Week one of the last session before the elections next year saw Iain Gray, the leader of the Labour party in the Scottish Parliament, show off his new skills. He's had classes in 'How Not To Listen To Answers But Stick To The Script At All Times'.
The rumour that Westminster is considering cancelling one, or even two, of the aircraft carriers presently being built on the Clyde should have everyone in Scotland sitting up and taking notice. This is very serious issue for us, where up to 10,000 jobs in Scotland could be lost, and for the Westminster coalition to float such a suggestion, when one carrier is well on the way to completion, would severely damage our economy and may well wipe out Scotland's ship building industry.
Mr Gray, in his first question suggested the whole Parliament should come together to protect the jobs involved with the building of this military hardware. The First Minister agreed and explained he had already compiled a dossier which would be sent to the MoD in support of Scotland's case. He asked that all parties join with the government and he would supply leaders with a copy of his dossier. But Mr Gray never gives up as we know, so he stuck rigidly to his script and asked the same question again - twice. Twice the FM said yes, but as you'll see in the video, the FM became slightly frustrated with the Labour leader's inability to understand the word 'yes'.
Poor Ms Goldie, she's in such a difficult position now when she talks about referenda, as her own party doesn't seem to object to them as long as they're not in Scotland. Seems like Aunty Annabel will budge so the Tories will have to carry her out.
Tavish Scott may have had a point with his question if only he'd left out so much detail of his case study and mentioned the many quangos in a more general sense. Unfortunately he lost the momentum and allowed the FM to brush aside his comments.
Supplementary questions included the border agency's decision to man Scotland's west coastline and the subject of alcohol pricing.
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9 comments:
Personally I find these warships a complete waste of money: a shrine to the UK's misguided imperial ambitions.
However, it would appear that everyone agrees that defence spending is mainly about job creation.
When you are independant you can build and pay for your own aircraft carriers :-)
http://www.google.co.uk/search?q=Dong+Feng+21%2C&ie=utf-8&oe=utf-8&aq=t&rls=org.mozilla:en-GB:official&client=firefox-a
Or in basic terms floating coffins.
That's why today's politicians like war Strathturret. They've destroyed any other form of manufacturing.
We won't want them tomandclaire.
Aye CH, they're dreadful things. But warmongers like them.
Its easy to pay for them when you print the money (or use QE)? To date £200 Bn has been created; the aircraft carriers cost a fraction of that. Whether we can afford the aircraft to go with the Navy's new toys is quite another matter!
I'll try to get an answer for you in the next few days Strathturret. Mind you, I think my naval contact is very busy. Haven't heard for a while.
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