The Compliments of the Season to all our readers.

 

We ignored the politically correct last week when we wished all readers a Happy Christmas, so this week it is a Happy New Year, which we assume is politically correct since as far as we know the PC brigade, whose name is legion, has not yet advanced any aversion to the Gregorian Calendar.

 

 

             

 

 

 

Not all sweetness and light

 

The year opens with closures and redundancies all round, as the fall out from the banking crisis hits everywhere;  we accept that this is global, but we also know that it is worse in the United Kingdom as we have had lax or non existent regulation of the financial services, while the Prime Minister struts the world, posing as its saviour.  I cannot remember where I read the comment that Gordon Brown is like the man who pushed somebody into the water, and now gets praise for trying to pull him out, but it is very apt.

 

Scotland will have to make its own way; Mr Brown has already ensured that there will be massive banking redundancies, a petty political act if ever I saw one, and will continue to make ponderous speeches and gestures.  His star is in the ascendant but will fall to earth shortly.

The focus is away from Scotland at present.

 

So how has the SNP done in its minority government role? Well, in the rest of Europe, most countries are very used to coalition governments, and the winning parties can always blame each other when manifestos are not fulfilled.  In Scotland, because of the crass incompetence of the Liberal Party, we have minority government;  I have to say that this was a massive stroke of luck, since I was already cringing at the prospect of having to say nice things about that bunch of charlatans, but it could have made life very difficult for the SNP.   We are a minority government; we had to concede the Edinburgh trams against our manifesto, but the other parties voted solidly for the trams, and the SNP Government will get the blame for the shambles.

 

The financial settlement was tighter than before,  and this in itself makes delivery very difficult;  we have also inherited local government problems, Aberdeen in particular, where Labour, and then a Tory/Liberal coalition ran up massive overspends; when an incoming SNP had to address these problems, we got the blame!  Despite all that, we kept vital hospitals open, started the abolition of prescription fees, froze the Council Tax, now being viewed as the most important thing that can be done to help people in England and Wales, abolished student fees – there was no money to pay off the accumulated debt- and the other parties were determined  to oppose this, and we have a concordat with local government with more peace than since the Parliament was established.

 

We will not be able to do everything we want, as there is neither the money nor the support in Parliament, but we are making a fair attempt.  We will make mistakes, as the Party consists of human beings, and no party has the sum total of all human wisdom and knowledge, but we are certainly achieving more than the other lot did in 8 years. We have not got the nuts and bolts of the Scottish Futures Trust in place yet, but the principle is correct;  the previous system of PFI where, for instance, £100 invested in Hairmyres Hospital generated a return of £86 million, has to be replaced.  It has now been agreed that all PFI deals have to be “on balance sheet” as from April, so another hidden cost will be revealed, and a scam  - one hospital for the price of two should be no more.  (Do not fret about this payment, it will be met by your grandchildren, along with the massive debts created during the Labour boom time  - chickens that would never come home to roost!)

 

 

 

 

Accident or design?

 

 

The first duty of any government is to get re-elected, and everything the government does has to be seen in that context.

 

The recent Scotch whisky  miscalculation by the Chancellor reminded me, for some reason, of the 10p tax fiasco in the last Budget;  the latter lay just below the surface for months and burst forth around this time last year.  I cannot remember who uncovered it but it caused panic at increasing the taxes for the least well off, and is still reverberating today.  In this year’s Budget statement the ink on the whisky tax proposal was barely dry before the uproar from the Scotch Whisky Association and Angus Robertson SNP MP for Moray, forced a change.  Again you would have thought that the Treasury would have done their sums.

 

Perhaps we are being a bit hard on Treasury officials, and should look at their masters.  Towards the end of November, in a debate about the money lost by ex-pats in Icelandic banks the economic secretary to the Treasury said “There is no legal bar under UK financial services regulation that would prevent a non-UK resident from opening a new bank account here.”  The Herald contacted high street banks,  who were puzzled by the minister’s statement.  Abbey National said “You do need to have a UK address to have a UK bank account”, and HBOS said “If you do move overseas you cannot open a current account with us.”  The banks all said that this was due to the government’s money laundering regulations;  this would be  the same anti terrorist legislation that the government used to freeze the assets of the Icelandic banks then?

