Sunday's Politics Show

Many of my readers are Scots who live outside Scotland and wouldn't have had access to Sunday's BBC Politics Show when not one but two Scottish bloggers made their debuts.  Andrew is Lallands Peat Worrier and his legal posts are always written with the layman in mind.  He's been kind enough, on occasion, to explain to me certain points of law and I've appreciated his patience with a person who has had little contact with the law and intends to keep it that way.

But I have known for some time who he is because a reader of mine, who is herself an eloquent speaker and writer in her field, sent me this and suggested it was the Peat Worrier himself.  We agreed.  I've yet to hear if she considers that photograph does him justice, but I assume she will agree with me that it does not. As for his hair - I think it's fantastic. A short back and sides may beckon in 20 years time but I doubt it.



Second to appear on Sunday's Politics Show  was the Burd. On Twitter the the evening before she was concerned about what she would wear and I think her choice was perfect. The questions posed were general rather than specific yet she was confident and positive in her responses.  The only comment I would add is that she changes that dreadful image she has on the Scotsman because it reminds me of my fiery (yet so well respected) Primary headmistress. The Burd is but a lassie in comparison.  She deserves a big pat on the back for entering a television studio, particularly one run by the BBC.

I'm not too surprised the BBC has finally acknowledged Scottish bloggers but I ask, 'Why has it taken so long?'

The videos are a Moridura production.

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What Now For The Scottish Liberal Democrats?

Tavish Scott, the leader of the Scottish LibDems has resigned, with immediate effect, after conceding the election results were "disastrous" and that the party needs a "new direction with a new leader".

The LibDems lost 25 deposits in Thursday's election and the Scottish Parliament will now have just five LibDem MSPs, with no constituency seats on the mainland.  In the previous parliament they had 16 MSPs.

What now for the LibDems?  Only a few weeks ago it was rumoured that the LibDems were in secret talks with Labour leader Iain Gray about forming a coalition should Labour not receive a majority.  Then suddenly a Scottish LibDem grandee, John Farquhar Munro, intervened to anoint Alex Salmond as "best for the job" of governing Scotland.

There was no way back from such a slight and the LibDem campaign never recovered no matter how much effort activists put into efforts to persuade voters that the Scottish Libdems are quite different from their masters in London.  Therein lies one of their problems: they are tied to a national party and more and more Scots want their politicians to have Scotland's interests first, second and third and not be playing second fiddle to other parts of the UK.

The SNP capitalised on this on Thursday and rightly so.

Tavish Scott's biggest mistake was not to support an independence referendum.  He represents Some Shetlanders over the years have called for a breakaway from the UK;  even suggesting they had more in common with Norway and ought to be affiliated with the Scandinavian country.  Now the topic of home rule has again raised its head.

Why Tavish didn't support the right of the Scots to decide their own future is anyone's guess but I suspect he was influenced/ordered by London.  It's possible he may resign altogether from politics during the forthcoming 5 year term.  Watching him on Sky yesterday I felt an aura of defeat from his demeanor and not only political defeat.  A return to full-time farming may be of benefit to his health and family but it's rumoured he could be a popular choice for the job of presiding officer, although the same rumour mill suggest that Alex Salmond wants the job to go to an SNP MSP.

The only other constituency MSP, Liam McArthur who kept his Orkney seat with 37.5% of the vote, may have no alternative other than accept the poisoned chalice of LibDem leader, although the Shetland Times suggests the only new MSP, Willie Rennie could become leader, but will the LibDems survive as a party now they are on the periphery in Scotland?

Repeatedly I've said the Tories, in order to be a serious party in Scotland, need to cut the London apron strings and rename themselves.  The LibDems need to take similar action.  With Scotland now having three left of centre parties - the SNP, Labour and LibDems - the chance is there for the LibDems to reposition themselves to the centre.
It's certain though that Alex Salmond won't ignore the Shetlanders. An independent Scotland would have too much to lose.

The question that needs to be asked is does Scotland need three left-of-centre political parties?

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The 101 Declaration

Hazel Lewry, a contributor to Newsnet Scotland, has asked if I would bring her latest article to your attention.

