Dearly departing
And so the number of the departing is increased by one. Rather a significant one at that.
Andrew Welsh of the SNP has indicated that he will not contest the Holyrood elections next year.
Mr Welsh was first elected to Westminster in October 1974: the second General Election that year, the one which brought the SNP a full football team of MPs.
That alone would give him a place in Nationalist history. More than that, though, Andrew Welsh has been throughout his career a quietly and thoroughly effective parliamentarian, subjecting governments of all colours to scrutiny on behalf of his constituency and nation.
Latterly, he deployed those talents at Holyrood as convener of the finance committee, stressing the importance of evidence-based argument.
However, alongside that role and that demeanour comes a deep commitment to his fundamental political cause.
Andrew Welsh was and is a passionate Nationalist.
Considerable characters
Those others who are standing down will perhaps forgive me for singling out the Angus MSP in this way.
I have known him since he was a tyro politician and I was a youthful political journalist, both of us in the north-east of Scotland.
But the list of the departing does indeed contain considerable characters and substantial experience.
One thinks of "Baillie" Bill Aitken, easily one of the most diligent and focused members of the present parliament.
Or Jamie Stone, whose contributions frequently enlighten and enliven.
Or Jim Mather, who has brought a real knowledge of the business world to Holyrood.
Or Dr Ian McKee, with his medical expertise.
Great scarf
Or Cathy Jamieson and Margaret Curran, who have contributed substantially at Holyrood as ministers and front benchers but who have now opted to pursue their political careers at Westminster.
Or Robin Harper, thoughtful, energetic, dedicated. Great "Dr Who" scarf, too.
To those I have forgotten, apologies. To those who will be "stood down" by the voters in due course, advance sympathy.
To those who are leaving voluntarily, salutations.
I'm 
© 2012~RS~q~RS~~RS~z~RS~08~RS~)
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Brian:
Also, I second your motions towards the dearly departed....And, wish my best for the next steps in their lives..
(d)
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Brian - oh yeah Jim Mather the guy who didn't seem to know what he could and couldn't do in relation to the Beauly/ Denny power lines. A real loss!!!
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So Cathy Jamieson and Margaret Curran are NuLabour’s surprise shock tactics at Westmidden, if you can’t beat them shriek them down.
Jamieson and Curran should be well at home amongst the NuLabour backbenchers or as one NuLabour MP called them…. Nonentities.
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Michty, you forgot the deputy presiding officer Alasdair Morgan. Also a one time Westminster MP having gloriously humped Ian Lang in Galloway and Upper Nithsdale in 1997. His departure will leave a quite winnable seat for lots of contenders as the rumour mill has it that yer actual presiding Officer Alex “Hercules” Fergusson may also be contemplating a final bang of the gavel for the last time...
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Why are so many well known Labour MSPs departing just when the press is lauding their chances of victory in 2011 and the parliament is about to get new powers?
Jack seems to have been going anywhere for ages. Now it is the Lords for him. How many jobs does a man need?
Margaret Curran MSP and MP. Cathy Jamieson MSP and MP. Ditto.
Is Lord George still there?
That seems to leave Messrs Gray, Kerr and that bloke you used to run Glasgow - Hardly an inspiring bunch to take the nation forward.
Certainly not a government in waiting.
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Pravda moderation on the ball tonight!
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The Wall Street Journal is classed this way
Comments posted to BBC blogs may be removed if they are seen to be repeated postings of the same or similar messages (referred to as 'spam') or if they contain no content, or contain content that is unreadable. Your content has been removed for this reason.
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On the day when Andrew Welsh joined fellow independentists Dr Ian McKee, Professor Christopher Harvie and Alasdair Morgan in announcing their intention to pass on the torch to the next generation so that the flame may be kept alive, I happened to come across an obscure speech delivered by an obscure politician in the House of Representatives at Springfield, Illinois on December 20th 1839. It concerns "the just cause" and concludes as follows:
"The probability that we may fall in the struggle ought not to deter us from the support of a cause we believe to be just; it shall not deter me. If ever I feel the soul within me elevate and expand to those dimensions not wholly unworthy of its almighty Architect, it is when I contemplate the cause of my country deserted by all the world beside, and I standing up boldly and alone, and hurling defiance at her victorious oppressors. Here, without contemplating consequences, before high heaven and in the face of the world, I swear eternal fidelity to the just cause, as I deem it, of the land of my life, my liberty and my love. And who that thinks with me will not fearlessly adopt the oath that I take? Let none falter who thinks he is right and we may succeed. But if, after all, we shall fail, be it so. We still shall have the proud consolation of saying to our consciences and to the departed shade of our country's freedom that the cause approved of our judgment and adored of our hearts, in disaster, in chains, in torture, in death, we never faltered in defending." (Abraham Lincoln)
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Enough said Brian I hope your proud of your moderators because no one else is. g,night
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Has everyone given up on this blog, has the BBC in Scotland managed to curtail free speech? Has Brian produced the document yet?
