Did anyone see yesterday's BBC Politics Show Scotland and the interview Glenn Campbell had with Jim Murphy? Apart from his lies about the UK government protecting the savings of British taxpayers, there was the issue of two visits to China, one yesterday by Jim Murphy and one in a couple of week's time by Alex Salmond. The tories and libdems were protesting and said the two governments should have joined forces and sent out one large Scottish trade mission.
Of course they should, but Jim Murphy obviously didn't consult the Scottish government about his visit. It's widely known that the First Minister was visiting China next month, it was reported in the Herald on 13 January and also mentioned in the Edinburgh Evening News on 26 January. So no secret then.
When asked by Glenn Campbell if he knew about Alex Salmond's visit he replied,"No I didn't but I do now." What's going on I thought. Mr Murphy's next statement explained it, "It's also the last chance before the G20 meeting to get together with Chinese government ministers to see what we can do together to build a consensus for the G20. So I'm meeting the finance minister and also China's foreign minister and I've spoken to Gordon Brown about this and said I'll do as much as I can in advance of the G20 to help build that consensus."
So there we have it, Jim Murphy and his G20 cheerleading bunch had to get there before the G20 and they haven't flown to China (first class of course) to promote Scotland, they're there to promote Gordon Brown and do the G20 legwork for him. It's nothing to do with Scotland at all but using the word Scotland as a cover for his visit. They couldn't have gone together as was suggested because their agendas are completely different. Alex Salmond is going to promote Scotland, Jim Murphy is there to help Gordon Brown keep his job for another few weeks.
I wish Alex Salmond and his delegation every success with their visit to China and I'm sure they will do Scotland proud.
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23 comments:
I have a FOI request on who went to The Middle East with Brown when he flogged off our trains. I'm still waiting for that info. Stinks as much as Snotty's trip to South America via New York!
You must let me know the answer when you receive it Oldrightie. The labour party has no honour.
Sub
Have you read my e-mail to you re Pakistan?
Yes I have FC and I've just replied.
I think I must disagree with you on this one Subrosa. I view Murphy's trip as simply upstaging Salmond. They hate it when Salmond goes walkabout as it gives him the aura of a real national leader on the world stage - a statsman. They will do anything to minimize this perception. So Murphy sneaks in first to steal the limelight.
I don't see how Murphy could possibly contribute to the G20 - not his remit at all. He might be tasked to reassure the Chinese that their loans are safe and guaranteed by North Sea oil though.
Of course it's done to upstage Salmond scunnert, but the words used are exactly what he said on the programme (painstakingly noted by me from the tape).
Brown needs the Chinese onside at this G20 and has sent Murphy to do it. You won't have seen the grin Murphy gave when he was asked if he knew the FM had also arranged a visit, that right enough shows your point.
More on Nigel Griffith
http://tinyurl.com/c3lnlm
A real role model for ZaNuLab eh?
Kick him people!
I think they should send the top half of Alex salmond. And the bottom half of Jim Murphy to China the other two half's they should send to Holyrood.
I thought it read
Sheep Lifters
http://tinyurl.com/czdwut
Sub
Link to Craig Murray's blog re SKY news
Oh Rory, what an awful thought. I just think Jim Murphy ought to stay down in London where his job is.
Like the photo on your blog Rory. Where is it?
FC, would that have been a better title??
That's no surprise about Sky news is it, the BBC are no better. This is exactly what many people object to funding, these 'political' parties who are only there for government's use.
Their choice of front person is usually poor too.
I didn't see the Murphy interview, but I did see Alan Cochrane get an unhindered chance to spew his particular form of anti-Holyrood bile, despite Alex Neil being in the studio alongside Cambell but not allowed to say a word!
Cambell is a (fill in derogatory word of your choice).
Ever wonder from where these porkers are begat?
http://tinyurl.com/dzt4oe
Aye Andrew it was a disgraceful outburst from Cochrane. How the Telegraph an employ him as an impartial journalist I don't know, but then again it's a unionist paper.
I think you can see the Murphy interview on iPlayer, it's at the beginning.
Oh FC is that what you do in the office all day? I mean trawl YouTube ;)
Yes
In between inventing things and saving Humanity.
Do you want to make something out of this?
What was the favourite hobby in Inner Bearsden (aka Maryhill) in my day
Defenestration
What we shout be doing with Nesferatu
You had real windows complete with glass in Maryhill FC? I'm not acquainted too well with Glasgow but I was always brought up to believe they couldn't afford window panes ;)
Ah, Maryhill
-------where they eat their young!
Who said anything about glass?
Everything can be sold, even broken glass.
Indeed FC, I was told kids were allowed into the pictures, on a Saturday morning in Glasgow, if they could produce a poke of broken glass. In Dundee it was jam jars (intact of course).
subrosa,
Alan Cochrane gave the lie to Murphy's claim about not knowing about Salmond's visit when he said that both of them would have notified the FCO. Did you notice Murphy's conspiratorial smirk at Campbell at the end of the interview.
PS How come you reply to FC's e-mail and not mine? Have I blotted my copybook AGAIN?
Brownlie
You don't know what R and I are exchanging, virtually speaking that is?
Yes I noticed that brownlie, but decided it would seem a wee bit petty to put it in the post. I shall go and reply to your email immediately, do forgive me. FC's just been lucky but he only gets one sentence replies :)
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