Lots of great information to read and enjoy under our Features Section:
Scots Language | Scottish Food | Dates in History | Scot Wit and lots more

Power Play

The Hunterston 'B' nuclear power station in Ayrshire has come back on-line, after being out of commission for nearly a year. However, in reporting this, BBC Scotland has just repeated the commonplace claim from the pro-nuclear lobby that nuclear stations generate half of all Scotland's electricity.

This is nonsense, and so it can be proven. According to these Scottish Executive/DTI figures, Scotland's total electricity output is 45,517 GWh. Of this, nuclear accounts for 15,863 GWh, or just under 35% of total output. A lot, but nothing like half of Scottish output. It's not even half of Scotland's requirements, as you find if you delve further into the figures.

Of Scotland's total electricity output, just 32,068 GWh is consumed in Scotland. Some 5,208 GWh is lost (mostly in transmission); while 8,034 GWh is exported to England and Northern Ireland through the interconnectors.

Hunterston 'B' itself produces something like 7900 GWh, or just under 50% of Scotland's total nuclear output (the remainder coming from Torness in East Lothian). In other words, when Hunterston shut down, it would have been enough to reduce exports to almost zero, unless the 'slack' was taken up by excess capacity elsewhere. Scotland’s needs would still have been met quite comfortably from our other power stations.

But common sense should tell us that if nuclear accounts for half our requirements, and Hunterston accounts for half of our nuclear output (which it does), then Hunterston alone would be responsible for meeting some 25% of our needs. Therefore, the outage would have reduced Scotland's capacity to just 75% of normal levels, which would have meant the nightmare of the lights going out becoming a reality.

Did you notice that happening last year? Me neither. This 50% from nuclear figure only holds if you assume that unlike every other form of generation in Scotland, nothing is lost in transmission, and further that it's only coal, hydro and wind power etc which we export.

Lies, damn lies and statistics, eh?
 

Wendy 'Ready To Run'

From Scotland on Sunday:

Another leading candidate for the post, should McConnell quit, is new shadow justice secretary Margaret Curran. Speculation is growing within the Labour Party that the two may sign up to a 'joint ticket'.

Both, however, are understood to want to dampen down speculation they will challenge McConnell. A source close to [Wendy] Alexander added: "The person who makes the wrong move at the wrong time will come unstuck, because they will come across as disloyal."

Whoops... that'll be no marks for courage or for loyalty, then.
 

A Scottish Olympic Team?

Not being one of life's natural athletes, with the exception of football and occasionally rugby, sport is something I find it hard to get too worked up about these days. I go to the gym, I occasionally play football, I like to swim when I can find the time, but nowadays life just seems to get in the way.

It's not that I don't admire the dedication of our athletes or their physical prowess, it's just that, well, in general I'm not very interested. Frankly, I'd rather go to the pub or read a book or stick on some music or phone a friend. But for some reason, regardless as to the sport, my interest level increases when it's a Scot that's competing.

There's nothing particularly logical or rational about it, it's just the way it is. Consequently, a lifetime of complete indifference towards cricket melted away when Scotland competed in this year's World Cup. Similarly, my disdain for tennis in general and Wimbledon in particular disappeared when Andy Murray came on the scene.

Suddenly, I started to see that men's tennis could be about much more than simply hitting the ball as hard as you could. There was, or could be, an artistry in there too, allowing brains to beat brawn. More interestingly, I began to see that each point was about maneuvering your opponent into a position where you could play your winning shot, while trying to get them to run around so they would tire first. I saw subtlety where before I had seen nothing but brute force. And if I were 13 instead of 30, I'd probably be out on a tennis court right now, determined to be the next Andy Murray.

I'm racking my brains just now to think of any non-Scottish sports stars that’ve ever had that same sort of effect on me when competing at national level, and you know what? I'm really struggling. I used to be an alright sprinter, but neither Carl Lewis nor Linford Christie did it for me in the way that Alan Wells did. Steve Redgrave's achievements in rowing are beyond compare, yet somehow I still feel more pride at the all-Scottish curling team wining Olympic Gold. As I said, there's nothing logical or rational about it. It's purely an emotional thing.

