First Minister is the Scottish Politician of the Year
First Minister Alex Salmond was last night named Scottish Politician of the Year in recognition of his work which led the SNP to its historic victory at the Scottish
Parliament elections in May.
The MSP for Gordon won the award ahead of his party
colleagues Nicola Sturgeon and John Swinney at a glittering awards ceremony which was organised by The Herald and held at Prestonfield House in Edinburgh. It was a double victory for the First Minister as earlier in the day he was named Parliamentarian of the Year at a ceremony in London organised by the Spectator magazine. Its judges said that it was "right to salute the man whose brilliant tactics in the Scottish Parliament laid the foundations for an extraordinary victory".
In Edinburgh, actors, writers and broadcasters presented the awards at the annual event, which was hosted by Michael Crow, the political editor of STV.
Gordon Brown was named the Best Scot at Westminster after a year in which he succeeded Tony Blair as Prime Minister.
The inaugural International Scot Award was given to
entrepreneur Sir Tom Hunter, who has used his fortune to establish The Hunter Foundation, which helps fund education projects for youngsters in the developing world. The National Theatre of Scotland's Black Watch production and The Tartan Army were runners-up.
Independent MSP Margo MacDonald was awarded the Lifetime Achievement Award for her work during a political career which has spanned 40 years. Last night Ms MacDonald, who first stood as an independent
candidate in the 2003 elections, said she was "embarrassed" to have won the accolade.
The Farepak savers' campaign, which supported thousands of savers who lost an estimated £40m with the collapse of the Christmas hamper scheme,
was recognised as the Public Campaign of the Year.
The Haemophilia Forum and ICL Plastics/Stockline Family Support Group were named runners-up.
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permission is prohibited.
Posted by: Displaced Glaswegian, Lanarkshire on 12:06am Fri 16 Nov 07
C'mon Addison deWitt, where are you? The blogs have been getting far too serious recently, and a bit nasty. Dreadful creatures like Blockem, Rab Jones frae Pollok and others. Giftie, Widsum and Dorothy have provided a mix of incisive comment, slapped a few wrists, ( they needed slapping), and seem to heading for some sort of offline relationship.
C'mon Addie, come back to us!
We miss you Addie, let us have your thoughts on the best of the news and views.
[bold]PLEASE?[/bold]
C'mon Addison deWitt, where are you? The blogs have been getting far too serious recently, and a bit nasty. Dreadful creatures like Blockem, Rab Jones frae Pollok and others. Giftie, Widsum and Dorothy have provided a mix of incisive comment, slapped a few wrists, ( they needed slapping), and seem to heading for some sort of offline relationship.
C'mon Addie, come back to us!
We miss you Addie, let us have your thoughts on the best of the news and views.
PLEASE? Posted by: MsJ, Glasgow on 12:31am Fri 16 Nov 07
Rumour has it that Wendy has been on the phone to the Herald for three hours now demanding to know why she didn't get the Best Politician of the Year Award when she had been promised it. She is now claiming that the Herald has broken promises and that they are in fact just like the SNP! Well done Alex, you deserve it!
Rumour has it that Wendy has been on the phone to the Herald for three hours now demanding to know why she didn't get the Best Politician of the Year Award when she had been promised it. She is now claiming that the Herald has broken promises and that they are in fact just like the SNP! Well done Alex, you deserve it!
Posted by: Arnold Codger on 12:44am Fri 16 Nov 07
[bold]Weel done Alex Salmond![/bold]
Posted by: David, Away on 2:07am Fri 16 Nov 07
This is infamous! The Herald is obviously a Nationalist 5th column! (and is hedging its lucrative living in case 2017 actually realizes certain visions...)
Wendy Alexander is so much prettier (and has already added such wonderful new language as "you remind me of that Hungry Caterpiller" which will probably be used for centuries as a Scots insult).....
Wendy for Queen!
This is infamous! The Herald is obviously a Nationalist 5th column! (and is hedging its lucrative living in case 2017 actually realizes certain visions...)
Wendy Alexander is so much prettier (and has already added such wonderful new language as "you remind me of that Hungry Caterpiller" which will probably be used for centuries as a Scots insult).....
Wendy for Queen!
Posted by: John on 2:10am Fri 16 Nov 07
Who else could have won it? Certainly none of the political pygmies from the other Parties.
Who else could have won it? Certainly none of the political pygmies from the other Parties.
Posted by: Scottish Politics, Scotland on 2:12am Fri 16 Nov 07
I bet wee Maggie Broon spat the dummy when he saw Alex Salmond winning Scottish Politician of the Year. Can someone tell me, was the PM there to collect his award in person or did he suddenly have other "pressing engagements" to attend to.
Well done Alex Salmond, more of the same please. Come the referendum, the Scottish people will make the right decision. There is only one party in Scotland standing up for the Scottish people and that is the SNP. The more we see of the SNP in government, the more the last lot are shown up for frauds and charlatans.
I bet wee Maggie Broon spat the dummy when he saw Alex Salmond winning Scottish Politician of the Year. Can someone tell me, was the PM there to collect his award in person or did he suddenly have other "pressing engagements" to attend to.
Well done Alex Salmond, more of the same please. Come the referendum, the Scottish people will make the right decision. There is only one party in Scotland standing up for the Scottish people and that is the SNP. The more we see of the SNP in government, the more the last lot are shown up for frauds and charlatans.
