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[ Issue 370 - 6th July 2007]

Compiled by Jim Lynch

The failed attempt to murder hundreds of innocent people, the vast majority of them Scots, has ended what appeared to be a charmed existence for our country, an immunity to terrorist attacks which we mistakenly assumed we had.

There was a degree of justification for this belief; during all the IRA attacks in Ireland and in England, Scotland was never targetted, perhaps being perceived as a suitable haven for both sides in that particular conflict. This attempt, by people of Asian origin, is from a totally alien source. As far as can be deduced from evidence so far, the perpetrators have come to Scotland to work in the National Health Service, merely as a cover to enable them to carry out mass murder. The same people also seem to be responsible for the attempted car bombs in London, so it is action against the British state, and we are a part of that state.

According to press reports, American intelligence services had prior knowledge that attacks were planned against Glasgow Airport, but either failed to notify the British security services, or they did not

take the warnings seriously; no doubt a clearer picture will emerge in the days to come. There had been a great deal of relief that the bombers are not of Scottish origin, and while the attack was mounted indiscriminately against all people at the airport on one of the busiest days of the year , any such evidence would have meant a public reaction in Scotland. As it is, the people most likely to suffer from this attack are Scotland’s Muslim community, who are resolutely opposed to the fanatical interpretation of Islam on display. First Minister Alex Salmond has spoken out on how any reaction against our own Muslim community would be gross injustice.

Lockerbie I

Comment has also been made in the media that the last terrorist atrocity on Scottish soil was the bombing of PanAm flight 103; this however, was not an action against Scotland or the Scottish people, but a bomb that was meant to go off over the Atlantic which exploded over Scotland. The fact that it fell from the sky in our country made it a matter for the Scottish courts.

The event has been in the news a lot lately, firstly because Tony Blair, the now departed Prime Minister, signed an agreement with Colonel Gaddaffi of Libya, that the man in prison in Scotland would be sent back to Libya to complete his sentence there. Mr Blair compounded his error by failing to consult or inform the Scottish Government who are responsible for the prisoner, and then claiming that this was a general agreement for all Libyan prisoners in Scotland. When pressed, he admitted that there was only one Libyan prisoner in Scotland, but this did not necessarily mean him! Beggars belief somewhat.

This episode led to the First Minister, Alex Salmond, making a statement to the Scottish Parliament where the actions of the Prime Minister were roundly condemned by all parties, even if somewhat lukewarmly by Labour. (Lord Foulkes appeared on TV to defend the Prime Minister – good old George, always ready to lick the hand that feeds him – or is it the boots?) Anyway, there was a further stramash when Kirsty Wark, on BBC Newsnight, was grossly offensive to First Minister Alex Salmond, on the basis that he had no right to criticise the British Prime Minister; the BBC subsequently apologised to Alex Salmond. It would seem that Ms Wark has forgotten that there is a Scottish Parliament, despite being one of the persons who chose the design and the architect for that much maligned building.

Ms Wark of course has selective amnesia, and should perhaps remember how she got her start in the lucrative field of broadcasting. It was thus: Kirsty Wark was the production assistant, or whatever, to a BBC programme called “Left, Right and Centre”, which was presented by Colin Bell, one time Editor of the Scots Independent, and winner of the Oliver Brown Award, among other things. At the Scottish Liberal Party Conference in Rothesay, I think, Colin interviewed David Steel, at that time leader of the Liberal Party. Colin was rather exuberant, putting it mildly, and David Steel complained to the BBC. Colin got the sack, and Kirsty got the programme. The situations are similar, a prominent Nationalist was sacked for being rude to the leader of the Liberal Party, and now a prominent Labourite has been rude to the First Minister of Scotland – who happens to be a Nationalist. What happens next? Do not watch this space.

The other reason that Lockerbie has been in the news lately is that the Scottish Criminal Cases Review Commission has now ruled that there are no fewer than six grounds on which Abdelbaset Ali Mohmed al Megrahi may have suffered a miscarriage of justice, and granted him leave to launch a second appeal.