Pathetic but sad how the BBC are the lapdogs of the Labour party in Sccotland.
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A mere 12 posts? Unprecedented. I think you've succeeded in killing off your blog, Brian. Was that your intention?
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#11 cynicalHighlander
#12 peteraberdeenshire
#13 ForteanJo
I agree.
Aye Brian: The Dearly Departed.
Dearly Beloved, we are gathered here today….. Ashes to ashes Dust to dust.
It is not my cup of tea but it would be nice if someone wrote a eulogy or epitaph to commemorate the passing of this once active blog.
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It would seem that the Liberal Democrats can be added to the "dearly departed" - from their manifesto that is.
Alternatives to Trident 2 ??
No way!
They have blocked the SNP, Greens and Welsh nationalists proposals.
Ministerial cars win hands down, yet again.
Newsnet is always way ahead of the BBBC in up to date and apposite news.
Why is that?
And those waved bits of paper Brian, publish them and be damned say I!
What?? They only exist in someones imagination ??
Then I look forward to reading your blog about someone misleading the Scottish parliament in this the " devolved territory".
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#14 Roll_On_2011
"I agree."
Seconded.
"Dearly Beloved, we are gathered here today….. Ashes to ashes Dust to dust."
Sadly true. Some of those formerly posting here - myself included - must share some of the blame, as the self-harming tendency did these threads little good, but in general Brian does try hard - perhaps harder than some of us would if working under the same constraints. Moderation has also become somewhat draconian, but the real problem is the early closing of threads - something Nick Robinson's Newslog started but has drawn back from.
I doubt many of us will often regret the passing of threads with 2000+ comments, but they helped pass the political dog days of summer and were occasionally informative. Having come to the end of a six-month retirement part of my semi-retirement, I won't have much time for posting here myself over the next six months, but I do hope to be back later in the year and will be hoping to find a re-invigorated BwB ready for the run up to the 2011 Scottish general election, unless there's another UK one before then, of course.
On topic, it's a pity that the usual scattergun approach is being followed over these MSPs not standing for re-election. It would be really helpful to have a searchable list of names, parties, constituencies, etc. if only because the incumbancy factor proved decisive in a number of Lab-Con marginals in the UK general election and may have a part to play in the forthcoming Holyrood one. If anyone knows the URL of such a list, please post it here - if permitted.
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Last night's Reporting Scotland led with the story about some new football manager. Dumbing down appears to be still rife in BBC Glasgow.
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Brian,
Why can't the opposition just go away and find out whether or not minimum pricing for alcohol is illegal in European law, rather than them all (plus the BBC) saying constantly that it's "probably illegal".
Surely they've had enough time to research it, so should put up or shut up.
Anyway, if it's "probably illegal" north or the border, then how come they are in favour of it south of the border?
Surely it's "probably illegal" for Westminster as well, or do they work under their own rules as usual.
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Dear Brian,
I struggle to find the right words to convey my utter indifference upon reading this, your latest contribution; the term 'content - free' appears to have found a good home ...
Whilst we wallow in the mire (even if we have no time for such things) you pursue with vigour your full - time job as Location Change Manager - Portable Seating (Iceberg Stricken Vessels) ...
Staying strictly off - topic, hopefully everyone watched last night's Newsnight Scotland; the topic, faithfully expanded upon on the BeebScot's Web Site, couldn't be more apposite - we're keeling over sooner than the lot o' ye, and proud of it ... Even better, we've no idea why; booze, drugs, poverty, diet - not even a potent cocktail of this lot taken together can explain it ... Despite this it has a name; 'The Scotland Effect' ... The eponymously droopy one enquired politely if genes or the environment could be implicated; blank stares ...
