As a well-known Europe song goes, it’s “The Final Countdown.”
The government is rapidly running out of time to call an election. If ever there was an argument for moving towards fixed term elections, then this and Gordon Brown’s earlier indecision about calling a snap election, surely makes it.
There are two favoured dates at the moment, March 25th and May 6th. The final date will depend on the one Labour thinks will give them the greatest advantage.
Judging by the polls, it looks like Labour is going to need all the help they can get. The Tories are constantly polling double digit leads. However, due to the First Past the Post voting system, this may not automatically convert into a huge majority in the House of Commons.
So it promises to be one of the more interesting General Elections of the last twenty years. But the election would just be the beginning of the of the interesting times. For imagine the Tories win. What will the interaction between Holyrood and Westminster be like then? How will the public in Scotland react to the inevitable massive public spending cuts? What will be the effect on support for Scottish independence, given the Tories will barely have a handful of MPs in Scotland? Will the Tories introduce a two tier Westminster, whereby MPs of devolved nations aren’t allowed to vote on certain issues?
If that were to be the case, it would leave you wondering why any serious Scottish politician would want to leave Holyrood and become a second class MP. But that is exactly what Cathy Jamieson hopes to do as she is fighting for selection in Kilmarnock & Louden, the seat being vacated by Scottish Secretary Des Browne.
The big question is, will her face fit? With the idiosyncrasies of the Labour selection process, where loyalty counts for more than talent, then you never know.
That is one of the main reasons why I think people are becoming so disenchanted with politicians and politics. There are very few politicians left who are likely to vote on their principles if this means voting against their party. And the ones that do have the guts, will face de-selection by their party at the earliest opportunity.
This and the apparent filling your boots expenses scandal may just have snapped the patience of the electorate. Indeed just yesterday, the public (although not all of voting age) showed just how much they disliked being told what to do by spurning the red hot favourite for Christmas Number One, for a 16 year old classic by Rage Against The Machine.
A few Scottish constituencies that may be worth keeping an eye on are:
Banff & Buchan – Alex Salmond is standing down and although it is an ultra safe SNP seat, how much of it is to do with Salmond and how much the SNP?
Dumfries and Galloway – Could be one of the few Tory gains in Scotland with a swing of just 3% needed from Labour.
Dumfrieshire, Clydesdale and Tweedale – The Tories have a 4% lead over Labour here and need to hold on if they have any aspirations of power.
Dundee East – It is a toss up between SNP and Labour.
Edinburgh South – Can the Lib Dems overturn Labour’s wafer thin majority?
Glasgow East – Can John Mason hold onto his seat won in the recent by-election?
Livingston – What effect will Devine-Gate ( or should that be shelf! ) have?
Ochil & South Perthshire – See Dundee East.
Perth & North Perthshire – The Tories only need a 2% swing from the SNP to take it.
So with a fascinating General Election imminent, the immortal words of a former Scottish Labour Leader spring to mind.
Bring it on!
Monday, 21 December 2009
Saturday, 10 October 2009
We Are All In This Together
“We are all in this together.”
No, it is not the words to the High School Musical, although they were delivered with the elegance of a high school teacher.
George Osborne, Chancellor in waiting, took time out from counting his millions, to deliver a gloomy financial outlook for the next few years. The Tory audience looked visibly shocked when he announced that he would be unable to reduce the top rate of income tax for the foreseeable future.
They soon cheered up though when Osborne announced that the Public Sector was effectively getting a pay cut.
Now I see what he means when he says we are all in this together.
Our Scotland
No, it is not the words to the High School Musical, although they were delivered with the elegance of a high school teacher.
George Osborne, Chancellor in waiting, took time out from counting his millions, to deliver a gloomy financial outlook for the next few years. The Tory audience looked visibly shocked when he announced that he would be unable to reduce the top rate of income tax for the foreseeable future.
They soon cheered up though when Osborne announced that the Public Sector was effectively getting a pay cut.
Now I see what he means when he says we are all in this together.