A brief quote:

This petition, this 101 Petition is not about politics, it’s not about any party or platform, it’s quite simply about us, the Scots, and the ongoing assertion, protection and maintenance of our centuries old basic rights.


For those whose preference is Royal Mail she has provided me with a postal address for petitions. Please email me if you require it.

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Scottish Politics

Before I come to the main point of this post, I would like to state my support for this morning's post by John Souter.  His call for televised leaders' debates for the Holyrood elections is valid.  Who's feart?  The unionist parties certainly, but the SNP ought to be pushing hard for these to take place, given that they legally contested their exclusion to the UK general election leaders' debates.  It is important that our whole society has the benefit of seeing and listening to the various political parties and if that does not happen, politics will continue to be available only to those who have a specific interest.  Joan McAlpine in today's Scotsman has had her professioal and political ear to the grapevine.

Wendy Alexander is not going to continue as an MSP.  I don't accept her excuse that she wants to spend more time with her 5 year old twins.  As any mother knows babies and toddlers need their mothers more between the 0 - 5 year phase than at any other.  Once they start school there's a certain freedom a mother gains.  Or was that only in my own case?  As I said here maybe he knows more than we do.  Greenock and Inverclyde aren't far from Paisley my Glaswegian friends tell me.

The main point of this post is to inform my female Scottish readers about a Question Time entitled Women's Health in a Recession debate which is to be held on Wednesday 9 March at 7pm in the Scottish Storytelling Centre, the Royal Mile, Edinburgh.  All parties will be represented: Nicola Sturgeon, Jackie Baillie, Ross Finnie, Nanette Milne, Margo MacDonald and Alison Johnstone.  The event is sponsored by Breakthrough Breast Cancer.

I'm all for such debates although it is a shame male cancer is not included.  Also, it is a pity they've not organised a live podcast such as Weber Shandwick has, in their debates in partnership with the Scotland on Sunday.

If you wish to attend the Breakthrough Breast Cancer debate telephone 0131 226 0769 or email janism@breakthrough.org.uk.

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Scots Wha Hae under Suppression Bred

Scots Wha Hae under Suppression Bred

The cause without its rebels

They say you should never write when you’re angry.

And, even after I’ve chased a startled dog from my study by the sound of a vacuum being thumped around and dust and cigar ash being redistributed to who knows where and care even less I’m still angry, so here goes – and to hell whether reason is drowned by polemic or if anger can drive reason to the heights of enlightenment.

First, in the cause of reason, I have to declare where I stand. As a Scot who has lived most of my life in very acceptable parts of England I still regard myself as a staunch supporter of Scotland’s fight for independence. I brook no argument as to my right to have these views and to advance and argue for them. That said, I neither have truck for the xenophobic tripe of the ‘Wha’s Like Us’ brigade, or its offshoots of sectarianism; or the malaise of apathy adopted by the ‘leave it to our betters; what can we dea aboot it battalions?’  The fact underlining this plea is the one that England, as with every other part of this dystopian and dysfunctional Union, is as badly served by Westminster’s version of democracy on the common people as any other.

To illustrate my point I’ll use a quote from Robert Noonan’s book (Under he nom –de-plume of Robert Tressall) ‘The Ragged Trousered Philanthropists.’

“Every man who is not helping to bring about a better state of affairs for the future is helping to perpetuate the present misery, and is therefore the enemy of his own children.”

The “enemy of his own children” – that’s a damning indictment against a generation. Especially one where the contest to bring about that better state does not call for the loss of blood or limb, or the carnage of chaos through revolution, but merely the impetus to cast off the slough of apathy and demand the rules of democracy be adhered to by the rights we’re told we already have.

This damnation is doubled, when a door that’s been locked tight for generations has been cracked open and only needs shoulders, backbones and legs to thrust it open to exchange suppression for freedom. But of course it takes a mind to initiate action.

So what’s caused this frenzied Bee to buzz under my bonnet?

Yesterday, we had the results of a Poll conducted in Scotland with reference to the coming Scottish General Election. Amidst cries of jubilation we were told the SNP had forged ahead (which they hadn’t); while the other camps, if they commented at all on the (quite serious for some) fall on the grading of their chances, mumbled about one off’s.

