I was seeking opinion in the office this week about what people thought of the Nicola Sturgeon debacle. The overwhelming majority of people, regardless of political opinion, thought that she was a competent politician who could be trusted and in no way should she resign
This reinforced my thought that this whole thing has been blown out of all proportion. Of course opposition parties are going to try to gain political capital wherever they can, but come on.
This country is barely limping out of the worst economic crisis it has encountered in the last eighty years and there may be another crisis just around the corner. We face a tough choice between two different approaches to get the economy back on track. We have a government who seems to be delaying taking forward an independence referendum until they have 129 SNP MSPs.
In short, we have serious issues that are worthy of time and debate.
However, we find ourselves again embroiled in an utterly futile spat. Yet again, I find all this cross party fighting just to score cheap points off one another thoroughly demoralising. It is why people turn off from politics.
How is this going to benefit me? How is this going to get me back in work? If I am in work, how is this going to reduce the amount of tax I have to pay? How is this going to cut my energy bills? How is this going to put food on the table, so I can feed my kids?
Nicola Sturgeon may not have showed the greatest judgement when it came to defending a convicted criminal, but when it really mattered to most of us, she showed impeccable judgement. Her handling of the Swine Flu outbreak helped to keep a calm lid on things, when the media and others were doing their best to whip up a frenzy.
So how about this for an idea? Why don’t MSPs concentrate on making Scotland a better place? And here is the big idea! Why don’t they work together to make this happen? After all, that is what we elect them for.
Why don’t they look at introducing measures to increase the life expectancy of Scottish people, which is currently the lowest in Europe? Why don’t they collectively look at reducing Scottish dependency on alcohol? Why don’t they try and deal with the 600,000 people currently on disability benefits? Why don’t they discuss ways to boost the Scottish economy? Why…….?
That would be a much better way to spend their collective time, rather than discussing whether an MSP should write a letter in support of one of their constituents.
Friday 12 February 2010
Friday 5 February 2010
Edging Closer
The closer we get to the election, the more exciting things are getting!
The situation is changing on a daily basis. One day, the Labour Party come away from the Chilcot enquiry feeling like victors, then the next, three Labour MPs are being prosecuted for alleged dodgy expenses.
Meanwhile the Tories are riding a crest of a wave. Yes, they are the saviours of the economy. They have the tough measures necessary to sort everything out. Wait a minute, the polls don’t like that you say? Retreat!
Over at Lib Dem HQ, they have issued everyone in their party with Vince Cable masks. His is the only Lib Dem face to be seen on TV, which is good news for them as he is the about the only one that is listened to.
The SNP are too busy lunching to have any time for TV.
A couple of developments in Scottish seats, could provide a little added interest. Nigel Griffiths has had enough of the House of Commons and all it has to offer, in favour of a “once in a lifetime job offer.” The wafer thin majority he enjoyed over the Lib Dems in Edinburgh South could well be put to the test.
Of course, Jim Devine had already shelved any ideas he had of defending his Livingston seat. Now the Crown Prosecution Service has put the final nail in by charging Devine and three others with falsely claiming parliamentary expense. However, Labour had a 30% lead in Livingston, so it would be a huge ask for anyone to pull that back.
Finally Cathy Jamieson has secured the Labour nomination for Kilmarnock and Louden. Margaret Curran is fighting Glasgow East again and there is talk of Wendy Alexander possibly standing in West Dunbartonshire. A mass exodus of high profile figures from the Scottish Parliament.
Is that a reflection of Iain Gray’s leadership of the Labour Party in Scotland?
The situation is changing on a daily basis. One day, the Labour Party come away from the Chilcot enquiry feeling like victors, then the next, three Labour MPs are being prosecuted for alleged dodgy expenses.
Meanwhile the Tories are riding a crest of a wave. Yes, they are the saviours of the economy. They have the tough measures necessary to sort everything out. Wait a minute, the polls don’t like that you say? Retreat!
Over at Lib Dem HQ, they have issued everyone in their party with Vince Cable masks. His is the only Lib Dem face to be seen on TV, which is good news for them as he is the about the only one that is listened to.
The SNP are too busy lunching to have any time for TV.
A couple of developments in Scottish seats, could provide a little added interest. Nigel Griffiths has had enough of the House of Commons and all it has to offer, in favour of a “once in a lifetime job offer.” The wafer thin majority he enjoyed over the Lib Dems in Edinburgh South could well be put to the test.
Of course, Jim Devine had already shelved any ideas he had of defending his Livingston seat. Now the Crown Prosecution Service has put the final nail in by charging Devine and three others with falsely claiming parliamentary expense. However, Labour had a 30% lead in Livingston, so it would be a huge ask for anyone to pull that back.
Finally Cathy Jamieson has secured the Labour nomination for Kilmarnock and Louden. Margaret Curran is fighting Glasgow East again and there is talk of Wendy Alexander possibly standing in West Dunbartonshire. A mass exodus of high profile figures from the Scottish Parliament.
Is that a reflection of Iain Gray’s leadership of the Labour Party in Scotland?
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