I was 10 when the Commonwealth Games last came to Edinburgh, and it inspired all the kids in my street to get into badminton, bowling, running, cycling - anything. It was happening in our city, in our country - there were friends of friends of big brothers competing; people from your dad's bowling club in the Scottish team - it was exciting, it was inspiring, and made all the more so for us because the athletes were competing as a Scottish team.

Like I said, there's no logic or reason for why we should have felt that way - it's just the way it was. In the 1980's, Steve Ovett and Sebastian Coe might have had their titanic battles over the 800m crown, and Steve Cram might have been the golden boy of distance running. However, it was Tom McKean, Yvonne Murray and Liz Lynch as she then was, who got us putting on our trainers and running round the park in our little corner of Edinburgh.

Does wearing a Scottish shirt put an extra spring in your step; a British one make you run with the psychological effect of wearing divers' boots, or vice versa? I don't know. What I do know is that you could make Morris Dancing an Olympic Sport and I'd stay up till half 4 in the morning to watch the Scottish team. However, while I'll sit glued to the 6 Nations playing rugby, I'll switch over when the British Lions play, not because it offends me as a Scottish nationalist (it doesn't), but because I just don't care. There, I've said it. Go away and shoot me.

Individual talent is no respecter of national boundaries, and the best talents train at the best facilities all round the world. That's why I find the argument that athletes competing in a Scottish Olympic team would be shut out from British facilities that we'd helped to pay for, such a bizarre argument. Similarly, the idea that our athletes would win fewer medals than they would as part of a UK team is utterly risible, epitomising all that's worst about the 'awww, we're rubbish!', 'expect the worst and you'll never be disappointed', loser mentality that stifles so much talent and potential in Scotland.

Ultimately, the arguments for a British Olympic team hold the same force as arguments to scrap the 'home' nations' football and rugby teams to allow us to compete as a bigger entity. Shared facilities, no duplication of taxation to pay for it all, everyone working as part of a team, the shared camaraderie as we all come together as one, the pride in our collective breast as our flag runs up the pole to the sound of 'God save the Queen'... aye, right. There might be logic in there, somewhere, but even if there is it still leaves me completely cold.

We rightly celebrate the individual talent, but what is it that inspires the talent to reveal itself in the first place, or develops the enthusiasm for sport which lasts a lifetime? If I and my friends from 20 years ago are anything to go by, it's from seeing people just like you, who come from places like you come from, competing and winning at the highest level. The way to ensure that is probably a Scottish Olympic team, which everyone can support, regardless as to their politics. But let's not fall out over it. It's only sport, after all...

First Minister Committed to Lead in the Scottish National Interest

In his acceptance speech following the vote for First Minister of Scotland in the Scottish Parliament, Alex Salmond committed himself to leadership wholly and exclusively in the Scottish national interest.

Speaking to Parliament, Mr Salmond said:

"As we should remember, the Parliament was created by the people of Scotland in a referendum. It is bigger than any of its members or any party. I believe that Scotland is ready for change and ready for reform. We are a small nation, but we have a big future. We also face some big challenges.

"Earlier on, it was said that Scotland is a divided nation. Given the closeness of the election result, I understand why people might feel that way. However, it is not the case; we are not divided. Certainly the gap between rich and poor is far too great; we need to grow the economy faster; we need to heal the scars of the past; we need to be greener; and we need to be smarter still—but we are not divided. We have a sense of ourselves, a sense of community and, above all, a sense of the commonweal of Scotland.

"In some ways, we are not even a divided Parliament. Of course, those in this part of the chamber seek independence and equality for Scotland. I am told that not everyone in the chamber agrees with that policy, although some members do. However, there is a broad consensus for the Parliament to assume greater responsibility for the governance of Scotland, as well as an understanding that we are engaged in a process of self-government and an awareness of the distance that we have already traveled.

