Now, at last, it's clear - in that the Labour leaderships at Westminster and Holyrood are definitely in complete disarray. Wendy Alexander said on Newsnight Scotland last night that she had the Prime Minister's backing for a snap referendum on independence.
Gordon Brewer: Is Gordon Brown endorsing your decision to call for a referendum?
Wendy Alexander: Yes
Gordon Brewer: And he's told you that?
Wendy Alexander: Yes
Gordon Brewer: So any suggestions that you bounced him into this are wrong?
Wendy Alexander: They're wrong.
But when Gordon Brown was asked in the Commons today whether he supports her calling for an immediate referendum, he denied that is what she had said. He then went on to say the Calman Commission, on enhanced powers for Holyrood within the UK, should run its course and then they should decide how they were going to handle its recommendations.
Two Labour leaders. Two irreconcilable positions.
Her spokesman is currently stalling while they figure out how to react.
Ms Alexander also used her TV interview to signal her get-out clause when it comes to the SNP's 2010 Referendum Bill: "They're not prepared to discuss what the question will be, but I think we will have differences of view as to what the question will be". Could this be a future U-turn, to get out of letting the SNP go ahead with its 2010 plans?
This episode does not spell the end for Wendy Alexander's leadership yet, but when her colleagues decide it is time for her to go, her handling of this U-turn will be powerful ammunition with which to despatch her.
________________________
The odds are shifting the way of Scottish independence. One high street bookies has cut the odds on independence by 2012 from 200/1 to 150/1. That still looks like quite a good legacy for the grandkids.
Scottish independence by 2012 have been shortened from 66/1 to 50/1 by 2017 - Alex Salmond's target date. For those who like to take the longer view they are at 14/1, down from 20/1 for independence within 50 years.
The way things are moving, those odds look quite attractive. And the bookies' assessment of the way Gordon Brown will leave the Labour leadership before he gets the chance to fight the next election are heading towards odds-on.
[quote]Now, at last, it's clear - in that the Labour leaderships at Westminster and Holyrood are definitely in complete disarray.[/quote]
How true, it is amazing what the worst election result in 40 years will do to a party. If the tories win the by election on 22nd may then i see things going from bad to worse. It really is the worst kind of car crash reality tv at the moment, a government in complete meltdown is not a pretty sight. Just wait til the infighting starts, its going to be painful to watch and at the same time a pleasure.
Now, at last, it's clear - in that the Labour leaderships at Westminster and Holyrood are definitely in complete disarray.
How true, it is amazing what the worst election result in 40 years will do to a party. If the tories win the by election on 22nd may then i see things going from bad to worse. It really is the worst kind of car crash reality tv at the moment, a government in complete meltdown is not a pretty sight. Just wait til the infighting starts, its going to be painful to watch and at the same time a pleasure.
Douglas
I don;t understand the odds you gave.
By 2012 - 66/1 to 50/1
By 2017 - 20/1 to 14/1
But within 50 years, 200/1 to 150/1
Surely the odds should be much shorter for the 50 years period, rather than longer.
Or, could you at least tell us which bookies this is?
Good to see you reporting on the Wendy Alexander story, as something seems to have happened to the main articles; one's disappeared and the rest aren't accepting comments.
Douglas
I don;t understand the odds you gave.
By 2012 - 66/1 to 50/1
By 2017 - 20/1 to 14/1
But within 50 years, 200/1 to 150/1
Surely the odds should be much shorter for the 50 years period, rather than longer.
Or, could you at least tell us which bookies this is?
Good to see you reporting on the Wendy Alexander story, as something seems to have happened to the main articles; one's disappeared and the rest aren't accepting comments.
Well Done Dougie for at last telling it how it is.
She basically lied on Newsnight, you could see she was lying simply form her body language, the same squirm that led to this whole debacle - she basically floundered .
She MUST go!
She's absolutely incompetent.
Well Done Dougie for at last telling it how it is.
She basically lied on Newsnight, you could see she was lying simply form her body language, the same squirm that led to this whole debacle - she basically floundered .
Posted by: iain morrison at 2:55pm on Wed 7 May 08
Posted by: Wardog at 2:47pm today
"She basically lied on Newsnight, you could see she was lying simply form her body language, the same squirm that led to this whole debacle - she basically floundered . She MUST go! She's absolutely incompetent."
Wardog your wrong on two counts the reason you could tell she was lying was because her lips moved and she must stay to stop liebour doing another u-turn and failing to vote for a referendum ( also incompetent as she is, she is still the best Liebour have got).
Posted by: Wardog at 2:47pm today
"She basically lied on Newsnight, you could see she was lying simply form her body language, the same squirm that led to this whole debacle - she basically floundered . She MUST go! She's absolutely incompetent."
Wardog your wrong on two counts the reason you could tell she was lying was because her lips moved and she must stay to stop liebour doing another u-turn and failing to vote for a referendum ( also incompetent as she is, she is still the best Liebour have got).
Douglas, your 'Wendy's high-wire' article hit the nail on the head. Do you think, in time to come, we will regard Wendy's u-turn on the Politics Show with the same hilarity as we remember George Robertson's 'stone-dead' gaffe?