Our Scotland
Friday, 26 June 2009
The World We Live In
Last night I heard the news as did everyone of the sad passing of Michael Jackson. To be honest it didn't affect me nearly as much as the death of Kurt Cobain did back in 1994, but no-one wants to see someone go well before they reach old age.
Anyway, I had to go to Glasgow Fort today for a few things, so thought I would pop into HMV just to see if there was anything worth buying.
On the way up to the door, I heard they were playing Jackson's music. I thought that was nice. A kind of tribute.
I can't believe how naive I was!
On entering the store, immediately as you went in, there was a stand with loads of Jackson merchandise on it for sale.
The guy had barely been dead 12 hours, yet they were ready to capitalise on it. I know I shouldn't really be surprised, after all we live in a capitalist society, but it just seemed wrong, wrong, wrong.
Anyway, I had to go to Glasgow Fort today for a few things, so thought I would pop into HMV just to see if there was anything worth buying.
On the way up to the door, I heard they were playing Jackson's music. I thought that was nice. A kind of tribute.
I can't believe how naive I was!
On entering the store, immediately as you went in, there was a stand with loads of Jackson merchandise on it for sale.
The guy had barely been dead 12 hours, yet they were ready to capitalise on it. I know I shouldn't really be surprised, after all we live in a capitalist society, but it just seemed wrong, wrong, wrong.
Friday, 12 June 2009
Bleating Blears
How gullible do politicians think we are? I mean come on!
Firstly they try to pull the wool over our eyes with their dodgy expenses. Then after they are found out, they try to weasel their way out of it saying it was a “mistake” and they then patronise us by paying the money back.
Now Perma-Grin, aka Hazel Blears, is at it.
She did something even the shadiest of underhand politician wouldn’t even contemplate. She resigned on the eve of a nation-wide election. Not only that, she made a great song and dance about it. As people were actually going to the polls she was swanning about trying to cause maximum damage for her party.
Fast forward a week. With her desired outcome, the downfall of Gordon Brown, unfulfilled, she is coming to us cap in hand saying she is “sorry” and regrets what she did. Yeah, right!
The only thing these politicians are sorry about is not getting their own way.
I hope her constituency party passes the vote of no confidence in her and she gets what she deserves. That may be enough to wipe that smile off her face.
Firstly they try to pull the wool over our eyes with their dodgy expenses. Then after they are found out, they try to weasel their way out of it saying it was a “mistake” and they then patronise us by paying the money back.
Now Perma-Grin, aka Hazel Blears, is at it.
She did something even the shadiest of underhand politician wouldn’t even contemplate. She resigned on the eve of a nation-wide election. Not only that, she made a great song and dance about it. As people were actually going to the polls she was swanning about trying to cause maximum damage for her party.
Fast forward a week. With her desired outcome, the downfall of Gordon Brown, unfulfilled, she is coming to us cap in hand saying she is “sorry” and regrets what she did. Yeah, right!
The only thing these politicians are sorry about is not getting their own way.
I hope her constituency party passes the vote of no confidence in her and she gets what she deserves. That may be enough to wipe that smile off her face.
Tuesday, 2 June 2009
SNP and Plaid Cymru to Seek Dissolution of Parliament
It looks like Westminster will have a chance to vote next week on whether there should be an election or not. The Scottish and Welsh nationalists are to table a motion calling for the dissolution of Parliament.
With the Tories and Lib Dems saying that they will back the motion, it may just have half a chance of getting through. However, it will need a number of Labour MPs to support it also. With over 50 of them saying that they will step down at the next election, then it is unlikely they will vote for their own unemployment. Unless that is, they need the severance money in order to pay back the thousands of pounds of expenses they cheated the taxpayer out of!
I don’t know about anyone else, but I find the actions of MPs lining up to pay back expenses and mumbling, “sorry, it was a genuine mistake,” equally as insulting as them thieving the money in the first place.
If that wasn’t bad enough, if they survive until the next election, they will receive a pay of in the tens of thousands, of which the first £30,000 is tax free.