Posted by: suzy, Edinburgh on 2:58am Fri 16 Nov 07
we won campaing of the year yayyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy
yyyyyyyy it was brill
we won campaing of the year yayyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy
yyyyyyyy it was brill
Posted by: Alibi on 9:00am Fri 16 Nov 07
Wendy - the very hungry Patter Killer...
Wendy - the very hungry Patter Killer...
Posted by: steve 4349, larbet on 9:23am Fri 16 Nov 07
wendy recieved the best impersonation of zippy from rainbow award
wendy recieved the best impersonation of zippy from rainbow award
Posted by: AYSFYS, Glasgow on 9:32am Fri 16 Nov 07
Sad that a campaign for lost Christmas hampers merit higher praise than those for lost lives
Sad that a campaign for lost Christmas hampers merit higher praise than those for lost lives
Posted by: Gareth Young, England on 9:47am Fri 16 Nov 07
Good on Alex Salmond.
He should be knighted http://petitions.pm.
gov.uk/AriseSirAlex/
Good on Alex Salmond.
He should be knighted http://petitions.pm.
gov.uk/AriseSirAlex/
Posted by: McNasty, Edinburgh on 9:58am Fri 16 Nov 07
Vee Vendy Alexthander thould have von it.
Vee Vendy Alexthander thould have von it.
Posted by: Sonnaidh on 10:05am Fri 16 Nov 07
Well done Der Eckmeister.
Well done Der Eckmeister.
Posted by: shamista, Lanarkshire on 11:03am Fri 16 Nov 07
Alex Salmond knighted? Get real folks. The only thing the Queen should do with that sword is cut his head off. He got the SNP into power (can you call a minority govt real power?) on the back of scare stories and false promises. A bit like Tony Blair, they won't last the full term.
Alex Salmond knighted? Get real folks. The only thing the Queen should do with that sword is cut his head off. He got the SNP into power (can you call a minority govt real power?) on the back of scare stories and false promises. A bit like Tony Blair, they won't last the full term.
Posted by: Dorothy on 11:04am Fri 16 Nov 07
I feel tremendous sadness that The ICL/Stockline Families group did not win the campaign of the year.
AS a founder member of campaign group Families Against Corporate Killers,(runners up last year) the families have been fighting to get justice for all those killed by seriously negligent employers, Scotland having the highest death rate in the UK and lowest prosecution rate, the Stockline group have brought this ongoing slaughter and injustice to public attention in an attempt to get the politicians at Holyrood to stand up to Westminster who have sold out Scottish lives to big business.
I think it clearly shows our priorities when a group who campaigned for refund of money for Christmas hampers is thought of as more fitting of an award.
Shame on you Scotland!!!
Gordon Brown is one of the biggest objectors to employers being held fully accountable if their negligence causes death, he wants less Health and Safety regulation and is cutting back on HSE stafff and budget.He wins Scot of the year at Westminster? PLEASE!!!
WE will join with the ICL/Stockline group and carry on fighting for tougher laws to stop the killing of your relatives even though it is too late for ours.
ICL/Stockline families-You are winners in my book .Well done
I feel tremendous sadness that The ICL/Stockline Families group did not win the campaign of the year.
AS a founder member of campaign group Families Against Corporate Killers,(runners up last year) the families have been fighting to get justice for all those killed by seriously negligent employers, Scotland having the highest death rate in the UK and lowest prosecution rate, the Stockline group have brought this ongoing slaughter and injustice to public attention in an attempt to get the politicians at Holyrood to stand up to Westminster who have sold out Scottish lives to big business.
I think it clearly shows our priorities when a group who campaigned for refund of money for Christmas hampers is thought of as more fitting of an award.
Shame on you Scotland!!!
Gordon Brown is one of the biggest objectors to employers being held fully accountable if their negligence causes death, he wants less Health and Safety regulation and is cutting back on HSE stafff and budget.He wins Scot of the year at Westminster? PLEASE!!!
WE will join with the ICL/Stockline group and carry on fighting for tougher laws to stop the killing of your relatives even though it is too late for ours.
ICL/Stockline families-You are winners in my book .Well done
Posted by: James, basking in Sir Eck's reflected Glory on 11:06am Fri 16 Nov 07
A Poster Pleads
"C'mon Addie, come back to us!"
And I should like to Add
My Heartfelt Agreement!
Though only a Humble Scribbler (sadly derided by the King Hobbit)
I try my best
To approach the Parnassan Heights of Prof. Twitt's
Witt
But It's Not Enough - I know, oh I know......
But Never Mind!!!
Sir Smirck's Visage, shines and Glows this Happy Morn
From the pages of every Newsheet
From Ecclefechan tae BettyHill
And We are Glad!
For he is Our Saviour and we Worship and Adore Him!
Ring out Ye Bells!
Oh Yes!!!!
A Poster Pleads
"C'mon Addie, come back to us!"
And I should like to Add
My Heartfelt Agreement!
Though only a Humble Scribbler (sadly derided by the King Hobbit)
I try my best
To approach the Parnassan Heights of Prof. Twitt's
Witt
But It's Not Enough - I know, oh I know......
But Never Mind!!!
Sir Smirck's Visage, shines and Glows this Happy Morn
From the pages of every Newsheet
From Ecclefechan tae BettyHill
And We are Glad!
For he is Our Saviour and we Worship and Adore Him!
Ring out Ye Bells!
Oh Yes!!!!
