With the Glasgow East by-election and two Holyrood groups abruptly deprived of their leaders, it probably wasn't the best of times to be floored by a lurgy, but you can't really plan for these things.
Watched from 50 miles away, with the help of painkillers, I have marvelled less at the debating skills of the candidates than the London media's limited stock of Glaswegian stereotypes. On the telly, the most competent of an under-impressing bunch has been Lib Dem Ian Robertson. But this contest, rightly, won't be won by how you sound on TV.
With a Solidarity candidate called McLeish calling for massive nationalisation, it needs checking that the former First Minister hasn't taken a new twist in his political career. More confusing is the profusion of candidates called Curran. In battling the SSP's former MSP Frances, Labour's candidate has presumed to take on the star treatment of being merely 'Margaret'. Only a few politicians get to be known by their first name – Winnie, for instance, or Margo, or even Wendy. For lots of Glaswegians, the last Maggie to make it big in politics didn't make it their favourite name.
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What does the Government get up to when everyone goes off on recess?
If you're John Swinney, you begin to sound exasperated in answering huge numbers of tricksy questions poking at the many holes in the Scottish Futures Trust plan, which were tabled in writing last month by Labour's Peter Peacock. Most of them get to go to picturesque bits of Scotland on summer ministerial tours. Or, in the agriculture brief, today should have been the day for launching a consultation on "The Eggs and Chicks (Scotland) (No 2) Regulations 2008". This may be an attempt by cute critters minister Mike Russell to reach a government position on whether the egg or the chick came first, but as the online consultation has been announced but remains frustratingly unhatched, we don't yet know.
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From The Economist magazine this week:
"Like the SNP's symbolic victory in the dockyard constituency of Govan 20 years ago, overturning Labour's majority of 13,507 in Glasgow East would be seen as a milestone on the high road to the ultimate goal of independence. In fact, an SNP victory would mean little for the cause of Scotland's separatism. The party's mild-mannered candidate is campaigning not for independence but on a classic by-election slogan:
as a chance to protest against Labour. A big vote for him will not indicate a surge of nationalism. That is true in Scotland generally:
for all Alex Salmond's canny bolshiness, popular support for independence has not risen in line with his party's popularity".
Discuss… nicely. And no throwing sand in each other's eyes.
Posted by: Daibhi Anseo at 7:33pm on Fri 18 Jul 08
[quote]On the telly, the most competent of an under-impressing bunch has been Lib Dem Ian Robertson. But this contest, rightly, won't be won by how you sound on TV.[/quote]
Do we think this chap will even keep his deposit?
On the telly, the most competent of an under-impressing bunch has been Lib Dem Ian Robertson. But this contest, rightly, won't be won by how you sound on TV.
Tsk Mr Fraser, your Lib-Dem hem is showing. So who do you favour for the top job, Captain Mannering, Rumbelows or the ginger Viking?
Also, old crocus, pray tell, what happened to the boy Purvis, wasn't he supposed to be the big brain of the Lib Dems?
Tsk Mr Fraser, your Lib-Dem hem is showing. So who do you favour for the top job, Captain Mannering, Rumbelows or the ginger Viking?
Also, old crocus, pray tell, what happened to the boy Purvis, wasn't he supposed to be the big brain of the Lib Dems?
[quote]Discuss… nicely. And no throwing sand in each other's eyes.[/quote]
ha ha ha - I thought you'd be off by Dougie.
Looks like the leadership of the Herald is in a bit of disarray too....
Any comment on who the leadership candidates will be?
Discuss… nicely. And no throwing sand in each other's eyes.
ha ha ha - I thought you'd be off by Dougie.
Looks like the leadership of the Herald is in a bit of disarray too....
Any comment on who the leadership candidates will be?
here dougie will you be throwing your hat in the ring for the big bosses job?
anyway i thought you had gone the way of brian taylor at the beeb.....................DISCUSS?
here dougie will you be throwing your hat in the ring for the big bosses job?
anyway i thought you had gone the way of brian taylor at the beeb.....................DISCUSS?