It struck me while reading and trying to sort out the wheat from the diatribes of chaff and the ubiquitous gripes of media bias towards parties or Union by the MSM, I’d seen nor heard nothing on a Scottish version of the leaders’ debates being scheduled for the coming election.

This seemed to me to be a major gap in the campaign armoury for all the parties; an even bigger flaw in the development, construction and distribution of the democratic process and two fingers to Scotland and its people.

So I posted a few comments covering this, and contacted a handful of editors of blogs querying why this fault had never been raised - In truth, on one blog a comment on the issue was raised hours before mine – and I asked, if not – why not? And if it’s down to ‘ifs’, shouldn’t we be raising the roof about it?

Even if we fail to get the TV gurus to rise to the challenge, wouldn’t it add the final nail to the coffin of their supposedly unbiased and professional journalistic attitude to the prattle of deceit spewed out of the mouths of our political masters under the guise of democratic process?

Response – zilch. Moderated off, or ignored.

Which leaves the question – if it’s good enough for Westminster, is it too good for Scotland and the other devolved nations?

After all it couldn’t be down to scheduling – Brown went to the Palace on the 6^th April 2010 for an election scheduled for the 6^th of May. There’s more than double that time to get the schedule sorted in Scotland.

Even the SNP challenged (and asked for donations to pay for it – I sent enough to probably pay for 30 seconds of their leading QCs time) their exclusion from the Westminster debates. Their challenge failed, but why are they not clamouring for one now on a purely Scottish election, on Scottish issues, in Scottish air time, on Scottish democracy and through channels supported by money from the Scottish people? 

At a time when politics have reduced principles to excrement, have they not got the backbone to stand by theirs? Or has the slime of ‘real politik’ reduced them to the same level of sentient mollusc?

I declare my purpose. I’m convinced the SNP will come out of the debate(s) head and shoulders - if not upper torso – above the unionists. They, when all’s said and done, have to defend a heritage of failure created by decree of the Union.  That even under the frustrations and restriction of governing as a minority, the SNP will advance the cause of independence and democracy in Scotland. But why should this progression be allowed to be thwarted, even influenced, by the dubious attitudes and services provided by a handful of media executives?

Why should these sycophantic jobsworths of the establishment be the rampart that indicts us as the enemy of our own children?

We all know, or should, the arithmetical arguments – 45.6 m electorate UK wide – 41.3 of which is England’s – leaving 4.3m for the rest, of which roughly 2m is Scotland’s. Question is does size matter when the issues involved are solely relevant to a Nation and its democratic process?

Well it does, even when only half a million of that nation consider themselves to be oppressed and can be counted and identified through a process systematically denied to the 41.3 million. Consider the percentages, 25% (12million people) denied the choice of what might best suit them, add in the 15 million who chose not to vote in the Westminster elections, then factor down the 12m to 6m to cover for those who did vote on the basis of the least worse option and that’s democracy buggered before the cheek of a parliamentary arse hits a Westminster seat.

But to me it’s the ratio of people to potential and space that is Scotland’s glory and viability as a Nation. Its opportunity to raise quality without the drags of quantity stifling its demographics, and paradoxically, the quantity of its natural and commercial assets raising the quality of life it can afford its balanced quantity of people.

In short, Scotland is I believe reaching for that cracked open door. If the media , BBC, STV, Sky et al, either by inference, denial or barefaced lie say its better back on the latch, and Scotland chooses to believe them, then you are your children’s enemy and I hope they damn you to hell for your timidity but have the compassion to grant you solace for your blindness.

There you have it – tell me to *iss off if you will. But in the name and the universality of the wee man and his children; get your finger out and bloody do something about it.

John Souter

17/02/2011

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Does Scotland Need a New Political Party?

Michael Forsyth has criticised the Scottish tories describing them as a marginalised force. His comments also included other brutal truths such as 'the membership and the constituencies have been allowed to atrophy'.

The tories only have one Scottish seat in Westminster and I doubt if they will ever make a comeback here north of the border. In the Scottish parliament their representation is due to the voting system and not the fact that they were elected by the public.

Since the general election I've been wondering if Scotland needs a new right-of-centre party. The SNP, labour and the libdems are all left of centre and anyone in the middle ground or slightly to the right has nowhere else to go other than the conservatives. Why didn't people vote for them?