Posted by: Alex Porter, Madrid on 11:10am Fri 16 Nov 07
They had no choice but to give Salmond the top prize. It must have stuck in Das Herald Sturmer's craw though, eh?
How are you today Alf?
They had no choice but to give Salmond the top prize. It must have stuck in Das Herald Sturmer's craw though, eh?
How are you today Alf?
Posted by: Anne on 11:27am Fri 16 Nov 07
Excellent news and a well deserved award for Alex Salmond.
I must admit that reading this newspaper since May and its coverage of stories involving the SNP, it is the very last thing I would have expected to happen. It always seems that there is no love lost between the Herald Editor/journalists and the SNP .
Hopefully they will be given fair coverage in the future, I think your readers would appreciate it and the Herald would stand out for its quality and fairness when compared to other newspapers in Scotland.
Excellent news and a well deserved award for Alex Salmond.
I must admit that reading this newspaper since May and its coverage of stories involving the SNP, it is the very last thing I would have expected to happen. It always seems that there is no love lost between the Herald Editor/journalists and the SNP .
Hopefully they will be given fair coverage in the future, I think your readers would appreciate it and the Herald would stand out for its quality and fairness when compared to other newspapers in Scotland.
Posted by: Casandra, G lasgow on 11:51am Fri 16 Nov 07
How standards have been abandoned - Donald Dewar to Alex Salmond in eight short years !!!
How standards have been abandoned - Donald Dewar to Alex Salmond in eight short years !!!
Posted by: The West Awake, Argyll on 12:18pm Fri 16 Nov 07
Casandra - That would be the Dewar who;
was the chief "architect" of the Holyrood debacle - insisting on Holyrood in opposition to Calton Hill because Calton Hill was a "Nationalist Shibboleth".?
Dewar who headed Labour when the McCrone report was deliberately withheld from us and a downright pack of lies told to us instead?
Dewar who was the head of the "fighting 50" who did zero in the 80s while Thatcher ravaged Scotland?
Don't give us Saint Donald Dewar, he was as much an opportunistic, lying today as his successors.
Dewar couldn't lace Salmonds boots.
Casandra - That would be the Dewar who;
was the chief "architect" of the Holyrood debacle - insisting on Holyrood in opposition to Calton Hill because Calton Hill was a "Nationalist Shibboleth".?
Dewar who headed Labour when the McCrone report was deliberately withheld from us and a downright pack of lies told to us instead?
Dewar who was the head of the "fighting 50" who did zero in the 80s while Thatcher ravaged Scotland?
Don't give us Saint Donald Dewar, he was as much an opportunistic, lying today as his successors.
Dewar couldn't lace Salmonds boots.
Posted by: bob mckay, glasgow on 12:27pm Fri 16 Nov 07
Dewar to Salmond in 8 years. Two men who had pride and scotlands interests at heart, both seeing different ways of getting to a healthy prosperous country; folk like west awake remind me why the majority of scots havent wanted full independance for over 300 years- our worst enemies as ever throughout our history are oor ain folk. Shame on you west awake.
Dewar to Salmond in 8 years. Two men who had pride and scotlands interests at heart, both seeing different ways of getting to a healthy prosperous country; folk like west awake remind me why the majority of scots havent wanted full independance for over 300 years- our worst enemies as ever throughout our history are oor ain folk. Shame on you west awake.
Posted by: Somerled, SouthWest on 12:36pm Fri 16 Nov 07
Every time I see and hear Alex Salmond I remember him saying a few years ago that he did not want to be leader of the SNP. He said that if he was nominated he would not accept it and if he was elected to the post of leader he would resign. What happened there ?
Every time I see and hear Alex Salmond I remember him saying a few years ago that he did not want to be leader of the SNP. He said that if he was nominated he would not accept it and if he was elected to the post of leader he would resign. What happened there ?
Posted by: McMillar, Fife on 12:39pm Fri 16 Nov 07
Fair play - credit where it's due. He is a class above the competition and has the sense to protray a credible vision for Scotland.
Fair play - credit where it's due. He is a class above the competition and has the sense to protray a credible vision for Scotland.
Posted by: Sidney Carter on 12:40pm Fri 16 Nov 07
The West Awake (from what - a drunken stupor?) thinks that the Parliament should have been at Calton Hill. Nobody but a nationalist clot would think that was ever a suitable place for a national parliament. A tiny site with heavily listed buildings totally unsuited to a modern parliament. The assembly hall (aka 'the chamber') has a tiny gallery that wouldn't even be large enough to hold the press never mind the public but the building's Grade A listed so you couldn't change it significantly The school is built in a hollow cut out of the solid rock of the hill. You'd have to quarry half the rest of Calton Hill to create suitable space for all the ancillary buildings.
Donald Dewar was a man of huge integrity and vision without which you wouldn't have a Scottish Parliament, and we wouldn't be having to endure the likes of Salmond and The West Awake with their puerile parochialism.
The West Awake (from what - a drunken stupor?) thinks that the Parliament should have been at Calton Hill. Nobody but a nationalist clot would think that was ever a suitable place for a national parliament. A tiny site with heavily listed buildings totally unsuited to a modern parliament. The assembly hall (aka 'the chamber') has a tiny gallery that wouldn't even be large enough to hold the press never mind the public but the building's Grade A listed so you couldn't change it significantly The school is built in a hollow cut out of the solid rock of the hill. You'd have to quarry half the rest of Calton Hill to create suitable space for all the ancillary buildings.