[bold]Colabourtives Policy on Incapacity Benefit[/bold]
One wonders whether Purnell has 'leaked' this in an effort to destabilise Brown during his visit to Iraq....
How will this play in Glasgow East with less than week to go to polling day....
Blairites putting the last knife in?
Colabourtives Policy on Incapacity Benefit
One wonders whether Purnell has 'leaked' this in an effort to destabilise Brown during his visit to Iraq....
How will this play in Glasgow East with less than week to go to polling day....
Posted by: KEVIN HUTCHENS at 10:14pm on Sat 19 Jul 08
Surely the most important factor in Glasgow East is which of the parliamentary candidates has the interests of the electorate of the constituency most at heart.Margaret Curran has already proved through her succesful career as a local MSP that she is closest to the people ,and is willing to stand up for all of her constituents if elected as MP for Glasgow East.
Given this dedication and commitment Margaret Curran more than deserves to win this seat again for the Labour Party.
Surely the most important factor in Glasgow East is which of the parliamentary candidates has the interests of the electorate of the constituency most at heart.Margaret Curran has already proved through her succesful career as a local MSP that she is closest to the people ,and is willing to stand up for all of her constituents if elected as MP for Glasgow East.
Given this dedication and commitment Margaret Curran more than deserves to win this seat again for the Labour Party.
[quote][bold]KEVIN HUTCHENS[/bold] wrote:
Surely the most important factor in Glasgow East is which of the parliamentary candidates has the interests of the electorate of the constituency most at heart.Margaret Curran has already proved through her succesful career as a local MSP that she is closest to the people ,and is willing to stand up for all of her constituents if elected as MP for Glasgow East. Given this dedication and commitment Margaret Curran more than deserves to win this seat again for the Labour Party.[/quote] Can I throw a little sand, please, just a little. I will throw it only at Kevin Hutchins, not at you, mind.
KEVIN HUTCHENS wrote:
Surely the most important factor in Glasgow East is which of the parliamentary candidates has the interests of the electorate of the constituency most at heart.Margaret Curran has already proved through her succesful career as a local MSP that she is closest to the people ,and is willing to stand up for all of her constituents if elected as MP for Glasgow East. Given this dedication and commitment Margaret Curran more than deserves to win this seat again for the Labour Party.
Can I throw a little sand, please, just a little. I will throw it only at Kevin Hutchins, not at you, mind.
Posted by: Brian Blessed at 11:55pm on Sun 20 Jul 08
[quote][bold]KEVIN HUTCHENS[/bold] wrote:
Surely the most important factor in Glasgow East is which of the parliamentary candidates has the interests of the electorate of the constituency most at heart.Margaret Curran has already proved through her succesful career as a local MSP that she is closest to the people ,and is willing to stand up for all of her constituents if elected as MP for Glasgow East.
Given this dedication and commitment Margaret Curran more than deserves to win this seat again for the Labour Party.[/quote] Sorry mate, the Fringe is next month.
KEVIN HUTCHENS wrote:
Surely the most important factor in Glasgow East is which of the parliamentary candidates has the interests of the electorate of the constituency most at heart.Margaret Curran has already proved through her succesful career as a local MSP that she is closest to the people ,and is willing to stand up for all of her constituents if elected as MP for Glasgow East.
Given this dedication and commitment Margaret Curran more than deserves to win this seat again for the Labour Party.
[quote][bold]dws[/bold] wrote:
[quote]Discuss… nicely. And no throwing sand in each other's eyes.[/quote]
You still here then?[/quote] You mean in the sense of a school kid, looking out the window and waiting for the bell?
dws wrote:
Discuss… nicely. And no throwing sand in each other's eyes.
You still here then?
You mean in the sense of a school kid, looking out the window and waiting for the bell?
