FMQs - 26 Feb

Watched FMQs this afternoon and I have to say, blah.

Iain Gray's line of questioning was... bizarre. It looks like he's trying to put himself above politics and, adopting an exasperated tone, he queried the First Minister taking economic direction from Sir George Mathewson. Salmond batted it away pretty effectively and shrugged it off.

Annabel Goldie wanted the FM to meet the Prime Minister again and discuss the economy - and how the Scottish Government is going to find efficieny savings. Salmond again was effective in response - citing Rhodri Morgan (Welsh FM) and his reaction to money cuts in Wales. But she gets him on the next point - if he Salmond really thinks that the VAT cut was a bad move, why did SNP MPs vote for it? Floundered a bit on the answer - and didn't really give one.

Tavish Scott went on banking bonuses and pensions, which the First Minister agreed with. But then asked about discussions between the FM and the PM - why do they have to be conflict driven. Again Salmond's answer cited the response of the (Labour) First Minister of Wales and the (DUP) First Minister of Northern Ireland in agreement with him and suggested that if they - of different political parties - could agree that the Prime Minister's plans were questionable, then surely the leader of the Scottish Liberal Democrats could agree as well.

Hardly inspiring stuff. Some consensus on the banking sector, some consensus on alcohol (though not on how to tackle it) and then an obscure question on ID cards and "Sewell" motions.