Thursday, July 30, 2015

Why has disgraced MP Alistair Carmichael just been appointed the Lib Dems' Shadow Home Secretary?

Labour's current Shadow Home Secretary is Yvette Cooper.  Imagine it became clear that she had been guilty of serious wrongdoing, and she reacted by saying : "This incident would have required my resignation if I'd been the actual Home Secretary, but as it is I'm just going to carry on as if nothing has happened."  Do you think that would have been considered tenable?  Of course not.  If you're not a fit and proper person to be a Cabinet minister, then you're not a fit and proper person to be a Shadow Cabinet member.

When Alistair Carmichael admitted knowingly lying over the "Frenchgate" affair, he carefully attempted to draw a distinction between his role as an MP and as an ex-Cabinet minister.  He insisted that the matter did not require his resignation as an MP, but acknowledged that it would have required his resignation as a Cabinet minister had he still been in office.  Conveniently, his position in the Liberal Democrat Shadow Cabinet did not arise, as it appears that no such body existed at the time.

But it exists now.  Tim Farron unveiled his list of spokespeople yesterday, and Alistair Carmichael has been given the Home Affairs brief.  He is, effectively, the Liberal Democrats' Shadow Home Secretary, just weeks after acknowledging that he could not possibly have carried on as Scottish Secretary.  How does that work exactly?  OK, we know that the Lib Dems are "the party of rehabilitation", but surely to goodness they haven't completed his rehabilitation already?

If only they were this quick when it comes to delivering federalism and electoral reform.

* * *

Meanwhile, Lib Dem Voice have continued to burnish their credentials as one of Britain's leading comedy websites, by describing Farron's new line-up as "the most diverse shadow cabinet team in the party’s history". As Sophia Pangloss pointed out on Twitter, the team actually includes more Baronesses (eight) than elected MPs (six). But don't be cynical - the Lib Dems have a really diverse range of Baronesses.

And at least they're making us feel nostalgic - this is the first time in several decades that any party's Cabinet or Shadow Cabinet has been drawn primarily from the unelected House of Lords. It's just like the good old days with Lord Palmerston.

57 comments:

  1. Sadly this is what I expect from the Lib Dems, completely without principles, well what they have they can change. I can see another donation to the Orkney Fighting Fund going North.

    ReplyDelete
  2. It was only the sweaties that he lied to.

    ReplyDelete
  3. The level of arrogance on show here, by the leader of a party that was trashed at the GE but a few weeks ago, is astounding. It's the old political game of trying to rehabilitate a colleague of destroyed reputation, by appointing him in a high profile position! Why do so many politicians think they can manipulate public opinion in this way? They obviously have astronomical opinions of themselves. Most politicians that succeed do so in spite of their abilities, not because of them.

    Alistair Carmichael is halfway down the waste pipe of history, and he is dragging what's left of his party down with him. If Fallon had shown courage abd publically called for Carmichael to resign and stand again, I would have respected him. Hell, Carmichael may have even scraped back in! But no, he had to take the easy way out, for very short-term gain. Such is the LibDem way.

    ReplyDelete
  4. When Farron defended Carmichael over Frenchgate on Good Morning Scotland the other week, I was prepare to think, 'Well, what else could he have said?' since there are only 8 of them now. But his giving Carmichael this fairly prominent position (relevant to devo max and the Scotland Bill, of course) indicates that he thinks Carmichael has no cause to answer and is not toxic to the LD 'brand'. This shows a lack of principle and a lack of political nous.

    ReplyDelete
  5. Fallon claims Carmichael deserves a second chance.
    That is fair enough----but only through the ballot box.
    The electorate deserve a second chance as well, and this time with all the facts.
    .
    Looks like Cleggy will be going to the Lords.
    See how the Lib Dumbs fare then.

    ReplyDelete
  6. Glasgow Working ClassJuly 30, 2015 at 7:02 PM

    Poor Nat sis getting upset at Carmichael. I do seem to recall sister Nicola the new immaculate conception making a snide comment towards Jack McConnell regarding him having a holiday with a TV pundit and schoolfriend. You Nat sis can dish it out but do not like the shit hitting you back.
    So what progressive policies do you have for enhancing the lives of the lower classes? On a fag paper please.

    ReplyDelete
  7. Replies
    1. Glasgow Working ClassJuly 30, 2015 at 9:06 PM

      Well she is long gone pan breid but could spot a Nat si from a distance. So what policies do the Nat sis have for furthering the well being of the working classes or do you lot of Tartan Tories just continue giving money to the Souter's and railway franchise's. Answer the fooking questions Nat sis.