[quote][bold]KEVIN HUTCHENS[/bold] wrote:
Surely the most important factor in Glasgow East is which of the parliamentary candidates has the interests of the electorate of the constituency most at heart.Margaret Curran has already proved through her succesful career as a local MSP that she is closest to the people ,and is willing to stand up for all of her constituents if elected as MP for Glasgow East. Given this dedication and commitment Margaret Curran more than deserves to win this seat again for the Labour Party.[/quote] The little lie that she told at the start of her campaign should lose her any support from the people of Glasgow East. That was a real slap in the face for them. They need an MP with integrity. Step forward John Mason who is a talented and thoroughly decent person.
KEVIN HUTCHENS wrote:
Surely the most important factor in Glasgow East is which of the parliamentary candidates has the interests of the electorate of the constituency most at heart.Margaret Curran has already proved through her succesful career as a local MSP that she is closest to the people ,and is willing to stand up for all of her constituents if elected as MP for Glasgow East. Given this dedication and commitment Margaret Curran more than deserves to win this seat again for the Labour Party.
The little lie that she told at the start of her campaign should lose her any support from the people of Glasgow East. That was a real slap in the face for them. They need an MP with integrity. Step forward John Mason who is a talented and thoroughly decent person.
[quote][bold]dws[/bold] wrote:
[quote]Discuss… nicely. And no throwing sand in each other's eyes.[/quote]
You still here then?[/quote] You should be rude to Douglas under your own name, dimwit.
dws wrote:
Discuss… nicely. And no throwing sand in each other's eyes.
You still here then?
You should be rude to Douglas under your own name, dimwit.
Posted by: George Laird at 7:41pm on Mon 21 Jul 08
[quote][bold]Alan[/bold] wrote:
[quote][bold]dws[/bold] wrote: [quote]Discuss… nicely. And no throwing sand in each other's eyes.[/quote] You still here then?[/quote] You should be rude to Douglas under your own name, dimwit.[/quote] Dear Alan
I don't know Douglas well, however this sucking up to him is beyond the pale, I am sure he would agree!
You are not getting a job at the Herald.
Douglas is going to a land of big salary and perks and has no time for the likes of you.
You act like the class sneak on this board!
Add to this, your complete lack of credibility.
Finally, it is a bit rich coming from you to ask people to put up their full name when you are a complete $hitbag for failing repeatedly to post yours.
Best to change your moniker to "Cowardly Alan"!
Yours sincerely
George Laird
The Campaign for Human Rights at Glasgow University
Alan wrote:
dws wrote:
Discuss… nicely. And no throwing sand in each other's eyes.
You still here then?
You should be rude to Douglas under your own name, dimwit.
Dear Alan
I don't know Douglas well, however this sucking up to him is beyond the pale, I am sure he would agree!
You are not getting a job at the Herald.
Douglas is going to a land of big salary and perks and has no time for the likes of you.
You act like the class sneak on this board!
Add to this, your complete lack of credibility.
Finally, it is a bit rich coming from you to ask people to put up their full name when you are a complete $hitbag for failing repeatedly to post yours.
Best to change your moniker to "Cowardly Alan"!
Yours sincerely
George Laird
The Campaign for Human Rights at Glasgow University
[quote][bold]Wardog[/bold] wrote:
arshall airbrushed from the campaign
Aye nice try douglas.... no prizes for bias....[quote]quote[/quote][/quote] Douglas no mention of the £270,000 of property that Christina marshall's company holds.
Or indeed, her past indiscretions invovling Jack Macconnell and the wishaw branch and lobbygate ........
C'mon Dougie, don't be shy....
Wardog wrote:
arshall airbrushed from the campaign
Aye nice try douglas.... no prizes for bias....
quote
Douglas no mention of the £270,000 of property that Christina marshall's company holds.
Or indeed, her past indiscretions invovling Jack Macconnell and the wishaw branch and lobbygate ........
[quote]That is one of the reasons why Treasury borrowing has been forced sharply up, and the UK Government's so-called golden rules are being reviewed and likely to be broken in coming months.[/quote]
So the reduction by 2p for income tax has had no effect on income tax take...pull the other one Douglas.
Your going o have do better than that at the BBC.
That is one of the reasons why Treasury borrowing has been forced sharply up, and the UK Government's so-called golden rules are being reviewed and likely to be broken in coming months.
