A windy Thursday in Edinburgh I believe and another FMQs in the Scottish Parliament. The First Minister opened his answers with asking everyone to appreciate the benefit the Scottish parliament has been to Scotland over the past 10 years although he of course qualified it by saying further powers were required.
Ian Gray gave a spirited performance listing the SNP government's 'broken promises' but if he expected to land a hit on the First Minister, he was disappointed. Alex Salmond had his own written list of successes in the past two years and it was like a game of ping-pong watching the old sound bites whisking back and forth.
Annabel Goldie (rather smart hairdo Annabel) tried hard to achieve an answer to her question which was where was the First Minister intending to make the cuts in the light of the £500m deficit imposed on Scotland from the Westminster budget. The First Minister mentioned an all party committee had been organised but he did not give a detailed response to her question. A very difficult question this was for Alex Salmond and one which I think he has certainly discussed with John Swinney and others, although I'm sure they will not make their opinions public until it is absolutely necessary.
Tavish Scott broached the subject of al-Megrahi and the Libyan authorities request for his transfer stating he wished that al-Megrahi should serve his sentence in Scotland. As with all legal matters it was a balancing act of information, but not much of it, from the First Minister. He reiterated what he said in 2007 that it would have been "greatly preferred if the judicial processes of Scotland were allowed to take their course." He repeated that the decision which is made by the justice secretary will not be made on economic grounds or political grounds but judicial grounds alone.
A couple of backbencher questions completed the BBC TV recording session. I really must listen to it on radio and because removing the cameras from the Chamber when there is still a third of FMQs to be heard, is becoming more and more frequent. Why can't we just see the whole 30 minutes? I can't see any problem.
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11 comments:
"Nice hairdo Annabel"
I knew I was stupid for passing up on a blogging exclusive on the hairdo when she sat next to me on the train the other day!
Auch HP she'd just had it done Thursday am. It was too well coiffed and sprayed to death but it looked good. Did she say hello that's the point.
She did not, although she probably recognised me from floating about the 2nd floor of the parliament.
Well I think that's downright bad manners HP so, if I was you, I'd get my 'evening Ms Goldie' in before she got her backside on the seat the next time!
Oh meant to say HP, have they still not fixed all these leaks in that building yet? It's a scandal having young staff floating around and also expensive in footwear I should think.
Why dont we get the full 30 minutes? Because there only is a 30 minute slot in the schedule - and BBC Scotland has deamed it vital that , rather than watch pesky backbenchers( that's people you and I elected) quiz our First Minister on issues they and their constituents think important, the BBC needs to give us its interpretation of what preceded them, usually with the assistance some other self appointed media hack - today I see Hamish McDonnald of the Scotsman - He has a book to sell , and no doubt hell repay the favour by a nice plug fopr Brian Taylor's forthcoming BBC documetary on devolution. But usually Lorraine Davidson or some other ex Labour hack turned "independent " commentator.
Sad , but true - how the "Home Service" operates
Ps radio fine, but try watching on the web at www.holyrood.tv - the parly's own service
i tend to only go a couple of days a month, im part of the unglamourous local office sub species of researcher.
no leaks whenever im in, although maybe thats the red carpet getting rolled out
Well as long as you don't get your feet wet HP but if you're floating then I doubt you do :)
AWC I've watched it live on Holyrood TV but they take ages putting it into the archives (all of 24 hours or so!). Thanks for the recommendation, I view it online in future.
Hamish seemed more concerned with glancing at the camera than giving a true assessment of the issues discussed. I'm sure you're bang on with your opinion. Oh how I detest paying my licence fee at times.
It seems that FMQ's, and every other available opportunity, seems to be a constant criticism of the FM and his government, especially by Gray and Scott.
If they consider that the SNP are so incompetent, and not acting in the best interests of Scotland and its inhabitants, they have the option of a "no confidence" vote in Parliament which they would be mathematically odds on to win.
That would give voters the opportunity to vote for a government with the best interests of Scotland at heart and put a stop to this petty bickering.
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