 

We have also been seeing demonstrations and strikes by local government workers unhappy with their pay offer, many of them no doubt caught up in the 10p tax fiasco,

and citing inflation as the reason for their demands, along with local government stating that they are unable to adhere to agreements made, also due to inflation.  The worry now seems to be that the country is at risk of deflation, and the high price of oil which was a threat is turned on its head into another threat by the falling price of oil!   What is noticeable is that these events in Scotland are being orchestrated by the Labour Party, whose masters in Westminster gave the incoming Scottish Government the tightest financial settlement since devolution began.  How coincidental.

 

Not content with the current tight financial settlement, the Chancellor has decided that come 2010-2011 the financial settlement for Scotland will be reduced by some £500 million a year, on the basis that Scotland must share the pain inflicted as a result of government incompetence. Alex Salmond pointed out that this would mean spending cuts for the Scottish government, for Scottish local government – and for ultimately, the Scottish people.  How long before the Chancellor wakes up to the fact that his action is going to hurt the people who might vote for him, and his crony, the Prime Minister?

 

HOMECOMING 2009

The Homecoming 2009 initiative - with its 300-plus inspirational events across the country - will help Scotland turn a threatened tourism downturn into a visitor boom.

That was the sentiment at the heart of the First Minister's New Year message which is published today.

The video message was recorded at the National Library of Scotland in Edinburgh, which is hosting the 'Paths of Robert Burns' exhibition until February, before it is taken on tour to venues throughout Scotland for the rest of 2009.

Speaking as he viewed the original manuscript of Auld Lang Syne, Mr Salmond said:

"Written by our very own international cultural icon Robert Burns, Auld Lang Syne is a masterpiece that is sung by hundreds of millions of people around the world to welcome each and every New Year.

"As we know, New Year is a time for family, for reunions, for taking stock, for looking back and looking forward.

"For many people, 2009 will be an enormous challenge, with the full impact of the economic downturn starting to bite.
At times like this, therefore, it is even more important that we pull together as a nation. The economic storm clouds are gathering. But I know that we will weather this storm - and emerge even stronger, and well placed to prosper.

"That is why we are delivering our economic recovery plan to help families and business - accelerating investment in the economy, and boosting spending on fighting fuel poverty.

"It means more money to support families struggling to pay their mortgage. And it means #70 million available this coming year for local authorities to freeze the unfair Council Tax - putting much needed extra money in people's pockets.

"We need to ensure Scotland becomes a more successful country, mitigating the downturn and leading the recovery.

"As we enter a new year, a wonderful opportunity presents itself to turn a threatened tourism downturn into a visitor boom.

"Homecoming Scotland - the 250th anniversary of the birth of Robert Burns - will be a marvellous celebration of all things Scottish: Burns himself, golf, whisky, our proud heritage and Scottish scientific advance and achievement.

"More than 300 inspirational events will take place throughout the country and across the year complementing the vast range of world class attractions already offered in Scotland.

"From the world's biggest Clan Gathering in Edinburgh to the Burns-inspired Celtic Connections programme in Glasgow, the Open Championship at Turnberry to the Spirit of Speyside Whisky Festival, there's something special for everyone.

"Homecoming is a chance for Scotland's international family, and all who feel an affinity for our nation, to come back and reconnect with our heritage while also learning what being a citizen in Scotland in the 21st century actually means.

"I believe there is a spirit of optimism abroad that will pull us through the hard times, that will see Scotland take her rightful place in the world, and right now will encourage people to return to Scotland for our Year of Homecoming.

"Or, as Rabbie would have put it:

'For a' that, an' a' that,
It's comin yet for a' that,
That Man to Man the warld o'er,
Shall brithers be for a' that.'

"So get behind Homecoming and make 2009 a year to remember, for Auld Lang Syne, and for Scotland."