Maybe this explains it. There are people who feel the SNP's determination to be 'in' the EU is a mistake. I come into that category and, like the blogger, I would much prefer the issue to be debated using examples such as Norway and Switzerland's connection to the EU as alternatives to full membership.

Many right-of-centre people support independence for Scotland and they're torn between voting tory or SNP. The SNP is the only main non-unionist party in Scotland. Maybe it is time for a new party to replace the tories. One which is sceptical of the EU yet supports independence and with a right-of-centre agenda.

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The Scots and Politics

Why is it the Scots respond so well to negativity from our politicians, particularly Labour politicians? Scottish labour politicians continue to voice the fear of Thatcherism - spread and encouraged by a friendly media - and those in the central belt vote labour as if they had no other choice in this election. Why is it many prefer the prison of fear to the freedom of positivity?

What many seem to have disregarded is that labour has been as bad as Thatcher. Yes she ruined our industrial base - the nationalised industries - but Gordon Brown is just as guilty. He's the one who did exactly the same to the Teesiders with refusing to help Corus, yet at the same time giving Tata's main base (who own Corus) millions of our money towards climate change projects. Where was the sympathy from the Scots for the behaviour of labour in this situation? He's given away billions to other countries while leaving many parts of Scotland untouched for generations.

It's true Margaret Thatcher made a big error in her administration of the poll tax. It wasn't thought through and using Scotland as a testing ground was a bad decision. Labour similarly used Scotland as a testing ground for the smoking ban yet there wasn't a word of protest from the central belt's labour voters. Don't any of them smoke or are they the happy band who are content to stand outside the pub? Ah no, the pub is a male reserve in most of Scotland and where people gather to talk. I'm not against a ban on smoking in certain spaces but where pubs and smoking are concerned I certainly think it has been a disaster. We have hundred of pubs closing down yet nothing is being done. That's another subject, although the smoking ban has stopped many conversing as they've done for centuries. Now it's a bottle of something from the supermarket and a night talking to the television.

What labour could have done in the years since Thatcherism was to protect the skills which were lost when many industries closed. They could have ensured that the relevant skills were taught in their 'new' universities to encourage young people who would have been equipped for work in many countries where such skills are still employed. However, they allowed the older generation of skilled workers, those who could have taught the next generation, to wither on the benefits vine. They had the power to change that. They did not use it.

All Gordon Brown has done in his premiership is ensure the benefits culture is more embedded into the Scots. Endless soundbites of child tax credits, the insistence to Mrs Duffy that she try for the umpteenth time for pension tax credit and of course the working tax credit which supplements those who ought to be earning a decent enough wage to avoid needing help from the state.

The Scots seem to either love or loath the thought of independence. The SNP campaign was weak. I found the slogan 'More nats less cuts' ludicrous and it became more and more irritating. We are part of the UK at present and Scotland has to take her fair share of cuts. We know they're coming, even though the tories, labour and libdems don't want to admit it. I'm surprised Alex Salmond used this as a theme for the SNP. They could have had a more positive message to offer the voters.

Most of all for the SNP they really need to stop being the pleasant party. Labour has the media on its side. It also is playing on Thatcherism which is nearly 40 years ago and long before many labour MPs were out of nappies. They're too polite when responding to the nasty retorts of labour. Let's be honest Jim Murphy offered nothing during televised debates other than sarcastic remarks towards the other participants. 'I am a patriot' - that was it and his flock voted him in by a bigger majority.

But, it was the fear factor in the Scottish pysche which achieved the result for labour here. Nothing to do with their politics or policies which are non-existent. The word 'tory' was enough for so many in Scotland to vote labour. I'm rather sad about that, because so few of today's labour politicians have ever dirtied their hands in industry.

It's time the Scots started looking outwards instead of being controlled by fear, but until the benefits system - and education system - are rehashed, then we will continue to have those who prefer to say 'Thatcher did it'. In a few generation's time the word will be 'Brown did it'. He removed the 10p tax from the lowest paid, removed many of our freedoms and raided the best pension system in the world in order to pay for labour voters. It worked.