Also, did anyone ever accuse Walter Mitty of having a 'Wendy Alexander' complex?
Douglas, your 'Wendy's high-wire' article hit the nail on the head. Do you think, in time to come, we will regard Wendy's u-turn on the Politics Show with the same hilarity as we remember George Robertson's 'stone-dead' gaffe?
Also, did anyone ever accuse Walter Mitty of having a 'Wendy Alexander' complex?
Douglas
I guess someone has woken you up and you've now smelled the coffee?
A wind of change is blowing through Scotland. What we're seeing is an old, old animal in its deaththrows. The once mighty labour party reduced to what Tory Bliar made it.
Slainte Mhor
Douglas
I guess someone has woken you up and you've now smelled the coffee?
A wind of change is blowing through Scotland. What we're seeing is an old, old animal in its deaththrows. The once mighty labour party reduced to what Tory Bliar made it.
Slainte Mhor
[quote][bold]iain morrison[/bold] wrote:
Posted by: Wardog at 2:47pm today
"She basically lied on Newsnight, you could see she was lying simply form her body language, the same squirm that led to this whole debacle - she basically floundered . She MUST go! She's absolutely incompetent."
Wardog your wrong on two counts the reason you could tell she was lying was because her lips moved and she must stay to stop liebour doing another u-turn and failing to vote for a referendum ( also incompetent as she is, she is still the best Liebour have got).[/quote] Aye, the best advertisement for independence around.
But then again with a c(r)ack team around her like Jackie Bailie, Ian Grey, Andy Kerr, Rona Brankin, Maggoe Curran and last but not least, the indefatigable Lord Baron von Foulkes of Cummock Cabbage patch, we are spoiled for choice for future potential leaders.
iain morrison wrote:
Posted by: Wardog at 2:47pm today
"She basically lied on Newsnight, you could see she was lying simply form her body language, the same squirm that led to this whole debacle - she basically floundered . She MUST go! She's absolutely incompetent."
Wardog your wrong on two counts the reason you could tell she was lying was because her lips moved and she must stay to stop liebour doing another u-turn and failing to vote for a referendum ( also incompetent as she is, she is still the best Liebour have got).
Aye, the best advertisement for independence around.
But then again with a c(r)ack team around her like Jackie Bailie, Ian Grey, Andy Kerr, Rona Brankin, Maggoe Curran and last but not least, the indefatigable Lord Baron von Foulkes of Cummock Cabbage patch, we are spoiled for choice for future potential leaders.
re: "Her spokesman is currently stalling while they figure out how to react."
That will be worth waiting for.
I hope that Wee Eck goes easy on Wee Wendy at FMQs tomorrow, she currently represents the best arguement, for all the wrong reasons, for a referendum on Scottish independence.
re: "Her spokesman is currently stalling while they figure out how to react."
That will be worth waiting for.
I hope that Wee Eck goes easy on Wee Wendy at FMQs tomorrow, she currently represents the best arguement, for all the wrong reasons, for a referendum on Scottish independence.
Douglas
Remember this is the idiot that you keep telling us has "a formidable intellect" Will you now do the decent thing and report what everyone else knows that she is a numpty.
It takes considerable political skill to make Broon look even more of an indecisive ditherer that he looked last week, but Wen D has managed it. Friends Eh.
We will see by the time the Labour party daily broadcast, its other title is Newsnight Scotland, comes out, if Pia is worth his money. If he can spin this fiasco without us hurting ourselves laughing, he will be good.
Douglas
Remember this is the idiot that you keep telling us has "a formidable intellect" Will you now do the decent thing and report what everyone else knows that she is a numpty.
It takes considerable political skill to make Broon look even more of an indecisive ditherer that he looked last week, but Wen D has managed it. Friends Eh.
We will see by the time the Labour party daily broadcast, its other title is Newsnight Scotland, comes out, if Pia is worth his money. If he can spin this fiasco without us hurting ourselves laughing, he will be good.
Posted by: Disgusted Dorothy at 5:51pm on Wed 7 May 08
I don't think I can take any more hilarity!
I will , however , steal myself to watch the comedy show on Newsnight Scotland !
Who will be sitting in the chair , I wonder?
Jackie Bailey ??
Or the one who said on the news that they were all behind Ms Alexander , had had a good discussion and everything in the garden was rosy !
Or perhaps we could have Nicol ( the Nose ) stevens telling us all how this made the review /revue even more important !
Ha ha ha !!
I don't think I can take any more hilarity!
I will , however , steal myself to watch the comedy show on Newsnight Scotland !
Who will be sitting in the chair , I wonder?
Jackie Bailey ??
Or the one who said on the news that they were all behind Ms Alexander , had had a good discussion and everything in the garden was rosy !
Or perhaps we could have Nicol ( the Nose ) stevens telling us all how this made the review /revue even more important !
Ha ha ha !!
Dear Douglas
Does this shift by you not mean that you are supporting an Andy Kerr leadership bid.
I told you to abandon ship many months ago and slowly you are seeing the light.