Notes

1. For a broadcast quality audio file of the First Minister's New Year message, please visit: www.scotland.gov.uk/downloads

2. A video version of the First Minister's New Year message will be available from this afternoon at: www.scotland.gov.uk/downloads

3. For a broadcast quality video version, please contact 0131 244 2668.

4. The First Minister recorded his New Year message at the National Library of Scotland in Edinburgh. The National Library is hosting 'Zig Zag: the Paths of Robert Burns' touring exhibition until February 1. The interactive exhibition features many unique items from museums and galleries across the country, including:

* The manuscript of 'Auld Lang Syne'
* Burns's drinking horn
* The first printed edition of his poems - the Kilmarnock edition (1786)
* Manuscripts of poems including 'Tam O'Shanter', 'Holy Willie's Prayer' and 'Ae Fond Kiss'
* The journal of Burns's travels in the Highlands
* Alexander Nasmyth's portrait of Robert Burns
* The Glenriddel Manuscripts
* Burns's copy of the 'Scots Musical Museum'.

 

 
First Minister reveals global interest in Saltire Prize Challenge

33 registrations of interest within a month

Major early interest in the world's biggest ever prize for innovation in marine renewables will put Scotland at the forefront of the global development of new energy technologies in 2009 and beyond, First Minister Alex Salmond has said.

The First Minister announced that 33 registrations of interest in the £10 million Saltire Prize from across the world have already been submitted to the Scottish Government since the criteria for the challenge were unveiled in Edinburgh at the beginning of December.

With installed capacity of renewables in Scotland having recently passed three Gigawatts, and consented capacity increasing that total to 5.5 Gigawatts, the First Minister said that the energy future for Scotland was very bright – and very green.

Last week, data for 2007 published in the latest UK 'Energy Trends' bulletin showed that renewable energy accounted for a fifth of Scotland's electricity needs. Electricity generated by renewables in Scotland increased by 18 per cent over 2006, with renewables now at their highest ever level. By contrast, nuclear power generation in Scotland fell by 13 per cent to its lowest level in the 21st century.

The First Minister said:

"Next year promises to be a year of challenge, but also one of great opportunity for Scotland. A focus on Scottish scientific advance and achievement will help point the way to a successful future for innovation.

"Nowhere is this more true than in renewable energy, especially with the world's biggest ever marine renewable competition – our £10 million Saltire Prize.

"In 2009 and beyond, Scotland is set to be at the forefront of the global development of clean, green energy technologies.

"Since we unveiled the details of the Saltire Prize Challenge at the beginning of December, 33 declarations of interest have been registered from some of the great companies and best minds in the world – all seeking to come and develop their new energy devices and inventions here in Scotland.

"Those interested come from five continents – from countries like America, Australia, South Africa, India and Mexico, and nearer to home from Italy, France, Norway and Spain, as well as Scotland and England.

"I look forward to these companies, and many more, submitting formal applications.

"And I look forward to Scotland continuing its progress towards a brighter – and greener – clean energy future in 2009, using our natural resources to reduce emissions, while our energy sector also makes a significant contribution to economic recovery.

"These past 12 months have been a great period for Scottish renewables, putting us well on track to exceed our target of 31 per cent of electricity demand from renewables by 2011.

"We have approved 17 renewables projects totalling 1.5 Gigawatts of capacity since May 2007. In just over 18 months, we have determined more energy applications than over the whole of the previous four years.

"Scotland's energy opportunities are being recognised internationally, given their global significance in addressing the challenges of energy security and climate change.

"The European Commission identified the North Sea 'Supergrid' concept – to export future marine energy surplus – as an EU infrastructure priority. And we launched the Scottish European Green Energy Centre, putting Scotland at the heart of pan-European research.

"The 33 registrations of interest in the Saltire Prize illustrate that our clean, green energy potential is a spark burning bright in the Scottish economic firmament."


1. Details about the Saltire Prize can be found at: http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Business-Industry/Energy/saltire-prize

2. Latest Energy Trends figures can be viewed at: http://stats.berr.gov.uk/energystats/etdec08.pdf

3. The Scottish Government's Energy Consents Unit is currently processing 31 renewable project applications – 23 wind farms, seven hydro projects and one wave project, with more applications expected.

4. The Scottish Government has determined 23 energy applications, including approval for 17 renewable and one non-renewable project since May 2007 – more determinations than over the whole of the previous four years, in which 19 projects were determined. New applications are being dealt with in line with the Scottish Government's new target to come to a decision within nine months, where there is no public inquiry.

5. Scottish Government targets are to meet 50 per cent of electricity demand from renewables by 2020, and an interim target of 31 per cent by 2011.