      Delete
    2. Tell you what, Glasgow Working Class, why don't you go on a wee trip to America. Have a look around, get to know the locals, ask them some questions.

      Ask them if they're happy that the average cost for healthcare insurance in the USA is now over $20,000 a year for a family of 4 (equivalent to approx £1000 a month). http://www.forbes.com/sites/danmunro/2012/05/18/annual-family-healthcare-costs-surge-past-20000/

      Ask them is they enjoy having only 10 days paid holiday a year on average compared to 28 in the UK and even then it's not guaranteed. http://www.psmag.com/business-economics/the-united-states-is-last-among-advanced-countries-in-paid-vacations-and-holidays-63857

      Ask them if they like having no guaranteed maternity leave. http://national.deseretnews.com/article/4450/us-one-of-only-two-nations-without-guaranteed-paid-maternity-leave.html

      Ask them if they enjoy having limited workers rights, little union representation, a massive gap between rich and poor and one of the highest crime rates in the world. Ask them what it's like to have a baby born with a heart condition then find you are unable to get health insurance for them.

      Once you've done all that come home and take a long hard look at our tory government an realise that this is exactly the system that they hope to put in place in the UK, where corporations rule, where the elite no longer where the tax burden is moved to the individual.

      Have a think about how George Osborne has boasted that he is taking UK spending levels back to pre-war, pre-welfare state levels.

      Have a think about how he claims the UK is no longer able to afford the Welfare State.

      http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/budget/10487295/Autumn-Statement-2013-Britain-can-no-longer-afford-welfare-state-warns-Osborne.html

      Have a think about how human and workers rights are being eroded and the powers of unions being wiped out.

      http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2015/may/14/tories-war-on-trade-unions-public-support-strike-sajid-javid

      http://www.politics.co.uk/comment-analysis/2015/05/19/everything-you-need-to-know-about-the-tories-human-rights-ac

      Have a think about how they are trying to introduce private healthcare, private pensions, private insurance for unemployment.

      https://www.opendemocracy.net/ournhs/richard-grimes/government-moves-to-consider-nhs-user-charges

      http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/politics/georgeosborne/11754609/Is-this-the-end-of-National-Insurance.html

      http://www.theguardian.com/politics/2015/jul/13/david-cameron-open-to-workers-saving-up-fund-own-sick-pay

      Then realise, for it is true, that within a decade the UK will be socially and economically indistinguishable from the USA. Cry tears at the fact there is no opposition to them, that our labour movement has been hijacked by right wing Blairites who have made the party unelectable, even their own advisers admit they are unelectable for a decade.

      At which point please do come back here and let us what YOU think will become of the working class after a further decade under the tories. Tell us why you think they will be better off under the neo-liberal corporate, elitist society that the tories are creating compared to the social democracy that we are being deprived of by staying in this corrupt, stinking union.

      Perhaps then the penny will drop as to why your childish behaviour, calling us all Nazi English haters, is having exactly zero impact on independence supporters who frequent this site and which is, quite frankly, just showing you up for the ignorant, ill informed, misguided wee fanny that you most certainly are.

      Now go away and stop wasting our time with your trivial little insults because the adults here have got work to do.

      Delete
    3. Glasgow Working ClassJuly 30, 2015 at 11:11 PM

      And your point caller! Now what are the progressive policies proposed by the Nat sis to enhance the conditions of the working classes? Waiting in anticipation. Nat si flag waving excluded.

      Delete
    4. I once attended a board meeting where a colleague's hyperactive 4 year old who had yet to learn social skills ran riot round the room. When chastised by his father he cried "I hate you you smelly poo."

      Guess who he reminds me of, Glasgow Working Class Ukipper.