So the reduction by 2p for income tax has had no effect on income tax take...pull the other one Douglas.
ha ha ha ha dougie
well seen your not adding anything to your blog.
whats up too feart to admit just how wrong you and the rest of the scottish press got it.
labour leads in polls by a wide margin im still laughing about that one. roll on the general election.
The scottish media have now proved how irrelevant they are.
no one is listening to what the scottish papers say any more because you all got it so wrong. Mainly because you are biased youve now proved it to all the people in scotland
ha ha ha ha dougie
well seen your not adding anything to your blog.
whats up too feart to admit just how wrong you and the rest of the scottish press got it.
labour leads in polls by a wide margin im still laughing about that one. roll on the general election.
The scottish media have now proved how irrelevant they are.
no one is listening to what the scottish papers say any more because you all got it so wrong. Mainly because you are biased youve now proved it to all the people in scotland
Saw your piece on the Newsnight election special last night Dougie.
Monochrome images, words delivered in the most sober tones and a dirge in the background. All that before the result was announced!?
Should we call an ambulance?
Saw your piece on the Newsnight election special last night Dougie.
Monochrome images, words delivered in the most sober tones and a dirge in the background. All that before the result was announced!?
I feel, Douglas, that your blog may give as much coverage to the SNP win in Glasgow East as it did to Wendy's demise (i.e. not very much and nothing of substance).
I don't expect a scintilla of contrition from such a brass-necked hack but at least YOU know that WE know what you are.
It's a good time for you to leave - but you leave with your credibility shredded.
I feel, Douglas, that your blog may give as much coverage to the SNP win in Glasgow East as it did to Wendy's demise (i.e. not very much and nothing of substance).
I don't expect a scintilla of contrition from such a brass-necked hack but at least YOU know that WE know what you are.
It's a good time for you to leave - but you leave with your credibility shredded.
Posted by: George Laird at 3:47pm on Sat 26 Jul 08
[quote][bold]bigdog[/bold] wrote:
I feel, Douglas, that your blog may give as much coverage to the SNP win in Glasgow East as it did to Wendy's demise (i.e. not very much and nothing of substance). I don't expect a scintilla of contrition from such a brass-necked hack but at least YOU know that WE know what you are. It's a good time for you to leave - but you leave with your credibility shredded.[/quote] Dear Bigdog
Douglas has said he is on painkillers which I assume means he is not well.
So; should you be attacking the sick?
Another point is that Douglas is off to the BBC, a land of milk and honey, he is treading water before his swan song.
I hope that Douglas takes the time to finish on a high by telling all those who he has fought against on a regular basis that, "he is alright jack" and we can "all get it up ye".
Anything less than that parting shot would be unworthy for the "fanclub".
Finally Douglas will leave with tears in his eyes but that will be because the huge tud of the BBC salary hitting his bank account.
You shouldn't be upset about him doing well.
Now say sorry.
Yours sincerely
George Laird
The Campaign for Human Rights at Glasgow University
bigdog wrote:
I feel, Douglas, that your blog may give as much coverage to the SNP win in Glasgow East as it did to Wendy's demise (i.e. not very much and nothing of substance). I don't expect a scintilla of contrition from such a brass-necked hack but at least YOU know that WE know what you are. It's a good time for you to leave - but you leave with your credibility shredded.
Dear Bigdog
Douglas has said he is on painkillers which I assume means he is not well.
So; should you be attacking the sick?
Another point is that Douglas is off to the BBC, a land of milk and honey, he is treading water before his swan song.
I hope that Douglas takes the time to finish on a high by telling all those who he has fought against on a regular basis that, "he is alright jack" and we can "all get it up ye".
Anything less than that parting shot would be unworthy for the "fanclub".
Finally Douglas will leave with tears in his eyes but that will be because the huge tud of the BBC salary hitting his bank account.
You shouldn't be upset about him doing well.
Now say sorry.
Yours sincerely
George Laird
The Campaign for Human Rights at Glasgow University
Politics
