The video clip below is from Russia Today, which is in no way an impartial news outlet. However, it’s dangerous and unwise to reflexively dismiss any message purely because of the medium. Heck, even the Daily Mail tells the truth sometimes.
His views are expert and worth listening to. (The full interview is here.) Readers can, as ever, decide for themselves whether to believe him or David Cameron.
Kezia Dugdale spoke for almost exactly 45 minutes to the Scottish Labour conference in Perth today. But we know you’re busy people who don’t want to sit through all of that, and that you trust us to endure it on your behalf so that we can sift through it and present you with only the important bits.
Asking the question is the easy bit: “If the all-new, super-autonomous Scottish Labour decides to oppose the renewal of Trident, and UK Labour continues to support it, which way do Scottish Labour MPs at Westminster vote on it?”
The answer, unsurprisingly, was a lot more difficult to ascertain.
Even the alertest readers will probably already be confused by the baffling tale of Douglas and Jacqueline Wright, who sold their home to Edinburgh West MP Michelle Thomson. We certainly were last night, but on delving a little more into the media coverage of their story, things got a whole lot worse.
Older readers may remember an ITV show called The Krypton Factor, which had an “observation round” section in which contestants were shown a short video clip and then asked a series of questions about it.
An extract from First Minister’s Questions earlier today:
That was Kezia Dugdale’s opening question. Despite the Presiding Officer making it absolutely clear that the question was improper and outwith Holyrood’s remit, the Scottish Labour leader went on to use her entire allotted time on the issue. She was then followed by Scottish Conservative leader Ruth Davidson doing the same.
The people of Scotland are being done a grave disservice.
It appeared on any possible interpretation to be complete nonsense, but Ms Dugdale – who’s pledged to make education the issue at the heart of her leadership – has been somewhat reluctant to clarify the statement.
Several queries from her Lothian constituents have gone unanswered, but one Wings viewer did manage to get a single tweet of response.
This is shadow Chancellor John McDonnell speaking to the Labour Party conference in Brighton just a few minutes ago (immediately prior to rather presumptuously inviting the Scottish electorate to “come home to Labour”):
We don’t recall those things happening. We feel sure that if they had, they would have been mentioned in the papers. Can any readers help us out?
You’d put this down as a slip of the tongue, but when it came in the middle of an extended bout of bodyswerving John Mackay’s straightforward question about a referendum on Trident, maybe Kezia Dugdale really was just saying what she meant.
agentx on The Longest Road: ““Nicola Sturgeon to write ‘chunky new chapter’ to update memoir” Oh it seems her memory is returning (to try to…” Feb 16, 21:50
Northcode on The Modern Politician: “Since nothing much is happening in Scotland I’ve been pondering the nature of the ‘special’ relationship between England – also…” Feb 16, 21:30
Jennifer Livingston on The Longest Road: “Gentle is the one who shares a plate when another’s has been stolen. My family was busy getting their land…” Feb 16, 21:15
Hatey McHateface on The Longest Road: “Have a heart, x. If Effijy combusts, that’s gonna be on your conscience for literally minutes.” Feb 16, 21:14
Hatey McHateface on The Longest Road: “A plucky race, the Noggies. Right up near the top of the biggest per capita contributors to the just struggle…” Feb 16, 21:09
Dan on The Longest Road: “DaveL. Why are you so sure that there are only your two suggested options for why he may be doing…” Feb 16, 20:33
Lorna Campbell on The Longest Road: “Alf: it might be colonialism to an extent, but it doesn’t explain the actions of leaders all over the world…” Feb 16, 20:00
MaggieC on The Longest Road: “Well done to Paul and all involved in going ahead in the fight for justice for Alex. X “ So…” Feb 16, 19:55
David Holden on The Longest Road: “A short post would be thank you Paul and I don’t care what your motives are if it helps the…” Feb 16, 19:55
Hatey McHateface on The Longest Road: “The SNP office holders are individually responsible for discrepancies in the accounts, at least. Alert readers are aware that some…” Feb 16, 19:44
Hatey McHateface on The Longest Road: “Why don’t you then, Northy? As the alert readers have sussed, if you claim ADHD it’ll likely get you off…” Feb 16, 19:40
Tartan Tory on The Longest Road: ““There is two sorts of nationalism in Scotland at the moment” Enlightened, engaged and erudite. Willing to play a longer…” Feb 16, 19:39
Hatey McHateface on The Longest Road: “An interesting take by Robin McAlpine on the linkage between Mandelson and the people running Scotland at/for HR: https://robinmcalpine.org/is-peter-mandelson-running-scotland/ The…” Feb 16, 19:35
Confused on The Longest Road: “but what if shirley manson picks up nicola sturgeons legal bills? – checkmate or Rod Stewart becomes Chief Justice? BAAAAAAAAAABY…” Feb 16, 19:30
Northcode on The Longest Road: “Whit a couple o gawsie leukin birkies – like a pair o wee geeglin piglets… twa o the cutest colonialists…” Feb 16, 19:17
DaveL on The Longest Road: “F.S. There’s always one eh, but already there’s two. Bobo bunny and Effijy moaning and suspicious. Take a look and…” Feb 16, 18:23
Wally Jumblatt on The Longest Road: “someone asked “what’s in it for him”? Where do some people get their bitterness and suspicions from? If that’s how…” Feb 16, 18:18
100%Yes on The Longest Road: “The SNP isn’t fighting on any fronts that the problem, its the Scottish government and tax payers money. If we…” Feb 16, 18:14
100%Yes on The Longest Road: “He’s delusional with regards to the Labour party and Britain and to be honest I’ve never heard of him or…” Feb 16, 18:10
agentx on The Longest Road: “https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cgl59xj74rlo” Feb 16, 17:58
Arthur Martin on The Longest Road: “I’m delighted at this announcement. Great to see the SNP fighting on so many fronts and experiencing a taste of…” Feb 16, 17:43
Alf Baird on The Longest Road: “Well, they are certainly “a major problem” but I would argue the root ’cause’ is colonialism which makes them (and…” Feb 16, 17:38
Effijy on The Longest Road: “Interesting! Is this really an honourable quest for justice with his own funds, Where did those funds come from as…” Feb 16, 17:30
agentx on The Longest Road: “@ Bobo bunny. Did you even listen to the interview? I found him very straightforward with what he said and…” Feb 16, 17:29
GM on The Longest Road: “I certainly hope so. We will see.” Feb 16, 17:26
Sven on The Longest Road: ““The axe is broken, another we have yet to find”. Thankyou for that link, Fearghas, it moved my spirit.” Feb 16, 17:23
Doreen A Milne on The Longest Road: “Paul seems to be a decent bloke and I admire his commitment, financial and moral, to seeking justice and the…” Feb 16, 17:13
100%Yes on The Longest Road: “Either way Alf, we do have a major problem and its the SNP and Sturgeon who are the cause of…” Feb 16, 16:53
Bobo bunny on The Longest Road: “So what’s in it for him? By the time the case comes to court, the referendum will be over. Why…” Feb 16, 16:52
