tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-44228682082318197882010-04-08T09:04:00.098+01:00The Scotsmannoreply@blogger.comBlogger649125co/ZOMwhttp://feedburner.google.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4422868208231819788.post-16492660213267103242010-04-08T08:51:00.002+01:002010-04-08T09:04:00.116+01:00

Political reform was the theme of the day today as David Cameron and Gordon Brown responded to Nick Clegg's speech on the subject. This includes issues like cleaning up party funding, so that parties aren't beholden to any paymaster. The Labour Party is bankrolled to the tune of millions by the Trade Unions. As for the Tories,I find it bizarre that a political party in a modern democracy is

Caronhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04988201531739344840noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4422868208231819788.post-22842033850277581992010-04-07T15:36:00.002+01:002010-04-07T15:53:05.660+01:00

David Cameron and the Conservatives have been painfully aware of their lack of support north of the Border. In a radio interview recently Mr Cameron admitted his party would not win many seats, even though they are targeting 11.For this reason Mr Cameron and his party (at least in Scotland) have been keen to promote the so-called "respect agenda" should they win power in the UK without much of a

Administratorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07545328874873784965noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4422868208231819788.post-21625116808436811862010-04-06T12:30:00.001+01:002010-04-06T12:32:30.902+01:00

And they're off.Best start goes to David Cameron. He spoke before Brown this morning and chose an airy setting outside County Hall on the banks the Thames, symbolically on the other side of the river from Westminster, and all the sleaze therein. He spoke crisply and clearly about the need for change, although I thought his line about wanting to speak for the "The Great Ignored", sounded a little

Administratorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07545328874873784965noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4422868208231819788.post-72048133538533519112010-04-01T15:27:00.005+01:002010-04-01T15:57:25.193+01:00

Hands up who fell for an April Fool gag this morning.Aside from the humourous efforts in our national newspapers this morning (including The Scotsman - see if you can spot it, hoax fans) only one political party has come out to play on this, the day of japery and laughter. The Tories put out an April Fool press release, backed by a rather impressive looking spoof website (http://www.dogw.co.uk/)

Administratorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07545328874873784965noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4422868208231819788.post-79409702819323436302010-03-30T15:19:00.003+01:002010-03-30T15:36:05.346+01:00

They may well be seen as boring men in grey suits talking about dull economics but it seems that the Chancellors' debate last night drew amazingly high viewing figures.According to one of the Tory spindoctors 7 million people, more than one in ten people in the UK, tuned in to Channel Four to watch Messrs Darling, Osborne and Cable talk about the economy. The peak viewing according to figures

Administratorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07545328874873784965noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4422868208231819788.post-70824354649679346892010-03-30T13:51:00.007+01:002010-03-30T15:07:04.776+01:00

JUST finished watching Tony Blair. Even Tommy Sheridan has never managed to match the extraordinary orangeness of Blair's skin colour. I've never seen anything like it in my life.As to the content of his speech, it amounted to a Man of the World summation of the global crisis, and a full-on critique of the Conservative strategy. The Tories were, he said, caught between what they believed in and

Administratorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07545328874873784965noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4422868208231819788.post-74387591017297517922010-03-29T15:20:00.008+01:002010-03-30T14:27:08.572+01:00

As regular readers may know, The Steamie has at times tried to help you add a few pounds to your pockets by offering a tip on the political betting front with mixed success.Those of you who put money on Iain Gray to become Labour leader may appreciate The Steamie's advice, while those who went for Ann Widdicombe to be Speaker may not.But we've had some interesting odds regarding who will be the

Administratorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07545328874873784965noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4422868208231819788.post-72708992910515337032010-03-27T20:07:00.004Z2010-03-27T20:44:40.727Z

Blimey, Gordon Brown was in his element today. Addressing the Scottish Labour conference in Glasgow, he was back on home turf, he had pumped-up Scottish Labour activists in the audience, they had Tories in their sights. That's as good as it gets for Gordon.The speech he delivered was magnificently brass-necked. Just to remember the context, two days ago the Chancellor Alistair Darling

Administratorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07545328874873784965noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4422868208231819788.post-24573406703531963482010-03-26T11:06:00.003Z2010-03-26T12:00:18.988Z

I had coffee with Willie Bain (pictured right) recently down in the Commons, one of many I've tried to cram in with MPs before they are fully distracted by the need to persuade people to vote for them.While I met Mr Bain during the autumn campaign for Glasgow North East, it was difficult then to weigh him up, largely because Labour kept him so well protected and the only quality they highlighted

Administratorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07545328874873784965noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4422868208231819788.post-42573792273086640382010-03-26T09:34:00.004Z2010-03-26T11:05:30.974Z

Watching BBC's Question Time, broadcast from Glasgow last night, was to marvel once again at Alex Salmond's ability to have it both ways. The First Minister was (no disrespect to Chief Secretary fo the Treasury Liam Byrne) easily the most influential minister on the panel; he is, after all, the First Minister of Scotland. But he did not have to answer a single question about his policies and

Administratorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07545328874873784965noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4422868208231819788.post-86356525796178057892010-03-23T21:27:00.003Z2010-03-23T21:38:10.921Z

I've had a few e-mails about the continuing lobbygate saga particularly over the involvement of the former ministerial trio of Byers, Hoon and Hewitt.One e-mail asks about Justice Secretary Jack Straw's comments today describing the three as "stupid."Why, I was asked, has Mr Straw, who is supposed to be reasonably intelligent, not realise they were stupid when Geoff Hoon was responsible for the

Administratorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07545328874873784965noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4422868208231819788.post-15580755723796466942010-03-23T14:33:00.004Z2010-03-23T17:22:27.570Z

If there is one person in the government or British politics as a whole who has a reputation for being able to deal with the press it is Lord Mandelson.I went to a press conference today which underlined his reputation for having ruthless streak.The press conference was on a tedious but important announcement on a massive gas pipeline deal from Shetland along with Scottish Secretary Jim Murphy

Administratorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07545328874873784965noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4422868208231819788.post-32621284059773882222010-03-22T12:31:00.005Z2010-03-22T12:50:47.459Z

Just come back from the morning Downing Street briefing where the main topic of conversation was cash for access.This was not the huge sums Labour is demanding for a bus trip with Gordon Brown during the election, but, of course, the Stephen "taxi" Byers, Geoff Hoon et al controversy of asking money from companies to lobby on their behalf.Byers (pictured right) has apparently boasted that he

Administratorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07545328874873784965noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4422868208231819788.post-66152296696931103512010-03-18T20:49:00.001Z2010-03-18T21:18:36.220Z

Lobby journalists have just discovered the price of a bus ticket with Gordon Brown.One day on the election battle bus with the great leader is £595 while a full election season ticket is a snip at £12,995.That's certainly an interesting way of raising election funds.So when Mr Brown unveiled that rehashed election slogan "a future fair for all" maybe he just misspelt fare.

Administratorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07545328874873784965noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4422868208231819788.post-37420615457604481212010-03-18T16:48:00.004Z2010-03-18T17:17:10.339Z

With the election timetable to 6 May becoming more clear by the day, the image of relentless, brain eating zombies trying to get your vote might be one which may be one which begins to chime with the public, especially after all the TV debates have taken place.So already a free computer game has come out to capture that feeling. It looks like it might be a lot more addictive than the politicians

Administratorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07545328874873784965noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4422868208231819788.post-34591751804946899272010-03-18T14:30:00.003Z2010-03-18T14:40:25.971Z

Well that's it then, we almost know exactly when the election will be called.Harriet Harman announced in the parliamentary business statement that there will after all be an Easter recess in parliament much to the huge relief of MPs who had all but given up on a holiday.Having said that they will almost certainly be spending their break tramping up and down streets in the phony election war.MPs

Administratorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07545328874873784965noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4422868208231819788.post-69506874219714484792010-03-16T15:53:00.004Z2010-03-16T20:03:24.267Z

It may just be happy coincidence but Scotland is actually the perfect place in terms of ecclesiastical politics for Pope Benedict to meet the Queen.The reason for holding the visit in September seems to be more about the symbolic nature of turning up in Scotland on the feast day (the 16th) of the country's first saint, St Ninian, who brought Christianity to the heathen Picts.This of course falls

Administratorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07545328874873784965noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4422868208231819788.post-14819138802006439002010-03-16T14:07:00.004Z2010-03-16T16:23:39.338Z

An interesting insight into the likely style of the coming election campaign has emerged in the last couple of days. Viewers of the Ten O'Clock news last night may have seen David Cameron being getting a rough time of it during a visit to apprentices in Lewisham yesterday. One young bloke began heckling Cameron, before piping up a line that could have been dreamt up in Labour HQ, wanting to know

Administratorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07545328874873784965noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4422868208231819788.post-10943212506807949992010-03-14T19:21:00.006Z2010-03-17T11:37:57.751Z

Just seen the press release about Pamela Nash being selected as John Reid's replacement as the Labour candidate for Airdrie and Shotts.Her main qualification appears to be that she was Dr Reid's parliamentary researcher, although to be fair the 25-year-old does actually come from the constituency.She is the latest in a long line of candidates whose political and indeed life experience is based on

Administratorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07545328874873784965noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4422868208231819788.post-1932500251853189892010-03-14T14:39:00.003Z2010-03-14T19:57:57.956Z

The speech by Liberal Democrat leader Nick Clegg will be covered in tomorrow's Scotsman, but its message was pretty blunt and not exactly expected.He wants to have the chance to hold the balance of power so his pitch has got to be that only a hung parliament can deliver change if he does.But these lines are of particular interest:"I want to warn you about something that is coming in the next few

Administratorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07545328874873784965noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4422868208231819788.post-47994782211645193102010-03-11T11:55:00.004Z2010-03-11T12:42:11.318Z

Much has been written about the three Labour MPs, including Livingston MP Jim Devine, and the Tory Peer up in court this morning for alleged fraud.But, it is perhaps not surprising that this is not the first time this has happened.Of course before the 1832 Reform Act and the abolition of rotten boroughs fraud and corruption were part of the job description of an MP, but what is more surprising is

Administratorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07545328874873784965noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4422868208231819788.post-54493687452939791042010-03-10T21:43:00.004Z2010-03-10T23:58:21.388Z

Well if you haven't got Lords Ashcroft or Paul, a friendly union or, in the Lib Dems case, a criminal to fund your election campaign then you have to get down to some good old fashioned fundraising events.Take for example this invitation circulated around Westminster by two Labour candidates Kerry McCarthy (MP for Bristol East and Labour's Twitter tsar) and Lucy Powell (candidate for Manchester

Administratorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07545328874873784965noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4422868208231819788.post-5314530679986099172010-03-10T17:30:00.005Z2010-03-10T18:03:01.292Z

[This week's participants: Lesley Riddoch, Tiffany Jenkins and Peter McMahon]The fourth episode of The Scotsman's politics podcasts is now online.This week Lesley Riddoch is joined by Tiffany Jenkins and Peter McMahon to discuss the issues that have been making the news in Scotland this week.Play: Podcast Week 4 Click here to download the podcast » (right click and 'save as')Subscribe to the

The Scotsmannoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4422868208231819788.post-88194092687516667962010-03-09T14:04:00.003Z2010-03-09T14:21:56.035Z

Steven Purcell now having departed the scene, who is now going to be the public face of Glasgow's Commonwealth games? Step forward Deputy First Minister Nicola Sturgeon.The Health Secretary pops up in the papers this morning at the promo shot for the Games' new logo (it consists of some circles and a letter 'G', and cost £95,000. Well done!) Why, you might well ask, did the Health Secretary feel

Administratorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07545328874873784965noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4422868208231819788.post-65454689438255745662010-03-08T15:19:00.003Z2010-03-08T19:54:10.886Z

The chat in the Westminster bubble today centred on the mystery of what could be Labour's last budget for some time.The dates mooted have been next Wednesday (17 March) or the Wednesday afterwards.The first, as mentioned in a previous blog, would mean that we would probably have an 15 April general election, the second a 6 May election.But the reason for the gossip is that it is common practice

Administratorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07545328874873784965noreply@blogger.com0