The best, indeed only, explanation on offer (this from our very own Chief Medical Officer, known henceforth as 'Wee Harry') was that a 'chaotic childhood' may be a strong contributory factor in later life (or lack of it) ... It takes only a femtosecond to imagine what things might be co - opted into a description of the causes of such a childhood (if you're still awake, see above) ...
O well, back to what passes for real life ...
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Pay attention. A little bit of discourse analysis of Brian’s latest offering.
“Andrew Welsh has been throughout his career a quietly and thoroughly effective parliamentarian, subjecting governments of all colours to scrutiny on behalf of his constituency and nation."
Think on the phrase ‘subjecting governments of all colours to scrutiny on behalf of his constituency and nation’. Remind you of a certain political editor? It continues
"Latterly, he deployed those talents at Holyrood as convener of the finance committee, stressing the importance of evidence-based argument.”
‘Evidence based’. Remember Labour’s ‘published’ document? Is this a gentle critique of Iain Gray? However, also reflect on some of the sling shots about political bias which have been fired at Brian.
With that in mind, read his next paragraphs...
“However, alongside that role and that demeanour comes a deep commitment to his fundamental political cause. Andrew Welsh was and is a passionate Nationalist...Those others who are standing down will perhaps forgive me for singling out the Angus MSP in this way. I have known him since he was a tyro politician and I was a youthful political journalist, both of us in the north-east of Scotland.”
Think on the warmth of that. Is Brian reminding us that he has a hinterland? That he respects those committed to the independence cause and has longstanding friends in the SNP?
Note the elegiac tone towards 2011. The sense of a generation passing. A ‘Lament for the Makars’ and those who study them?
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Surely the number of departing MSPs will amount to the entire membership of the Scottish Parliament, with We The People deciding (at least notionally) who deserve to return following the election.
Are Messrs Welsh, Aitken et al merely trying to disprove the late Enoch Powell's quote that "every political career ends in failure"?; if so, they will have failed!!
As to the big hairy beast down south, Wastemonster has at least got something right.
The contents of Ministerial red boxes is massively more important than the current batch of lightweight (mainly LibDem) Ministers.
The notion of red boxes being transported in (often) armour-plated formerly Ministerial cars, while members of the Cabinet are compelled to mix with hoi polloi on public transport - or, heaven forfend, pay for, and use, their own cars! - should put them in their places.
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Is this blog also about to retire, perhaps on grounds of ill health?
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13. I think it's more likely that the attitudes and comments of the nationalists, who consider this blog their sole property, are killing it off.
Strange how blogs where nationalists are in a tiny minority have flourished with moderate and mature debate.
For some years now, this once-decent and moderate site has been little more than a forum of abuse by the infantile, the ignorant and the plain rude.
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Brian,
I look forward to you telling all how wonderful Mr Gray was today at FMQ’s.
What a dapper and dynamic chap he is.
Or will you wax lyrical about the Goldie chase of secret plans that are sitting on John Swinney’s desk!
All in all it was a non event.
I am sure Miliband et al in the audience will have been suitably impressed at the proceedings.
On the other hand the Alcohol debate was far more enjoyable and it was good to see that Malcolm Chisholm continues to be a independent thinker as opposed to those rogues he shares party allegiance to.
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Yip, my dry sense of humour does not appear to be Mr Moderators cup of tea! (And it was funny) I'm awaiting an email confirming such!
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Is there nothing on the Scottish Labour Dot Org website news section that isn’t an attack on the SNP?
Do they not have anything positive to say or add?
Are they simply content to snipe at everything?
Come May 2011 I hope that the Scottish Public see through the facade and see for once the mediocrity and self serving interests of those within their seeking opportunism. Gray himself wants more power.
Can’t they put their hatred to one side and be progressive about taking Scotland forward; one could argue that by doing that they could strengthen the union?
If Labour win 2011 then its "tatties oer the side"
Quotes from the website, it’s all attack, attack and attack:
“Scottish Labour leader attacked Alex Salmond for his incompetence as the First Minister meets David Cameron at the Joint Ministerial Committee”.
“Scottish Labour today raised concerns that the SNP government's Zero Waste Plan launched today will be meaningless unless it's backed up with proper resources”.
“Scottish Labour leader Iain Gray said due to the ‘Salmond Shambles’ in both Health and Education the First Minister’s message to young Scots is ‘If you want to be a teacher or nurse – emigrate”.
"The SNP are failing to tackle violent crime and failing the justice system with a reckless proposal to scrap custodial sentences of less than six months”.
