All right, I accept that five years is relatively young for a malt whisky, but we are not talking of being matured in a sherry cask, but of a lot of effort by a number of people to keep this going.

                 The original concept grew out of a meeting between Kenneth Fee, at that time Editor of the Scots Independent newspaper, Alastair McIntyre of Electric Scotland, and myself, back in October 1999;  we were exploring the possibility of putting the Scots Independent on the web, and we visited the printers to look at how the material could be transferred.  It was soon evident that this was not a runner, as most of the input came via pen and ink, and virtually nothing electronically;  the idea was to use existing systems and not to reinvent the wheel.

                After a fairly lengthy discussion, Alastair mentioned that the web content could be altered at will, and the possibility of a weekly issue emerged;   it was then discussed at the SI Board, and we decided to go ahead.  As I was the main mover in wanting to progress, I got stuck with it;  me and my big mouth!   Initially, it was proposed to call the issue "The Link", and Myra Christie did some art work on twining the letters S I in the form of a link in a chain as our logo.  However, when we saw the waving Saltire which Alastair McIntyre provided, it was agreed that "The Flag in the Wind" named itself.

               The Flag has survived thanks to the efforts of  my fellow compilers, Richard Thomson, Allison Hunter and Ian Goldie, who will now be resuming their place in the rota, and to Peter D Wright, who contributes the cultural part every week;  I managed to get a bit of a break, due to the other compilers, but Peter hasn't.   The webmaster from inception up to autumn last year was Alastair McIntyre, but this became increasingly a burden as he travelled about America and Canada trying to get settled;  Tricia Wallace, Peter's daughter has been doing it ever since.  Thanks are due to them all, and the Flag now has an average of 21,000 visitors every week, 3000 a day, a pretty good readership.

POLITICAL QUIZ.

      Gavin Fleming, a member of the SNP Newington Branch in Edinburgh organised a quiz at the SNP Club to help fund Edinburgh South's campaign.  One of the rounds was on Scottish Politics and he thought we might like to include it in our weekly online edition.  We would and we did.   Here are the questions: 

1. What did Labour MSP Ian Welsh become the first to do in the reconvened Scottish Parliament after 230 days?  
    

2. Which current TV presenter was the Liberal candidate in the Govan by-election which was won by Jim Sillars?
    
    

3. The British Cabinet has only once held a full meeting outside London.  In which Scottish city did this take place?
    
    

4. Who did Colin Fox defeat in the SSP leadership election earlier this year ?
    
    

5. Which prominent Conservative MP did Alex Salmond unseat to win Banff and Buchan at the 1987 General Election ?
    
    

6. The Scottish Greens have a male and female leader.  He is Robin Harper, who is she ?
    
    

7. Which famous Scots writer became Governor General of Canada in 1935 ?
    
    

8. Which Labour MP lost to George Galloway in Bethnal Green on May 5 ?
    
    

9. Which former PM was once a Dundee MP, until being defeated by an anti-alcohol campaigner?
    
    

10. 10 answers: From the second General Election of 1964, until June 2003, when Alistair Darling became Scottish Secretary of State on a part-time basis, ten different people have held the office.  Five were Labour, five were Conservative - name the ten.

       I knew most of the answers, but claim failing memory for not getting them all - in one case I can see the face but not remember the name!  The answers will be emailed to next week's compiler, whoever that might be, to be published in next week's Flag.

OLIVER BROWN AWARD

        Last Saturday we had the Oliver Brown Award; the presentation was made at the Annual Lunch at the Terraces Hotel in Stirling, and this year's recipient was Kenneth Fee,  Editor of the Scots Independent newspaper for 18 years.

            We started with a speech from Una Brown, daughter of the late Oliver Brown, who gave her usual spirited and entertaining address;  there was a record attendance, 93 in all, and the room was buzzing.   Una's husband, and her sister and family were also there..   The toast to the Scots Independent was made by Bruce Crawford MSP, who referred to the Scots Independent's long and consistent support for Scottish Independence;  in his speech, he made one particular comment that resonated with me.  He said that come the next election in 2007, for the Scottish Parliament, the Liberals could not appeal for "guilt free votes", as they were in collusion with Labour in the Scottish Executive.