This will be the second appeal, and will be a grave embarrassment to the Scottish criminal justice system. There are certainly a number of questions to be answered; Dr Jim Swire, whose daughter, Flora, was one of the victims, does not believe that the right man was convicted, and wants to see the guilty parties convicted and closure. From the Scots Independent standpoint, one of our members, the late David Rollo, followed, and researched the atrocity, and published a small book: “Lockerbie – miscarriage of justice” in September 2004. One of the grounds for the appeal is a question on the evidence given by a Maltese shopkeeper, which was contradictory; David Rollo visited Malta, and interviewed the shopkeeper. This is how he reported it:

“In an earlier statement given to DCI Bell* on 1^st September 1989 Gauci had described the customer as being six feet or more in height. In court he described him as below six feet but added “I am not an expert in these things.” In a statement on 13^th September he had said that the man was about fifty years of age. At that time Mr Megrahi was five feet eight inches in height and thirty six years of age.

“On a visit to the shop I found that Tony Gauchi had been in the family business “all his life”. He would thus be familiar with reference points in the shop against which he could accurately estimate the height of visitors in much the same way as any householder can tell immediately if a visitor is smaller or taller than normal.

“To be unable to do so this would mean that much of Mr Gauchi’s time would be taken up unpacking and packing up goods until a fit was found. It may be that successful lawyers do not buy clothes “off the peg” and would expect at least two fittings. Mr Gauchi’s world would have been somewhat unreal to them. In fact Tony Gauchi demonstrated his ability when he corrected an optimistic estimate I made fully dressed, of the size of underpants I bought from him.”

Now how could one Scottish pensioner put his finger on what seems to have eluded the police and prosecution?

*DCI Bell was a Director of the Scottish Criminal Records Office when the Shirley McKie case came to trial. Some allegations have been made that there was no public enquiry into the McKie case, as doubts on evidence could reflect on the Lockerbie conviction.

The appeal will probably not take place until some time next year, so maybe Tony Blair’s agreement with Colonel Gaddaffi was designed to circumvent this taking place.

Scottish Parliament State Opening

It seems something of an anomaly that the Scottish Parliament is officially opened by Her Majesty (whom I am regarding benevolently at the moment) the day after it closed for the Summer Recess. This was the way the founders set it up, probably because the election was in May, and the Queen came up for her Scottish holiday at the end of June. She did fly up at the beginning of May to meet Alex Salmond, more than the elected and the unelected Prime Ministers did.

It is rather different from what they do at Westminster; in that place the Prime Minister writes the Queen’s Speech, which she reads out, telling everyone what the Government is going to do, whether she likes it or not. In Scotland, she says what she wants, and here were her closing remarks:

“Members of the Scottish Parliament…a few weeks ago, you were elected by the people of Scotland to serve the people of Scotland. This is both a privilege and a great responsibility.

“Today, you will walk with the people and party with the people. As you move into your third parliamentary session and a new form of politics, I am confident that the Scottish people will be at the heart of the business of this session as you keep on walking with them and together build a better and more sustainable future for this great land.”

So, Her Majesty accepts a “new form of politics”; having watched the whole ceremony on television I listened carefully to all the speeches, and I found nothing untoward with any of them. In fact, I found it all very agreeable, so I was a bit taken aback when I learned that the Labour Party was upset at what Alex Salmond had said. Or maybe I wasn’t – they have been drinking so deeply of the wine made with sour grapes that I should not have been surprised.

Now what did Alex say that upset them : “Your Majesty, it will not have escaped your notice that I am the first SNP First Minister that this Parliament has elected. I believe in the restoration of an independent Scotland. Others in this chamber take a different view. I welcome that debate and the national conversation to follow. The challenge for us all is to have that conversation with dignity, with respect and with substance.”

He said what was true; he did not put words into the Queen’s mouth as they do at Westminster when they lay out their POLITICAL programme- just thought I would mention that as they are accusing Alex of mentioning politics in the presence of the Queen.

The chief moaner (mourner perhaps?) was Andy Kerr, former Labour Minister for something or other; Annabelle Goldie for the Tories thought it was a statesmanlike speech. No one has yet told Nicol Stephen of the Liberals what he thinks. As far as the Queen was concerned she looked as if she was having a good time, as everyone was – apart from Labour.