      Delete
  8. Glasgow working man my arse!! You are obviously a no voter so how's that working out for you. Slam the SNP all you want but if you truly are working class then even to a gonk like you it must be blatantly obvious the Union and Westminster under what ever Tory colour has rammed you and while continue to ram you. Hate the SNP all you like but don't come on here bleating about social justice when our society is being dragged back 200 years leaving whoever is in control at Holyrood fire fighting against HM Governments policies. Indepence brought people from all walks of life together to make something better for the all the people of this country but most of all the working class. People in work go hungry or cold in this country that is 1 of the richest in the world so from one Glasgow man to another" away n take your face for a shite "

    ReplyDelete
  9. Glasgow working man my arse!! You are obviously a no voter so how's that working out for you. Slam the SNP all you want but if you truly are working class then even to a gonk like you it must be blatantly obvious the Union and Westminster under what ever Tory colour has rammed you and while continue to ram you. Hate the SNP all you like but don't come on here bleating about social justice when our society is being dragged back 200 years leaving whoever is in control at Holyrood fire fighting against HM Governments policies. Indepence brought people from all walks of life together to make something better for the all the people of this country but most of all the working class. People in work go hungry or cold in this country that is 1 of the richest in the world so from one Glasgow man to another" away n take your face for a shite "

    ReplyDelete
  10. Is Alistair Carmichael really 'disgraced'? The ferrero rocher incident involved the leaking of information that was in the public interest. If the contents of the memo weren't accurate, that's the fault of the civil service - not Carmichael.

    As for the 'social justice can only be obtained through independence' type posts, aren't we forgetting the new powers that will offer far more scope for borrowing and the raising of tax? If the SNP wishes it, they can do wealth redistribution of their own under the umbrella of the UK. I'm still waiting to hear their plans though.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Carmichael is disgraced because he lied, rather than because he leaked (he could have checked the accuracy of course, instead of believing it because it would have been so handy).

      Similarly, his colleagues were disgraced because they broke their pledge on tuition fees, rather than for supporting the rise per se.

      Delete
    2. There was no public interest in leaking the "information", and in any case that's beside the point. Carmichael is disgraced because he breached strict ministerial protocols, and brazenly lied to the public about his involvement.

      As for the SNP "doing wealth redistribution within the UK", all they have the power to do is bail water from a sinking ship.

      Delete
    3. Glasgow Working ClassJuly 30, 2015 at 11:22 PM

      James the SNP have no interest in wealth distribution. If they attempted that they would face the same oblivion as Labour in Scotland although Labour never attempted wealth distribution. It is about spin James. Just look at the so called SNP pretend former lefties elected to Westminster. Not one idea from them to enhance the conditiohs of the working class and poorer in society. Just spin and verbal diahorea. They have the chance to propose getting rid of the Lords and wasters but will not. They will take the shilling.

      Delete
    4. How is the ship sinking, exactly?

      The tories have introduced cuts. In my opinion, necessary cuts. But it appears the majority of my countrymen don't agree. Fair enough - put up the tax and fill the mouths of the hungry. The new powers over control of revenues and income tax bands will allow the SNP to do that. I think they're probably afraid to do it though. Are we ruled by mice or lions?

      Regarding Carmichael, had the info been true, then it most certainly would have been in the public interest. Had Sturgeon ran on an anti austerity, anti tory ticket whilst secretly backing the tories, then that definitely would have came under 'public interest'.

      I'm aware Carmichael lied. He obviously shouldn't have. But the SNP told plenty of lies too, during the referendum campaign (which I'm sure we can all agree, was instrumental in their General Election success).

      Damning Carmichael and holding a by-election in his seat would set a dangerous precedent for all parties, not least the SNP.

      It will be chucked out.

      Delete
    5. Socialism, egalitarianism and equality are always extremely attractive concepts to people. Even I get teary eyed at the end of Le Mis when the defeated rebels fly the red flag high. But try asking people to pay for it. Try asking them to back their principles with their wallets and purses and, before you know it, you have a new swathe of recruits to the conservative party.

      Delete
    6. Glasgow Working ClassJuly 30, 2015 at 11:53 PM

      Why are the cuts necessary. I assume you want the rich not to pay and suffer the indignaty for food banks.

      Delete
    7. The cuts are necessary because the size of the welfare state ballooned under labour to unmanageable levels and now we have a 90 billion deficit to get under control. People have been allowed to essentially choose to live off the backs of others. Women have multiple children by multiple partners simply to get a house + benefits. Then those children grow up failing to properly value things like education and the value of money and property simply because they believe they can follow in the footsteps of their parents, kick back, relax, and let the taxpayer do all the work - and the whole sorry cycle starts again.

      This country doesn't need more welfarism, it needs a lot less. People need to stand on their own two feet again. Welfare should be reduced back to the absolute bare minimum - otherwise our nation will undergo a kind of 'moral heart attack'. It's already started. Look around you.