Donald Dewar was a man of huge integrity and vision without which you wouldn't have a Scottish Parliament, and we wouldn't be having to endure the likes of Salmond and The West Awake with their puerile parochialism.
Posted by: Alastair, Aberdeen on 1:01pm Fri 16 Nov 07
Sidney
As you well know, the real reason Donald Dewar didn't want Calton Hill was because it could become as West Awake points out, a "nationalist shiboleth". Now how petty and vindictive is that? We have had it with Labour - wanting a Scottish parliament on [italic]Labour[/italic] 's terms so that [italic]London Labour[/italic] can continue in their perceived divine right to rule their personal fiefdom. That's what it was all about. That and contracting out to chums like Kirsty Wark's husband etc at grossly inflated costs.
Sidney
As you well know, the real reason Donald Dewar didn't want Calton Hill was because it could become as West Awake points out, a "nationalist shiboleth". Now how petty and vindictive is that? We have had it with Labour - wanting a Scottish parliament on
Labour 's terms so that
London Labour can continue in their perceived divine right to rule their personal fiefdom. That's what it was all about. That and contracting out to chums like Kirsty Wark's husband etc at grossly inflated costs.
Posted by: Alastair, Aberdeen on 1:07pm Fri 16 Nov 07
Sidney,
In fact, the only thing to beat it in terms of vindictiveness is Gordon Brown cutting Scotland's block grant because we had the temerity to vote for an SNP government. Note Government, not pishy Executive like the previous lot were prepared to settle for.
Sidney,
In fact, the only thing to beat it in terms of vindictiveness is Gordon Brown cutting Scotland's block grant because we had the temerity to vote for an SNP government. Note Government, not pishy Executive like the previous lot were prepared to settle for.
Posted by: Sidney Carter on 1:08pm Fri 16 Nov 07
Well, if it was a 'Nationalist Shibboleth', that's because said Nationalists are stupid enough to think they could have a modern parliament in a totally unsuitable building on a totally unsuitable site. Who cares if it was a 'Nationalist Shibboleth' anyway? Dewar was right. Dewar was a man of some intelligence, not a pathetic parochial nationalist. 'Petty and vindictive' is what people decrying his achievement in giving Scotland a modern parliament are.
Well, if it was a 'Nationalist Shibboleth', that's because said Nationalists are stupid enough to think they could have a modern parliament in a totally unsuitable building on a totally unsuitable site. Who cares if it was a 'Nationalist Shibboleth' anyway? Dewar was right. Dewar was a man of some intelligence, not a pathetic parochial nationalist. 'Petty and vindictive' is what people decrying his achievement in giving Scotland a modern parliament are.
Posted by: Youknow hee haw on 1:15pm Fri 16 Nov 07
"pathetic parochial nationalist" cries North Briton and BRITISH NATIONALIST Sidney AM Eckwatch Carter.
Yep we're listening SId and of course you're right, now all together "Land of Ho-ope annd Glory......."
"pathetic parochial nationalist" cries North Briton and BRITISH NATIONALIST Sidney AM Eckwatch Carter.
Yep we're listening SId and of course you're right, now all together "Land of Ho-ope annd Glory......."
Posted by: Kyle, Glasgow on 1:16pm Fri 16 Nov 07
[quote][bold]Sidney Carter[/bold] wrote:
The West Awake (from what - a drunken stupor?) thinks that the Parliament should have been at Calton Hill. Nobody but a nationalist clot would think that was ever a suitable place for a national parliament. A tiny site with heavily listed buildings totally unsuited to a modern parliament. The assembly hall (aka 'the chamber') has a tiny gallery that wouldn't even be large enough to hold the press never mind the public but the building's Grade A listed so you couldn't change it significantly The school is built in a hollow cut out of the solid rock of the hill. You'd have to quarry half the rest of Calton Hill to create suitable space for all the ancillary buildings.
Donald Dewar was a man of huge integrity and vision without which you wouldn't have a Scottish Parliament, and we wouldn't be having to endure the likes of Salmond and The West Awake with their puerile parochialism.[/quote] This is just revisionism on your part. Converting Calton Hill would have cost £40 million. Because he viewed it as a "Nationalist Shibboleth" Dewar helped to force through the Hollyrood project instead, claiming that it would cost £40 million too. The final cost was over £430 million.
You may well have thought highly of him, but West Awake's criticisms are entirely accurate.
For Dewar to come out with lines such as "an Independent Scotland would be as poor as Bangladesh" when he knew the contents of the McCrone report is unforgivable in my book.
But then, objecting to someone selling his own country down the river is probably just "puerile parochialism" on my part..
Sidney Carter wrote:
The West Awake (from what - a drunken stupor?) thinks that the Parliament should have been at Calton Hill. Nobody but a nationalist clot would think that was ever a suitable place for a national parliament. A tiny site with heavily listed buildings totally unsuited to a modern parliament. The assembly hall (aka 'the chamber') has a tiny gallery that wouldn't even be large enough to hold the press never mind the public but the building's Grade A listed so you couldn't change it significantly The school is built in a hollow cut out of the solid rock of the hill. You'd have to quarry half the rest of Calton Hill to create suitable space for all the ancillary buildings.
Donald Dewar was a man of huge integrity and vision without which you wouldn't have a Scottish Parliament, and we wouldn't be having to endure the likes of Salmond and The West Awake with their puerile parochialism.