Irish odyssey

The previous week I had come across Union Jacks with portraits of the Queen in not so friendly a place; we were coming through Belfast, with interminable roadworks, and a scarcity of signposts, and I had missed a turning somewhere. I managed to get off the “main” road at the first opportunity, and found myself in a street festooned with Union Jacks, the Red Hand of Ulster and UVF graffitied here and there! With a car covered with SNP symbols and a name like Lynch I did not feel particularly welcome; however, I did ask and was politely given directions, so I got back on the road again. Whew!

We had been in Ireland for the wedding of the youngest son of our friends, Alastair & Shirley Kidd to an Irish girl; they were married in her home church in Killylea, just outside Armagh, and the reception was in Ballygally, six miles north of Larne – a mere 65 miles distant. Lovely wedding and lovely weather; our own hotel was about a mile from the reception and we imagined we would get a taxi no problem, however – no taxis in Ballygally- but it was a lovely day for a walk there, and a lovely night for a walk back, and no pavement!

Because I had always wanted to go back to Ireland, (we were there in 1982), we had decided that we would have a few days there, so on the Sunday we went along the top of Antrim and visited the Giants’ Causeway. From there we went through Londonderry into Ireland and stayed at Letterkenny. We had never been to Donegal so we spent an extra day there and went to see the Famine Village at Doagh on the Inishowen peninsula, a very interesting place. We followed the signs to the ferry across Loch Swilly; the place was absolutely beautiful, and when I got round to ask when the next ferry was due I was told it did not start until July! Gorgeous scenery though.

We then travelled down to Galway, via Knock, where I was seeking directions at the Tourist Office to where the Meeting of the Waters was; the lady had never heard of it, so I quoted the words of the song, and even offered to sing it- no thanks. She phoned her husband who told her where it was, near Avoca in County Wicklow. We only stayed one night in Galway, as they had been having trouble with water and we could neither drink it nor even clean our teeth, but we did pay a fleeting visit to Castle Lynch – which is now a branch of the Allied Irish Bank. In the hotel we booked in to they had framed on the wall a betting slip; it was for 5 £1 bets with Ladbrokes, and someone called Dick had won £567,000. They like their racing.

On the way from Galway to Wicklow we passed through quite a few small towns, and I got lost in every one; in one, a helpful chap said “Follow me” which I did, or I would have been there yet! We were on the road to Dublin, but the road was under repair and there was a diversion – unfortunately it would seem everybody knew where the diversion was so they didn’t bother putting up directions.

We booked in to a hotel in Woodenbridge, apparently the oldest hotel in Ireland, and on our first night it went on fire; no harm done, no one hurt, but another experience.

Our bedroom was called the Parnell Room , and downstairs was the Parnell Lounge; quite unwittingly we had landed just 5 miles from the home of Charles Stewart Parnell, which we visited. It is owned now by the National Trust, as was the Irish Famine Village, and my wife commented that it was nice to have the places run by the Irish, rather than the English, as happens in Scotland. We did visit the Meeting of the Waters, where the poem by Thomas Moore is engraved on a stone beside it :

We also very briefly drove through the village of Avoca, known to TV viewers as Ballykissangel.

Impressions of Ireland – very friendly people, both North and South; amazed at the fact that petrol is about 12p a litre cheaper than in Scotland – and them with no oil! Of course, they haven’t got the English to support. Big beautiful houses being built everywhere, and prices much the same as over here. More than a bit disconcerted at the ferries; we keep seeing on TV about how cheap it is to go to Ireland, car & driver £50.00 – advertisements like that. I booked one way, as I wanted to keep options open, eg if it poured rain we would come home early, so Stena Line hit me for £107.00 to go from Stranraer to Belfast. Coming back I hadn’t booked, but had checked the website of P&O for Larne to Cairnryan, and expected to pay about £70-£75 as it is a shorter crossing. We turned up, and the boat was not that busy, and I was charged £133.00 – when I produced my credit card, the price was £137.00! According to the girl conditions applied – like book 3 months in advance and travel at night on Christmas Eve with a bike or something. I won’t do that again. Next time I’ll fly.