6. Total installed capacity of renewables in Scotland is over three Gigawatts. Adding in all the potential energy from consented renewable projects to those already operating brings the total to 5.5 Gigawatts, meaning the Scottish Government is set to surpass the 2011 target. In 2007, renewable electricity generation reached a level equating to 20.1% of gross electricity consumption.

 

 

 

SNP top Westminster poll of polls for first time in 2008

 

2008 swing to SNP increases from 2007 high point. 

“Clear indication that Scottish Politics has changed”

 

An analysis of opinion polls in Scotland for 2008 shows the SNP leading across the year with the party ahead of Labour for Westminster for the first time in its history.
 

According to a poll of polls for Westminster in 2008 – combining Scotland only polls and the breakdowns for UK polls - the SNP is on an average 33.5% to 32.5% for Labour. This equals a swing of 11% to the SNP from Labour since the 2005 election. In total the number of people sampled is an impressive 18,632.
 

In comparison an analysis of similar Westminster polls and polling breakdowns for 2007 – the year the SNP ended Labour's 50 year dominance in Scotland –shows that Labour's average was still ahead of the SNP by over 4%.
 

Averages for System 3 Westminster polls in Scotland between 1974 and 2003 also show that the SNP never overtook Labour in that period.
 

Commenting on the analysis the Depute Leader of the SNP, Nicola Sturgeon MSP, said:
 

"This analysis is great news for the SNP and clearly indicates that Scottish politics has changed for good. It shows the historic sea change in Scottish politics with the SNP, for the first time in its history, overtaking Labour in polling averages for Westminster.
 

"That we have overtaken Labour in Westminster polling from our high point in 2007 is immensely significant for the SNP. The swing from Labour has increased in 2008 reflecting our success in by-elections.
 

"It shows that the advantage is with the SNP and we are on track to seriously challenge Labour in a two horse race for the Westminster elections. It reflects how the SNP in Government is delivering for the people of Scotland.
 

"In Government in Scotland it is the SNP which is doing everything it can within its power to deliver a six-point plan to help families and business in these troubled economic times.
 

"We've put more money back in people's pockets with a council tax freeze and lowering prescription charges; and we've put more money back into high street businesses with our small business bonus.
 

"Labour's age of irresponsibility is over and it is the SNP which is offering the people of Scotland a better future with an age of responsibility. The choice is clearly between the SNP offering a positive vision of responsibility compared to a Labour party obsessed with negativity and irresponsibility."

 

Notes:

 

1. The monthly Poll of Polls for each month in 2008 for Westminster voting intention revealed:

Party	%	2005	Change
SNP	33.5%	17.7%	+15.8%
Labour	32.5%	39.5%	-7.0%
Tory	17.8%	15.8%	2.0%
LibDem	12.0%	22.6%	-10.7%
Other	4.4%	4.30%	0.1%
SNP Lead	1%	-21.9%

In total 18,632 people were polled.

This poll of poll constitutes 9 Scotland only polls and 59 from the Scottish breakdowns for UK polls. In contrast the monthly Poll of Polls for each month in 2007 for Westminster voting intention revealed:

Party	%	2005	Change
SNP	30.6%	17.7%	+12.9%
Labour	34.8%	39.5%	-4.7%
Tory	16.5%	15.8%	0.7%
LibDem	11.6%	22.6%	-11.1%
Other	6.7%	4.30%	2.4%
Labour Lead	4.2%	21.9%

In total 8,277 people were polled. This poll of poll constitutes 3 Scotland only polls and 39 from the Scottish breakdowns for UK polls.

2. The yearly averages of System 3 opinion polls between 1974 and 2003 are available here:

http://www.alba.org.uk/polls/pollwestminsteryearly.html

 

 

 

“AS THOU DOST SOW; SO SHALL’T THOU REAP”

 

Dear Lord; Ah hope Ye winnae mind

Tae hear frae me at last.

Ah huv’nae been the prayin kind

No muckle in the past.

But Lord, noo that approachin Daith

Is no sae far away;

Wi what could be ma dyin braith

Please tell me what tae dae.

 

 

For Lord. Ye hae forsaken us

An sent us oan oor wey.

The S. N. P. has shaken us

An seem they’re like tae stey.

Wi Lib-Lab Coalition gone

We’re juist Opposition,

The Torys next gin cawed upon,

Libs in demolition.