We should sack them now.
It would happen in any other walk of life. If you were found with your fingers in the till, you would be out the door quicker than you could say “duck house”. Then it wouldn’t be long until the coppers were hunting you down. MPs should be no different.
So, let’s hope next week MPs make at least one good decision in this term and vote for the dissolution of parliament.
With the Tories and Lib Dems saying that they will back the motion, it may just have half a chance of getting through. However, it will need a number of Labour MPs to support it also. With over 50 of them saying that they will step down at the next election, then it is unlikely they will vote for their own unemployment. Unless that is, they need the severance money in order to pay back the thousands of pounds of expenses they cheated the taxpayer out of!
I don’t know about anyone else, but I find the actions of MPs lining up to pay back expenses and mumbling, “sorry, it was a genuine mistake,” equally as insulting as them thieving the money in the first place.
If that wasn’t bad enough, if they survive until the next election, they will receive a pay of in the tens of thousands, of which the first £30,000 is tax free.
We should sack them now.
It would happen in any other walk of life. If you were found with your fingers in the till, you would be out the door quicker than you could say “duck house”. Then it wouldn’t be long until the coppers were hunting you down. MPs should be no different.
So, let’s hope next week MPs make at least one good decision in this term and vote for the dissolution of parliament.
Monday, 1 June 2009
European Elections
There is nothing quite like an election to get the pulses raising, even if it is “only” the European one. However, depending on the outcome of this election, there may be a lot more at stake electing MEPs.
All the polls in the lead up to the Thursday’s vote are showing that the Labour Party is in for a right kicking (pardon the pun!). One poll even suggests their support is as low as 18%. If this follows through to the results on Sunday, then Gordon Brown could find himself in a very precarious position.
Senior members within the Labour Party will no doubt be telling him to call it a day, but auld Broon won’t be displaced that easily. He hasn’t waited ten years for the top job to hand it over that easily.
What will Labour do then? Will they sleep walk into a general election massacre, or will one of them have the bottle to challenge Brown? With the inevitable post Euro election re-shuffle, there is certain to be a few disgruntled senior figures without a portfolio to keep them occupied. Blears, Darling? Personally, I can’t imagine anyone calling Hazel Blears darling, but that is a different story.
With other Labour backbenchers fearing for their job security and more importantly their expenses security, then Brown is going to be getting it from all angles.
But what if he does fall on his sword? Surely the electorate will not stomach another change of Prime Minister without a General Election?
So Brown could do us all a favour and call an election as soon as possible.
Keep up to date with all the discussions at Our Scotland.
All the polls in the lead up to the Thursday’s vote are showing that the Labour Party is in for a right kicking (pardon the pun!). One poll even suggests their support is as low as 18%. If this follows through to the results on Sunday, then Gordon Brown could find himself in a very precarious position.
Senior members within the Labour Party will no doubt be telling him to call it a day, but auld Broon won’t be displaced that easily. He hasn’t waited ten years for the top job to hand it over that easily.
What will Labour do then? Will they sleep walk into a general election massacre, or will one of them have the bottle to challenge Brown? With the inevitable post Euro election re-shuffle, there is certain to be a few disgruntled senior figures without a portfolio to keep them occupied. Blears, Darling? Personally, I can’t imagine anyone calling Hazel Blears darling, but that is a different story.
With other Labour backbenchers fearing for their job security and more importantly their expenses security, then Brown is going to be getting it from all angles.
But what if he does fall on his sword? Surely the electorate will not stomach another change of Prime Minister without a General Election?
So Brown could do us all a favour and call an election as soon as possible.
Keep up to date with all the discussions at Our Scotland.
Friday, 6 February 2009
Inclement Times
So does the “One Eyed Scottish Idiot” have any idea of how to drag the UK out of this economic mess? Clearly Jeremy Clarkson does not seem to think so. The day I look towards Clarkson for political inspiration though will be the day I am led away by the men in white coats. However having said that, there is an element of truth in what Clarkson says.