      Delete
    8. Glasgow Working ClassJuly 31, 2015 at 12:42 AM

      Where are you looking Aldo. Your own interests maybe and fuck the poor. Typical Tartan Tory Nat si.

      Delete
    9. Glasgow Working Class, I am not a "nat si". I would sooner skewer myself in the eye with a diseased rusty spike than vote SNP or Yes. I'm a tory - although my loyalties are flexible at the moment (basically, whoever stands a realistic chance of beating the SNP).

      As for my views, let's just say I work at the sharp end of social degradation. I know what the problems in this country are - and it's not top hatted toffs twirling their moustaches and indulging in self abuse at the thought of poor people.

      Delete
  11. Glasgow Working ClassJuly 30, 2015 at 11:03 PM

    Sad person you had to repeat your nonsense as if the first was relevant to the class struggle. Does your hand fall asleep with boredom in your scratcher.

    ReplyDelete
  12. How long is it now until the court declares 'no case to answer' in the case of Carmichael vs SNP saor losers? Two months?

    Will the saor losers be fined for wasting the court's time and will that be paid through crowd funding too? :0)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. A legal expert as well? Is there no end to your talents?

      I'm not sure whether "saor losers" is more groan-worthy than "Nat sis". Are you quite sure you two aren't the same person?

      Delete
    2. I would never use "nat sis" (Godwin's Law).

      I'm no legal expert but I've seen enough of this stuff to know it will be a whitewash - and an expensive one for SNP members by the looks of it.

      Delete
    3. "I'm not a legal expert but I am."

      Delete
    4. Putting aside partisanship for the moment, do you think this case is helpful to the SNP? Possessing 56 seats out of 59 and using these machinations to try and gain a 57th could look like greed. It could also look like arrogance in an area where the unionist : nationalist ratio is easily 2 to 1.

      The residents could hand Carmichael (or his replacement) an even larger majority. Labour and the tories might stand down to give the lib dem a clear run?

      Remember Winchester 1997? Mark Oaten narrowly defeated the tory candidate and the tory then forced a rerun. This resulted in Oaten winning the seat by a landslide. To me, this bares resemblance to what might happen in O & S.

      And the less said about Mark Oaten post 1997, the better, hehe!

      Delete
    5. "I'm not a legal expert but I am"

      Don't be naive, James.

      Delete
    6. Glasgow Working ClassJuly 31, 2015 at 12:56 AM

      56 seats and impotent. What a lack of of waste of Scottish influence in the World. Bunch of absolute wasters with no knowledge of World politics. Bunch of sponging pretenders. They shame Scotland with their verbal non progressive clap trap. Well that is Nat sis the world over.

      Delete
    7. Indeed. The "feeble 56". A big opposition bloc of MPs with no power over the government other than threatening to tinker in fox hunting laws. Their continual petty, juvenile stunts embarrass Scotland and make us look like a bunch of hicks.

      Delete
    8. "Don't be naive, James."

      Thankyou for making me laugh with that completely random, nonsensical reply!

      I feel like I've said this a few times recently (without much of a response from you, it has to be said) but do you fancy a small wager on your apparent belief that an Orkney and Shetland by-election would follow the same pattern as Winchester 1997, with a landslide Lib Dem victory? Bet to be void if no by-election occurs. I shall naturally require your real name and contact details.

      Delete
  13. James,
    Can you not just block these trolls?

    I like coming to this site for intelligent analysis and comment.

    Sadly getting diminished. But there is an easy solution.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I can see you're a democrat.

      Sorry to barge in on your self congratulatory back patting contest but once in a while it may be helpful to actually engage with someone of a different opinion?

      Delete
    2. Hear hear. There's nothing more disappointing than seeing more comments have been posted, then realising it's just them again. If they're trying to drive readers away, they're doing it right.

      Delete
    3. Rolfe, if it wasn't for us so called "trolls" (i.e. people who disagree with nationalism), then the no. of posts per thread on this blog would be rather pitiful. Come on, we bring a bit of life to the forum. Would you rather just have a nationalist orgy of self congratulation and self reinforcement - having LOST the referendum? I don't think that's any kind of formula for success. Know your enemy.

      Delete
    4. "Rolfe, if it wasn't for us so called "trolls" (i.e. people who disagree with nationalism), then the no. of posts per thread on this blog would be rather pitiful."

      Rubbish. The archives are full of threads with dozens of comments without your helpful "contribution".

      "Know your enemy."

