and on the whole good questioning from the committee."
Agreed - especially the the unanswerable digs at the Scotland Office.
"The exception ws Mundell. I can see why there isn't a snowball's chance of him being the Tory SoS!"
Quite so, although Dundee West's James McGovern also deserves a dishonourable mention.
"As to the "speck of grit" that Brian mentions, I think that will be a reference as to the "dispute resolution" issue that Salmond hammered home again and again. Difficult for the UK to accept, but politically impossible to resist - especially if Cameron wants to reduce the powers of Scots MPs."
Yes, with both Wales and NI cheering on the sidelines. I'm sure the word will get through to Cameron, but I'd really like to read what Brian really thinks about the subject, which will certainly be brought up in the national debates if not the state ones.
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#96 kered
but if they opt to go along with the SNP to scupper the tories in London, is that not quite a dramatic change of direction. Given the amount of times that they have rubbished any new (or old) initiatives that have been put forward in the last couple of years, would this not need a complete change of shadow cabinet in Edinburgh (and I would assume similar upheaval of the press and TV to suit the new direction). Surely it is difficult to have such a change around without needing to bring on the subs. New leadership elections etc. eeekkk! who's gonna pay for that?
If they go the other way and support the Tories they will be at odds with the possible opposition party in London and face getting their knuckles rapped in the process from their southern cousins. I could see Annabel having a say in how the Labour vote went on occasions up here in this case which would be interesting.
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99
it does make for interesting interesting times ahead. Labour have a hardtime sticking together tackling just one party in opposition government, trying to fight on two very different fronts while remaining united could really end them!
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99 Highlandarab
Yes, it would be a u-turn but the notion that the Scottish labour party can continue to support a false permise in the shape of the unionist triangle is a conflict of interest towards the poeple they represent.
The labour party should not embrace Cameron's taxation plans and his will to curtail Scotland's input.The reason why the devolution plan became such a reality was because the people of Scotland had rejected every signle conservative goverment in the 80@s and 90's.
Highlandarab this election is longer about Westminster and what is good for London. Westminster has failed the entire nation through act of serlfserving greed and stupid power plays for high office. Today Scotland's devolved parliament call for it's rightfull recognition as a parent nation.
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Can we hope with the predicted demise of labour at the GE that the Labour party in Scotland will no longer take the Westminster party line ad nauseum but rather look at issues from a Scottish perspective?
There's no way I can see them supporting either the Tories or the SNP at Holyrood, which may relegate them to a lesser role or more hopefully perhaps the above.
Even if the Tories win the GE, when will both Labour and the Tories at Holyrood come to the realisation that their parties policies have a different audience North and South of the border and tailor them accordingly, or would that be tantamount to admitting that there is no union anymore?
Oh, the dilemas of a unionist!
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#101 kered
What has happened to Derek? Like the Doctor he's regenerated, however his politcal values have changed beyond recognition!
Is this permanent?
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68. J.R. MacClure
David Cameron doesn't have to live it because there is another election in 2011. No sitting government party increases its representation after 4 years in office, there representation drops (a simple fact of life in a democracy). In fact, in a recent post it was predicted that the SNP would drop from 47 seats to 45 seats, albeit still the largest party. Nevertheless, all the Scottish Tories have to do is sit tight and let the electoral cycle take its course, if the SNP want to stay in office they have to talk to the Tories and, by extension, David Cameron.
I am reminded of an old Scots saying - the one who pays the piper calls the tune.
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#102 ScotinNotts
"when will both Labour and the Tories at Holyrood come to the realisation that their parties policies have a different audience North and South of the border and tailor them accordingly"
Would this not be easier for the Tories rather than Labour.
The Labour party as far as I am aware does not have a Scottish branch - it is only a leader in Scotland of the MSP's and so the direction comes from the party leader (likely to be from the south after Gordon is sent out to graze). Is the Conservative party not a seperate Scottish branch with their own leader, so could adjust their message slightly if required to suit circumstances.
