WHEN THE PEERIE STOPS

Now that the great and the good and the not so great and the not so good have left, the dissection of the G20 communiques begins.  The best analysis I've read so far is from Wat Tyler at Burning Our Money. It's written with knowledge but in simple English for those of us who are just weary of endless financial non-words being spoken to us each day. Craig Murray also has a post which fits with my view.

I posted this photograph to remind you of the meaning of hero worship and the phrase 'the cat's got the cream'.

For a definition of the Scots word peerie look here but it does have another meaning in the Western Isles.  

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MURPHY'S REAL REASON FOR VISITING CHINA

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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