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Subrosa's Super Seven blogs

Advanced Media Watch - Scotland's First Minister

Barking Moonbat - Rats that haven't left the nest...

Caledonian Comment - In politics sometimes the losers are the real winners

Craig Murray - And How Many More Body Bags Are They Sending?

Fitaloon - A Story of EU 'Co-operation'

Ideas of Civilisation - Politics without detail or understanding

Very British Dude - Any tartan paint left Quartermaster?

A choice of curries for the following:

And there was me thinking ... - It's art Jim, but not as we know it

Charlotte Gore - Why I don't touch local politics

David Forward - I would like to be incandescent with rage

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Scottish Independence - When?

Often I am asked my opinion about independence for Scotland, be it 'if it will happen' or 'when it will happen'.

My answer is yes it will happen and I live in the hope it will happen in my lifetime, assuming I live another 20 years.

The main reason for my slight scepticism regarding the timing, is the voting habits of the electorate. It is common knowledge that older people are more inclined to vote than younger generations.

Scotland's Population (2006)

16-29 18%

30-44 22%

45-59 21%

60-74 14%

75+ 7%

It is also well documented that the younger generations are prepared to embrace independence whereas those of my generation and above (21% of the population), if they don't support independence now, they are very unlikely to change their minds and they are the age group which considers it a duty and privilege to vote.

Just recently I was talking to someone of around my own age about a local issue. She was telling me of an incident which was of some importance and I asked her if she had informed our MSP. She stepped back in horror stating, "Oh no, he's SNP!" To clarify her statement I must tell you this area was Tory for many years before it changed to SNP in the 90s and very obviously this woman was a Tory. Laughingly, I explained our MSP would not insist she joins the party before he listened to her, but she wasn't convinced. This is a perfect example of older attitudes to politics and politicians.

The support for independence has risen from around 23% to 35% in recent years and much of this increase can be attributed to the efficient and professional manner with which the SNP has governed in the past two years and more. Will it increase in the very near future? No, not enough to make a difference, because we need 15-20% more to support the case. Younger groups, where there could be a slight increase, appear to be far more flexible and open to change than those of my own age and I certainly see hope for independence coming from them, but until today's over 60s die off, the percentage voting for independence will not reach the 51% that is needed for a mandate to push ahead.

Of course none of the above should deter us from having a referendum, when the time is right, about Scotland's future but it must include the independence question. The SNP government need at least another term in Holyrood before a referendum should be considered. Roughly a third of voters support Scotland being an independent nation and they cannot be ignored, no matter how much the unionist parties wish the SNP and independence supporters would just walk off a cliff.

We need more information but it is difficult to state policy because our initial independence policies will be associated with the arrangements made with the Westminster government. Until now Westminster has refused to even acknowledge the possibility that the Scots may want to go it alone, but they are worried. Supporters of independence know every dirty trick in the book will be thrown at them during the referendum campaign, but they shall no longer be intimidated by unionist scaremongering, as it can and does work in their favour these days.

Ian Hamilton QC would like to get a discussion going on what Scotland will be like after independence. Take part here, My reader Stuart Dickson has given this link in comments and it is to the Adam Smith Institute's publication of Dr Madsen Pirie's new report 'Zero Based Policy'. Stuart recommends Chapter 17 but I think the whole document is worth a read.

Before you go do vote in the Independence Poll. Many thanks.

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Hootsmon Headlines

Click to enlarge

Stolen from Pseudepigrapha

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BLOGOSPHERE OSCAR?

Does this mean I'm accepted in the world of blogging or am I too easily pleased? Possibly the latter but it's good to be acknowledged by one of the top political bloggers in UK.  Plenty room for all independence supporters to have their blogs recognised, just add yours to Total Politics Blogs Directory. 

Note Iain's interpreted the Scots! (from wifey to housewife for non-Scots speakers).