 

 

Ye ken that Ah’m a  Socialist

Lke Labour yist tae be

But no a bluidy  Unionist

That’s ower far for me.

But yet O Lord, Ah mun confess

Tae what Ah’ve shut ma een

In kennen that, far mair ner less,

That’s what they’ve ayeweys been..

 

 

Ah jined the Scottish Pairty when

Be’in Scottish tae its core,

An fu o independent men

Wid closed the Union door.

Then members were true Scots because

In awthin that they penned

They hud a Scottish Hame Rule Clause

Wi British rule tae end.

 

 

But God. That spirit ceased tae be,

An Scottishness tae shrive,

When the Prime Minister Atlee

Brocht Britishness alive.

Thus Scots Trade Unions lost the place

An Scottish Labour tae,

Ta sink as British withoot trace

As junior members dae.

 

 

But that Dear God, is no the worst.

That happened long ago,

When promising frae very first

The Lords wis shair tae go.

But aw throughoot  the Labour years

Tae keep Yes Men content,

The Carrot wis as Labour Peers

They’d tae the Lords be sent.

 

 

McConnell though he wisnae bright

As a kilty trendy,

Hud mebbie thocht he'd be a knight

Leavin us wi Wendy.

An worser still what's often seen

Oan oor T.V. daily.

There, fillin up the bluidy screen,

Wendy's Jackie Baillie.

 

It’s yin thing for tae brek the laws

An say ye didnae ken

Then pleadin guilty when that faws

An say ye’r sorry then.

An though Ah’m no an M.S.P.

Or an Alexander,

Ah’ve been as guilty as wis she

An could understand her.

 

 

So Lord; afore Ah pass away

An jine, up there, wi Ye;

Please bear wi me in what Ah say

Afore it’s time tae dee.

For Ah tell’t lees aboot the Ile

That duin aw Scotland in,

Will that be oan St. Peter’s file

An coontit as a sin.

 

 

In Seeventy we jined wi Steel

Tae help Jim Callaghan,

An then wi Torys in a deal

Tae Anglo/Scottish plan,

We fooled the Scots electorate

Oor ain supporters tae,

That S.N.P. wid over-rate

What Scottish Ile could dae.

 

 

An Labour’s Manifestos spell’t

A better time for aw.

An aw oor propaganda tell’t

Thae better times wid faw

When Labour wid Westminster gain

The nation’s treasure kist,

As we’d re-distribute again

Tae yins that wealth hud missed.

 

 

Fine words O Lord; an Ah believed

An meant it in a way.

But near tae Daith Ah am aggrieved

That’s what we didnae dae.

For we held oan tae Cooncil Tax

An  monies that it brings,

We kept the Tax for that’s the facs

Wi ither Tory things.

 

 

An Lord. That thing wi Scottish Ile

Ah jined wi British rest,

There’s some hae been rewarded while

Ah hae’nae  been so blessed.

For Lord. Ah’ve no received reward

An no been made a Peer;

Ah’ve no been touched wi royal sword

Up oan ma shooder here.

 

 

Ah help ma God. Ah hae nae clue

What mair Ah could hae duin,

Or ken what George an Helen knew

Promotionships tae win.

Ah wis as loyal as thae twae

Dae’in Pairty’s biddin,

An duin the things Ah hud tae dae

Tae keep that Union hidden

 

 

But God please dae what Ye hae duin

For ither Labour folk,

Whae’ve dee’d afore their time wis in

By grantin Saintly cloak.

Tae remedy the patronage

The deid yins never got.

Ah widnae think, this day and age

Ah’m askin sic a lot.

 

 

 

For aw Ah’m askin, Lord o Thee

In this ma last request,

An easy gift for Thee tae gie

Tae be Thine latest guest;

Where members whae pit Labour first

Will ayeweys seek tae be,

Tae slake their Peerage-seekin thirst

Iona is for me.

 

P. S. Dear Lord. It cam tae pass

That in Saint Andrew Square,

Ah saw a statue o Dundas

High in the Gairdens there.

Gin Ah dae as Ah've ayeweys duin

Dear Lord, Could Ah no be;

The First; Thine very Chosen Yin

Wi Column juist for me?

 

 

“Is glic nach meallar ach cha ghlic  amheallar tric.”

