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CAMPAIGNING FOR SCOTLAND
(Owned, Edited and Printed in Scotland since November 1926)
Compiled by Jim Lynch
[19 January 2001]

SYSTEM THREE OPINION POLL

As we indicated in our issue of 8 December 2000, there are better times coming. And lo, the System Three Opinion Poll has improved our spirits and our prospects yet again. Never believe a politician who says that opinion polls do not matter (Maybe we should have ended that sentence at politician!); all political parties pore over them, agonise, and then try to come up with the best possible spin, sorry, interpretation.

This poll was taken before all the furore about the word Government hit the headlines; it shows that the SNP are back on track, and breathing down Labour’s collective neck. It does not offer much encouragement to either Libdems or Tories who are both barely scraping into double figures. 

These figures are for Holyrood, and would give the SNP 43 seats against the current 35, compared with Labour on 55, no change. A combination of SNP, Libdems, and the others could keep Labour from office, unless of course, they made a deal with the Tories. The prospect for the SNP is intriguing, as support from other parties always has a price; how about Tommy Sheridan as Minister for Prisons?

AND HOW ABOUT GONE WEST MINSTER?

As we are now in an Election Year, with capitals, as the General Election is not necessary until 2002, we will also keep an eye on the voting intentions for the Dear Green Benches.

This poll was also taken before the stramash about whether the term Scottish Executive or Government should be used, and before the stream of unattributable poisonous remarks were made by Scottish Labour MPs, worried about the loss of headlines, job security, and in general fits of pique because they feel ignored. The fact that the Tories always poll better than the opinion polls merely shows that Tories do not like to admit that they are Tories; it is something done by consenting adults in the privacy of the polling booth.

SALMOND’S LEAP

The amount of insult and vituperation being heaped on Alex Salmond’s head by political opponents, conceals a heartfelt sigh of relief from some, who are delighted at the heightening of the Westminster Election profile, and a hollow feeling in the stomach from others, who fear his incisive questioning of their performance and attitudes.

Many of the older hands in the SNP doubted the wisdom of withdrawing our current MPs from Westminster, bearing in mind how many powers were reserved, and the need for constant vigilance as to the use of these powers, but in the heady days of the first Parliament in Scotland for 300 years, these misgivings were submerged. It is to the credit of John Swinney that he took cognisance of this and that one of his first moves as Leader of the Party was to persuade our most talented Parliamentarian that he would do more for Scotland in Westminster than as just another backbencher on the Mound. Knowing the outcry which would come from the other parties has not deflected the right decision being taken.

So, all of a sudden, the Westminster Elections have become a live issue, and we can look forward to seeing Alex Salmond back on the TV screens, taking on John Reid and Brian Wilson (He could do them both at the same time) and in general creating alarm and despondency in the Labour ranks. The Tories are not pleased either, as they have been thinking that the absence of any SNP big names might have allowed them to sneak back in somewhere unnoticed.

Anyone who might question Alex Salmond’s value on the campaign trail has only to look at who has dominated the headlines in the last couple of weeks! 

SOMEONE TO WATCH OVER ME?

While Dr John Reid, Secretary of State for Scotland, has not denied the charge, it appears that the phrase "White Heather Club" was used by his Deputy, Brian Wilson, speaking of the Scottish Government. However, Mr Blair, aware that Dr Reid does not have much to occupy his time, has delegated him to "Henry Watch", to keep an eye on our First Minister in case he gets above himself; at the same time, Mr Blair has also despatched Lord Lipsey (Who?) to persuade Mr McLeish not to implement the Sutherland Report, but to toe the London line. A search on the Web has elicited the information that Lord Lipsey is the Chairman of "Make Votes Count", a Director of the Horserace Totalisor Board, a member of the Council Advertising Standards Authority, and a member of the International Advisory Board, Angus Reid Organisation. 

As far as we can gather he has only recently become a Labour peer, in the "democratisation" of the House of Lords (Nobody voted for him). We are sure that his experience as a Labour luminary will assist him in exerting pressure on Henry McLeish(who was elected).