This is just revisionism on your part. Converting Calton Hill would have cost £40 million. Because he viewed it as a "Nationalist Shibboleth" Dewar helped to force through the Hollyrood project instead, claiming that it would cost £40 million too. The final cost was over £430 million.
You may well have thought highly of him, but West Awake's criticisms are entirely accurate.
For Dewar to come out with lines such as "an Independent Scotland would be as poor as Bangladesh" when he knew the contents of the McCrone report is unforgivable in my book.
But then, objecting to someone selling his own country down the river is probably just "puerile parochialism" on my part..
Posted by: Deasún, Glasgow on 1:47pm Fri 16 Nov 07
shamista - Still spitting the dummy out. Aw the same...
shamista - Still spitting the dummy out. Aw the same...
Posted by: Zillionaire, Melbourne on 1:52pm Fri 16 Nov 07
Good on ya AS - mind you there was no competition.
Good on ya AS - mind you there was no competition.
Posted by: Sidney Carter on 2:02pm Fri 16 Nov 07
It doesn't matter whether converting the Royal High School would have been cheaper than Holyrood. It was and is totally unsuitable! How often does that have to be spelled out? Have you ever been in the school? I repeat - only daft nationalists thought such an unsuitable place could have housed a modern parliament. Dewar understood that, even if you don't.
It doesn't matter whether converting the Royal High School would have been cheaper than Holyrood. It was and is totally unsuitable! How often does that have to be spelled out? Have you ever been in the school? I repeat - only daft nationalists thought such an unsuitable place could have housed a modern parliament. Dewar understood that, even if you don't.
Posted by: The West Awake, Argyll on 2:02pm Fri 16 Nov 07
Bob McKay - You are right, our worst enemies have been ourselves, and no better example than Dewar, who was willing to sell his nation short on the alter of the Union.
Do you remember Scotlands answer to the Thatcher threat? When the rest of the UK went right, we went left and entrusted our country's fate with Labour - we gave them 50 MPs out of 72 to do it with.
Thatcher came, Thatcher saw and Thatcher laid waste.
They behaved so appalingly to Scotland that David Cameron recently "apologised" to Scotland for it!
All the while what did the "fighting 50" do?
What indeed - precisely NOTHING. Because to be able to do anything effective Dewar would have had to threaten to rock the Union boat - no chance of that from good old Labour - rather see us get raped.
I see the statue on Buchanan street and think "was anything so ill-deserved?"
Sid - If Calton Hill is so unsuitable a venue, why is the Scotland Office sitting rotting there now with nothing to do?
And as for Saint Donald "giving" us a Parliament, do you think for 1 minute Labour would have given us the "Parish Council" - (Blairs description) if they didn't feel they had to - "kill Nationalism" - (George Robertsons words in describing the Parliament).
If you want to thank anyone for our present Parliament, my suggestion would be one of the guys who camped outside Calton Hill for a year, demanding one.
I stand by every word I have said.
Bob McKay - You are right, our worst enemies have been ourselves, and no better example than Dewar, who was willing to sell his nation short on the alter of the Union.
Do you remember Scotlands answer to the Thatcher threat? When the rest of the UK went right, we went left and entrusted our country's fate with Labour - we gave them 50 MPs out of 72 to do it with.
Thatcher came, Thatcher saw and Thatcher laid waste.
They behaved so appalingly to Scotland that David Cameron recently "apologised" to Scotland for it!
All the while what did the "fighting 50" do?
What indeed - precisely NOTHING. Because to be able to do anything effective Dewar would have had to threaten to rock the Union boat - no chance of that from good old Labour - rather see us get raped.
I see the statue on Buchanan street and think "was anything so ill-deserved?"
Sid - If Calton Hill is so unsuitable a venue, why is the Scotland Office sitting rotting there now with nothing to do?
And as for Saint Donald "giving" us a Parliament, do you think for 1 minute Labour would have given us the "Parish Council" - (Blairs description) if they didn't feel they had to - "kill Nationalism" - (George Robertsons words in describing the Parliament).
If you want to thank anyone for our present Parliament, my suggestion would be one of the guys who camped outside Calton Hill for a year, demanding one.
I stand by every word I have said.
Posted by: Kinghob on 2:32pm Fri 16 Nov 07
[quote]Every time I see and hear Alex Salmond I remember him saying a few years ago that he did not want to be leader of the SNP. He said that if he was nominated he would not accept it and if he was elected to the post of leader he would resign. What happened there ?[/quote]
He was messing with your tiny brain perhaps?
Every time I see and hear Alex Salmond I remember him saying a few years ago that he did not want to be leader of the SNP. He said that if he was nominated he would not accept it and if he was elected to the post of leader he would resign. What happened there ?
He was messing with your tiny brain perhaps?
Posted by: Palidrome, Scotland on 2:43pm Fri 16 Nov 07
It was not Alex Salmond's strategy that led the SNP to win the election in May and I have the evidence to prove that.
Alex Salmond is a plagiarist and The Herald has just confirmed that!
It was not Alex Salmond's strategy that led the SNP to win the election in May and I have the evidence to prove that.
Alex Salmond is a plagiarist and The Herald has just confirmed that!
Posted by: Mr. Lachie Todd, Edinburgh on 2:44pm Fri 16 Nov 07
It does not say much for the leaders of the indigenous Unionist political parties although The Spectator, the quintessential English political journal, obviously knows a tour de force when it sees one!
