Watched John Swinney on Newsnight the other night. Talk about making a pigs ear of it!
Firstly the stance he first took a few weeks ago saying that the NHS funding would be ring-fenced was completely untenable. The NHS accounts for about 30% of the public sector spending, so to protect that would inflict unattainable cuts elsewhere.
So Swinney was doing his best to pull the wool over our eyes by saying, no fewer than seven times, that the NHS would get the benefit of the Barnett consequentials of the increased spending of the NHS in England.
Now, I don't pretend to know the ins and outs, but this doesn't sound like ring fenced spending to me, so why not just come out and say, "Our position has changed?"
The big problem of course is the looming election. No-one is wanting to make any decisions, because no matter which ones they make, it can only have a detrimental effect on their election chances.
That is why I was pleased that Swinney was seeking cross party agreement on this issue. However, I feel that his reasons for doing this is simply to spread the blame rather than agree consensus on a way forward.
But is that not what Scotland needs right now? Everybody working together for the good of Scotland, helping us get through the cuts and hauling us out of recession? That is what politicians are elected for. To take decisions on behalf of their constituents. Not to take decisions that will benefit their own self interest or that of their party.
Some people may see this as a naive viewpoint, but I am getting sick to death of petty party politics and I think the public are as well.
The best way to tackle this is to have cross party agreement on how to deal with any cuts and leave the economy or the aspect covered by cross party agreement out of any election bickering.
But I am willing to bet that it'll never happen.
Saturday, 7 August 2010
Sunday, 1 August 2010
Lib Dems Slip Further Into Oblivion
The latest poll by YouGov for the Sunday Times has the Liberal Democrats at 12%, which is marginally better than their all time low rating of 11%. Mike over at Political Betting suggests this may have something to do with the BBC programme Five Days That Changed Britain.
I watched most of that programme and I definitely thought Clegg at least came out of it really bad. In fact I was screaming, "absolute s%$!*" at the TV on a number of occasions!
But with the Lib Dems continually sliding down the polls, it will be interesting to see how their vote goes in the Holyrood elections which are only 9 months away. If it keeps going the way it is, it will keep the Lib Dems out of single coalition partner territory.
It will also be interesting to see what effect it has on the result of the AV referendum which might be seen as a Lib Dem referendum. Is this at serious risk of being defeated and what impact will that have on the LibCon coalition?
I watched most of that programme and I definitely thought Clegg at least came out of it really bad. In fact I was screaming, "absolute s%$!*" at the TV on a number of occasions!
But with the Lib Dems continually sliding down the polls, it will be interesting to see how their vote goes in the Holyrood elections which are only 9 months away. If it keeps going the way it is, it will keep the Lib Dems out of single coalition partner territory.
It will also be interesting to see what effect it has on the result of the AV referendum which might be seen as a Lib Dem referendum. Is this at serious risk of being defeated and what impact will that have on the LibCon coalition?
Saturday, 29 May 2010
Laws Unto Themselves
Right, it is only two weeks into this new government and I am sick of it already!
David Laws has had to resign because he was fleecing £40,000 off the taxpayer, claiming for rent on an apartment that was owned by the person he was having a relationship with.
The sex of the person he was having a relationship with is totally immaterial. The thing that is important is the £40k he was claiming.
However, this totally seems to have bypassed Cameron, Clegg and co who are lining up to portray Laws as the victim.
Victim? Give us a break and please stop insulting our intelligence.
“..this has come about because of David's intense desire to keep his own private life private.”
That is a quote from our deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg. Again I say, don’t insult our intelligence. It has not come about because of that. If Laws wanted that, he would not have claimed the rent. It has come about because of MPs intense greed.
For the new government, in particular the Lib Dems, to be vociferously defending Laws’ position, is simply sickening. The Lib Dems prided themselves on standing on the ticket of cleaning up politics so for them now to be defending Laws is unacceptable.
It is hardly surprising that the public is turning their back on politics in droves when they are promised one thing, then barely three weeks later, they get another.
David Laws has had to resign because he was fleecing £40,000 off the taxpayer, claiming for rent on an apartment that was owned by the person he was having a relationship with.
The sex of the person he was having a relationship with is totally immaterial. The thing that is important is the £40k he was claiming.