AND THE INK NOT EVEN DRY...

Just as we went to press last week, Jack McConnell and the Teaching Unions reached agreement on the McCrone proposals, which Professor McCrone himself has welcomed; however, the teachers have not as yet been asked, and it could be that the devil is in the detail, or as is more often said "Read the small print". It would seem that there might be a genuine attempt to rectify the pay, conditions and status of the teaching profession, but such is the suspicion with which government is viewed, the teachers are wary, and as to where the money is coming from.....who knows? The COSLA NOSTRA has been markedly compliant, considering they might be expected to provide the lion’s share of the cash, but well, it’s an Election Year, so who cares? 

Payment for the teachers, and for implementing the Sutherland Committee recommendations, is apparently going to be made from current resources, and no additional money will be required. This is all very well, but if there is a loose £1 billion floating around in the Scottish coffers you might think someone would have noticed it before now.

Basic catechism from the investment sector, "If an investment looks too good to be true, it generally is".

FOX HAUNTING

For an urban dweller, in common with the vast majority of the population, the amount of time I see foxes mentioned is out of all proportion to their importance. When Alex Salmond decided to stand again for Westminster, that "shot the Labour fox"; when Lord Watson of Invergowrie was looking for a subject for a Private Member’s bill, he eschewed one about Warrant Sales (Now there’s a surprise) and went for a New Labour "Hunting with Dogs", Bill, and now that the Fox Hunting Bill for England and Wales is being voted on in the House of Commons there is an outcry, mainly from Tory Members that Scottish MPs should not vote on exclusively English and Welsh issues. What a marvellous plot for a Gilbert & Sullivan opera , if only they were still alive, and what a bizarre way for the West Lothian Question to raise its head again.

Oh , and because there are no Tory MPs in Scotland, the Tory spokesman for Scotland used to be Dr Liam Fox, but we don’t seem to have heard from him for a while; maybe someone shot him.

FOOT IN THE MOUTH NOTES

Kenny MacAskill, SNP MSP, has criticised the failure of the Government to act against tobacco smuggling. There have been only four criminal prosecutions for smuggling tobacco since 1997, and it is estimated that 20% of all cigarettes are smuggled; Kenny said that the failure of Government to adequately resource police and Customs and Excise was contributing to the problem.

As the shortfall in revenue is £2.5 billion per year, this could explain why the Health Service is underfunded; organised crime gets the money, the Health Service gets the problem.

Fergus Ewing SNP MSP, asked why the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (MAFF) allowed a calf from a BSE cow to be slaughtered and enter the food chain; the suspect calf had been identified in December, but no steps were taken to have the animal destroyed. The Scottish Agricultural Minister, Ross Finnie, has not responded to the criticism of the London based MAFF.

The MAFF is also considering the privatisation of Meat Inspectors, making them employees of the abattoirs rather than civil servants; the MAFF has been having talks with the Food Standards Agency, but there has been no public debate or reference to Parliament.

The son of Francois Mitterrand has been accused of arms trafficking, influence peddling and embezzlement. He has been released on bail of £500000, and maintains that he is innocent; he says he is being victimised because of his father’s name.

Doesn’t always happen like that; Mark Thatcher is a millionaire, thanks to "Mumsie".

On the TV programme, Watchdog, Anne Robinson, was supposed to be examining how the Treasury was engaged in some dodgy tax practices; however, she spent an awful lot of time questioning a man from the Futures and Securities Association about Equitabe Life, and this prevented her from getting to the Treasury piece.

The allegation that the Treasury rang halfway through is completely untrue; where’s the weakest link now?

It looks as if Diego Maradona will not after all be coming to play for Dundee this year; perhaps it is better for those who remember him at Hampden in 1979 to keep their memories intact, as he is now somewhat more than a shadow of his former self.

However, if his non appearance has anything to do with former convictions, we might respond with "Mike Tyson".