It does not say much for the leaders of the indigenous Unionist political parties although The Spectator, the quintessential English political journal, obviously knows a tour de force when it sees one!
Posted by: Kyle, Glasgow on 2:45pm Fri 16 Nov 07
[quote][bold]Sidney Carter[/bold] wrote:
It doesn't matter whether converting the Royal High School would have been cheaper than Holyrood. It was and is totally unsuitable! How often does that have to be spelled out? Have you ever been in the school? I repeat - only daft nationalists thought such an unsuitable place could have housed a modern parliament. Dewar understood that, even if you don't.
[/quote] You're clutching at straws. Dewar didn't choose Holyrood because he thought it was unsuitable. His reasoning, as he gave it at the time, was that choosing Calton Hill was a bad option because it would involve "compromise", when they could have a brand new building for the same money with no "compromise".
We now know this was nonsense: the wrong decision was taken in order to avoid the creation of a "Nationalist Shibboleth"
Your "they wouldn't have been able to change anything at the High School, it was A listed!" argument is risible: this is is a nation's parliament we're talking about here: what needed to be done could have been done. Unfortunately, Dewar and his cronies embarked on a much more expensive and foolish route.
Sidney Carter wrote:
It doesn't matter whether converting the Royal High School would have been cheaper than Holyrood. It was and is totally unsuitable! How often does that have to be spelled out? Have you ever been in the school? I repeat - only daft nationalists thought such an unsuitable place could have housed a modern parliament. Dewar understood that, even if you don't.
You're clutching at straws. Dewar didn't choose Holyrood because he thought it was unsuitable. His reasoning, as he gave it at the time, was that choosing Calton Hill was a bad option because it would involve "compromise", when they could have a brand new building for the same money with no "compromise".
We now know this was nonsense: the wrong decision was taken in order to avoid the creation of a "Nationalist Shibboleth"
Your "they wouldn't have been able to change anything at the High School, it was A listed!" argument is risible: this is is a nation's parliament we're talking about here: what needed to be done could have been done. Unfortunately, Dewar and his cronies embarked on a much more expensive and foolish route.
Posted by: Cuthulan, approx 12000 miles from Earth centre on 3:17pm Fri 16 Nov 07
The West Awake said
"If you want to thank anyone for our present Parliament, my suggestion would be one of the guys who camped outside Calton Hill for a year, demanding one." WELL SAID AND TOO TRUE .I would like to thank them personally and to thank everyone who stopped to sign the petition .
Donald Dewar was not a bad man ,I believe he ment good for Scotland ,but he had his masters and he loyally obeyed them. Labour looks after Labour ,NOT Scotland.
The West Awake said
"If you want to thank anyone for our present Parliament, my suggestion would be one of the guys who camped outside Calton Hill for a year, demanding one." WELL SAID AND TOO TRUE .I would like to thank them personally and to thank everyone who stopped to sign the petition .
Donald Dewar was not a bad man ,I believe he ment good for Scotland ,but he had his masters and he loyally obeyed them. Labour looks after Labour ,NOT Scotland.
Posted by: Sidney Carter on 3:30pm Fri 16 Nov 07
The West Awake said: "If Calton Hill is so unsuitable a venue, why is the Scotland Office sitting rotting there now with nothing to do?"
Kyle said: "Your "they wouldn't have been able to change anything at the High School, it was A listed!" argument is risible: this is is a nation's parliament we're talking about here: what needed to be done could have been done."
And both of them display their utter ignorance. Have you ever been to Edinburgh "The West Awake"? 'The Scotland Office', by which I suppose you mean St Andrews House, is the office building opposite Calton Hill and it houses civil service departments of the Scottish Government. The proposed parliament building was the old Royal High School, which you clearly haven't been in because if you had you would know how utterly useless it would have been as a parliament, with a chamber probably no more than about one third the size of the Holyrood one.
Kyle can't have been there either. It is far too small, the wrong shape - and as one of Scotland's finest late Georgian buildings, completely unalterable short of the worst kind of cultural vandalism. Thank god Dewar was around to put a stop to the sort of numpty nationalist rubbish that people like you espouse.
The West Awake said: "If Calton Hill is so unsuitable a venue, why is the Scotland Office sitting rotting there now with nothing to do?"
Kyle said: "Your "they wouldn't have been able to change anything at the High School, it was A listed!" argument is risible: this is is a nation's parliament we're talking about here: what needed to be done could have been done."
And both of them display their utter ignorance. Have you ever been to Edinburgh "The West Awake"? 'The Scotland Office', by which I suppose you mean St Andrews House, is the office building opposite Calton Hill and it houses civil service departments of the Scottish Government. The proposed parliament building was the old Royal High School, which you clearly haven't been in because if you had you would know how utterly useless it would have been as a parliament, with a chamber probably no more than about one third the size of the Holyrood one.
Kyle can't have been there either. It is far too small, the wrong shape - and as one of Scotland's finest late Georgian buildings, completely unalterable short of the worst kind of cultural vandalism. Thank god Dewar was around to put a stop to the sort of numpty nationalist rubbish that people like you espouse.
Posted by: The West Awake, Argyll on 3:51pm Fri 16 Nov 07
Sid - I know Edinburgh very well indeed and in fact lived not too far from Calton Hill for many years.
Calton Hill was not just my choice but the SNPs, I echo the commenters points above in that a capable government (that lets Labour out by the way) make things happen. I mentioned St Andrews House to note that Calton Hill is a site, not just the Royal High.