      You're not the enemy. You're a Scottish Tory. You're a frustrated spectator.

      Delete
    5. Frustrated? Not a bit. We had a "no" vote followed by a conservative victory. 2014 was the cake - 2015 was the icing on the cake.

      Sure, the Scottish tories are on 15%. But I'm getting what I want regardless. In that case I wouldn't care if it were 0.1%, to be honest.

      James, I've popped in here on occasion when I and other contrarians haven't been so active. Effie Deans has more traffic!

      Delete
    6. This blog has had 30,000 unique visitors in the last month. It had 40,000 in the month leading up to the general election. Sorry to disappoint you, but no, Effie Deans does not get more traffic.

      Funny sort of "icing on the cake" when unionist representation is all but wiped out, but hey, it;s great that you're happy with almost nothing.

      Delete
    7. I agree. These guys are pests. It would be okay if they said their piece on the topic at hand and responded (politely) to those who had anything to say about their thoughts. But instead it's just diatribes of the same rubbish, usually not on-topic.

      On another thread the other day, I was thinking just as Rolfe said, that it was getting to be a disappointment coming here and thinking 'ooh, lot of comments! Must be some robust debate going on' only to find it was mostly drivel and name-calling.

      At least when there was the debate over the Holyrood list vote between SNP and Green supporters, it was largely respectful. So, yes, coming here and spamming the same nonsense and hurling insults *is* trolling. The very definition of it, in fact.

      Delete
    8. @Aldo

      "Sure, the Scottish tories are on 15%. But I'm getting what I want regardless. In that case I wouldn't care if it were 0.1%, to be honest."

      I am appalled by that viewpoint. So, you're really saying that even if your chosen political party only had 0.1% of the vote share, you would still be happy? So if a few tens of thousands of people agree with you, against the millions of other eligible voters in the country, that's okay?

      Proud of that, are you?

      "I can see you're a democrat"

      Don't make me laugh!

      Delete
    9. "Know your enemy"
      Unionists are not my enemies. They are brothers, father in laws, neighbours. We all know their viewpoints- they're in virtually every newspaper and TV channel. And they know ours. But they dont troll on here because they have enough common sense to know that would be as productive as trying to persuade the regulars on astronomy.com that the Earth is flat.

      And if you did that, the mods would quite rightly delete your nonsense.

      Delete
  14. GWC where are the socialist policies of the SNP? What about free higher education, free prescriptions, free care for the elderly, the freeze on council tax and now the land reform bill to name a few. I would vote SSP in an Indy Scotland or maybe a truly Scottish Labour party no that pretendy shite we have at the minute. I know the SNP are not out and out socialists but the fact they are left of the Labour party shows you how far the Labour movement has been hijacked with fuds like McTernan and Murphy. Aldo the Scottish Tory, the welfare bill is too high I admit that but it is nothing compared to the tax avoidance your chums seem to be able to avoid paying. How anyone in Scotland can vote Tory is beyond me, your lot sowed the seeds of nationalism with your treatment of my country and its people. You talk about welfare it was Thatcher who put a once proud industrious people on the dole and raped our natural resources to pay for it. I pay into a welfare system in the hope I never need it but if I do I want it to be there. God help you if you or your partner have to give up work because of poor health or to look after a disabled child or elderly relative. The Tories can rot in hell. The union is tearing apart at the seems and if you want to live under a Tory government that is determined to strip society bare then move. It was a no vote but it was conditional, 1 last chance there will be no more. We will always be kissing England's ring for as long as numpties like you are happy to be a region rather than a sovereign nation. I was a no voter that moved to yes after about 6 months because I couldn't listen to my country and my people being run down any longer. If we were truly better together and part of an equal union then we wouldn't even be having this conversation. And as for the feeble 56, I am more proud of them than any London whipped pussys that either red,blue or yellow Tories could muster. We are not north Britain we are Scotland, one of the oldest countries on earth and we want it back

    ReplyDelete
  15. I would like these trolls blocked too. They don't post information just opinion, and their opinion is very much to mock and to torment, not to opine.

    ReplyDelete
  16. Glasgow Working Class; turning up on every blog post to spout illogical nonsense about 'Nat sis' - cringeworthy as that term isis - does not strike me as constructive or valuable debate. Sometimes, you just have to block these idiots. I'm all for democracy, but not at the detriment or expense of meaningful discussions. Block them, James, please.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. As I've explained before, I can't block anyone - there's no option to do that. At best, I could delete every single comment manually, but sometimes I wouldn't see them for several hours and the offence would still be caused. The only other option would be to introduce pre-moderation, which would completely kill spontaneous discussion.

