The former Scottish Secretary’s excuse for lying on air is a feeble, Hothersall-esque semantic dodge, and his excuse for not resigning is that his years of service as a constituency MP ought to outweigh the fact that a UK government minister abused his office and lied to the public in order to undermine the democratically-elected leader of Scotland and cling on to his own job.
Having now heard the case for the defence, readers can reach their own verdicts.
I was driving along under a lovely London sky yesterday and heard Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon’s interview on BBC Radio 4’s PM (package starts at 33.26).
As it progressed, it became clear that Sturgeon was turning in one of the best political performances on a radio programme ever. I say that as a Labour supporter, albeit one who’s belatedly grasping just how good she and her party folk are.
It’s for you, and then the pundits, to reflect on her words and style. But what I heard moved me across a line of argument in a way I can’t remember being moved by anyone on the radio or telly before.
This is a non-trivial matter. The (at the time) Secretary of State for Scotland seems to have just admitted deliberately and knowingly undermining the democratically-elected First Minister. The report may have been sneakily published on the eve of a Bank Holiday weekend, but we suspect this one won’t have gone away by Tuesday.
STV’s Stephen Daisley yesterday penned one of the more thoughtful analyses we’ve seen on the future of Labour, both UK and Scottish varieties, although it’s perhaps a bit heavy on “they should do things that are popular and will make people vote for them” and a bit light on what those things would actually be.
But there’s also this.
It’s a bit like watching a rabbit on a motorway explain that lights can’t hurt you.
Sorry for the wait, readers, but having fancy custom stuff made simply takes time.
However, we’re delighted to report that all of the donor perks for our 2015 fundraiser are now in our possession, and will be winging their way out to generous contributors over the next few days.
sam on Clocks And Calendars: “It seems the wife of a man accused of being a Chinese spy has been (allegedly) seeing the captain of…” Apr 1, 10:01
Geri on Protest But Don’t Survive: ““Let me guess, they were all foreign operatives. Soldiers fired machine guns indiscriminately into crowds of people on the street…” Apr 1, 09:44
Geri on Sicknote Slippers: “Don’t let it bother yer pretty wee head who people are voting for in Scotland. It won’t be Yoon unless…” Apr 1, 09:31
Mark Beggan on Clocks And Calendars: “Baby Trump says Losing very simple, two syllables. It takes courage to visit the winners building. Everybody who loses gets…” Apr 1, 09:19
Mark Beggan on Clocks And Calendars: “Baby Biden, Sleepy Joe says. Come on man that ain’t fair. What you going to say at the state of…” Apr 1, 09:01
Aidan on Sicknote Slippers: “@YL I mean that they aren’t showing up in the opinion polls, meaning they sit in the “Other parties” categories,…” Apr 1, 08:43
Young Lochinvar on Clocks And Calendars: “Baby Trump: Oh Lord, I’m only off the throne and Melanoma has come in for her Eastern European once a…” Apr 1, 08:27
Young Lochinvar on Clocks And Calendars: “Baby Trump; Uuuuurghhh! Squiiiiish.. Well good people of America- and democrats- latest update on truth social. All the Diet Coke-…” Apr 1, 08:01
Mark Beggan on Clocks And Calendars: “Baby Senator says Starmer fighting Trump is like a Crawfish having a fight with a lawnmower. Very brave and very…” Apr 1, 07:47
Young Lochinvar on Clocks And Calendars: “Baby Trump: Well, that’s it. Keir Starmer is no Winston Churchill – great guy, pity I never knew him -…” Apr 1, 07:21
Young Lochinvar on Clocks And Calendars: “I see militarily unaware Pete Hegseth is clawing the “big bad Royal Navy” should be pulling US and Is Rye…” Apr 1, 06:15
Young Lochinvar on Clocks And Calendars: “Baby Trump says it’s all going to be over in 2 or 3 weeks. So; strap in everybody for the…” Apr 1, 05:57
Peter McAvoy on Clocks And Calendars: “For how long and how often have you criticised others posting forthright comments about politicians and their perceived inability to…” Apr 1, 01:54
Derek on Clocks And Calendars: “Martial law? Or do you mean that everything is to be turned up to 11?” Apr 1, 00:24
Jamie on Sicknote Slippers: “Aidan, you miss the point. If winning elections was all that mattered I would still vote SNP as they are…” Mar 31, 22:56
James on Sicknote Slippers: “YL; ach, he/she/it’s only following the script. Only obeying orders….” Mar 31, 22:34
George Ferguson on Clocks And Calendars: “@Peter McAvoy Because you don’t get to tell others on this site they are bastards. So I am not your…” Mar 31, 21:08
Young Lochinvar on Sicknote Slippers: “Wet P1shfart says; “A vote for the SNP is a vote for my pension pot! Vote SNP, vote for comfy…” Mar 31, 21:06
Young Lochinvar on Sicknote Slippers: “Aidan @ 12.32 “Liberate not even registered in the polls yet”.. Wowser!! Curiouser and curiouser as there’s already both a…” Mar 31, 21:03
Young Lochinvar on Clocks And Calendars: “Malcolm Offord for comedian of the year award. It wouldn’t really be that difficult when you look at the rubbish…” Mar 31, 20:48
Peter McAvoy on Clocks And Calendars: “George How is contribution to you bank balance relevant about this issue? What is wrong with someone who opposed the…” Mar 31, 20:39
Young Lochinvar on Clocks And Calendars: “Yet another pedo pooftah caught out? They’re falling like nine pins at the mo.. And they were all supposed to…” Mar 31, 20:38
George Ferguson on Clocks And Calendars: “@Peter McAvoy I have checked my bank account and you are not a contributor. Dont you think we have been…” Mar 31, 20:13
Mark Beggan on Clocks And Calendars: “Let’s blame someone It’s obviously someone else’s fault. Let’s get together and dance around the crooked clock.” Mar 31, 20:09
Onlooker on Clocks And Calendars: “Look at these two clowns. Sarwar – parents paid for his shitty political career. Baillie – a pie-scoffing brain-flatline. And…” Mar 31, 19:42
Aidan on Sicknote Slippers: “Right so you are voting for Reform then are you? What is the point in voting for Alliance/Liberate. It is…” Mar 31, 19:30
robertkknight on Clocks And Calendars: “This has a familiar ring to it… “Former SNP candidate accused of sex offences” https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c5yx8rdryr0o Otherwise posted without comment.” Mar 31, 19:14
robertkknight on Clocks And Calendars: “That’s a sweeping but entirely accurate assessment of Scottish politics in general.” Mar 31, 19:11
100%Yes on Clocks And Calendars: “James Kelly, has become part of a bigger problem we have within the Independence movement, it’s been happening since Sturgeon…” Mar 31, 19:11