Anyway who cares, the deadheads have lumbered us with that crazy pile of concrete slabs down the hill and we'll have to live with it.
Bye for this week
Sid - I know Edinburgh very well indeed and in fact lived not too far from Calton Hill for many years.
Calton Hill was not just my choice but the SNPs, I echo the commenters points above in that a capable government (that lets Labour out by the way) make things happen. I mentioned St Andrews House to note that Calton Hill is a site, not just the Royal High.
Anyway who cares, the deadheads have lumbered us with that crazy pile of concrete slabs down the hill and we'll have to live with it.
Bye for this week
Posted by: Kyle, Glasgow on 4:08pm Fri 16 Nov 07
[quote]Thank god Dewar was around to put a stop to the sort of numpty nationalist rubbish that people like you espouse.[/quote]
Very good, I see we're onto "people like you" generalisations now.
Yes, thank god Dewar was around the ensure that a newly elected Scottish parliament wasn't able to make the decision about where the parliament building was to be (in case the Labour party didn't like what they decided), and was able to ensure that it cost £430 million instead of £40 million (sterling work). It was all worthwhile because the Labour party got what it wanted: no "Nationalist Shibboleth". We should all be delighted.
As the West Awake says, we are now stuck with the current building, and have to get on with it, but to hail Dewar as some kind of visionary, as you do, on the back of this whole debacle is ridiculous.
Thank god Dewar was around to put a stop to the sort of numpty nationalist rubbish that people like you espouse.
Very good, I see we're onto "people like you" generalisations now.
Yes, thank god Dewar was around the ensure that a newly elected Scottish parliament wasn't able to make the decision about where the parliament building was to be (in case the Labour party didn't like what they decided), and was able to ensure that it cost £430 million instead of £40 million (sterling work). It was all worthwhile because the Labour party got what it wanted: no "Nationalist Shibboleth". We should all be delighted.
As the West Awake says, we are now stuck with the current building, and have to get on with it, but to hail Dewar as some kind of visionary, as you do, on the back of this whole debacle is ridiculous.
Posted by: Alex Porter, Madrid on 5:08pm Fri 16 Nov 07
There were obviously a good number of people involved in the election strategy that brought victory for the SNP. However it was Salmond's leadership that brought these to the table and then instituted these strategies.
To win the next election Neu Leiber has helped out by installing Wendy as their parish cooncil heid bumer. After her brother helped with the last election it seems Scotland may well be indebted to the A siblings.
Perhaps there is a 3rd who can help us in the indpendence referendum. One we haven't seen yet that is kept in the basement. Perhaps because it's too normal?
There were obviously a good number of people involved in the election strategy that brought victory for the SNP. However it was Salmond's leadership that brought these to the table and then instituted these strategies.
To win the next election Neu Leiber has helped out by installing Wendy as their parish cooncil heid bumer. After her brother helped with the last election it seems Scotland may well be indebted to the A siblings.
Perhaps there is a 3rd who can help us in the indpendence referendum. One we haven't seen yet that is kept in the basement. Perhaps because it's too normal?
Posted by: Somerled, SouthWest on 5:21pm Fri 16 Nov 07
Kinghob,
I may have a tiny brain but I still need a better answer than that pathetic attempt. Maybe all the students who thought they were going to have their debts written off and all the first time buyers who thought they were going to get a £2,000 lump sum had tiny brains as well. Otherwise they might not have voted for Alex Salmond for first minister in june.
Kinghob,
I may have a tiny brain but I still need a better answer than that pathetic attempt. Maybe all the students who thought they were going to have their debts written off and all the first time buyers who thought they were going to get a £2,000 lump sum had tiny brains as well. Otherwise they might not have voted for Alex Salmond for first minister in june.
Posted by: Sidney Carter on 7:19pm Fri 16 Nov 07
As usual, SNP supporters like West Awake and Kyle are incapable of addressing the point: the SNP wanted the Royal High School as the parliament, with the chamber in the old assembly hall. It would have been hopeless for that purpose and only people who have never been in it would think it could have been adapted as fit for purpose.
But it suits them to go on about Dewar supposedly rejecting it because it was their choice. They have such an inflated idea of their own importance that they can't conceive there would be any other reason. A parliament at Calton Hill would have been a poor thing indeed, and we would have been an international laughing stock. Worse than that, it simply would not have worked as a parliament because of lack of space.
The Holyrood parliament went wildly over budget mostly after Dewar's death and mainly because the parliamentarians - all parties including the SNP - wanted more and more accomodation and endless changes to the design while it was being built. Again, it suits the SNP to pretend it was one party that was responsible for the design of the building, but their representatives took full part in the decisions that led to its eventual cost.
Whatever, at least we have a modern building that's fit for purpose, thanks to Donald Dewar.
As usual, SNP supporters like West Awake and Kyle are incapable of addressing the point: the SNP wanted the Royal High School as the parliament, with the chamber in the old assembly hall. It would have been hopeless for that purpose and only people who have never been in it would think it could have been adapted as fit for purpose.
But it suits them to go on about Dewar supposedly rejecting it because it was their choice. They have such an inflated idea of their own importance that they can't conceive there would be any other reason. A parliament at Calton Hill would have been a poor thing indeed, and we would have been an international laughing stock. Worse than that, it simply would not have worked as a parliament because of lack of space.
