Tuesday’s ‘Debate'

I watched the STV programme, trailed as a debate on independence, on Tuesday night, did you? 

Perhaps I’ve not been totally honest because I was aware, after the first few minutes, that I had to check my emails on my iPad which rested at my side, then when that was completed I found myself browsing the internet.  The television - and sound - were on though so, with a little artistic licence, I qualified as a viewer.

Two good assessments of the rammy are given by Derek Bateman and Richard Thomson. Another, from the Libdem blogger Caron, is here.

Of course there are other views around so google them if you dare!

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The Falkirk Farce

Try as they might to embarrass Alex Salmond's Saltire gesture at Wimbledon on Sunday, Labour could be accused of using the First Minister's genuine delight as a cover for more serious matters.

Falkirk is one and perhaps the tip of an iceberg.  We'll have to wait to see if the police uncover more impropriety, although I doubt it.  I'm not suggesting there aren't Labour constituencies where candidates were approved 'against the rules', but that the police will have difficulty discovering them. Labour are particularly skilled at covering their dubious practices. Think about postal voting and how these have increased dramatically over the years in Labour areas.  Pathetic efforts by the Electoral Commission have revealed nothing but it's generally accepted that there is a good possibility fraud takes place.  Why do we accept it?  Why don't the other parties insist upon an independent investigation?  The only conclusion I can come to is that the current system suits them too.

But Falkirk has opened a can of worms and shown just how Ed Miliband is a weak leader. He gained office only by the grace of the unions and since then these unions - and in particular Len Mc Cluskey's Unite union - have been calling payback time and quietly taking over control of Labour by attempting to ensure their choice is accepted. As Dan Hodges says: "Len McCluskey and his union have been caught bang to rights. No ifs. No buts. No maybes."

Miliband appears to be losing his grip and can't decide which side of the fence to fall on.

Johann Lamont, during her campaign for the leadership of Scottish Labour, was insistent that the new leader had control of the whole of the Scottish Labour party and not just the MSPs.  She hasn't said one word about this on-going saga and that proves what many of us already believe, that Scottish Labour is but a branch of London Labour.

What a farce it all is and surely the people of Falkirk deserve better.

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Alex Salmond's Position Is Secure

Somehow I have an overwhelming desire to throw something at the television whenever Danny Alexander appears.

Often I've pondered on my dislike of the Libdem MP and only today I realised what irritates me.  Apart from his immaturity - which can be excused perhaps - it's his inability to express himself without avoiding a direct question and his obvious effort to stick to his pre-prepared script regardless of any question.

Johann Lamont has a similar style although I couldn't possibly accuse her of being immature, except in verbal debate.

Both are poor speakers but that deficiency doesn't make a poor politician.  Not all politicians are orators and the public understand for some it's a struggle to look comfortable in front of television cameras. Some take lessons, at taxpayers expense, yet improvement isn't always noticeable.  Iain Gray springs to mind and the Labour politician David Miliband who spent £7,000 on 'speech' lessons.

What does make a poor politician is one who pointedly insists on ensuring those who disagree with them are ridiculed.  The truth doesn't matter as long as they manage to get their insults recorded.

This past week, along with Danny Alexander, the leaders of the unionist parties have all criticised the character of the First Minister.  Their efforts were feeble and they only resulted in displaying how professional and competent Alex Salmond is when in the scrutinising eyes of cameras.

Yesterday I had a telephone conversation with a tory-voting friend and it was a more pleasant occasion than usual because for the past four weeks I had lost my voice (no sniggering please) but the third course of antibiotics seem to be solving the problem.

During our chat I asked what she thought of Ruth Davidson's performance at FMQs last week. 'Horrendous' was the reply. We discussed the 'legal advice' issue and both agreed it wouldn't cause Alex Salmond any long-term damage. "The public really aren't interested in politicians' petty squabblings and childish insults," she insisted.  I agree, although I don't think Jackie Baillie's latest nonsense should go unchallenged by the Scottish Government.  Telling the public that the removal of Trident would cost 11,000 jobs, when a Freedom of Information request by the Scottish SND revealed only 520 jobs at the Clyde Naval Base were directly dependent on Trident is lying. Surely?

We both said details of how an independent Scotland would survive enough to have the social policies and economy Alex Salmond desires were far more important.  Let Danny Alexander and his ilk continue to fill our screens with their soundbites, but none will produce a knockout blow on the First Minister - unless his economic proposals for an independent Scotland leave room for ambiguity.  We need clear details backed by international economists and figures which can be understood and verified by the voter.

I'm not a gambling woman but I would bet that, at present, Alex Salmond's position is safe in the hands of an opposition who are third rate by comparison.

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Do You Know The Name Of Your Local Councillor?

Everyone in the UK must know by now that the election for the Mayor of London will take place on 5 May. Many people even know the names of the main candidates though they have little or no interest in London politics.

The London-centred media has ensured that each day exposure is given to the Boris/Ken circus and excitable political journalists pick over every word uttered by the candidates.

On 3 May there are local council elections in Scotland.  With the exception of a couple of television public service videos, there has been less than a tepid reaction from Scottish political commentators.  Part of the reason is our media is so fixated with the independence referendum - apart from the Scotsman which doesn't have its troubles to seek - they appear to have deleted the local elections from their schedules and that includes the BBC and ITV.  I suspect there will be a couple of highly scripted leaders' programmes on both channels nearer the date, but there will be little intelligent debate.