However, this totally seems to have bypassed Cameron, Clegg and co who are lining up to portray Laws as the victim.
Victim? Give us a break and please stop insulting our intelligence.
“..this has come about because of David's intense desire to keep his own private life private.”
That is a quote from our deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg. Again I say, don’t insult our intelligence. It has not come about because of that. If Laws wanted that, he would not have claimed the rent. It has come about because of MPs intense greed.
For the new government, in particular the Lib Dems, to be vociferously defending Laws’ position, is simply sickening. The Lib Dems prided themselves on standing on the ticket of cleaning up politics so for them now to be defending Laws is unacceptable.
It is hardly surprising that the public is turning their back on politics in droves when they are promised one thing, then barely three weeks later, they get another.
Friday, 16 April 2010
One Down, Two To Go
Just like a semi decent striker faced with an open goal, Nick Clegg coolly slammed the ball into the back of the net last night. He probably couldn’t believe his luck when talk of the debates was first suggested. He would take centre stage on an equal footing with the two main parties in British politics.
And having been given the chance, he did not pass it up. The Lib Dems no doubt agonised for days over which tactics they should employ, but Clegg pulled them off masterfully. Having said that, Brown and Cameron didn’t do all that badly, it’s just that Clegg did better.
He looked relaxed, down to earth with his hands in his pockets, but probably most importantly – believable. And that seems to be resonating in the latest polls with the Lib Dems gaining significant ground on Labour. In fact, Political Betting is suggesting that they might have overtaken them tonight.
Of course, if someone is winning, then someone inevitably has to be losing out. And the fear for the parties that were not involved in last night’s debate is that it might be them. But after saying that the SNP was irrelevant, Clegg might have actually given the SNP a boost. People, I don’t imagine, will like to hear someone calling their governing party irrelevant.
But does Scotland matter to anybody anymore? Just about half the questions last night started with, “This question is about issues that are devolved in Scotland,” which essentially meant it is irrelevant to Scotland.
If the Tories get into Downing Street which thankfully is looking less and less likely, there will be even less people around who care about Scotland.
So use your vote wisely on May 6th!
And having been given the chance, he did not pass it up. The Lib Dems no doubt agonised for days over which tactics they should employ, but Clegg pulled them off masterfully. Having said that, Brown and Cameron didn’t do all that badly, it’s just that Clegg did better.
He looked relaxed, down to earth with his hands in his pockets, but probably most importantly – believable. And that seems to be resonating in the latest polls with the Lib Dems gaining significant ground on Labour. In fact, Political Betting is suggesting that they might have overtaken them tonight.
Of course, if someone is winning, then someone inevitably has to be losing out. And the fear for the parties that were not involved in last night’s debate is that it might be them. But after saying that the SNP was irrelevant, Clegg might have actually given the SNP a boost. People, I don’t imagine, will like to hear someone calling their governing party irrelevant.
But does Scotland matter to anybody anymore? Just about half the questions last night started with, “This question is about issues that are devolved in Scotland,” which essentially meant it is irrelevant to Scotland.
If the Tories get into Downing Street which thankfully is looking less and less likely, there will be even less people around who care about Scotland.
So use your vote wisely on May 6th!
Thursday, 8 April 2010
Money, Money, Money
After three days of campaigning, there is little doubt what this election is going to be fought on.
How to tackle the deficit.
The Tories will cut services.
Labour will increase taxes.
The Lib Dems will do something in between.
That is the long and short of it, so please do not let the parties bang on about the same thing for the next 27 days. We want the public engaged, not sick of hearing the same things over and over again.
How to tackle the deficit.
The Tories will cut services.
Labour will increase taxes.
The Lib Dems will do something in between.
That is the long and short of it, so please do not let the parties bang on about the same thing for the next 27 days. We want the public engaged, not sick of hearing the same things over and over again.
Wednesday, 7 April 2010
Democracy Day
In a desperate attempt to appeal to the Lib Dems, Gordon Brown has set out plans for a “Democracy Day.”
This will see Britain having a say on which voting system they would want future Westminster elections to use. It would also see the possibility of an elected House of Lords.
But still there is no referendum on Scottish independence.