The Holyrood parliament went wildly over budget mostly after Dewar's death and mainly because the parliamentarians - all parties including the SNP - wanted more and more accomodation and endless changes to the design while it was being built. Again, it suits the SNP to pretend it was one party that was responsible for the design of the building, but their representatives took full part in the decisions that led to its eventual cost.
Whatever, at least we have a modern building that's fit for purpose, thanks to Donald Dewar.
Posted by: Graham, Glasgow on 7:22pm Fri 16 Nov 07
SS 5:21. STUDENTS SHOULD PAY THEIR WAY. THE HARD WORKING TAXPAYER IS BEING FLEECED AGAIN JUST FOR THEM TO MOVE ON IN THEIR CAREERS without dirtying their hands. The vast majority of workers struggle to make ends meet without a winge or a handout. As for Salmond this award will no doubt help inlflate his already inflated ego.[bold]bold[/bold]
SS 5:21. STUDENTS SHOULD PAY THEIR WAY. THE HARD WORKING TAXPAYER IS BEING FLEECED AGAIN JUST FOR THEM TO MOVE ON IN THEIR CAREERS without dirtying their hands. The vast majority of workers struggle to make ends meet without a winge or a handout. As for Salmond this award will no doubt help inlflate his already inflated ego.
Posted by: Jim, Irvine on 8:02pm Fri 16 Nov 07
Congratulations First Minister Alec Salmonds. The positive vibes being sent out all over Scotland are a tribute to your leadership ; the
Budget by John Sweeny a prelude of good things to come; Nicola
Sturgeon a brilliant start as Health Secr.; Richard Lockhead a Farmers champion; Ken McCaskill , a difficult start but he,ll Justify his position. Alec Neil wipes the floor with opposition spokespersons
on TV. And not forgetting the SNP reserve ; Wendy ! If she is the best
the NU Lab can thro. at this bubbling SNP team . God help them;
And the Lib Dems. Who gives a Plug Nichol for them now.
Congratulations First Minister Alec Salmonds. The positive vibes being sent out all over Scotland are a tribute to your leadership ; the
Budget by John Sweeny a prelude of good things to come; Nicola
Sturgeon a brilliant start as Health Secr.; Richard Lockhead a Farmers champion; Ken McCaskill , a difficult start but he,ll Justify his position. Alec Neil wipes the floor with opposition spokespersons
on TV. And not forgetting the SNP reserve ; Wendy ! If she is the best
the NU Lab can thro. at this bubbling SNP team . God help them;
And the Lib Dems. Who gives a Plug Nichol for them now.
Posted by: Graham, Glasgow on 11:33pm Fri 16 Nov 07
J I, 8:02PM. They are a bunch of wasters and chancers. All they have to do is manage a vast sum of money from the hard working taxpayer. They will be oot ON THEIR CORUS AND VERSES SOONER OR LATER. The UNION will survive them. God Save The Queen.[bold]bold[/bold]
J I, 8:02PM. They are a bunch of wasters and chancers. All they have to do is manage a vast sum of money from the hard working taxpayer. They will be oot ON THEIR CORUS AND VERSES SOONER OR LATER. The UNION will survive them. God Save The Queen.
Posted by: Mike, Edinburgh on 12:02am Sat 17 Nov 07
Not only did the Great Man receive the Herald Award, he was also named Parliamentarian of the Year by an English Magazine even though they had to take his attitude to the outdated Union into consideration. The unionist supporters on these forums will produce children who will one day deny that their grandparents tried to continue to support a system that held their Country back for so many years. And guess what, they will learn all of this from school history books that have not been Anglified by a foreign Government.
People talk about the economics of Independance for our Scotland. Me, I dream of the day when we are all gone and every single person born in Scotland would start to take it as a Normal Reality of Life.
Saor Alba.
Scotland. If you dont love it leave.
Not only did the Great Man receive the Herald Award, he was also named Parliamentarian of the Year by an English Magazine even though they had to take his attitude to the outdated Union into consideration. The unionist supporters on these forums will produce children who will one day deny that their grandparents tried to continue to support a system that held their Country back for so many years. And guess what, they will learn all of this from school history books that have not been Anglified by a foreign Government.
People talk about the economics of Independance for our Scotland. Me, I dream of the day when we are all gone and every single person born in Scotland would start to take it as a Normal Reality of Life.
Saor Alba.
Scotland. If you dont love it leave.
Posted by: Graham, Glasgow on 12:31am Sat 17 Nov 07
Mike Embra 12:02 am. Aye Mike you will wake up from your dream and find that it was a WET ONE. And I like that bit about LEAVING if you dont like it. Sounds like ETHNIC CLEANSING. So all of us BRIT/SCOTS WILL have to leave. Now a bit of truth is emerging from the NATS at LAST. Maybe the English will deport all the Millions of Scots Settlers. I wonder if WEE ALEC supports your opinion!!!!! You really are a bit of a narrow back.[bold]bold[/bold]
Mike Embra 12:02 am. Aye Mike you will wake up from your dream and find that it was a WET ONE. And I like that bit about LEAVING if you dont like it. Sounds like ETHNIC CLEANSING. So all of us BRIT/SCOTS WILL have to leave. Now a bit of truth is emerging from the NATS at LAST. Maybe the English will deport all the Millions of Scots Settlers. I wonder if WEE ALEC supports your opinion!!!!! You really are a bit of a narrow back.
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