Tension, mixed with a little nervousness, initially appeared to be the atmosphere when Ian Gray asked his first question. He laid the blame for the fall of the Budget squarely at the feet of John Swinney. The First Minister was having none of it and retaliated with vigour. He was angry, nay furious, with the labour MSPs and it showed. Ian Gray continued in blame mode, using the words he has used in all media interviews in the past 24 hours, 'arrogance', 'reckless brinkmanship', 'narrow party motives'.
When our First Minister is riled the orator in him is a pleasure to observe and today he didn't disappoint. The labour MSPs attempts to treat Alex Salmond's responses with derision, weren't appreciated by anyone other than themselves.
Annabel Goldie was ready for a fight, you could tell by the way she clenched her fists. She socked it to labour about their behaviour and she socked it to the whole Parliament after reading the email she waved. Aunty Annabel, overnight, has changed gear upwards - to campaign level.
Mr Scott (the libdem leader to those who don't know), seemed rather subdued or even conciliatory. The First Minister explained to him why his 2p reduction in tax would not be acceptable to the chamber, (I'm sure that's been explained to the libdems previously), and this was a wee warning to Tavish not to even mention it at their meeting later today. It could well be that the libdems may decide to join with the conservatives and the Budget will be passed. If that happened I doubt if Patrick Harvie will see any money for his insulation policy (which doesn't really help Scottish homes which aren't suitable for cavity wall filling). Never mind, he had his 15 minutes of fame yesterday, plus a few more on Newsnight.
A good FMQs with one incredible claim from Mr Gray, "labour has a series of sincere proposals...".
A note to the BBC. Westminster PMQs receive 90 minutes airtime each Wednesday. Holyrood FMQs receive 30 minutes each Thursday. By the time Brian Taylor has given his welcome FMQs has started. Is really difficult to alter the timing for a minute or two so that viewers can see the start of the programme?
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6 comments:
Enjoyed that post Subrosa, not yet seen FMQ,s but got the jist of it now. Iain Grey will be left out in the cold if the Libs warm to the SNP. I hope the SNP can work closer with the Libs becouse out of all the partys we share the most in common with them, althoug you would'nt think it.
As you say, the Greens have has there little bit of fame and i only hope they get a big slap for what they have done.
Labour are dead down south and in Scotland they are about to be sloughterd..
I did watch this time normally i give it a miss. Unfortunately the whole debate was an unedifying spectacle nobody came out well the whole bunch.
Are a uninspiring lot one shouts some applaud (that should be banned)
the other one shouts back(his lot applaud).
And as for quoting from Newspapers so as to insult someone a kind of oblique attack being unable to make the comment direct themselves and thus being ruled out of order.
Holyrood really need to address the procedure of how they debate. they are all an embarrassment to the Scottish nation they are all supposed to be the freely elected representatives of the Scottish peoples.
they all(and i mean all no exceptions) act as if they aspire to be chief hog of the pig pen.
Don't think I'll be watching again for a while. With all economic turmoil going on around us and we are expected to believe that lot can help sort some of it out.
Auch niko, weren't you impressed by your leader? His statement about 'sincere policies' tickled me. He didn't shout either niko, he uses the tactic of nearly whispering because he thinks then people will listen to him. Sadly they don't.
Alex Salmond is an orator and they 'throw their voices' they don't shout. Exercises the diaphram if I remember. Long time since I shouted.
No I disagree with you about shouting. Having read someone the other week, who had actually attended FMQs, he said it was impossible to hear the speakers because of the noise from the labour benches (and he was a libdem supporter).
Sorry Niko, I didn't quite finish that last comment.
Meant to add that if visitors can't hear what's being said because of the noise then maybe that's why some speakers feel they have to shout.
Nikos
Let's face it Labour have precious little to shout about but I agree that sometimes it looks like a disorganised rabble especially when Kerr and Curran have had a good lunch. Some individuals can project their voice better than Gray or Tavish.
You put that far more succinctly than me brownlie. I'm sure niko understands much better now.
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