It's the end of the world as we know it

And no, I don't mean this.

Apparently Kenny Miller is fit for tomorrow night's match against Iceland.

So I guess the "end of the World Cup as we know it" might have been more appropriate.

Oh well... there's always 2016.

At this rate, I'll be a pensioner before we win the thing. That's if there's a pension system left...

Read more...

One member... five votes

Another post about the ridiculous electoral system to elect a new leader for the 46 Labour MSPs.

As Brian Taylor notes here, apparently some of the Labour MSPs have more than one vote in the election. In fact, some have five. Here's how.

• One vote as Labour MSP (in representatives block)
• One vote as CO-OP MSP (affiliate to Labour party - in affiliate block)
• One vote as union member (affiliate block)
• One vote as member of affiliate society (eg Socialist Health Association - affiliate block)
• One vote as ordinary member (member block)

One member one vote? Umm... yeah right.

Read more...

Leading the way

Labour will now have had 5 leaders in Scotland since devolving power to the Scottish Parliament in 1999 – Donald Dewar (died in office as First Minister) Henry McLeish (resigned from office as First Minister) Jack McConnell (resigned after losing election to be First Minister in 2007) Wendy Alexander (resigned after standards committee decided to suspend her for a day) and one of either Andy Kerr, Cathy Jamieson or Iain Gray (to be decided).

Both Jack and Wendy were elected unopposed as leader of the party. But, if you remember, after the sad death of Donald Dewar in 2000, Henry McLeish defeated Jack McConnell in a Labour leadership contest in Scotland by 44 votes to 36 – and became First Minister. But that contest was only voted for by the party’s MSPs and members of their Scottish Executive committee.

The reason for this? As the position of First Minister had been vacated by the untimely death of Donald Dewar, the party only had 28 days to nominate someone to take over as First Minister. Failing that, a new Scottish General Election would have taken place. Thus, the Labour party’s long and complicated (and, dare I say, ridiculous) electoral college voting system had to be curtailed in order to comply with the Scotland Act.

If this system of electing a leader is good enough for the party to fill the position of First Minister of Scotland, then, surely, it is good enough to select a leader for their MSPs?

Just a thought. Of course, we all know how that ended...

Read more...

Gordon Brown - Scotland's next tennis star?

Interesting quote from the PM on Andy Murray's victory against Rafael Nadal on Sunday:

"I saw Andy's great success last night. I think the whole country will be willing him on today. He shows remarkable tenacity and determination.

"Even when he falls back, he really pushes himself forward. So this is a triumph for courage and willpower and determination."

The Daily Mail suggests that he is likening his own situation leading Britain to Andy Murray's resolve.

Um... sure. But I think there's one thing missing in the PM's comparison.

Andy Murray has some talent.

Read more...