      Delete
  17. No don't block them, they only inforce why people are repelled by the whole Westminster system. Britain or the union for me anyway was never the problem in itself but the way it has been administered and biased towards the SE. They blame the nationalist movement for breaking up the UK without taking any blame themselves. The union of 300 years ago was not fit for a modern democracy, good will to have a federal UK would have seen it last another 300 but that route is now closed it has went too far. The union will be dissolved, the gutless Labour party and a Tory government will bring it sooner than the SNP

    ReplyDelete
  18. No don't block them, they only inforce why people are repelled by the whole Westminster system. Britain or the union for me anyway was never the problem in itself but the way it has been administered and biased towards the SE. They blame the nationalist movement for breaking up the UK without taking any blame themselves. The union of 300 years ago was not fit for a modern democracy, good will to have a federal UK would have seen it last another 300 but that route is now closed it has went too far. The union will be dissolved, the gutless Labour party and a Tory government will bring it sooner than the SNP

    ReplyDelete
  19. Honestly James, if you don't at least start deleting comments with "nat sis" in them, I think I'll stop reading. That's not debate, it's just deliberate insult.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hear, hear. Ad hominem comments like that are not argument but insult and aggression.

      Delete
    2. Glasgow Working ClassJuly 31, 2015 at 6:26 PM

      I am attempting to find out if you Nat sis have any progressive policies in mind.
      You are anti English so Nat sis is appropriate.

      Delete
  20. Going on topic, there were two council by-elections in Aberdeen yesterday (caused by resignations of the two people elected as MPs for Aberdeen in May).

    https://twitter.com/AberdeenCC

    "Returning Officer, Angela Scott has announced that Stephen Flynn (SNP) has be elected Cllr for the Kincorth/Nigg/Cove ward with 1939 votes"

    "The vote turn out for the Kincorth/Nigg/Cove ward is 3,205 (25.25%)"

    "Returning Officer, Angela Scott has announced that Neil Copland (SNP) has been elected Cllr for Hilton/Woodside/Stockethill with 1690 votes"

    "The vote turn out for the Hilton/Woodside/Stockethill ward is 3,099 (25.72%)"

    Both must have been elected on first round (60% and 55% of the vote respectively).

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I think there are a lot more by-elections next week, mostly in Glasgow.

      Delete
  21. "Returning Officer, Angela Scott has announced that Neil Copland (SNP) has been elected Cllr for Hilton/Woodside/Stockethill with 1690 votes"

    The O.O. won't like that.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Har har.

      http://ukgeneralelection2020.blogspot.co.uk/2015/07/council-by-election-results-30th-july.html

      Hilton / Woodside / Stockethill change since 2012:

      SNP 55.1% (+19.6)
      Lab 25.1% (-19.9)
      Con 11.4% (+6.0)
      Grn 4.2% (+1.6)
      LD 4.1% (+ 0.2)

      Aberdeen, Kincorth / Nigg / Cove change since 2012:

      SNP 61.0% (+26.9)
      Lab 19.1% (-18.8)
      Con 9.8% (+4.5)
      LD 6.5% (-1.6)
      Grn 3.6% (didn't stand)

      NB there were some independent candidates at the 2012 council elections, but none in the by-elections.

      Delete
  22. James

    The issue for me was that AC lied about his involvement in the memo rather than the memo it'self. I never suspected for one minute that the memo was true, whatever anyone thinks of NS she is not stupid, and even if she thought a Tory win was good for the independence cause, she would never say it publicly, so the memo for me was just not a big deal.

    Now I will admit to being a member of the Liberal Democrats but where I disagree with Tim Farron is that I would not have appointed AC to the shadow cabinet, esp given the court case etc. But over and above that I also think that Scotland has changed to a degree when it comes to dirty politics and will not accept that any more, rightly. AC may well be entitled to a second chance in the eys of many, and I respect their right to hold that view, but I do tend to have sympathy with the view that the second chance is at the ballot box.

    Aldo - I think you will find that by far the largest part of the increase in social security is actually older people rather than the unemployed etc. The answers to how we support older people now and in the future is beyond my grasp at the moment but social security to those other than older is a small proportion of the overall social security budget.

    Bruce

    ReplyDelete