Ten New Blogs

Iain Dale 2:38 PM

Subrosa - A Dundee housewife's view of Scottish politics
Fetler's Blog - Left of centre
John Rentoul
Jane Merrick
Andy McSmith
Independent Politics Blog
Martin Westlake - Europe based, left of centre
From One End of Kent - Thanet Labour councillor
Dual Citizen USA
Sepoy Agent - Right wing

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Caption please

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Cute, Curvy, Cathy (just for you Brownlie)

Tackling Anti Social Behaviour

Following a spate of vandalism and fireraising in Drongan, Cathy meets with local shopkeepers to discuss action

The above picture and caption was taken from Cathy Jamieson's website.  I hope she doesn't mind me saying it doesn't do her justice.   It doesn't do the local shopkeepers justice either but then, perhaps the caption writer meant to write, 'Cathy later met local shopkeepers...'.

What it does show is the result of 50 years of labour in Scotland.

We all have 'off' days Cathy but most would hesitate to put poor photographs on their website.  I'm not being negative and do hope you accept my comment as constructive criticism.

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Politics and the 50+ Scotswomen

Why do older Scots women have so little interest in politics?  It's a question I've tried hard to answer in recent years but with little success.

Today I attended a tea-party for a friend's 65th birthday and, as we were all retired or semi-retired women, it was a good place for me to continue the quest for some answers.

Living in a rural area of Scotland, most of these ladies were 'incomers' for one reason or another, the main one being suburbia had become too large and lost its sense of community.  We agreed that a small rural town gave us the balance of friendship and personal space but also provided for many of our interests.

One interest is certainly not politics.  "I don't have time for politics", "Politics doesn't interest me, never has", "Why would I want to be interested in politics. Politicians don't do anything for me", "I vote, does that count?" plus other comments, all negative.

When asked about their voting preferences there was silence.  Knowing this area was for many years conservative, I wasn't surprised to realise that most had voted for the same party all their lives (so I assumed the tories).  Two bravely admitted to voting SNP at the last election - I could sense the thoughts of some others, "How could they?".

Women of 50+ make important decisions which affect their lives and indirectly the lives of many others. To emphasis my meaning I posed the question, "If we decided to never use organic foods again, do you think that would affect us?" Obviously all had a strong social conscience because the majority mention the damage that would cause to the Scottish farming industry with fewer mentioning health reasons.  Trying to explain the question was political (with a small p) and so were their answers was difficult, insofar as I was told the question was hypothetical anyway. 

This generation of Scotswomen have worked throughout their lives and some have, with great success, broken into male dominated career areas.  The three retired NHS workers were the most open about their thoughts and seemed to be quite well clued up on Scottish politics. (Guess who voted SNP). 

About 50% of the party I would have classed as very comfortable financially but the other 50% voiced concerns about the reduction in interest rates on their savings and all were concerned about the state of the UK in general, both financially and socially.  Gordon Brown and Alistair Darling's ears must have been on fire.

It's sad, but I don't think the 55+ generation of Scotswomen will ever be open to even considering the merits of independence for Scotland.  Why do they have this resistance to change?  Perhaps too many have been brainwashed all their lives by the our dependency on Westminster and the emotive words used by unionists such as divorce and separation, or perhaps they think their opinions don't matter is today's modern world.

No politician will convince them to consider independence for Scotland, that is going to have to be the responsibility of the younger generations.  So you young ones, start discussing politics with your mothers, grannies and aunties!

I never bothered to asking why so few of them used the top of the range laptops or desktops they have in their homes.  The answer was too obvious, "I don't have time."    

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FMQs, Scottish Parliament

It's a dreich day here, a kind of wish-I-could-stay-in-my-bed day.  When the Leader of the Labour parliamentary group in the Scottish Parliament rose to his feet at 12 noon, I'm sure he was thinking exactly the same.  With his monotone voice and clasping hands I always feel he's in the wrong job and should have sought employment with the church.

I'm informed Mr Gray practises his weekly FMQ questions until he is word perfect, so, with great skill he glued his eyes to his prompt sheet and blethered on about training places and apprenticeships, accusing the SNP of doing away with apprenticeships. Then he stated that England had 7.5 million (yes million) government funded training places and the SNP needed to up their game.

By this time Mr Salmond was well into his stride continually mentioning the blunder the Rt. Hon James Purnell had made recently in Westminster regarding the use of EU funding for training and apprenticeships.  We have 60,000 places in Scotland and that is a higher percentage than England offers per head.  Kindly, Mr Salmond suggested Mr Gray check his figures.

