Alex Salmond as the Terminator. Any way you slice it it’s a remarkable mental image from the mind of a clearly distraught James Kirkup of the Telegraph.
Apparently death wouldn’t stop him anyway. We’ve actually cut this clip before the point where the woman from the Economist calls the former First Minister a “zombie who just keeps on powering through to the end of the horror movie”. Of course, if you think of the Union as the horror movie, it’s not the worst analogy we’ve ever heard.
We’ve noted on a number of occasions that the BBC is fond of using the late-night papers review show on the News channel as a sneaky little Nat-bashing section in which London-based broadsheet journalists (always, always Unionists) get to display the full depth of their arrogant cluelessness about Scottish politics.
Last night’s, however, was quite something even by the usual standards.
In the wake of the story carried by many newspapers today about Scottish Labour changing its position on the devolution of taxation for (by our count) the 15th time, we thought it only fair that we should let each of the three candidates for the branch office managership explain it in their own words.
We’re certain that it’ll all be clear once they’re finished.
On last night’s Scotland Tonight, prospective Scottish Labour deputy “leader” Katy Clark MP told the nation that “it could be Scotland that lets us down”.
It wasn’t a slip of the tongue. By “us” she meant the Labour Party, and she went on to elaborate, telling the old Labour story about how UK general elections are about an Old Firm-style showdown betweeen two parties and how it was in essence the duty of Scots to vote Labour to keep the Tories out at Westminster, seemingly unaware that just as with the Old Firm, most people despise both of them pretty much equally.
(And conveniently overlooking the fact that Scots voted overwhelmingly Labour in 2010 and got the Tories anyway, as Labour obstinately refused to consider a “rainbow coalition” because they hated the SNP too much. What Scots learned that year was that Labour would rather let Tories rule Scotland than be civil to left-wing nationalists.)
The comments followed just a couple of days after Holyrood Magazine editor Mandy Rhodes had penned an article about the Scottish branch’s current woes that had a very telling first paragraph.
Jim Murphy has finally announced that he’ll stand for the leadership of the Scottish branch office of the UK Labour Party. Tonight he told the Daily Record that:
“I am not going to shout at or about the SNP, I am going to talk to and listen to Scotland.”
For any of you who might have forgotten, here’s some recent footage of how Jim listens to Scotland and avoids shouting about the SNP:
Our undercover agent inside Labour (whose identity we can’t reveal, other than their codename “Nasa Warsar”) just leaked us this internal security-camera footage from both the Scottish and UK party HQs at the time of Johann Lamont’s resignation.
Kate L on Governing For Beginners: “This is absolutely excellent. Enjoyed every word.” Jan 13, 22:09
Dunx on Governing For Beginners: “It’s not right wing to expect citizens to contribute to the state. “From each according to their ability…” Karl Marx.” Jan 13, 21:51
Hatey McHateface on Governing For Beginners: ““Truly America is chosen, though for what” Blethers, Alf. Just ask any of the tens of millions of illegals the…” Jan 13, 21:30
Alf Baird on Governing For Beginners: ““Truly America is chosen, though for what is open to much rumination.” Being an artificial imperial construct that systematically obliterated…” Jan 13, 21:11
Hatey McHateface on Governing For Beginners: “I am pleased, Dave, very pleased. My mates may or may not be winning, but so far, they’re not losing…” Jan 13, 21:07
Hatey McHateface on Governing For Beginners: ““Religion in the western world has had it’s day” Oh dear, Chas. Oh deary deary me. We’re into the end…” Jan 13, 20:37
Hatey McHateface on Governing For Beginners: ““I’m sure that’s how Stevenson saw it, too” Naw, you’re nae. You’ve found a good way to keep warm though,…” Jan 13, 20:25
Hatey McHateface on Governing For Beginners: “1707 is around one hour before I usually start my denner. On a school day. Weekends are less predictable.” Jan 13, 20:17
Northcode on Governing For Beginners: ““Well, I did study history at a Scottish university. At the time Sarah is talking about, pre-1707…” Hard to believe,…” Jan 13, 19:31
factchecker on Governing For Beginners: “Well, I did study history at a Scottish university. At the time Sarah is talking about, pre-1707, “direct democracy” as…” Jan 13, 19:00
Aidan on Grandpa John’s Nightmare: “Breaking into a factory and attacking a policewomen with a hammer so severely that it broke her spine is an…” Jan 13, 18:33
Rev. Stuart Campbell on Grandpa John’s Nightmare: ““And who is reporting on the woman on hunger strike languishing in an English jail for peaceful legitimate protest. Now…” Jan 13, 18:17
Stuart on Governing For Beginners: “Dictator! Not even close to being a patch on “Junta” by West End Games, the best evening of double crossing,…” Jan 13, 18:15
Lorna Campbell on Governing For Beginners: “I agree, Sarah, direct democracy as happens in Switzerland, with local referendums on anything of note. None (one hopes) of…” Jan 13, 16:36
Nae Need! on Governing For Beginners: “Excellent article, Alf. “keeping an oppressive elite in place” aye, rather than keeping them in THEIR place.” Jan 13, 16:30
Fearghas MacFhionnlaigh on Governing For Beginners: “FEY CASE O DR JEKYLL AN MR HYDE By Robert Louis Stevenson, translated into North-East Scots by Sheena Blackhall First…” Jan 13, 16:29
DaveL on Governing For Beginners: “…and you’re no comedian but I’m still laughing at you…’son’.” Jan 13, 16:11
Fearghas MacFhionnlaigh on Governing For Beginners: “Hopefully this link to Referendum campaign footage is direct: www.youtube.com/watch?v=aX1hNW_bzAI” Jan 13, 16:09
Fearghas MacFhionnlaigh on Governing For Beginners: “THE STRANGE CASE OF DR. JEKYLL AND MR. HYDE by Robert Louis Stevenson 1. STORY OF THE DOOR « Mr.…” Jan 13, 15:50
Fearghas MacFhionnlaigh on Governing For Beginners: “More on NORMAND LESTER… Interspersed in this 2013 archive footage from our 2014 Referendum campaign is portentous feedback from two…” Jan 13, 15:26
DaveL on Governing For Beginners: “Unable? It could be she chooses for whatever reason not to engage. What research have you undertaken that makes you…” Jan 13, 15:01
Lorna Campbell on Governing For Beginners: “What a great piece of journalism, Rev. Absolutely spot on, too. The thing is, we think – or many do…” Jan 13, 14:21
Northcode on Governing For Beginners: “Caledonian Antisyzygy (from Greek, syzygy meaning alignment), or the “Scottish disjunction”, is a term coined by the Scottish literary critic…” Jan 13, 13:59
Northcode on Governing For Beginners: ““The World would be a far better place without any religion.” Aye, maybe so, but judging by world events it…” Jan 13, 13:55
factchecker on Governing For Beginners: “In reply to my question for Sarah, DaveL says: 13 January, 2026 at 11:51 am Here you go again, you’re…” Jan 13, 13:54
The Flying Iron of Doom on Governing For Beginners: “There is always emulation, this being the best way to use your telly now that they only broadcast pish. Why…” Jan 13, 13:46