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104. gordon mccaskill
"No sitting government party increases its representation after 4 years in office"
Fortunately, people aren't as predictable as you imagine. In Tweedledee/Tweedledum politics, you are probably right, but the SP operates in a 4 party environment where things work rather differently.
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#91 oldnat
Yes, most (not all) UK statute law applies in Scotland....including the laws pertaining to the TV licence. I think you misunderstand my point - I am not suggesting that the Scottish government can change the law, just that they can decide not to enforce criminal sanctions against those who break the law.
This actually happens in many spheres already - motorway speeding between 70 and 77 is effectively decriminalised, for example.
The UK government wouldn't be able to do anything about that short of amending the Scotland Act to re-reserve the relevant devolved powers. Obviously it would be an incendiary step for a Scottish Govt to take but they would be on unquestionably solid legal ground.
R of S
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102 ScotInNotts
Murphy and co have been blatant about the unionist agreement with the tories in Scotland, it was a damn disgrace and an absolute slap in the face to those who suffered so much at the hands of the last conservative government. People having nothing to fear than fear it's self and that fear which new labour spreads so thickly is disminishing.
ScotInNotts, conservatives dont change and Annabell Goldie will be just another conservative pasty in Scotland.The Scottish labour party can only set it's self free by representing Scottish issues, it seems a bit dumb to have a Scottish labour MSP supporting a labour party English MP's most savage cuts for 20 years agenda. Our customary practice in Scotland often out wieghts or ties with England and our politics have most certainly changed in respect of devolution and priorities.
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#104 gordon mccaskill
"if the SNP want to stay in office they have to talk to the Tories and, by extension, David Cameron"
Nonesense. For starters the SNP don't form a coalition government with another party, and seek consensus on an issue by issue basis. The electorate keep the SNP in office, not another political party.
Also, thanks for negating the need for the next Holyrood election as you've already told us the results, apparently there's no chance of an overall majority for the SNP, aye right.
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#105 highlandarab
You are correct, however I was surmising that post the drubbing at the next GE perhaps some of the bigwigs at Scottish Labour HQ might have a change of heart and feel it was time to make that very distinction.
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#101 kered
I was just interested in where anyone thought the parties would position themselves if the expected Tory win happens. I think the Tories are in a good position in Scotland if they win. I don't really see any change in the position of the Lib Dems. I can't see any need for any changes in the SNP. labour seem to be the only ones who will have some deep thinking to do.
I well remember the night of the 'no tories' in Scotland and live in hope that this year I might experience it again. I would hope the same for Labour, but this is probably a little hopeful, however, the loss of half a dozes seats for them I would deem to be a 'good night in in front of the telly'.
Over the past 10 years I have taken less and less interest in the London stories as the Edinburgh news is so much more specific to me.
I am one of the ones who does not really care much at present who runs my parliament, so long as it is a Scottish parliament. I wouldn't even worry if I was worse off at the start because I know it would come and go in cycles. But I think that we are big enough and ugly enough to fend for ourselves for better for worse and should be trusted to get on with it.
It would be interesting to know how many 'new' counties there have been recently with the break up of the USSR, Yougoslavia, etc that the London governemt has sent congratulations messages to and letters of support because they have gained their independance and control over their own affairs.
I haven't seem many news reports suggesting that Iraq or Afganistan should not be independant but should gang together in a union with their neighbours for their own good.
I would like the election to be as soon as possible (march hopefully but unlikely according to most commentators) so that the Scottish Labour party have longer to squirm before the next Scottish poll, but that s just the badness in me coming out.
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Nice to see this site livening up, with interesting posts from non-Nats! Keep them coming guys!
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81. RepublicOfScotland:
So who will fund this new media? Or will Holyrood control it? I don't want ANY politician is a position of having control of the media. Quite sure that within the SNP ranks there will be those who would like to decide what the media can publish.
But you would also have a situation where the Justice Secretary would be encouraging people to break the law, regardless whether he decriminalises the offence (which frankly I don't think he actually has the power to do so).
