Iain Macwhirter
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Iain Gray. Bute House. But why?
George Galloway for the Scottish Parliament? Bring it on. At least he’d liven things up a bit – and no catty remarks at the back, please. Nor should “Georgeous George”, who announced his candidature this week, be underestimated. He was the youngest ever chair of the Scottish Labour Party and one of the most vibrant … Continue reading
Does Ed have the balls?
Politicians in trouble traditionally say that they are resigning to spend more time with their families. Alan Johnson’s resignation last week over ‘personal issues’ was unusual in that it seemed for once to be genuine. That’s not to say that there weren’t political reasons also for his departure. Had the shadow chancellor been performing supremely … Continue reading
Tommy Sheridan v Andy Coulson. It’s not over.
What a performance. Gail Sheridan’s declaration of faith in her husband Tommy on the steps of the High Court yesterday was straight out of country and western iconography. Talk about standing by your man. Shame Tammy Wynette isn’t still around to sing about it. Gail’s man had just been jailed for three years … Continue reading
It’s over for the bankers. No, Really.
I’d hoped to avoid writing about banksters for a while, but how can you? Prime Minister’s Question Time was once again dominated by bankers behaving badly following, the news that Eric Daniels of Lloyds group, is getting his snout in the trough to the tune of £2m. Playing catch up with that other state-owned banker … Continue reading
Old and Sad: Liberal Democrats down the plughole
“At least we didn’t disappear down the plug hole”, remarked the Liberal Democrat President, Tim Farron the last week after the Oldham and Saddleworth by-election. True, but I fear Liberalism is going doon the stank nevertheless. The Tories came third, but David Cameron was the real winner. There was very little for the … Continue reading
Banker bonuses? Give them to everyone.
There’s a very simply answer to the problem of banker bonuses. Give them to everybody. No, I’m serious. The banks are only in existence because of the hundreds of billions in state support. Had it not been for the guarantee of public money to back up their dodgy asset base, not just direct capital … Continue reading
Is the financial crisis really over?
Shake off that New Year hangover; it’s time to party. After two and a half years of unmitigated gloom, economists and commentators are entering 2011 full of optimism. At least, the 78 business analysts and economists polled by the Financial Times this week are. They’ve concluded that there is no double dip recession and … Continue reading
Predictions 2011
It’s prediction time again, and another chance for political commentators to fall flat on their faces. Who could have forecast, twelve months ago, that the Liberal Democrats would be in government by now? Or that the Scottish transport minister would resign because he got the weather forecast wrong? Or that Vince Cable would become public … Continue reading
Iain Macwhirter 