Why I hear you ask! Because apparently it isn’t the right time, according to Labour, because of the economic downturn.
There are two striking points that come from this.
Firstly, if Labour is to be believed, we are on our way out of the economic downturn.
Secondly, if they are not to be believed and in actual fact we are still in the middle of an economic downturn, how is it possible to hold referenda on a host of other important constitutional things and not Scottish independence?
I would ask Gordon Brown, but judging by today’s performance, he doesn’t take too kindly to members of the public asking him anything!
This will see Britain having a say on which voting system they would want future Westminster elections to use. It would also see the possibility of an elected House of Lords.
But still there is no referendum on Scottish independence.
Why I hear you ask! Because apparently it isn’t the right time, according to Labour, because of the economic downturn.
There are two striking points that come from this.
Firstly, if Labour is to be believed, we are on our way out of the economic downturn.
Secondly, if they are not to be believed and in actual fact we are still in the middle of an economic downturn, how is it possible to hold referenda on a host of other important constitutional things and not Scottish independence?
I would ask Gordon Brown, but judging by today’s performance, he doesn’t take too kindly to members of the public asking him anything!
Tuesday, 6 April 2010
And they're off! (again!!)
So the election campaign has officially started. Although we all know that it has been unofficially being going on for the best part of three years. Ever since Brown stalled over the decision to go to the polls way back in 2007.
And what three years it has been! Despite announcing over 100 times (according to BBC Radio 5) that he has conquered over boom and bust, Gordon Brown was at the helm when we delved into the worst recession for almost 100 years.
At least we did enjoy a bit of cross party consensus in that three years. Just a shame it was a consensus on how to manipulate the MP expenses system to the detriment of the taxpayer, many of whom were in the process of being made redundant at the time.
So exactly who are we to trust with our vote in the forthcoming election? Well, we will get a glimpse in the upcoming “Leadership Debates”. Although not all the leaders are taking place and many of the issues they will be discussing are devolved in Scotland to the Scottish Parliament.
We could look at the latest ratings, which have Brown on –28, Cameron on +17 and unbelievably Clegg on +31.
Indeed this election could potentially be the beginning of something really big for the Lib Dems, despite my previous blog! Clegg’s popularity seems to keep growing and growing and that is even before he has taken to the stage in equal billing with Brown and Cameron. Vince Cable, their treasury spokesman, was one of the few people who came out of this recession with increased credibility. And they could be on the verge of holding the key to power in this general election should the Tories or Labour fall short of an overall majority. Although I think they will still do well to secure 16 MPs in Scotland.
Similarly, Alex Salmond is hoping his SNP MPs are the ones holding the key to power. However, getting to his target of 20 SNP MPs would be nothing short of a minor miracle.
The next 4 weeks are certainly going to be interesting and you can discuss it all at Our Scotland.
And what three years it has been! Despite announcing over 100 times (according to BBC Radio 5) that he has conquered over boom and bust, Gordon Brown was at the helm when we delved into the worst recession for almost 100 years.
At least we did enjoy a bit of cross party consensus in that three years. Just a shame it was a consensus on how to manipulate the MP expenses system to the detriment of the taxpayer, many of whom were in the process of being made redundant at the time.
So exactly who are we to trust with our vote in the forthcoming election? Well, we will get a glimpse in the upcoming “Leadership Debates”. Although not all the leaders are taking place and many of the issues they will be discussing are devolved in Scotland to the Scottish Parliament.
We could look at the latest ratings, which have Brown on –28, Cameron on +17 and unbelievably Clegg on +31.
Indeed this election could potentially be the beginning of something really big for the Lib Dems, despite my previous blog! Clegg’s popularity seems to keep growing and growing and that is even before he has taken to the stage in equal billing with Brown and Cameron. Vince Cable, their treasury spokesman, was one of the few people who came out of this recession with increased credibility. And they could be on the verge of holding the key to power in this general election should the Tories or Labour fall short of an overall majority. Although I think they will still do well to secure 16 MPs in Scotland.
Similarly, Alex Salmond is hoping his SNP MPs are the ones holding the key to power. However, getting to his target of 20 SNP MPs would be nothing short of a minor miracle.
The next 4 weeks are certainly going to be interesting and you can discuss it all at Our Scotland.
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