86 JR
I don't think it's a beautiful idea and certainly not a sensible one.
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88. Tom:
Just like all these people who believe Rod Stewart is Scottish, when he was born in London.
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93. JRMacClure:
And look who you got as President! (the last one, not the current)
That will teach you. Perhaps a lesson for Scotland, kick the UK out and sometime in the future we get our own George W. Saying that, we do have Grecian 2010, thankfully not in charge.
-------------------
On the GE, what happens with the following scenarios:
1. Tories win outright. SNP win 20+ seats.
2. Tories win outright. SNP win 6-10 seats.
3. Hung Parliament. SNP win 20+ seats.
4. Hung Parliament. SNP win 6-10 seats.
5. Labour win.
6. Lib Dems win.
No 6 - I'm leaving the country.
No 5 - Count the postal votes....
No 4 - Alex's grin is a little shaky.
No 3 - Alex's grin is so wide Gray falls in by accident.
No 2 - See No 4.
No 1 - See No 3.
--------------------
On leadership challenges, I'm wondering if the Hoon/Hewitt affair was a deliberate set up by Brown. I know the two of them are firm Blairites, but this is politics we're talking about.
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#80
Would you care to give us some examples of this "ethnicity" problem you are determined to associate with those who believe tha the people who live in Scotland should rule Scotland.
I have read and contributed to this blog for a very long time and not once have I seen an unacceptable or racist post from any nationalist.
In fac over the past forty years the only racist projextions have come from a few nutters who I believe were inserted into the arguement by our political masters -" plants" in other words.
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Can someone please tell me how to view the whole session with Salmond and MacAskill at the Scottish Select Committee?
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113. enneffess
"sometime in the future we get our own George W"
What do you mean the future? In the UK we got Blair (not so much a bush as a crawling plant).
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111 Highlandarab
I do sympathise with your wants however I do expect there to be about another decade or so before full Independence would occur, In the meantime I would also fully expect Scotland to manage it's own resources, have fiscal and full borrowing powers, others area would need very fine tight negotiating over a course of time, in my opinion.
The Scottish labour party and Scottish labour MSP's can no longer be blinkered to the situation, lets be honest! who the hell does agree with Lord Folkes! the mans an embarrassment onto himself.Scottish labour MSP's have got to make their voice heard now!while the London mob fight over themselves and cant even agree on a campaign strategy, let the Scottish labour party be clear! that their interest lay within the communities they represent and we can't tackle inaqualities by southern devisions. I ask my labour MSP to make the choice Scottish peoples interest or londons continuing chaos.
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#115 Florence
See Brownedov's #7 post.
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115. Florence
Click on the link that Brownedov gave in his #7. The actual screen is a little bit down the page.
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#113 enneffess
I agree entirely that no politician should control the media. I'm not suggesting otherwise.
Kenny Macaskill is in charge of the Scottish criminal justice system, including the police and the prosecution service. He could decriminalise non-payment of the licence fee if he wanted to. That's not my opinion - it's the law.
Obviously it would trigger the mother of all barneys with Westminster....
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113. enneffess
"93. JRMacClure:
And look who you got as President! (the last one, not the current)
That will teach you. Perhaps a lesson for Scotland, kick the UK out and sometime in the future we get our own George W. Saying that, we do have Grecian 2010, thankfully not in charge."
Yes, we've had some bad presidents. We've also had a few Washingtons, Lincolns, and Roosevelts.
Maybe you shouldn't be quite so smug. I still haven't noticed we're inviting back the poodle to be in charge. =)
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104. gordon mccaskill
"In fact, in a recent post it was predicted that the SNP would drop from 47 seats to 45 seats"
And a different and also recent poll put that at about 50.
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97. Tom
"Considering the amount of Americans that choose to link themselves to Scots, Irish etc do you not think it's a funny statement to claim you got rid of the British?"