(Without deception wisdom, with deception folly)

 

These verses, hopefully, represent the last request, from his God, of an elderly, church attending, old-time Scottish Labour Party member who, saw in Blair the second coming.

Disillusioned by the Iraq lies, his hopes were transferred to the brilliant Gordon Brown, whose brilliance rapidly dulled upon exposure to reality.

A champion of trendy Wendy and her feet of clay, he cannot cease to be a Labour loyalist and still cannot understand why, of all those Members who put Party before Scotland  and were rewarded for so doing, he appears to have been rejected from British honours.

Waste not your pity upon this man in this hypothetical case. He can never change or feel he has done wrong.

Christie Herkes Grahame

 

 

GLENROTHES AN EFTER

Kenneth Fraser

 

 Reglar readers o this column wul min that A thocht it wad tak a meeracle fir the Pairty ti wun Glesca Aist. The same wes true o Glenrothes; it wes a sait we coudnae hae expeckit ti wun in ordnar times. Meeracles dinnae cum ane efter anither, as we nou ken.

  
Bit nanetheless we did win Glesca Aist; whit fir no Glenrothes? Weel, in Glesca, Lawbour made mistaks. In parteeclar, they tuik a chance on a short campaign, i the howp o catchin us unpreparit, syne went on ti wale a candidate wi a doutsome past; bi the time they haed drappit him, they haed tint ae week oot o the three. In Glesca, Lawbour maun hae thocht the election wes a dauner fir them; they wadnae dae that in Glenrothes.
 

   Forbye, i the fower months atween thae twa elections, the seetiation o the warld haed chyngit sairly fir the waur. Some years syne, a Lawbour politeecian said it wes the darg o his pairty ti spreid fear amang the Scottish people; it wesnae difficult ti dae that whan ilka paper an ilka braidcast wes daein sae. An the same papers an braidcasts war eidently pittan it aboot that Gordon Broun wad sauf the kintra frae this stramash! The slogan o Lawbour in Scotland haes aye been:

   “Always keep a hold of Nurse

    For fear of catching something worse”

bit, i this case, shairly it wes Nurse Broun herself that gat us inti this mishanter i the first place. Wes he no in charge o the economy aa throu whit he nou caas “the ten year o glaikitness”? Onywey, it’s owre suin ti tell whuther he haes saufit the kintra (frae the affcome o his ain misdeeds). Gin he haes, we’se aa pey a heich price fir his remeid, i the furm o an aye-swallin naitional debt. Ti juidge bi the muckle faa o the Pun, an the 1 ½% suddentlie taen aff the Baunk Rate, the mercats foresee dowie days ahead fir Britain.

   An whit soud we dae nou (apairt frae makan a leet o oor ain mistaks)? Weel, the Pairty haes dreed mony a sair dunt afore, bit gane on ti fecht, an win, anither day. Sae lat us pick oorsels up aff the flair, an get ready fir the time whan Gordon Broun’s glore dwines i the cauld licht o the recession. “Patience, an shiffle the cairds!”

Taghaidhean

 

 

Ìle NicEacharna

Bha mi a’ coimhead air QI not rudeigin mar sin seachdain no dhà air ais nuair a thuirt aoigh air a’ phànal san dol seachad gum bi sinn ag aithris naidheachd Aimeireaganach mar gur ann leinne a bha i. Bha mi air barrachd aithrisean bho thaobh thall A’ Chuain Shiar a mhothachadh, ach cha do smaoinich mi air gus an tuirt esan e.