"In 1961, Bashir Ahmad came to Glasgow to drive buses. In 1961, the very idea of a Scottish Parliament was unimaginable. In 1961, the idea of a Scots Asian sitting in a Scots Parliament was doubly unimaginable, but Bashir is here and we are here. That part of the community of Scotland is now woven into the Parliament's tartan and we are much stronger as a result. We are therefore diverse, not divided.

"The nature and the composition of the Scottish Parliament in its third session make it imperative for this Government to rely on the strength of argument in the Parliament rather than on the argument of parliamentary strength. Despite all the challenges that that will mean, I welcome the chance to develop a new and fundamentally more reflective model of democracy in Scotland.

"The days since the election have been dominated by questions about the structure of the Government. Will there be a coalition or will there be a minority Government? I say to the whole Parliament that the structure of the Government matters less to the people whom we represent than what all of us achieve on their behalf.

"All of us in the Parliament have a responsibility to conduct ourselves in a way that respects the Parliament that the people have chosen to elect. That will take patience, maturity and leadership on all sides of the chamber. My pledge to the Parliament today is that any Scottish Government that is led by me will respect and include the Parliament in the governance of Scotland over the next four years.

"In this century, there are limits to what Governments can achieve, but one thing that any Government that I lead will never lack is ambition for Scotland. Today I commit myself to leadership wholly and exclusively in the Scottish national interest. We will appeal for support across the chamber policy by policy. That is the Parliament that the people of Scotland have elected and that is the Government that I will be proud to lead."
 

It's Time for Scotland's Voice to be Heard in Europe

SNP MEP Alyn Smith MEP has said that it's time for Scotland's voice to be heard in Europe. The SNP MEP said that the SNP will give Scotland a stronger and more effective voice by ensuring that there is better Scottish scrutiny of EU legislation and an effective voice for Scottish interests in Brussels to get the best deal for Scotland in Europe.

The SNP MEP made the call following a report published by the Scottish Parliament's European and External Relations Committee stated that the Scottish parliament should play a stronger role in the development of European law.

Speaking from Brussels, Mr Smith said:

"I welcome this report and agree whole heartedly that the Scottish Parliament must play a greater role in scrutinising EU legislation.

"On giving evidence to the Committee I called for regular discussions between the Parliament and MEPs and a joint debate in Holyrood to ensure all sides are working to shape the best possible laws for Scotland.

"It is clear from the leaked report from Michael Aron on the Executive's performance in Europe that Scotland is losing out. Scotland needs a government that is genuinely committed to getting the best deal for Scotland in Europe, not doing as they are told by London.

"It seems ridiculous that Mr McConnell is in Brussels today to promote Scotland as an example of strong communication when back home his Executive's own reports show that they have repeatedly failed to ensure there are sufficient channels of communication between Scotland and Europe.

"An SNP government at Holyrood with a dedicated Minister for European and External Relations will work with the Parliament to build Scottish scrutiny of EU legislation and ensure Scotland's voice is heard loud and clear in the EU."
 

Post Office Closures: "Death by a Thousand Cuts"

SNP Trade and Industry Spokesperson, Mike Weir MP has expressed his great disappointment and concern in reaction to Thursday’s Ministerial statement on Post Office closures.

Trade and Industry Secretary, Alistair Darling confirmed the closure of a further 2,500 post offices by 2009 on top of the 4,000 already shut down in the past eight years. Overall, this amounts to one fifth of the UK's post office network.

Speaking after the statement Mr Weir said:

"The Post Office remains essential to Scotland's rural communities. This statement merely confirms that the network will suffer death by a thousand cuts.

"There remains no detail of which Post Offices will close. The agony for many communities goes on. The only glimmer of hope is that the government has belatedly accepted the need to include the impact on local economies, something the SNP have long pressed for.

"The government needs to make it absolutely clear how the area proposals will work in Scotland. In rural areas we could be talking about massive areas."