No. Ever heard of the War of Independence? Thanks to the French, we won. We have ancestors from all over. Some of mine are even Scottish. Some Irish. Some French. Some German.
That "means no nevermind" as we say in these parts. We still run our own affairs for our own profit--as people frequently and loudly point out. Or are you actually saying we don't? =)
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104. No sitting government party increases its representation after 4 years in office, there representation drops (a simple fact of life in a democracy).
Thatcher's government increased its majority after 4 years in 1983.
113. So who will fund this new media?
I think that the argument being made would be that paying the TV licence in Scotland would become voluntary, giving the BBC three options.
1. Give up on Scotland all together
2. Continue as they are now with the reduced budget, possibly being subsidised by licence payers in the rest of the country.
3. Start to change their programming in Scotland in an attempt to appeal to viewers and encourage them to subscribe/donate to the BBC.
I'm not sure this would work initially anyway as too few people would pay attention to Kenny MacAskill, (and the BBC probably wouldn't report it that often.)
I've got family who work for opticians, and get people asking all the time how much their eye test is going to cost, even though they've been free since 2006! so you'd probably need inspector vans going round to check if people are still paying their licence and telling them to stop.
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Summer must be approaching - the BBC are reporting another 'grilling' on their main news and politics page for Scotland, and yes it is an SNP politician that is being grilled.
It's funny watching the news organisations trying to create convoluted headlines that lessen the impact of Salmond's justifiable attacks yesterday. Good old BBC Scotland even managed to contrive a 'Salmond defends' headline.
He must have performed really well.
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So they have found masses of oil offshore The Falkland Islands - actually I knew that when I was given sight of the seismic reports in 1981/2 - PRIOR to the war. I was under no illusion why Maggie Thatcher went to war there - it was solely for the oil and the revenue it would bring into England and remember that her husband was a director of Coalite and The Trafalgar House Group who would have benefited greatly during construction / operations etc.. I remember being told "it could make the North Sea look like a drop in the ocean".
Let us be under no illusion - The Falklands will be claimed by ENGLAND - NOT Scotland nor Britain. When the Scottish oil runs out - and it will - be rest assured the English MPs will be only too happy to allow Scotland its independence and still permit the purchase of their duck pond houses, moat cleaning, etc., etc which will be then financed by the (remaining) poor sods down in The Falkland Islands.
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Isn't it nice to have good friendly neighbours? We, Scots, joke about the English but how nice are these neighbours?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vE3tHPwmnSQ
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#124 FatherMacKenzie
"you'd probably need inspector vans going round to check if people are still paying their licence and telling them to stop"
ROFL at your touching faith in human nature.
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71. I like the way northhighlander sees no contradiction in dismissing the views of the majority of the posters on this board as "small minded and odious" then wearily thanking oldnat for his courtesy.
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Tory John Maples announcement that he is standing down makes him the 124th MP to do so.Add to that fact that a huge number of MPs are bound to lose their seats in the GE and it's going to make for one of the most inexperienced Commons ever.
Hung parliament.Loads of rookie MPs.SNP holding the balance of power.
That could be fun.
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#125 Online Ed
I was thinking the same thing. Why is it that SNP ministers are never questioned, they always face being grilled?
Sensationalised headlines is one thing, but this time it's a pylon grilling, thats one heck of a large grill!
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118 and 119: Thank you both.
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Brian,
I don't seem to remember this number of Labour MSPs being "grilled" by whoever is doing the grilling while they were in power in Scotland (although the headlines are usually changed after a while to replace the word grilling).
May it's because they never did anything of importance.
Hopefully the "grillings" will extend to Gordon Brown and co on the damage they have done to Britain as the election nears.
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#125 Online Ed
"Good old BBC Scotland even managed to contrive a 'Salmond defends' headline.
He must have performed really well."
He did indeed, as did MacAskill, Elvidge and Gordon, but you wouldn't know so from this website's woeful Lockerbie bomber release rules 'followed'.
