Sunday 1 February 2009

BUDGET FAILURE - PATRICK GETS THE FLACK




The Sunday Herald and the Sunday Times are playing the blame game for the fall of the Scottish budget last Wednesday.  The buck stops with Patrick Harvie according to both newspapers.  In both articles John Swinney accepts it was his responsibility for the failure.  Well done.  Labour and libdems aren't spoken about in a good light either for their behaviour.

'It is understood Harvie's hardline stance was opposed by his fellow Green Robin Harper - the two were seen furiously writing notes to one another before the vote - and Harper only supported Harvie out of party duty'. - The Sunday Herald

'The Green party’s notional leader Patrick Harvie had a written agreement from Alex Salmond that, in return for its two votes, the first minister would provide an extra £33m for home insulation. However, at the 11th hour, Harvie withdrew his support, without which the vote would be tied and the bill would fall on the casting vote of the presiding officer.

“Patrick had to go to the coven of witches who authorise his every move, and they began to give him a hard time,” said a source close to the negotiations. “They began to text him, telling him not to settle for anything less than £100m.”' - Sunday Times


As I write Ian Gray is on Politics Now. When are labour going to realise that negative criticism is self-defeating.  People can only listen to so much of it before they switch off.

12 comments:

Nikostratos said...

subrosa

Appropo your comment on me blog
'British Jobs for British Workers'
I just like to say i put a comment
on yapping yousuf blog.
over his criticism of the 'wildcat'
strikes pointing out most of those were in a labour supporting union.

and that his interpretation of what Gordon meant was fine but if Gordon had a different meaning then he Gordon best get out and say so himself.

there was a bit more criticism of his post..not rude not any foul language.

And do you know what that pre-moderating scoundrel did not have the decency or the Guts to post my comment.

I'm pretty well mad about it treating a labour supporting
pro-Gordon guy like me....

McGonagall said...

Iain Gray was, no doubt, imagining himself moving into Taigh Bhoid and fencing with Alex Salmond from the First Minister's chair. Poor Iain - it was only a dream.

James Mackenzie said...

If you want another view on the Green position, try the News of the World, implausible though that may sound.

Or the Sunday Times poll which shows the Greens likely to pick up more seats than anyone else. And the SNP staying static, just where they are.

That might not fit with the cybernat anger, but then reason rarely does.

subrosa said...

Auch niko I haven't upset you have I? Last thing I would do.

Your post, without the silly-boys 'I'm no lettin him post that' attitude did convey quite a different message.

Thanks for the explanation. What you should do is ignore these labour supporters and come and join pleasant, open bloggers :-)

ps I see you've stopped taking your wife's pills. Hope she's doing fine.

subrosa said...

Scunnert, did you see Politics Now? A pathetic interview between them. My dad and myself could have been more combative in an interview.

I don't feel sorry for Ian Gray. He wanted the job, knew what it entailed and agreed to have Gordon's hand up his backside.

subrosa said...

Hello James, thanks for your comment.

Of course newspapers will analyse what happened to death, but that's how their earn their money.

James I'm not an angry cybernat, not in the least. You've interpreted my post as knocking Patrick and it doesn't actually do so. It's a dig at how the labour party got off the hook. Not even one mention of the 'How is a vote of confidence initiated' at the end of the vote either.

I've supported Greens in the past James. I just don't think their policy on free insulation is good enough. Perhaps you'll forgive me for not outlining the detail (see doctorvee's blog for a bit of that) but the policy was designed round homes in Yorkshire. Far more homes in Scotland are stone built and can't accept cavity wall insulation.

Ooops I said I wouldn't go into detail. Sorry.

As for polls James, it's well know by now that I seldom comment on them. I much prefer to listen to the person on the street - or even my own tory friends :-)

subrosa said...

Oops sorry James, that 'their' should read 'they' of course. Too busy cooking dinner at the same time!

James Mackenzie said...

Hiya,
As it turns out, the Scottish Government's own figures show that 74% of Scottish homes can benefit from either loft or cavity insulation, or both.

And that's leaving aside the retrofit and microgen half of the package.

Finally, the no-confidence thing is transparent nonsense from Labour: are you complaining that I didn't mention it?

James

Conan the Librarian™ said...

Hey subrosa, you could have used my photie of Patrick;-)

subrosa said...

James, are you telling me that 74% of Scottish homes don't have loft insulation and/or cavity wall insulation? I can't find anything in the government's website relating to these figures.

Why oh why does everyone think insulation is just cavity wall and loft? Anyone with any sense has loft insulation. I should think the only ones who don't would be houses which are sublet. Landlords aren't fussy as long as they're paid the rent.

Another thing, Patrick's bill pees off pensioners like me who have recently paid to have loft insulation topped up, because he wants EVERYONE to get it FREE.

Anyway, shout over. I shouldn't shout. It wakens the settee.

subrosa said...

Conan, I did borrow your photo, can't you see? I whatevered it and tidied up the edges just to get the fine figure of the man without all the writing etc.

Clever eh these Macs? Quite idiot proof at times too :-)

Anonymous said...

The SNP have almost won the backing from the libs, i would stuff any talks with the Greens and Labour, both are full of hot air

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