Politics of the possible
As so often, our attention is drawn to the dog that didn鈥檛 bark.
(Forgive me for this unaccustomed Sherlock Holmes reference: I was watching The Hound of the Baskervilles last night - the Peter Cushing version. Great stuff.)
In the case of Alex Salmond鈥檚 first statement to Holyrood as first minister, there were a pair of silent mutts on display. Or not, if you get my drift.
A. Salmond was responsible for one.
The other could be laid at the door of events.
Firstly, events. Mr Salmond spent a fair chunk of his statement talking about a new approach to energy: no new nuclear, innovative renewable science instead.
He even referred obliquely to a project in his own north east of Scotland, 鈥渂acked by some of the largest companies on the planet.鈥
Barely had he sat down when BP, one of the companies concerned, announced it was pulling out of that proposed carbon capture scheme for Peterhead.
BP say they鈥檙e sick of waiting for the go-ahead from the UK Government. Today鈥檚 Commons statement on energy strategy, they say, simply created more delay.
The wheeze had been to split natural gas into productive hydrogen for energy generation and waste CO2, burying the CO2 segment deep underground in the Miller Field.
BP say they鈥檝e already spent $50m preparing for the plan - and can鈥檛 afford to keep the Miller Field ticking over for an undefined further time while they await progress.
Mr Salmond will be furious - and will attempt to turn his anger upon the UK Government.
BP, who are far from politically na茂ve, say that the SNP leader has been 鈥渧ery positive鈥 towards the plan - while the response of the UK Government has been 鈥渄isappointing鈥.
Secondly, matters under Mr Salmond鈥檚 control.
In his statement, no mention whatsoever of a White Paper or a bill on an independence referendum. Why not? Because said legislation stands no chance of success, given the make-up at Holyrood.
This was the politics of the possible, a limited outline of priorities for the next few weeks and months - such as scrapping tolls on the Tay and Forth.
Gone are the days of four year plans.
Welcome to new Scotland.
I'm 
Comments
I love issue-by issue and I think majorities are the bane of democracy
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Brian old bean, is it just me or is there a definite pro-Union slant to the reporting of events on 大象传媒 Scots?
Here's a couple of cases - last saturday morning there was some joker holding a fair and balanced discussion about Scottish political life. His studio guests were that scary shouty woman MSP from Glasgow and oor George the Foulkes boy - I might be wrong but I think they're both Labour.
Also, on Newsdrive tonight there was a reporter called Roderick somebody doing a report on the events at Holyrood - he continually reffered to the new Executive as 'the SNP this' and 'the SNP that'.
Please have a word...
Brian,
Link left off last comment: and discipline. We are, as my MSP, the new P.O., said, Interesting times ahead in the New Scotland
Keep the bloggery coming.
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> Welcome to new Scotland.
Not always a welcome unfortunately: today our new First Minister was compared in the House of Commons with Hitler by the MP for East Lothian (Ann Moffat):
"proportional representation gave Germany Adolf Hitler and in Scotland to a lesser degree we've had the member for Banff and Buchan"
Making no politicial point, surely the office of First Minister has been insulted and this deserves a very public apology? Does anyone disagree?
Easy to see why no four-year plans are possible with this sort of loose language flying about.
Or maybe Little Miss Moffat is just demonstrating some form of political wisdom that is lost on mere mortals.
Infuriating news from BP, and we trust that Salmond will make the most of it. The argument for extension of powers, or indeed outright independence, is making some surprising adherents. See Brian Ashcroft's negative comments on fiscal autonomy within the union - and positive comments about fiscal powers under independence - at
I'm loving the new blog Brian. Any chance of getting full posts in the RSS feed?
Yes Brian, what a howler that was for Alex S.he must of felt like a hound had just sunk it's teeth right into his vital policy area,"ISSUE BY ISSUE MORE LIKE A DISMANTLING OF ISSUE,S"One week into parliament and it's already embarrassing to watch Alex Salmond plead for consensus,i would suggest that the snp think's very carefully about what happens next?in consensus politic's coalition are possible Alex?come off your high horse and do a deal, before you make a right old mess of things.