However, let's try to follow oldnat's lead and stress the positives where there are any, since at the time of writing this thread is featured and linked to on both the main Scotland and Scotland politics pages, giving us a chance to lay the facts before any newcomers to the site.
Before trying to do so, I must point out that perhaps the oddest thing of all is that the main topic of the meeting according to the Parliamentary Calendar was "Scotland and the UK: cooperation and communication between governments" and not simply al-Megrahi, though you would hardly think so unless you stumble upon this website's Democracy Live - Scottish Affairs Committee, which now has the full session in flash video and text which does at least mention some of the other issues involved, without admitting Salmond's excellent arguments re the Joint Ministerial Council, Calman or the Scotland Office, of course.
The page is currently linked to from the Democracy Live Home page and was originally featured on the Democracy Live House of Commons page, but strangely never appeared on the Democracy Live Scotland. Perhaps BBC Democracy Live just needs a little "cooperation and communication between" BBC departments.
Sadly, I can't seem to find a transcript of the speeches. Hansard doesn't cover select committees and the UK parliament's Scottish Affairs Committee sub-site, although it should appear here fairly soon, in the Uncorrected Oral Evidence section.
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Auntie does listen sometimes. Ministers now face questions rather than a grilling - but then the actual story was pretty tame; a request for clarification and detail rather than the inquisition implied by "grilling"
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How confusing that at the time of writing, the "OTHER TOP STORIES" on this website's main News Front Page (for UK consumption) includes in 4th place Back devolution, unionists urged. Odder still is that it's not a call from home rulers to Westmidden, but from arch-unionist and Tweedle flipper Shaun Woodward to the even archer unionist DUP.
Can we expect similar treatment on the Scotland pages of Murphy's mutterings, I wonder?
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#133 HughEdinburgh
What is wrong with 'grilling'? As an occasional reader of what the Germans call 'Krimis', I quite frequently come across the term in some language or another. A typical example would be: "le commissaire cuisina le suspect." Translated into the British tongue this would be: the superintendant grilled the suspect.
Will Mather confess that 'it's a fair cop' and be 'banged to rights'? Will he implicate his accomplices? Has he any 'previous'?
Convicted by pejorative connotation. The power of the press, boy. The power of the press.
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136 Brownedov, lol that reminds me of the many times I've alighted eagerly on a Guardian article with a promising heading such as "What now for the state of the union?" only to find that yet again they were talking about the USA!
I fondly imagine a few years hence when these journalists gather in a huddle with their Starbucks coffee murmuring incredulously " did you hear the Scots have gone?"
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For students of Labour Kremlinology.
Murphy sitting next to Brown at PMQ (though not looking terribly happy about it).
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#138 grassyKnollington
LOL
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#139 oldnat
"Murphy sitting next to Brown at PMQ (though not looking terribly happy about it)."
Nothing more than PMQs following "Scotland" questions and the Skeletor not being able to exit fast enough thanks to the incoming rush, I suspect.
Off out now, but back tonight I hope.
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Wow! Brown has gifted the Lib.Dems and the SNP an open goal in fact two open goals. Firstly he now agrees with Darling about the need for savage cuts. That's an admission of his changed policy on the economy and secondly. Brown seems to have admitted his backing for the Iraq war by stating the same line as Campbell, that he stands by every decision made.
The Iraq issue returns with even more vigor as the opposition parties will certainly rip in Brown about the part he played and why Chilcot wont call Brown before the election. Campbell has indeed hammered home the final nail into Brown coffin.
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#128 Browndov
Indeed. Folk wouldn't take long to figure out that they didn't have to stump up their £142.50 any more. In addition, I'm pretty sure that the BBC-hating Murdoch press would provide all the publicity required!
Yes, Murdoch press, I know, but your enemy's enemy is your friend.
R of S
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Populus poll (E&W only)
Con 44.2% : Lab 26.4% : LD 19% : Oth 8.9% - 17.8% Tory lead over Labour there.
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126. coineach watson
And it will never be developed as the cost of extraction will far outway what the global economy can afford.
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