Charles Stewart Parnell

There is a profoundly interesting article called “Lessons from a Secret History” on the website run by Jim and Margaret Cuthbert – www.cuthbert1.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk about Parnell, and a lesson on the techniques used by the British government against independence movements. Parnell was the leader of the Irish Home Rule Party in the House of Commons, and his party held the balance of power; his downfall was plotted by the Conservatives, plus the security services and the Times newspaper. Parnell was the uncrowned king of Ireland, and he was “disgraced”, but when he died in 1891 at the age of 45 there were half a million people at his funeral in Dublin. Without Parnell there would have been no Easter Rising, no Irish War of Independence and no independent Ireland. The monument to Parnell stands in O’Connell Street in Dublin and bears the words:

The Scottish National Party (SNP) has welcomed the invigorated debate on constitutional reform, which has now been joined by new Prime Minister Gordon Brown. Westminster SNP Leader Angus Robertson MP welcomed the statement by Gordon Brown saying he was pleased the Prime Minister was joining the SNP to support reforms in the way the country is governed.

Speaking after the House of Commons statement Mr Robertson said: "I am delighted that the Prime Minister has committed to reforms that will improve democracy, enhance the powers of parliament and bring decision making closer to the citizen. "There were measures in statement that the SNP has campaigned for consistently included the power of parliament over military conflict and the possible reduction of the voting age to 16.

"It is noteworthy that the Prime Ministers announced a raft of policy reforms for England which are already happening in Scotland under the new SNP Government including:

· Recognising the views of local communities; leading to the retention of local services including hospitals and schools

"The Prime Minister has been right to echo calls by First Minister Alex Salmond for a national conversation about the way we are governed and the SNP will work with all parties to pursue the agenda of democratic improvements."

Following the announcement by Prime Minister Gordon Brown today that various constitutional changes would not include the repeal of the Act of Settlement, Cardinal Keith O'Brien said;

"I am deeply disappointed at the statement from Gordon Brown. I remain deeply concerned that the 'Act of Settlement' will continue to exist and believe it constitutes state-sponsored sectarianism.

I have been happy to note the recent remarks by Scotland's new First Minister, Alex Salmond that the Act of Settlement should be removed.

I wrote to Gordon Brown in April 2006 following comments he made on the role of the Prime Minister in the selection of Church of England bishops to say that the terms of the Act of Settlement were anachronistic and that it was "an outstanding example of bigotry and sectarianism in the United Kingdom" I urged him to consider these views but did not receive a reply."

Tuesday 3 July

Mike Weir MP, Scottish Shadow Minister for Work and Pensions, has criticised both the Labour government and Tory opposition for failing to take seriously the crisis facing pensioners.

Speaking ahead of today’s opposition debate on pensions, Mr Weir said neither the Tory motion nor government amendment addressed the real problem:

“There is widespread cynicism and distrust over the whole issue of pensions following the collapse of so many private pension funds and the government’s staunch refusal to follow the Ombudsman’s recommendation that compensation should be paid to the victims.”

“This totally undermines the government’s attempts to promote private pensions, whilst the Tories are obsessed with pinning personal blame on Gordon Brown rather than addressing the root of the problem.”

“What is required is a move towards a true Citizens Pension that would end means testing, provide a decent income for all pensioners and a solid foundation for private savings.”

SNP President and Member of the European Parliament, Mr Ian Hudghton, yesterday [Sunday] laid a commemorative wreath at the memorial to those in McRae's Battalion who died in the battlefields of the Somme. The memorial was built in 2004 from Scottish stone, sent to France from Morayshire, and has bronze plaques which were designed in Edinburgh and engraved in Orkney. The stone cairn, beside the church in Contalmaison village, stands in recognition of the 16^th Royal Scots regiment, known as McRae's battalion after its' Colonel Sir George McRae.

The 16^th Royal Scots penetrated further than any other regiment on the opening day of the dreadful carnage which was the battle of the Somme, reaching as far as Contalmaison, where the cairn now stands. Mr Hudghton laid a wreath from Europe Minister Linda Fabiani MSP, inscribed 'from the people of Scotland ' , in recognition of the enormous sacrifice which all those who fought in the Somme gave to preserve the freedom we enjoy today.

"Whilst it was a tremendous honour to pay the respects of the people of Scotland at the ceremony, it comes with a very heavy burden. All those who fought for their respective countries at the Somme did so in the name of preserving democratic values for future generations, and many lost their lives in the process.

"On the opening morning of the Somme, 20,000 of our forces lost their lives, with a further 40,000 estimated to have been injured. The stark reality of what our forebears went through certainly bore heavily on my mind and I know all those who attended today's ceremony felt the same way.