Some fund managers in Scotland are now earning more than £1 million a year; not bad money for picking the right stocks.

The average income rise in Scotland was 8.5% since 1998; now an old age pension rise of 72p would be.....?

With the above generous pension increase in mind it is no wonder that Alastair Darling is fronting a campaign to urge people to make extra provision for retirement.

The campaign is being conducted with the assistance of two talking dogs, as long as they are not tempted to chase foxes.

The System Three Poll quoted at the start of this issue also asked a question on railways; 66% of those polled wanted renationalisation of Railtrack and the train operating companies. What should be even more galling, 51% of the admitted Tories wanted this done.

Still, while Railtrack are asking for £1 billion to help repair the tracks they neglected, the operating companies are offering half price fares. This was one of the cleverest privatisations of all time, and the taxpayer is still footing the bill.

DATES IN HISTORY

19 January 1757
Death of Thomas Ruddiman, born in Banff in 1674, grammarian, schoolmaster, reviewer, historian, printer and publisher, Jacobit, librarian of Advocates' Library.

23 January 1570
James Stewart, Earl of Moray, Regent of Scotland, assassinated by James Hamilton of Bothwellhaugh at Linlithgow.

25 January 1759
Birth of Robert Burns, Scotland's National Bard, in a clay bigan at Alloway.

"There was a lad was born in Kyle,
But whatna day o whatna style,
I doubt it's hardly worth my while
To be sae nice wi Robin.
    Robin was a rovin boy,
    Rantin rovin, rantin rovin,
    Robin was a rovin boy,
    Rantin rovin Robin."
        Burns "There Was a Lad"

THE REBELS CEILIDH SONG BOOK

COLKITTO'S GALLEY
(Sung by Iain Thomson, Islay)

Hi-ree Ha-ree-a Harrin-a Hurrin-o
I see thy lone barque on the wild Mull of Oa,
O Cgolla' mo graidh
Sacred theme of my woe,
Be ye daring and brave for fierce is they foe.

Be ye daring and brave for fierce is thy foe,
Swift smoothely she sails the fair Galley O Ho.
She cleaves the white spray o'er the mad facing foam,
She stems the high waves, billows rave at her prow.

Heritage rare has the gallant Clan Donald,
O Isle at the fair and Royal withal,
Oft hast thou paced the fast racing ball
In the pride of they day, in Islay's great Hall.

Secret lair is thy Haven I trow
Where sleepest thou safe unknown to thy foe;
Strong, large is thine arm when winter winds blow,
Thou bravest the gale o'er the dark raging flow.

Pron: Colla mo grie (Coll my beloved).

See the Songbook in our features section

A KIST O FERLIES
A Keek at the Guid Scots Tung
By Peter D Wright
(Note: All words underlined in this section are RealAudio links)

• antrin: chance ; rare ; occasional
• ayont: beyond
• forenicht: early evening
• on-ding: downpour ; onset ( of rain )
• watergaw: indistinct rainbow
• yow-trummle: cold weather after sheep shearing
   
  No able for: Having no appetite for ; in capable of
   
  "Ae weet forenicht i the yow-trummle
    I saw yon antrin thing,
    A watergaw wi its chitterin licht
                Ayont the on-ding;
    An I thocht o the last wild look ye gied
    Afore ye deed !
   
     There was nae reek i the laverock's hoose
                 That nicht - an nane i mine;
                 But I hae thocht o that foolish licht
     Ever sin syne;
     An I think that mebbe at last I ken
     What your look meant then."
   
    "The Watergaw" - Hugh MacDiarmid

See Scots Language in our Features Section

THE MONTHLY PRIZE CROSSWORD

Each month the Scots Independent Newspaper offers a prize crossword and we're now offering this online in the Flag in the Wind as well.   Should you complete the crossword by the deadline you can fax it over to the SI and the first correct one opened on the closing date will win a £10.00 book token.

SI Prize Crossword No. 13
[Clicking on the picture will bring up a life size version which you can copy to your desktop or print out]