tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8116690042850060767.post905660123957839970..comments2023-08-10T12:55:23.427+01:00Comments on SUBROSA: Scottish Laboursubrosahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00151702590329788260noreply@blogger.comBlogger12125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8116690042850060767.post-29790761978600331082011-10-31T23:52:58.397+00:002011-10-31T23:52:58.397+00:00Have I missed something Allan? I can't find t...Have I missed something Allan? I can't find the explanation the SG gave for not disclosing the reason.subrosahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00151702590329788260noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8116690042850060767.post-27053077206810267832011-10-31T18:59:19.239+00:002011-10-31T18:59:19.239+00:00Hmmm, not sure we should accept the Scottish Gove...Hmmm, not sure we should accept the Scottish Government's explanation for not publishing the legal advice on Scottish entry to the EU. Sorry, Labour might be on to something here.<br /><br />Interesting to see that Labour are only "unconvinced" by Minimum Pricing - considering they were so half hearted in their opposition to it last year, even going so far as to come up with their own version.Allanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13574173214924437278noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8116690042850060767.post-21188886867953283802011-10-31T18:42:51.311+00:002011-10-31T18:42:51.311+00:00Pleasure Demetrius. Sorry, of course it is. I sh...Pleasure Demetrius. Sorry, of course it is. I should know better.subrosahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00151702590329788260noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8116690042850060767.post-66872133015146051242011-10-31T18:42:21.428+00:002011-10-31T18:42:21.428+00:00Thanks for the link Doug. I'll read it when I...Thanks for the link Doug. I'll read it when I get back.subrosahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00151702590329788260noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8116690042850060767.post-87480855142874879082011-10-31T18:41:48.399+00:002011-10-31T18:41:48.399+00:00I realised they liked FOIs Doug but thanks for the...I realised they liked FOIs Doug but thanks for the 'inside' information. Par for the course when they're unable to think of policies which are relevant. How sad that Labour is now reduced to such behaviour when they used to be a powerful force in Scotland.<br /><br />Fortunately, the SNP have managed to usurp their position now, with a lot of help from the supporters of independence.subrosahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00151702590329788260noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8116690042850060767.post-62948826507635195302011-10-31T18:39:29.520+00:002011-10-31T18:39:29.520+00:00Clarinda, surely the man won't be knighted? S...Clarinda, surely the man won't be knighted? Surely, please tell me it was a little fun on your behalf.<br /><br />Perhaps it's time for new parties such as the SDA, although I note from NS that many staunch SNP supporters are critical of it.subrosahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00151702590329788260noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8116690042850060767.post-13383386133155685552011-10-31T18:36:17.458+00:002011-10-31T18:36:17.458+00:00Yes JRB. I was going to call Gray's speech un...Yes JRB. I was going to call Gray's speech unsavoury but decided to be kinder.<br /><br />Tom Harris would be the one to make the changes but I doubt if they'll vote for him. Too open, too positive and too aware of Labour's problems.subrosahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00151702590329788260noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8116690042850060767.post-60121961845935966042011-10-31T13:06:34.215+00:002011-10-31T13:06:34.215+00:00Ta for the link. Isn't "Scottish Labour&...Ta for the link. Isn't "Scottish Labour" and "Leadership" a contradiction in terms?Demetriushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17198549581667363991noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8116690042850060767.post-22333399876094295902011-10-31T12:50:41.265+00:002011-10-31T12:50:41.265+00:00Doug, I would agree that what Labour are looking f...Doug, I would agree that what Labour are looking for is simply another obstacle to put in the way of independence.<br /><br />This is a quote from an <a href="http://www.gerryhassan.com/uncategorized/from-the-how-to-the-why-of-scottish-independence/" rel="nofollow">article by Gerry Hassan</a>,<br /><br /><i>Forty one years ago when Labour gave evidence to the Kilbrandon Commission on the Constitution, the Labour delegation led by John Pollock were asked which they would choose if they had to: an independent, centre-left Scotland or a Conservative Britain, and they answered without reservation, a Conservative Britain.</i><br /><br />Plus ça change eh?<br /><br />The actual powers of this, "Scottish Leader", are still very unclear though I'm fairly certain that they won't have any authority over the MP's in Scotland. It's going to be fun watching the infighting between the new, "Leader", and Margaret Curran's Team Scotland.DougtheDughttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02952281599715356995noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8116690042850060767.post-10382183449024233312011-10-31T12:21:17.503+00:002011-10-31T12:21:17.503+00:00Labour love their FOI requests. They fire them off...Labour love their FOI requests. They fire them off by the thousands, not to find the answers to genuine questions they have, but as a scattergun approach to try and find something, <i>anything</i> to trip up the Scottish Government. It's quite pathetic, really, and a total waste of public funds.<br /><br />This request about the EU is a perfect example. They're not <i>genuinely</i> interested to know if an independent Scotland would be allowed to remain in the EU, they're just hoping the answer is anything other than "yes, absolutely". If it's not, they'll find something else to nitpick with. Obivously, the EU question is a fairly important one in the grand scheme of things, but they'll increasingly move towards inanity, like "will everyone need new passports since their nationality will now be Scottish rather than British?" or "will we still get Eastenders?"<br /><br />The three stooges' performances on The Politics Show do not bode well for Labour's future. There's unlikely to be any positive change from Iain Gray, which does Scotland no favours whatsoever.Doug Danielhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15017218581660887134noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8116690042850060767.post-80316936937639455722011-10-31T12:04:22.181+00:002011-10-31T12:04:22.181+00:00With the prospect of becoming Lord Lammermuir(?) f...With the prospect of becoming Lord Lammermuir(?) fading into the grey mists it was a lost opportunity for this politically impoverished MSP 'leader' to bow out with some dignity and potential for his party and members. Do they still not get it that this sort of gutter language only improves the standing of the SNP. So much for the political nous of the unionists.<br /><br />With the latest scintillating line-up of Labour contenders - his unconcealed vitriol did little to enhance their standing. Judging by reading some tweets and comments from the "almost 500" Labour attendees at their recent conference, they are seriously depressed by, amongst other issues, the lack of clarity in their political position between Holyrood and Westminster. Westminster still holds precedence over Labour in Scotland for it's London-centric pursuits and life-line. I'm afraid it's still Labour first with their version of Scotland as runner-up.Clarindahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08189996558442989039noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8116690042850060767.post-34726660850710191382011-10-31T10:37:07.519+00:002011-10-31T10:37:07.519+00:00Mr Gray’s bizarre speech was at best questionable ...Mr Gray’s bizarre speech was at best questionable but most certainly embarrassing to all within Scottish Labour. It only leaves an unpleasant taste and an unnecessary diversion for any future leader to deal with. <br /><br />If Scottish Labour is to recover from the crushing and humiliating defeat at the hands of the Scottish people, then they must look to their own shortcomings rather than be swayed Mr Gray’s impersonation of a spoilt brat of a child lashing out at everyone and everything when he realises he is not getting it all his own way.<br /><br />Failure of Scottish Labour to address the hopes and desires of a fundamentally socialist Scottish people because of a blinkered and sycophantic relationship with Westminster, who don’t give a toss about Scotland, can only lead to the same ignominious fate as befell the Tories in Scotland.JRBhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01864418763227369458noreply@blogger.com