"In light of the reality of what occurred that morning 91 years ago today it is all the more incredible that McRae's battalion, the 16 ^th Royal Scots, managed to push forward as far as Contalmaison. In their onward march they lost about three-quarters of their men, many of whom were friends, brothers, and fellow townsmen. The valour they and their fellow Scots regiments showed that day should never be forgotten.

"The atmosphere at the wreath-laying ceremony was one of deep solemnity, and a show of unity from all sides at the sheer futility of war was certainly present. Whilst those who fought did so unreservedly in the name of democracy the sheer volume of those killed on all sides reminds us today of why war should be avoided at all costs.

"My own grandfather and his uncle were fortunate enough to fight in the Great War and survive but many families faced the loss of those they loved and knew as friends. I have no doubt that anyone who chooses to pay their respects at Contalmaison will feel the burden of past generations bearing down upon them very heavily indeed."

Dundee East MP Stewart Hosie has today (Friday) called for Job Centre Plus to work actively with Scotland’s universities to help find students the part-time jobs they need.

Mr Hosie met today with Graham Nicholson, the Dundee University based, President of the Association of Graduate Careers Advisory Services.

Mr Nicholson described how in previous years Job Centre Plus staff would work with local universities to help find part-time jobs for students funding their own way through their studies but that this joined-up approach has now ended.

Mr Nicholson said, “The removal of this link also breaks the links between local employers and universities, it weakens the employability of students and it ends up with the universities actually competing with the job centre for jobs to advertise.”

Mr Hosie said, “The Government must look at reinstating the link between Job Centre Plus and our universities or at least allowing university careers staff access to the job vacancies database.

“This system worked well in the past ensuring part-time employment for students and a pool of good quality staff for local businesses. It also provided many students with real life experience of work preparing them for the time they leave education.

“I am today writing to the Scottish Cabinet Secretary for Education, Fiona Hyslop, to enlist her support for this measure and to Peter Hain, the new Secretary of State at the DWP asking him to reconsider this decision taken by Job Centre Plus.”

Angus MacNeil the SNP MP who initiated the cash for honours inquiry today (Thursday) commented following news that Tony Blair has been questioned by Police for a third time. Reports indicate that he was questioned in recent weeks, although both Scotland Yard and Number 10 have refused to comment.

Mr MacNeil said:
"This new revelation comes as no surprise. However, the fact it has been kept secret until Blair left office is extremely intriguing.

"Claims that the police were issued with a threat from Number Ten that Blair would have to resign if he was re-interviewed, add to increasing evidence that No10 has put undue pressure on the investigating team by raising the prospect of a constitutional crisis.

"Such reports do nothing to help the image of Downing Street, or indeed Blair's last days in office. Nobody is above the law, and it is vital that the police are allowed to continue with their extra investigations requested by the CPS.

"With Blair out of office, and with no claim to the Number 10 spin machine, it will be very interesting to see what the next few weeks hold."

Thursday 28 June 2007

SNP MP Pete Wishart today (Thursday) responded to an answer from the Scotland Office to a parliamentary question on the impact on current and planned Scottish infrastructure projects caused by the honeypot effect of Olympic building projects which are luring large numbers of Scottish architects and other building professionals and tradesmen to the south-east of England.

Mr Wishart said: “The Scotland Office seem breathtakingly complacent about the damage that might be done to the prospects for Scotland’s economic growth by the out-of-control Olympic project for the skills of the architects, surveyors, civil engineers, and builders whose expertise has a vital part to play in executing the critical infrastructure projects necessary to revitalise our nation’s economy for the twenty-first century.

“Nine months ago Culture Secretary Tessa Jowell was forced to admit that Olympic project costs had increased by 40 per cent in a year. Now we are reading reports that the President of the Royal Incorporation of Architects in Scotland believes that the primacy of the Olympic project may undermine projects and developments that are crucial for Scotland’s long-term economic well-being. Just how big a price are the people of Scotland expected to pay?

"David Cairns’ reply to my question ignores these concerns, and shows a contemptuous disregard for securing a competitive edge for Scotland by ensuring that the nation’s infrastructure is up to scratch.