However, a couple SNP local manifestos have been launched with the focus on transport. I had to smile at Edinburgh's SNP promise to 'carry out vital roadworks at key points in the city to make it as attractive as possible to investors'. Would an accurate translation be 'we will tidy up when the trams eventually become operational?

What about Labour?  Hardly a whisper has been heard from Johann Lamont in recent weeks. Maybe she was writing her party's manifesto. Inspiring?  No.  Comparing Alex Salmond to Craig Whyte isn't a sensible move although Ms Lamont is very possibly aiming her comments towards the Glasgow electorate who have also been treated to the SNP manifesto by Nicola Sturgeon.

Johann Lamont's speech more or less admits defeat but is this a tactic? It worked for the Glenrothes by-election in 2008 when Ian Gray, (the ex-leader), admitted several times they expected to lose yet they won with a majority of 6,737, but will it work again?  I don't think the electorate will be fooled by the underdog approach, particularly when Glaswegians seem to be slowly realising how corrupt their council has been for decades.

Years ago, when I was actively involved in politics, local council elections were vibrant events in which communities participated. Now few people even know the name of their local councillor. Why have so many lost interest?

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Politics And Death

Labour and the Libdems managed to have their spring conferences on the same weekend. A feat of organisation some would say and others, the cynics amongst us, may think it was down to a lack of communication. I'd go with the latter because no political party wants to share publicity with another.

Nick Clegg and Michael Moore spoke to the faithful in Inverness but had little of interest to say. I have to be honest - the little I did see of the Libdem leadership was only more feeble requests for the referendum to be brought forward. Congratulations must go to Caron for her debut on the Sunday Politics. She stuck hard and fast to the party line and Willie Rennie should be grateful to have such support.

Dundee should have been full to the brim with Scottish Labour supporters this weekend but that wasn't the case. This past Saturday was no busier than any normal Saturday and few people seemed to realise the leaders of Labour and Scottish Labour were coming to town. Changed days. Only a couple of decades ago most Dundonians would have shown some interest in the visit of their then rulers.

Ed Milliband and Ms Lamont didn't have much to say for themselves either, other than the usual 'we need to win back the trust of the people' and 'separation is bad for the soul'. Johann Lamont reiterated her lies about the new Forth Bridge contracts and mentioned Labour were to set up their own wee anti-independence talking shop.

Both Labour and the Libdems repeatedly called for the referendum to be held 'sooner rather than later' but neither party can agree on who will lead the No campaign and what its key messages should be. One message from both conferences was that any agreement still looks a long way off.

The SNP didn't escape the Sundays either with the Scotsman revealing the (alleged) murky past of one of their MSPs.  Rightly, the SNP immediately suspended Bill Walker, while they investigate the matter more thoroughly. The Scotsman may have questions to answer too now that Lallands has uncovered this little piece of dusty legislation.

The weekend of politiking was overshadowed by the untimely death of QC Paul McBride who is thought to have died from natural causes in his sleep during a business trip to Lahore. His friend and fellow QC Derek Ogg described him as a 'star'. A fine tribute indeed.

1965 -  2012

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Team Lamont

The new leader of Scottish Labour (yes I know there's no such party but I'm using artistic licence), has declared her front bench.

Let's look at Team Lamont versus the Scottish government (in italics).

Leader:  Johann Lamont vs Alex Salmond

Deputy Leader:  Anas Sarwar vs Nicola Sturgeon

Shadow Secretary of State for Scotland: Margaret Curran vs herself

Finance, Employment and Sustainable Growth:  Ken MacIntosh vs John Swinney

Health, Wellbeing and Cities Strategy:  Jackie Baillie vs Nicola Sturgeon

Education and Lifelong Learning:  Hugh Henry vs Mike Russell

Culture, External Affairs and Commonwealth Games: Patricia Ferguson vs Fiona Hyslop

Infrastructure and Capital Investment:  Richard Baker vs Alex Neil

Justice: Lewis Macdonald vs Kenny MacAskill

Local Government and Planning: Sarah Boyack vs Derek McKay

Rural Affairs and the Environment:  Claire Baker vs Richard Lockhead

The Labour shadow cabinet should hold no fears for the SNP government, although Lewis Macdonald may prove to be strong opposition for Kenny MacAskill and Sarah Boyack for Derek McKay. The Cultural, External Affairs and Commonwealth Games remit may provide some personality-clash styled entertainment with two strong-willed women involved.

I had hoped Johann Lamont would have promoted some of the newer MSPs in her party, but she's decided to stick to the old guard.  Disappointing.

Oh, in case someone wonders why the Labour's new deputy party leader (above) doesn't hold a prominent role - it's because he's an MP and not a member of the Scottish Government.  Mr Sarwar has been called 'the brightest of the bright young things' by Tom Peterkin of the Scotsman. Mr Sarwar isn't a 'weel kent' face here in the east so I know little about his talents, but he managed to dislodge Ian Davidson for which we must be grateful.

However, his appointment shows that Labour will continue to have unbreakable ties with their London colleagues.

Little seems to have changed.

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