Brown keeps claiming that he is the man to get not just us, but the whole world onto a safe footing, yet let us not forget, he also claimed to have ended boom and bust! At the moment it looks like both he and the Bank of England are intent on storing up problems for the future for very little gain just now.
Brown also has very little to gain from telling wildcat strikers that their actions were, “not the right thing to do.” I am pretty sure they are not going to take too kindly to being lectured like that. If something is blatantly unfair, then standing up for yourself and your fellow workers is definitely the right thing to do.
He should be saving his lectures for all those greedy bankers who despite having to be bailed out by the public to the tune of billions of pounds, still think it is okay to award themselves massive bonuses. Some people really need to get a grip on reality.
Grip is something people have been really struggling with lately as uncharacteristic weather sweeps across the country. I think some people down south have blown it out of all proportion though. Firstly the amount of coverage it has received in the media is just astounding. How many ways can you find to say, “It’s snowing!”?
Secondly some people are wondering why certain areas came to a standstill with inadequate levels of salt etc. Well here is a clue. You haven’t seen snow like it for 18 years, so it would have been unrealistic for you to be equipped for it.
Coming from the Highlands, I can appreciate sometimes the elements just beat you and there is nothing you can do. When I have been travelling north you know there is always a possibility in the winter that you can get stuck on the Slochd or Drumochter summits. You just accept that is the case. I think a lot of people down south would do well to just chill out a bit. (Pardon the pun!)
Brown keeps claiming that he is the man to get not just us, but the whole world onto a safe footing, yet let us not forget, he also claimed to have ended boom and bust! At the moment it looks like both he and the Bank of England are intent on storing up problems for the future for very little gain just now.
Brown also has very little to gain from telling wildcat strikers that their actions were, “not the right thing to do.” I am pretty sure they are not going to take too kindly to being lectured like that. If something is blatantly unfair, then standing up for yourself and your fellow workers is definitely the right thing to do.
He should be saving his lectures for all those greedy bankers who despite having to be bailed out by the public to the tune of billions of pounds, still think it is okay to award themselves massive bonuses. Some people really need to get a grip on reality.
Grip is something people have been really struggling with lately as uncharacteristic weather sweeps across the country. I think some people down south have blown it out of all proportion though. Firstly the amount of coverage it has received in the media is just astounding. How many ways can you find to say, “It’s snowing!”?
Secondly some people are wondering why certain areas came to a standstill with inadequate levels of salt etc. Well here is a clue. You haven’t seen snow like it for 18 years, so it would have been unrealistic for you to be equipped for it.
Coming from the Highlands, I can appreciate sometimes the elements just beat you and there is nothing you can do. When I have been travelling north you know there is always a possibility in the winter that you can get stuck on the Slochd or Drumochter summits. You just accept that is the case. I think a lot of people down south would do well to just chill out a bit. (Pardon the pun!)
Friday, 30 January 2009
Taxing Question!
In September 1998, we voted Yes, Yes.
Yes to a Scottish Parliament and Yes to it having tax raising (or lowering) powers.
To date, no-one had ever seriously considered tampering with the taxation. This would be understandable in the infancy of a newly established parliament.
However, it has now been about for approaching 10 years and if ever there is a time when the electorate needed tax cuts, during a recession would be one of them.
That is presumably why the Lib Dems are arguing for a 2p income tax reduction as part of their budget negotiations. Now we all know how that went.
But what about this “tax raising powers”?
The SNP know all full well that it would be practically impossible for them to reduce income tax in Scotland.
Firstly, imagine the outcry from the rest of the UK. It is almost worth doing it for that!!
Secondly, it would just mean that the amount of money they would have for the following year’s budget would be reduced by about 10%. With no means of raising our own income we would be totally stuffed
Now, from what I heard on Newsnight Scotland, the Lib Dems have restricted their bargaining over the budget to the SNP making a strong submission to the Calman Commission for the Scottish Parliament to have greater tax raising powers.
Will the SNP even entertain the Calman Commission? Will the Lib Dems consider voting down the Scottish budget a second time?