“Too much of the background to the costs of the Olympic project remains shrouded in mystery. Public confidence has been shaken as the costs of have spiralled out of control, with little evidence of any tangible economic benefits to Scotland or indeed other regions of the UK. To get answers to a number of crucial questions on these costs I have now lodged a freedom of information request with the Department of Culture, Media and Sport. The people of Scotland deserve to know the truth about the price they are being asked to pay for the Olympic debacle. I am determined to see that they get it.”

Pete Wishart (Perth & Perthshire North, Scottish National Party) To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what assessment the Government has made of the likely impact on (a) Scotland's infrastructure and (b) the Scottish economy of the relocation of (i) plumbers, joiners, electricians and related professionals and (ii) architects and associated building professionals to London and the South-East of England to service the Olympic building programme and associated developments.

David Cairns (Parliamentary Under-Secretary, Scotland Office) The construction of the Olympic park and venues present huge opportunities for Scottish businesses. The flexibility within the UK labour market, that is a benefit of Union, has contributed substantially to the record levels of employment Scotland currently enjoys.

Mr Wishart’s Freedom of Information request seeks disclosure of all:

● contracts, memoranda and correspondence between the DCMS and among
● all ministers of Her Majesty’s Government irrespective of Department
● the office of the Mayor of London
● appropriate London boroughs
● the security services (so far as not exempt)
● the Olympic Delivery Authority
● the British Olympic Association
● the International Olympic Committee and all contractors, professional advisers, and project managers making provisional assessment of the projected costs of tendering for, servicing and securing the Olympic bid; completing the building projects to conform to contract; procuring infrastructure, security and transport requirements in compliance with the contractual obligationogether with all correspondence, memoranda and contracts setting out revisions to the previously-assessed projected costs.

Alba ùr

Chan eil fhios agam am bi Alex Salmond a’ creidsinn gu bheil e a-nis nur Prìomh Mhinistear – tha e follaiseach gu bheil an smuain a’ dèanamh trioblaid gu Jack McConnell bochd – ach dè mu dheidhinn Gordon Brown? Tha àmannan ann am beatha a h-uile duine far an gabh iad aithreachas nach deach aca air a bhith ann an àite eile aig àm sònraichte, agus dhomhsa an ceartuair ‘s ann nach robh mi san t-seòmar nuair a fhuair Gordon a-mach gun do bhuannaich Alex! Tha “Chan obair mi còmhla ris an duine sin” a’ fuaimneachadh ri beag cosail ris an seòrsa rud a theireadh Bill Clinton, agus bidh e inntinneach fhaicinn ciamar a gheibh Gordon às – “O an Alex Salmond sin, tha esan ceart gu leòr…”

As bìth dè thachras a-nis chan eil teagamh ann nach do dh’atharraich rudan gu bràth, agus bidh obair mhòr ro ar ceannardan ùra a dhèanamh cinnteach gum bi na h-atharrachaidhean feumail. Chan urrainn dhaibh gabhail air an socair an toiseach nas mò, oir tha rudan air nochdadh cheana mar na prìosanan prìobhaiteach. Feumaidh iad cumail ris na geallaidhean a rinn iad ron taghadh gun taic sa phàrlamaid, agus ann an làn eòlais gun gabh na pàipearan naidheachd cothrom sam bith a bhith gan càineadh.

Chan eil an STUC ceart cho daingeann ri cùl nan Làbarach ‘s a bha e, ach bidh a’ mhòr-chuid amharrasach mu na Nàiseantaich, mur nach bi iad nan aghaidh. Coimheadaidh iad gu dlùth air na thachras agus leumaidh iad air rud sam bith mar dhearbhadh gun robh Alba ceàrr cùl a chur ris a’ Phàrtaidh dualchasach.

Tha mallachd Sìonach ann “Gun tig sibh beò ann an lìnntean inntinneach”, ach ‘s e cothrom a tha seo. Jack McConnell air an làimh eile… Och uill, tha e math gu bheil deagh obair aig a’ bhean aige.