Bit late in the day but you will get there evenually I suppose kicking and screaming.
Yours sincerely
George Laird
The Campaign for Human Rights at Glasgow University
Dear Douglas
Does this shift by you not mean that you are supporting an Andy Kerr leadership bid.
I told you to abandon ship many months ago and slowly you are seeing the light.
Bit late in the day but you will get there evenually I suppose kicking and screaming.
Yours sincerely
George Laird
The Campaign for Human Rights at Glasgow University
Now, at last, it's clear - in that the Labour leaderships at Westminster and Holyrood are definitely in complete disarray. Wendy Alexander said on Newsnight Scotland last night that she had the Prime Minister's backing for a snap referendum on independence.
see what happens when you take off the labour tinted specs douglas EVERYTHING suddenly becomes clear.........................
The fact that you have looked up the betting odds shows that you are now looking for actual evidence on the public support for independence.
by the way what was with the banning of comments?
as for this bit
Ms Alexander also used her TV interview to signal her get-out clause when it comes to the SNP's 2010 Referendum Bill: "They're not prepared to discuss what the question will be, but I think we will have differences of view as to what the question will be". Could this be a future U-turn, to get out of letting the SNP go ahead with its 2010 plans?
douglas shes already says she favours a yes/no question.
Now, at last, it's clear - in that the Labour leaderships at Westminster and Holyrood are definitely in complete disarray. Wendy Alexander said on Newsnight Scotland last night that she had the Prime Minister's backing for a snap referendum on independence.
see what happens when you take off the labour tinted specs douglas EVERYTHING suddenly becomes clear.........................
The fact that you have looked up the betting odds shows that you are now looking for actual evidence on the public support for independence.
by the way what was with the banning of comments?
as for this bit
Ms Alexander also used her TV interview to signal her get-out clause when it comes to the SNP's 2010 Referendum Bill: "They're not prepared to discuss what the question will be, but I think we will have differences of view as to what the question will be". Could this be a future U-turn, to get out of letting the SNP go ahead with its 2010 plans?
douglas shes already says she favours a yes/no question.
well douglas one of them is lying which one do you think it is? given that gordon misled the house about the snp election manifesto and the FACT that the manifesto clearly says the referendum bill will be 2010 then i know where i think the lie is......................
well douglas one of them is lying which one do you think it is? given that gordon misled the house about the snp election manifesto and the FACT that the manifesto clearly says the referendum bill will be 2010 then i know where i think the lie is......................
[quote][bold]Disgusted Dorothy[/bold] wrote:
I don't think I can take any more hilarity! I will , however , steal myself to watch the comedy show on Newsnight Scotland ! Who will be sitting in the chair , I wonder? Jackie Bailey ?? Or the one who said on the news that they were all behind Ms Alexander , had had a good discussion and everything in the garden was rosy ! Or perhaps we could have Nicol ( the Nose ) stevens telling us all how this made the review /revue even more important ! Ha ha ha !![/quote] Dorothy, wasn't Ian Gray marvellous? : )
Disgusted Dorothy wrote:
I don't think I can take any more hilarity! I will , however , steal myself to watch the comedy show on Newsnight Scotland ! Who will be sitting in the chair , I wonder? Jackie Bailey ?? Or the one who said on the news that they were all behind Ms Alexander , had had a good discussion and everything in the garden was rosy ! Or perhaps we could have Nicol ( the Nose ) stevens telling us all how this made the review /revue even more important ! Ha ha ha !!
i thought at first that iain grey had a nervous twitch in his eye but maybe he was givng gordon brewer the labour nod and wink????
either that or iain finds him attractive.... im not sure...............................
what do you think douglas.
or couldnt you watch we all know your aversion to horror movies which was why i found it most suprising that you had a walk on part.....................
i thought at first that iain grey had a nervous twitch in his eye but maybe he was givng gordon brewer the labour nod and wink????
either that or iain finds him attractive.... im not sure...............................
what do you think douglas.
or couldnt you watch we all know your aversion to horror movies which was why i found it most suprising that you had a walk on part.....................
Posted by: Rev. S. Campbell at 9:02am on Thu 8 May 08
[quote]douglas shes already says she favours a yes/no question.[/quote]
Aye, but she wants a yes/no vote on the question
[italic]"Do you want Scotland to sever itself from the entire civilised world, increase income tax to 60% and put armed guards on the borders and prevent you from ever seeing your English granny again? Yes/No"[/italic]
douglas shes already says she favours a yes/no question.
Aye, but she wants a yes/no vote on the question
"Do you want Scotland to sever itself from the entire civilised world, increase income tax to 60% and put armed guards on the borders and prevent you from ever seeing your English granny again? Yes/No"
Posted by: Grassy Knollington at 11:10am on Thu 8 May 08
Hi Douglas , whats the story with the comments facility being disabled on some stories? Is it a technical glitch or is it, as some of your tame vermin suspect , the dead haun of Alf?
Hi Douglas , whats the story with the comments facility being disabled on some stories? Is it a technical glitch or is it, as some of your tame vermin suspect , the dead haun of Alf?
Politics