Either way, until the issue of greater financial independence is addressed, no responsible Scottish Government can entertain reducing the income tax in Scotland.
Yes to a Scottish Parliament and Yes to it having tax raising (or lowering) powers.
To date, no-one had ever seriously considered tampering with the taxation. This would be understandable in the infancy of a newly established parliament.
However, it has now been about for approaching 10 years and if ever there is a time when the electorate needed tax cuts, during a recession would be one of them.
That is presumably why the Lib Dems are arguing for a 2p income tax reduction as part of their budget negotiations. Now we all know how that went.
But what about this “tax raising powers”?
The SNP know all full well that it would be practically impossible for them to reduce income tax in Scotland.
Firstly, imagine the outcry from the rest of the UK. It is almost worth doing it for that!!
Secondly, it would just mean that the amount of money they would have for the following year’s budget would be reduced by about 10%. With no means of raising our own income we would be totally stuffed
Now, from what I heard on Newsnight Scotland, the Lib Dems have restricted their bargaining over the budget to the SNP making a strong submission to the Calman Commission for the Scottish Parliament to have greater tax raising powers.
Will the SNP even entertain the Calman Commission? Will the Lib Dems consider voting down the Scottish budget a second time?
Either way, until the issue of greater financial independence is addressed, no responsible Scottish Government can entertain reducing the income tax in Scotland.
Friday, 16 January 2009
Recession, Recession, Recession
Well my friends, it has been a little while!
But I am back, refreshed and slightly more impoverished, thanks to the credit crisis.
And didn’t that sneak up and bite everyone on the ar$e? PM Brown and his Labour colleagues claimed that they had re-written the laws of economics and ended boom and bust cycles.
“Great,” everyone rejoiced and went out and celebrated, stopping by to get a massive loan from the bank and 10 credit cards, to help keep the party going. After all, these are leaders of great importance not just in the UK, but on the world-wide stage. So, who are we to question their proclamations?
OK, OK, so I’ve learnt I can’t trust politicians, but surely I can trust banks? Some of them have been going since 1695. They will know what they are talking about. If they say I can afford a £200,000 mortgage on a £15,000 salary, who am I to argue? Just show me that mansion!
What?
It’s a bedsit? For £200k?
You better make it £200,010 so I can furnish it as well! I’ll get my stuff from Woolies.
Woolies is bust? And you want your £200k back? Wait a minute. Does the taxpayer not own you now anyway? So we have just ploughed £500bn pounds into you for you to pull the carpet out from under my feet?
Looks like I can’t trust banks now either!
Where on earth is it all heading? At this point in time, contrary to what some Labour Business Minister’s think, this recession is just starting and will have a long way to go.
Hold on folks. We are in for a rough ride.
But I am back, refreshed and slightly more impoverished, thanks to the credit crisis.
And didn’t that sneak up and bite everyone on the ar$e? PM Brown and his Labour colleagues claimed that they had re-written the laws of economics and ended boom and bust cycles.
“Great,” everyone rejoiced and went out and celebrated, stopping by to get a massive loan from the bank and 10 credit cards, to help keep the party going. After all, these are leaders of great importance not just in the UK, but on the world-wide stage. So, who are we to question their proclamations?
OK, OK, so I’ve learnt I can’t trust politicians, but surely I can trust banks? Some of them have been going since 1695. They will know what they are talking about. If they say I can afford a £200,000 mortgage on a £15,000 salary, who am I to argue? Just show me that mansion!
What?
It’s a bedsit? For £200k?
You better make it £200,010 so I can furnish it as well! I’ll get my stuff from Woolies.
Woolies is bust? And you want your £200k back? Wait a minute. Does the taxpayer not own you now anyway? So we have just ploughed £500bn pounds into you for you to pull the carpet out from under my feet?
Looks like I can’t trust banks now either!
Where on earth is it all heading? At this point in time, contrary to what some Labour Business Minister’s think, this recession is just starting and will have a long way to go.
Hold on folks. We are in for a rough ride.
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