          The presentation was made by James Halliday, Chairman of the Scots Independent, and a former Chairman of the Scottish National Party ; he was in sparkling form, as one needs to be when addressing remarks to Kenneth Fee, and managed to convey the thanks and appreciation of all present to Kenneth, while keeping him  reined in until it was his turn.  Kenneth talked of the Pygmalion principle, popularised in the musical "My Fair Lady", but originating in Greek mythology, and was his usual entertaining self, if somewhat quietened as he was the recipient of the award.  There were a final few words of appreciation from the President of the Scottish National Party, Dr Winnie Ewing, Madame Ecosse herself.

          The proceeding were very professionally chaired by Lillian MacDonald, one of the Directors of the Scots Independent, and a former General Secretary of the EIS (Educational Institute of Scotland);  the Flag was well represented, with Allison, Richard, Ian and his wife Margaret, Tricia and myself, and it was a most enjoyable afternoon.  Would you believe, none of us had a camera! 

         Recent events have convinced me that I did less than justice to the Tories, when I mentioned them in "The Unattributed Seniors" in last week's Flag;  I said that they were "unashamedly mean and evil".  I realise now that that comment was inadequate;  I should have said "unashamedly mean, evil and stupid."  This thought has arisen because of their appointment of a shadow Secretary of State for Scotland, and his rapid demise.

            Since I had never heard of James Gray, the aforesaid Shadow Secretary, I thought to have a look at his career;  his Westminster details start with the fact that he contested Ross, Cromarty and Skye in 1992, and that he has been the member for North Wiltshire since 1997;  in between times he was a Special Adviser to Michael Howard and John Gummer as Secretaries of State for the Environment in 1991-95.  Do I recall something about John Gummer feeding his children hamburgers during the BSE scare, or is my memory inaccurate?  Probably he was taking advice at the time.

         Mr Gray's own website is slightly more revealing; he was born in 1954, and educated at Glasgow High School, Glasgow University and Christ Church, Oxford, which might make him a Glasgwegian, but he does not admit it.  He seems to be a fairly clever chap, having held a number of directorships, written a few books on Financial Risk Management, and is a freeman of the City of London;  his military service "includes" seven years in the Honourable Artillery Company.  This appears to be a Territorial Army Unit, and perhaps of more social than military value, but I could be wrong.

        What he did in his record appointment as Shadow Secretary of State for Scotland was to propose the abolition of our Scottish Parliament (it was a record in that it lasted for 8 days, the shortest appointment ever);  having read his biographical notes I can see very little relevance to, or interest in, Scotland, and in fact he appears to have spent his life in the Home Counties, so has obviously gone native.   Just why Michael Howard picked him rather than David Mundell is a bit of a mystery;  perhaps it was just  "James - you're a Jock, aren't you? But you're one of us, and have never been known to use a glottal stop.  You are the archetypal Englishman - just the chap for that office!" 

          Anyway, his rapid defenestration at the instigation of David McLetchie, the Scottish Tory leader, has now been followed by the appointment of another ex-pat Scot;  Pete Wishart's letter to her is included under Synopsis below, so we can look forward to a further gaffe or two.   The upshot of all this is a festering row between McLetchie, Lord Forsyth, who agreed with Gray, and Murdo Fraser, MSP, who wants the Scottish Tories to break away from London and stand on their own, a proposal scorned by McLetchie - what a witches brew!   Of course, as has been pointed out by Sir Malcolm Rifkind, another arch Unionist, the Scottish Tories are the "Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party", which precludes any such radical changes.   Most of can remember that in local government, the Conservatives styled themselves as "Progressives" - there's a misnomer for you, and in the Highlands as "Independents" - even more of a misnomer!    No doubt their antics will add to the general gaiety of the population for the next year or two, but for them it's not very clever.

