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Scottish Parliament election

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A break with tradition

  • Brian Taylor
  • 18 May 07, 12:47 PM

By ancient tradition - OK, eight years - opposition leaders crack a few funnies when Holyrood ratifies new ministers.

This week Murdo Fraser was witty, Tavish Scott was droll. Jack McConnell looked like he'd swallowed a particularly toxic wasp.

For why? Well, I suppose it's hard to smile when you've lost office, your car, your salary and your status. Tavish managed it, though.

But there's more. Labour doesn't intend to play by established rules.

They're in opposition, of course, but they will also operate like a standing alternative government.

They'll introduce legislation through members and committee bills. They want a say - a real say - in the executive's budget proposals.

Jack McConnell is the king over the water, waiting for his people to call again.

To help him in stirring that call, he has today appointed a new front bench team, mirroring exactly the ministerial structure of the SNP's government.

It's welcome back to the front bench for Wendy Alexander - who stepped down from Cabinet in 2002 to regain the freedom to think great thoughts. Presumably we will see the results of that exercise when she goes head to head with John Swinney.

I think we can now fairly say that the elections are over.

It's on with governing - and opposing. Which means it's time to sign off this blog.

But fret not: I've been given licence to blog regularly about Scottish politics.

I hope you can join me at my new blog, which you can find by clicking here.

Comments   Post your comment

  • 1.
  • At 02:41 PM on 18 May 2007,
  • christownsend wrote:

Thanks for keeping us up to date throughout this election Brian. I for one will be visiting your new blog regularly. Having moved north of the border a couple of years ago, this whole escapade has been my first real chance to engage with politics Scottish style, and quite frankly now I'm hooked!

  • 2.
  • At 02:43 PM on 18 May 2007,
  • Sandy Brownlee wrote:

Great stuff Brian, with an interesting four years ahead it'll be great to have your insightful blogging continue!

  • 3.
  • At 02:56 PM on 18 May 2007,
  • christownsend wrote:

Thanks for keeping us up to date throughout this election Brian. I for one will be visiting your new blog regularly. Having moved north of the border a couple of years ago, this whole escapade has been my first real chance to engage with politics Scottish style, and quite frankly now I'm hooked!

  • 4.
  • At 02:58 PM on 18 May 2007,
  • DisgustedDorothy wrote:

Perhaps Brian can tell me why the powers that be are so against the Scottish people being asked a simple question.I can't quite grasp the insurmountable obstacle this creates,no matter how I try.Surely in a democracy-like the one we are trying to force on other countries-it should be the will of the people which counts? Is it merely that 'if we don't ask the question then we don't have to deal with the results?'

  • 5.
  • At 03:46 PM on 18 May 2007,
  • Charlie wrote:

What an excellent blog. Perhaps symbolic of the newly elected Parliament? You have been witty without resorting to cynicism and optimistic without pulling punches (especially over the 100,000 lost votes).
Right, enough back slapping - let's watch the next chapter in Scottish history unfold.

  • 6.
  • At 04:14 PM on 18 May 2007,
  • Alan Addison wrote:

I'm so glad your going to keep blogging.

Your blog was essential reading for me during the election, it was very informative and your knowledge of Scottish Politics is awesome.

Keep up the good work.

  • 7.
  • At 04:34 PM on 18 May 2007,
  • Cocteau8 wrote:

I agree, DisgustedDorothy - I see know reason why 'the question' can't be asked and fail to see why the pro-devolution Lib Dems disapprove of the asking, especially given that at the moment and bearing in mind they are against independence, the answer would probably be a clear 'no' and the question would be put to bed for a few years. Having said that, I'm not too sure about the 'will of the people' bit - an election that results in a minority administration by virtue of the SNP having one further seat than Labour, forgetting about the anti-referendum Tories and Lib Dems, is hardly the will of the people when considering such a fundamental issue as independence.

  • 8.
  • At 11:35 PM on 18 May 2007,
  • Stuart wrote:

Fantastic commetary as always - though surely the king over the water was the legitimate heir and Salmond & co now have the popular vote? To align Jack with the (unfortunate) Stuart dynasty is clearly off the mark...

  • 9.
  • At 12:11 AM on 19 May 2007,
  • Jonathan wrote:

Great to see you're continuing the blog: it gives insight into Scottish politics that other channels fail to do. But I suppose that with all the drama there's more interesting stuff to report.

  • 10.
  • At 04:47 AM on 19 May 2007,
  • Michael McFarlane wrote:

I almost always understand the issues when you explain them - (why do many MSPs find it difficult to explain matters?) - but you must have not been yourself when you wrote some of the above?. "King over the water"?, I don't really get that. I'll just assume the water your talking about, is the water on his brain. As for "waiting for his people to call again"?, I for one will never again be "calling" for him or Labour as long as they think of us as children lacking the intelligence that only they have, and which is why they should be in power. He can go and jump in the water, and take Wendy Alexander with him. I don't know, but if she is as good as we are told?, maybe she should be given the post vacated by Paul Wolfowitz at the World Bank.

  • 11.
  • At 03:46 PM on 22 May 2007,
  • Derick fae Yell wrote:

Er, did the original King over the Water not die in lonely and bitter obscurity?

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