Wendy hung out to dry by Brown

I just watched Prime Ministers Questions for the first time in a wee while, interesting to see the next Prime Minister having Gordon Brown over a barrel. He asked Gordon Brown, who had previously said that there’s a line in Britain that pitted "those of us who are prepared to support the shared values of the union" against "those who are prepared to play fast and loose with the union and put the whole future of the union at risk" and failed to back Wendy Alexander over her referendum calls, if he backed Wendy Alexander over her referendum calls.

Brown responded by stating that Wendy hadn’t said that, when asked again by Cameron if he backed Wendy he again refused to answer the question. It’s quite clear that Wendy has been cut adrift again by Gordon Brown. Although it’s difficult to see how she can remain as leader when the person who put her there refuses to back her it is difficult to see if this really is rock bottom for Wendy’s leadership or just another day.

A further to my last post and whether or not Labour can lodge a referendum bill:

From Scottish Parliament Standing Orders (9.14). Given that the SNP have clearly stated their intent to bring forward a Bill on this subject in the lifetime of this Parliament, any such Members’ Bill would fall.

12. The member who lodged the final proposal obtains the right to introduce a Bill to give effect to it only if—

(a) no later than the end of the period referred to in paragraph 11—

(i) at least 18 other members have notified the Clerk of their support for the final proposal; and

(ii) the members supporting the final proposal include members of at least half of the political parties (or groups formed under Rule 5.2.2) represented in the Parliamentary Bureau; and


(b) the Executive has not given, by the end of the period referred to in paragraph 11 (or has waived its right to give, within that period), an indication under paragraph 13. [see below]


13. An indication under this paragraph is an indication, given in writing by a member of the Scottish Executive or junior Scottish Minister to the member who lodged the final proposal and to the Clerk (who shall arrange for the indication to be printed in the Business Bulletin)—

(a) that the Executive will initiate legislation, within the same session, to give effect to the final proposal; or

(b) that Her Majesty’s Government has initiated or will initiate legislation, during the current or next session of the UK Parliament, to give effect to the final proposal.

The right to give such an indication may be waived at any time during the period referred to in paragraph 11 by notice in writing to the member who lodged the final proposal and to the Clerk; and such a notice shall be printed in the Business Bulletin.

What a weekend

I took a few days off blogging – effectively a long weekend – expecting nothing to have happened or been newsworthy over that period. Alas, how wrong I was.

As I wrote my last post on Friday I had no idea that the result of Thursday’s council elections in England and Wales were going to be anywhere near as good as they turned out to be. It’s fair to say that new Labour died on May 2nd. I also find the comparisons to John Major a tad unfair especially as Major at least had a mandate to be leader having won a leadership contest. I do find myself thoroughly agreeing with Euan McColm in the News of the World (not available online unfortunately) that Brown has only got himself to blame and barring a mistake of huge proportions David Cameron will be the next Prime Minister of the United Kingdom.

I was also thoroughly delighted to see Boris winning the London Mayoral Election on Friday. I do believe that Livingstone is a talented politician but him being voted out of office was another vote against Gordon Brown’s Labour Party. I even read Tony Benn blaming Thursday’s results on ‘Blairism’ and even the most ardent acolytes of Blair must accept that fact.

I think the biggest surprise of the weekend is over Labour’s stance on an independence referendum. I’m curious if she even knows what it is she is doing. When reading the article in the Sunday Mail, found here, I have to admit I didn’t really believe what I was reading but it quickly became apparent that Mark Aitken had a wee scoop on his hands judging by Monday’s coverage of the story at least.

Labour woes

No' a great day in camp Labour by any stretch of the imagination. It seems rather amusing that Labour are probably doing a bit better in Scotland than they are in England and Wales...