He said: "I have a deep sense of gratitude to people of Dundee East for giving me the opportunity to serve them in this parliament. 

Mr Hosie thanked  his predecessors; Mr Iain Luke who was MP for the old Dundee East seat and Mike Weir MP whose constituency, prior to boundary changes covered Carnoustie, Monifieth and Sidlaw East.

Mr Hosie said:

"I wish at the outset to pay tribute to my immediate predecessors who served the people of the new Dundee East seat.

"I wish to pay tribute to Iain Luke, who in the last Parliament represented two thirds of the constituency before boundaries were changed.

"I also wish to pay tribute to my honourable friend, the newly returned member for Angus, who represented the people of Carnoustie, Monifieth and Sidlaw East in the old Angus Constituency - burghs which are now within my constituency.

"Both men, Mr Speaker, ably represented the electors of the re-drawn Dundee East Parliamentary Constituency - And I pay tribute to both of them for that work.

Commenting on bills proposed in the Queen's Speech, Mr Hosie said:

"The decisions taken here must address many of the deep rooted problems too many of my constituents are forced to face. In Dundee East male unemployment, at nearly 10%, remains stubbornly high.

"In a number of wards in my constituency, large numbers of people still remain totally dependent on benefits.

"In parts of my constituency one in three children still live in households where no one has a job.

"I hope Mr Speaker, that in considering the Housing Benefit Bill and the Incapacity Benefit Bill in particular; the measures proposed to allow mobility and help people back into work are sensitive and offer genuine support for my constituents to get into work.

Mr Hosie also kept the issue of the merger of the Scottish Regiments to the fore, saying: "Within the boundaries of Dundee East also stands proudly, on Powrie Brae,  a memorial to the Black Watch. The statue is a strong and permanent reminder of the courage and sacrifice of the many men who have given their lives serving in an old and proud local regiment.

"My constituency, taking in parts of Dundee and Angus is a key recruiting ground for the Black Watch. The issue of the merger of the Scottish Regiments, the Black Watch in particular, remains of deep concern to my constituents."

NOTE - The full text of Mr Hosie's speech is available from the SNP Whips Office, or by clicking here.

FOOT IN THE MOUTH NOTES

                In the Scotsman online, which I look at every day, there is a "Fact of the Day";  on Tuesday this week it was celebrating the birthday in 1852 of Robert Cunningham-Graham, who founded the Labour Party with fellow Scot Keir Hardie.   He subsequently became the first president of the Scottish National Party;  I think his full name was Robert Bontine Cunninghame-Graham, and he was known colloquially as "Don Roberto."

               To check my recollection, I clicked on the given link to famous Scots in the article;  he was not listed.

         It would seem that the Tory party is going to revert to the policy where the MPs elect the leader, rather than the new system put in in 1997, which needed the approval of the grass roots.

              They tried democracy and didn't like it.

        What a stramash is going on in London at the moment to do with the London Eye;  a proposal to increase the rent is being seen as a threat to London's bid to host the Olympics,  as the Eye is being used in the campaign brochure for the event, and a rent increase might force it to move elsewhere.

            Considering how much money the London Olympics will take away from Scotland's Lottery Funding allocation, we should hope the Eye becomes No  (Phonetics - children - phonetics!)

        In a conversation with a Danish academic at a dinner a week or two back, she told me that as a foreign national she was allowed to vote in the Scottish elections, but not in the English one - which meant the General Election.

            Considering the media coverage, she could be forgiven for that comment.

               The Department of Trade and Industry was renamed the Department for Productivity, Energy and Industry just after the General Election;  less than a week later, the minister in charge of the department announced that it was reverting to its previous name.  Apparently the initials attracted various unflattering descriptions, and the minister "had not thought of the idea".

                  The head of business policy at the Institute of Directors was less flattering; he said "The government is degenerating into a circus and the clowns have taken charge."  He noticed!

          One lady I met during the General Election campaign was intending to vote Liberal, as they were proposing to increase the old age pension to £109.45.

                She changed her mind when she read the small print "Only for those over 75".