Next it was the turn of the Lady Annabel, resplendent in navy and a flattering shade of deep cerise.  Holyrood must be employing a makeup artist these days as Annabel's rouge, (blusher that is to younger readers), complimented her blouse to perfection.  Annabel wanted to know if oor Alex intended to let the Lockerbie bomber go home.  Alex responsed, in voce seria, he could not directly reply to her as the matter would come before him in the future.  He did agree there had been meetings (with both the Scottish and Westminster governments) requested by the Libyan government but they were purely factual concerning Scottish Law.

Now it was the turn of Lavish Tavish, looking stunning (or stunned - you choose) in his hand-made suit and satsuma tie.  I'm convinced he was on tip toe as he pulled himself to his full height and (obliquely) called the FM a liar.  He rambled on about Alex saying the issue of funding for the Interfaith Council had not been resolved prior to last week's FMQs.  Alex insisted it had been resolved on 20 December when Fergus Ewing had spoken with the head of the IC and assured him funding would be provided.  Tavish couldn't give up, he wanted letters, emails, evidence, yes evidence.  Alex patiently tried to explain that, when a government Minister agrees something either verbally or in writing, that should be enough.  Not for Lavish Tavish - oh no.

The questions followed the usual pattern for another ten minutes then it was back to BBC Brian and that SNP loving journalist Alan Cochrane to analyse the event.  

I shall bore you no further.

Update:  It appears the Presiding Officer has asked the standards committee to look into the matter because of the number of MSPs who have signed some piece of paper.  Well it will keep the standards committee occupied for a while.

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Scottish Government's 2009 Budget Passes First Stage

After all the negativity in the Scottish Press over the past week, the SNP's budget has passed the first stage with a superb performance from John Swinney, Finance Secretary.  I didn't manage to watch all the debate but, from what I did see, he was wiping the floor with the other parties.

Well done John!  Only another 2 rounds to go.

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My Beliefs

Having spent much of my working life in Europe, when I returned to Scotland in the 80s, I realised how down-trodden and defeated the people appeared to be.

Not that it was obvious initially, but having bought a house in what was a staunch Tory area at the time, so many people were quite happy to accept what the government in Westminster expounded.  Nobody questioned anything, we were all subservient.  At local government level it was much worse.  In my area the majority of councillors were labour (84%) and it had been that way for many years.  They had destroyed the city of my birth and I was angry.  Then again, in Dundee it had always been a staunch labour supporting electorate and I think the people of Dundee expected great things from labour, as they had in the past.

The early 90s rolled on and I realised, with some thorough research, that my country was being sold down the Tay.  The finances didn't add up.  By that I mean the amount of money which was popped into the UK Treasury in comparison with the money returned.  No point in giving URLs for this, but I'm sure readers will find details very easily on google.

Since my eyes were opened, my view is that Scotland could well be independent.  The problem is that the UK government don't think so.  They need Scotland.  Not because of the skills of the people or the contribution they make to the world, but they need Scotland because of our oil and hydro assets.  Of course the fact that Scotland has a third of the coastal line of UK comes into it because, once tidal technologies are perfected, Scotland will be by far in advance of the rest of the UK and Europe.

But it all comes down to money as we see from the latest GERS report.  England would be happy to be shot of the Scots;  in fact the English would wish us well as they've been brainwashed into thinking the Scots are 'given' so much more money than themselves.  The English are delightful folk (give or take exceptions as in any nationality) and would have no problems with us being able to make our own decisions.  Many of my English friends think it only natural that they produce a passport when coming so far north now.

I sympathise with my unionist friends.  They feel the need to cling to the status quo because they know no different.  Fortunately most are 55+ and will die out within 20+ years (that includes me).

It can be hard to accept change but change must be made for Scotland.  We must start to think we're able, education levels must be radically improved (back to what they were in the 50s), confidence must be boosted (that's up to the government) and people must start to think how they can improve themselves - without the constant lies of Westminster.

As a conclusion, I am not a member of the SNP although I support their aims.  I am in accord with policies of some of the other parties - although I do think labour policies (I hear you say what policies) are limp and so dated.

My desire is for my country to be one of the successful small countries in Europe and the world and take full responsibility for our own affairs.

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