A’ bruidhinn air linntean inntinneach, dè mu dhèidhinn a’ Phrionnsa Harry agus Iraq? Nach tàinig e a-staigh air duine sam bith ro seo gum bi saighdearan a’ dol gu cogadh, agus ma bhios e math gu leòr son a h-uile mac (is nighean) mathar eile chan eil e glic a ràdh, mar a thuirt Michael Portillo, gum bitheadh e na “national tragedy” ma fhuair Harry bàs? Ma bhios e tuilleadh’s cunnartach do na saighdearan còmhla ris a chionn ‘s gun e prionnsa a th’ ann, dh’fhaodadh e còireachan don rìgh-cathrach a thoirt seachad. Trioblaid air a rèiteachadh.

New Scotland

I don’t know if Alex Salmond now believes he’s our First Minister - it’s obvious that the thought is giving problems to poor Jack McConnell – but what about Gordon Brown? There are times in everyone’s life where they regret not being able to be in some other place at some other time, and for me just now it’s not being in the room when Gordon found out that Alex had won! “I won’t work with that man” sounds a wee bit like the sort of thing that Bill Clinton would say, and it’ll be interesting to see how Gordon gets out of it – “Oh that Alex Salmond, he’s all right…”

Whatever happens there is no doubt that things have changed for ever, and there’s a big job in front of our new leaders to make sure that the changes are beneficial. They can’t take things easy at first either, as things have come up already like private prisons. They have to keep to the promises they made before the election without the support of parliament, and in the full knowledge that the press will take every opportunity to criticise them.

The STUC isn’t quite so four-square behind Labour as it used to be, but the majority of members will be suspicious of the Nationalists, if they aren’t actually opposed. They will be watching what happens closely and they will jump on anything as proof that Scotland was wrong to turn her back on her hereditary Party.

There’s a Chinese curse “May you live in interesting times,” but this is an opportunity. For Jack McConnell on the other hand…Och well, it’s good that his wife has a well-paid job.

Speaking of interesting times, what about Prince Harry and Iraq? Didn’t it dawn on anyone before now that soldiers go to war, and if it’s good enough for every other mother’s son (and daughter) it’s not wise to say, as Michael Portillo did, that it would be a “national tragedy” if Harry got killed? If it’s too dangerous for the soldiers with him because he is a prince, he could renounce his rights to the throne. Problem solved.

Whan a Roman general rade throu the ceety in triumph, a slave wad staun ahint him in his chariot, whusperan in his ear: “Min that ye are mortal”. Nou the affcome o the Mey election is shairly the maist byous triumph oor Pairty haes haed, bit it can be seen that we hae need o a wird o wairnan an aa. There’s a wheen o bad fairies gaitheran roun the cradle o the new Scotland.

First a aa, some clever chiels are like ti contrair ane or twa o the affcomes i the coorts. Ane or twa wad be eneuch ti tak awaa oor lead owre Lawbour. An we ken that aince a case gets ti coort, there’s nae telling whit micht happen.

Tho A dinnae see masel as a prophet, thaim wi lang memories wul min that three month syne, A did wunner whit we wad dae gin we war the lairgest pairty in Pairlament bit naebodie wantit ti jyne us i the Executive. The nou, it luiks as if that is juist the poseetion we micht be in. Syne, there wad hae ti be an S.N.P. minority government. It wad lea us “in office, bit no in pouer”. Ti get ony Acks passit, we wad hae ti lippen on the guidwill o the Tories an the Leeberals (we needna think ti get ony guidwill frae Lawbour). Houever shoogly a minority government micht be, it wad shairly be better nor ti haun pouer back ti Union Jeck an his orra baun.

The trauchles that face a minority government are weel seen, bit forbye we maun conseeder that ony government may fin a suddent crisis blaws up that it didnae expeck. Harold Macmillan wes aince askit whit made him maist feart whan he wes Prime Meenister, an he reponit “Events, dear boy, events.” Sic events are like ti dae mair skaith ti a government that haes nae majority onywey.

An at the back o the picture lours the unchancy feegur o Gordon Broun, Prime Meenister in Waitin, that we are telt wul stap at naethin ti keep the S.N.P.oot o pouer:

Thir, than, are the wirds o wairnin that yer hummle sairvant wad be whusperan in Alex Salmond’s ear. Lat us howp that nane o thaim may come true. Aa the same, there are steeran times aheid!

Lockerbie I

Scottish Parliament State Opening

Irish odyssey

Charles Stewart Parnell

The Working Life of Linda Fabiani MSP

Tuesday 3 July

Thursday 28 June 2007

Alba ùr

New Scotland