Today was obviously going to be related to yesterday's UK budget and that was the theme throughout FMQs, so it was all about figures, statistics and more figures.
Ian Gray shot straight from the hip (Brian Taylor called him courageous but that's debatable) saying the £500m figure was wrong, the Scottish government were actually to receive an increase of £2bn. The First Minister in his usual manner, lambasted Mr Gray's calculations saying the cut amounted to just short of £500m in the Scottish budget and that would cost Scotland 9,000 jobs.
Annabel Goldie supported Alex Salmond's sums but asked where did he intend to make cuts and Alex Salmond responded with lots of detail about the difference between cuts and efficiency savings. He didn't answer her question even though she repeated it. I wonder did she really believe she would receive a detailed reply.
Sharp-suited Tavish Scott had more figures to talk about and by this time my brain was going into reverse. His question was with regard to the SNP MPs who supported the short term cut in VAT last year and did the FM regret their decision - then he too commenced to quote figures. The FM said he was wrong and by then I was pondering the question why should it not be mandatory for MSPs to state the source of their statistics, we bloggers state sources.
My apologies if there is little detail about monetary matters but I'm sure Jeff at SNP Tactical Voting will provide a summary which answers any questions. From the beginning my attention was caught by a dark haired female, dressed in dark clothing, sitting to the back right of Ian Gray. She was thoroughly enjoying her chewing gum and appeared engrossed in writing. Her attention was certainly not on her leader's questions or the chamber business. Behaviour like this doesn't become politicians on television and I do hope Mr Gray ensures it doesn't happen again. At least Margaret Curran looked interested.
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19 comments:
Subrosa,
Had a read and dig around that fat puddin that moonlights as BBC Scotland's journo in residence's blog.
It is full of more wind than the Lairi Ghru on a night of a Force 10 howler. Pathetic, another failed individual that keeps on repeatin' Labour shite.
Oh roll on the Election, biased as a biased thing and after Independence he'll be oot on his fat dowp, the cock.
Anyway FMQs Ian Grey - I heard that Dulux have named a coat of paint after him and it's a One Coat because it's thick as mince.
I'm bored with the ongoing boringness of Labour can't we have something that has inspiration - oh I forgot we have the SNP - pity the fuckin biased media can't give then the credit they're due.
Have a fine nite madame! They're all at St.George's day dinner in the Officers' Mess, I couldn't bring myself to attend, being a successionist bastard after all. I'd rather watch The Talented Mr.Ripley some of it's filmed where I used to live in Italy!
CD
Aye it was a difficult FMQs to document CD, especially when I was so narked at that woman nearly breaking her jaw withe her chewing gum.
Don't blame you. Lucky it was an opt out dinner tonight, sometimes it's compulsory. In my day they didn't have St George's Day dinners or St Andrew's Day ones but they always had a Burns Supper. Unfortunately I only attended a few because of course they were male only events until the late 80s.
Yup - I'm off for Mr Ripley too. Wish someone would take Gray for a little boat trip. Or a walk in the woods.
CD can't find where the film was made in Italy. Where about was it? I love Italy but I wouldn't like to live there because I'd be unable to drive my car :) Their roads, other than motorways are something else and I won't even mention signage...
Oh Vronsky that's a bit harsh isn't it? Then again what do I know :)
Come on Sub R, you are slowing down. We need more stuff so we don't have to go to bed.
Goatly nibbles
Want some more posts?
This time not so confused.
Billy, what is it they say in Dundee now - dos ffo I think it is :)
FC you're always welcome to post, you know that.
I was in FMQ's today and when Gray walked into the same trap twice I felt a twinge of sympathy for him. This was shortlived by the noise of Baron Foulkes making a sort of bass lowing that a cow being raped by a lion might make. All the while TheWendy sat in the back row filling in her expenses and periodically looking up to bleat. Apart from Tavish Scott's frankly bizarre obsession with Beavers, the laugh of the day was Duncan MacNeill being asked by the PO to rephrase his question into English three times. It was priceless, to think that honest folk actually vote for MacNeill because they see him as a capable politiciaon is beyond parody.
I watched FMQ,s and i do feel sorry for Labour, they are always on a hidding to nothing. Tavish Scot, well erm who ?
The Cons in the parly are like a bunch of clowns and come out with the same old rant every week.
The guy with the weird shaped head from the times even said Scotland faces cuts yet no Iain Grey says otherwise..
Ah Monty I didn't put the bit about McNeil in because I thought some people would say 'oh there she goes again about labour MSPs' but it would have been amusing if it didn't have serious undertones. What a fool 'I didn't expect to be called' was his excuse if I remember. Eh?
If you were there perhaps you could tell me the name of the woman eating the chewing gum. Two were behind Margaret Curran and it was the one, looking at Ian Gray on TV, over his left shoulder. Just a disgraceful display.
You weren't that good looking chap with an earpiece sitting right behind Michael Matheson?
Spook I think at times Aunty Annabel does quite well. She did today IMO. Shame wee Derek doesn't get a shottie.
The gum-chewer looked suspiciously like Sarah Boyack, who was appointed by Donald Dewar to the first Cabinet.
I thought it was actually quite good to see an MSP using their time at FMQs constructively rather than just jeering and sneering at the Punch and Judy poltics on display!!
Subrosa,
It was filmed in Corricella, Prochida on the Island of Prochida and Casamicciola Terme on the Island of Ischia, these are locate don the north shores of the Bay of Naples and a 1000 times better than Capri - don;t waste time and money going to Capri.
There were also scenes in down town Naples in the Galleria Umberto - inspired by Crystal Palace - next to the Teatro San Carlo Opera House and in Venice.
Burns Nite this year was partners, Trafalgar Nite is the only one that's stag but it depends which mess you're in! They did Scottish Country dancing English style last night for St.Georges bless them!
I miss the driving it's mad but sensible apart from the 2 lane Autostrade, it worse in and around London.
Have a nice day y'all.
CD
It must be me Stuart, getting fussy in my old age. Mind you, I've never liked to see anyone chewing gum when they're in the public eye. Jings, I didn't recognise her, thanks for giving me the name.
I hope Ian Gray tells her if she wants to do her paperwork at FMQs so sit up the back.
You're right lucky they didn't come and haul you out last night. Usually they need a bit help to get the country dancing started and any port in a storm.
Thanks for telling me where in Italy CD, sounds really good. We might have a wee trip further south on our next visit.
You have a nice day too CD.
Rosa, handsome as I am, I was up in the gallery observing the members of the public gasp at the infantile behaviour of Lord Haw Haw.
Ah right Monty. That'll be why the TV camera never panned the gallery yesterday then :)
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