“Scottish Labour’s Frank McAveety has criticised the SNP for failing to deliver its manifesto promise to deliver two hours of physical education in schools or provide children with free access to council swimming pools”.
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23: For some years now, this once-decent and moderate site has been little more than a forum of abuse by the infantile, the ignorant and the plain rude
Yourself included then?
You should however change your sentence to read:
For some years now, this once-decent and moderate BBBC has been little more than a front for pro Unionist journalism, the ignorant and the plain rude.
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#23 Reluctant-Expat
"I think it's more likely that the attitudes and comments of the nationalists, who consider this blog their sole property, are killing it off."
There's a smidgeon of truth truth there re certain internecine struggles, but one that is completely swamped by the inability or unwillingness of BBC Scotland to provide adequate scrutiny to the "Scottish" Labour party - something which I would have thought that you, as a self-outed Tory, would have been just as concerned over as any home ruler.
"Strange how blogs where nationalists are in a tiny minority have flourished with moderate and mature debate."
Like Nick Robinson's, perhaps, where the "two bald men fighting over a comb" syndrome is alive and well between the red and the blue Tweedles?
"For some years now, this once-decent and moderate site has been little more than a forum of abuse by the infantile, the ignorant and the plain rude."
Unlike your own, entirely positive, contributions I presume? Why not demonstrate that by explaining why, with the rash of referendumitis promised by the new UK government, nothing has yet been said on granting the people of Scotland a referendum on Scotland's constitution future? Or perhaps explain why you believe that full fiscal autonomy is not in Scotland's best interest?
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#23 RE .... 'For some years now, this once-decent and moderate site has been little more than a forum of abuse by the infantile, the ignorant and the plain rude'
Hey dont be so harsh on yourself, i wouldnt say your were rude !
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23. "For some years now, this once-decent and moderate site has been little more than a forum of abuse by the infantile, the ignorant and the plain rude.
I think it's more likely that the attitudes and comments of the nationalists, who consider this blog their sole property, are killing it off".
they have to simply abuse anyone who disagrees with them because they have no politics. they live in some melgibsonesque fantasy world totally devoid of the realities of every day life in scotland, past and present.
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23. At 12:15pm on 10 Jun 2010, Reluctant-Expat wrote:
For some years now, this once-decent and moderate site has been little more than a forum of abuse by the infantile, the ignorant and the plain rude.
I am new to this blog, but I did wonder if your contributions were
an auto-generating programe since they remained so very limited in topic,
tone and target.
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Pretty poor FMQs today, not least because of the lack of intervention by the Presiding Officer.
He should impose (or gather to himself the powers to impose) limits of, say, 30 seconds for a question, 75 seconds for an answer.
If a question has not been asked by one of the leaders within the time allowed, the right to ask it (and all supplementary questions for that day's session) should be forfeited; if the answer overruns, the FM should be told - without ceremony - to take his seat.
Non-leaders should be given more leeway (60 seconds) since a little background is likely to be needed, but the principle remaisn the same - the stated aim is to question the FM (and to ehar his answer(s), not to make speeches.
Put timers on their microphones to impose the limits.
The PO's huffing and puffing - akin to US citizens' ridiculing unarmed police (that they can only 'shout "STOP (or I'll shout STOP again)"' - with no obvious intent to take stronger action brings him and his office into discredit.
Ironically, the Gray man would probably benefit - when he is short and pithy, he is effective; when he tries to talk like statesman, he loses coherence. Bella would have to ride her laughs, rather than surfing them. Tavish Scott couldn't have his usual 15-minute nap (the only explanation for the frequency with which his prepared questions repeat what has already been covered in full) before being called upon. And, non-leaders might get a meaningful chance to hold the FM to account...
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FMQs - Is it my imagination or have I seen this somewhere before?
Dejas Voo Doo
P.S. please stop resuscitating Alan Cochrane for the post match analysis!!!
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TCOM #19
I think you missed the point, put simply our fat, lazy, boozy, smoking slobs die significantly younger than the fat, lazy, boozy, smoking slobs from some English cities. Why would Glaswegian children feel the effects of being brought up by people who indulge in unhealthy lifestyles any more than Liverpudlian kids brought up by parents who have similar lifestyles?
Seems we do not yet know.
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The comments by Brian Taylor about the MSPs who are leaving NEXT YEAR could have been left to nearer the time.
This blog ( when it is written) gets less relevent as each day passes.
Boring...!!!!!
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