Tha Taghadh Cinn-shuidhe Aimeireaganaich na phrìomh eisimpleir. Tro na ciad cheumannan bha an t-uamhas de phrògraman air a’ cheann-suidhe, na tagraichean, is mar sin air adhart. Tha mise den bheachd gun tug ar naidheachd nàiseanta seachad barrachd ùine do na tagraichean, an tionail, agus mar a bha na pàrtaidhean a’ dol a-mach air-a-chèile anns Na Stàitean Aonaichte na thug iad seachad air an fho-thagadh ann an Gleann Rathais. Tha mi na’ tuigsinn gu bheil Ceann-suidhe Nan Stàitean Aonaichte ann an suidheachadh fada nas cudtromaiche na Ball-Pàrlamaid Glinn Rathais ach chan eil guth aig muinntir na h-Alba air cò gheibh a-staigh air taobh thall A’ Chuain Shiar. Nuair a bha Taghadh a’ Chinn-shuidhe  a’ tighinn dlùth bha mi eòlach air a’ cheann-là, agus chaidh ceist a chur orm gu tric aig m’ obair mu mo bheachd air cò bhitheadh na h-ath cheann-suidhe. Ged a bha ùidh agam gu h-ìre, bha barrachd ùidh agam ann an Gleann Rathais. A dh’aindeoin sin fhuair mi a-mach mun cheann-suidhe ùr mus d’ fhuair mi a-mach mun BhP. Gu mi-fhortanach cha b’ e buadhachas Làborach a bha mi ag iarraidh a chluinntinn, ach air an làimh eile fhuair Pàrtaidh Nàiseanta na h-Alba àireamh na b’ àirde de bhòtaichean san sgìre-phàrlamaid sin na riamh roimhe. Tha rudan atharrachadh, ged nach eil e clis.

Gu follaiseach chan eil buaidh aig fo-thaghadh Glinn Rathais air sluagh na h-Alba ach anns an fharsaingeachd agus cha robh cothrom ach aig muinntir na sgìre-phàrlamaid sin a bhòtadh, ach chan eil buaidh dhìreach aig Taghadh Cinn-suidhe Aimeireaganaich air neach sam bith ann an Alba. Cha robh guth againn anns an toradh, agus cha bhi guth againn anns na poileasaidhean a nì Mgr Obama. Chan eil teagamh gum bi buaidh aig a pholasaidhean air rudan an seo, gu h-àraidh an credit crunch agus an cogadh ann an Iraq. Chan eil mi ag ràdh nach b’ e naidheachd a bh’ ann an Ceann-suidhe ùr – ach tha e inntinneach mar a bha e dèante. A bheil sinn airson a bhith nar stàit 51mh?

 

Elections

 

            I was watching QI or something similar the other week and one of the panellists made an off the cuff remark about how we report American news as if it’s our own. I had noticed an increase in the reporting of news from over the Atlantic but until he commented on it I hadn’t really thought about it.

 

The American Presidential Election is a prime example. During the run up we had loads of programmes covering the current president, the candidates, etc. I honestly think that the national news gave over more time to covering the candidates, their rallies and the inter party squabbling in the USA than they did for the Glenrothes by-election. I understand that the President of the United States is a more important position than the MP for Glenrothes but the people of Scotland have no say over who gets elected over the Atlantic. On the lead up I knew the date of the Presidential election and was asked a number of times at work who I thought would be the next president. While I was interested in a vague way about the outcome I was more concerned about the next MP for Glenrothes. Despite that I think I knew who the new president was before I knew who the new MP was. Unfortunately a Labour victory wasn’t the result I wanted to hear, but on the other hand the SNP got a higher number of votes in that constituency than ever before. Times are changing, albeit slowly.  

 

Obviously the Glenrothes by-election doesn’t directly affect the population of Scotland except in a general way and only the residents of that constituency could vote, but the US Presidential election directly affects no one in Scotland. We had no say in the result, and will have no say over any of the policies Mr Obama creates. Of course his policies may affect things here, like the credit crunch and the war in Iraq. I am not saying that the new President was not news – but it is interesting the way it was done. Do we really want to become the 51^st state?

 

Islay MacKechnie

 

 

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Can you circulate as widely as possible (and sign it of course) - lets get a massive number of signatures and protect the
Scottish Football Team

Comment by Craig Brown - Last year FIFA President Mr Blatter made clear that the consequence of Scots, Welsh and Irish participation would be an end to those respective national sides, and crucially the independent league set up in Scotland. So clearly that will have a potentially huge impact economically as well as seriously undermining football in Scotland as we know it.

http://epetitions.scottish.parliament.uk/view_petition.asp?PetitionID=297
 

Great Britain Football team Raised by: Craig Brown on 17 December 2008
Calling on the Scottish Parliament to urge the Scottish Government to consider what impact the creation of a Great Britain football team at the Olympics or other sporting event would have on the promotion and support it and other public bodies such as sportscotland provide for football as a means of encouraging healthy lifestyle as well as generating economic and social benefits.