BP - thats "British Petroleum" making a case for Independence. Alex S may a bit miffed but I don't think he will turn his ire directly towards westminster. He'll probably allow himself a wry smile and leave his BP foot soldiers to fight westminster while he continuse to play the statesman and engages in the politics of the possible. As Global companies these days sometimes have more power than governments it may be win win for the SNP.
I am not sure what "howler" Derek Barker is refering to.
If it is the BP decision, this is far from a howler. It actually plays right into SNP hands. BP stating that the SNP were supportive and blaming Westminster for the problems!
If it is the lack of Indepenence plans he is refering to, this shows some common sense as such a policy has NO CHANCE of going through.
Hmmmmmm - do dogs always need to bark? It's early days - let's wait and see what unfolds. Things will be different but that's not necessarily a bad thing. I think there is a bigger picture about a better Scotland - but will the members of the Parliament be big enough to do what's best for Scotland or will they simply fall back into party politics. Sadly, it's likely to be the latter and that will make it difficult for any minority government. But maybe the people of Scotland have already seen through the stupidness of party politics and that's why they've voted for something different.
EG
A UK Government that favours nuclear power and doesn't support green energy. A Scottish government that opposes nuclear power and supports green energy. Yet BP are put off an investment in Aberdeen because of the UK government's lack of support.
Another good reason for independence. It isn't just about the oil!
This could turn out to be the first real fight. Three Holyrood parties want to push forward renewables and one party in London says no. Further, the battle-ground is Salmond's own back yard. The only way London can win this one is to devolve the powers over energy to the Scottish Parliament.
Derek: Jack would have been in exactly the same position. Would you have made the same comments then, or would you be trying to build a more positive, more inclusive future for Scotland?
No, Basil Rathbone is the man.
Watching him in Robin Hood with a 3 and 4 yr old right now.
Yesterday in a letter to the Scotsman Jim Mather, the Minister for Enterprise, Energy & Tourism said. "Let me make it clear that there is no confusion over the new Scottish government's energy policy. Ministers have specifically and consistently stated that nuclear power is neither needed nor wanted in Scotland. It would be difficult to be any clearer than that. We were elected on that pledge and we will stick to it."
Sometime later yesterday he said that the Executive would not intervene if British Energy chose to extend the life-cycles of the Scottish plants and would leave the decision with the Nuclear Installations Inspectorate, a division of the Health and Safety Executive.
"The plain facts of life are that it would be for energy companies and the Nuclear Installations Inspectorate to decide whether to extend the life of current nuclear-generating stations. The simple fact is that this is not a decision for ministers."
Welcome to the real world....
I do not think it was a howler by Alex Salmond. He played the parliament very well. I get the feeling that divide and rule will be the order of the day. I saw it effectively being done with the Labour party, especially Labour MSPs in Fife over the Tay and Forth Road bridge tolls. Minority government is looking a lot more creative and interesting than coalition. I think it will work because we have someone as clever as Alex heading up this new government.
Are there any hidden messages in your blog insomuch as the guilty parties in "The Adventure of Silver Blaze" were horse thieves?
Would this example of Government action or more correctly inaction have been the same if the proposed site could have been in the South East of England and it was the brain child of Alistair Darling.
This seems to more akin to sour grapes than well constructed policy by Government; never bother about global warming it would appear it is more important to ensure that credit for such proposals to non Unionist individuals are blocked by the policy wrecking actions by Ministers; the old chestnut of European competition rules will be the obvious excuse to be rolled out as part of Ministerial defence.
BP are correct to have identify these Ministerial shenanigans, however we should not be fooled into believing that a major producer of fossil fuel are the 鈥榞ood guys;鈥 BP would have been able to claim much kudos and in someway offset of their enormous carbon footprint.
Unless the hue and cry caused by these Government wrecking policies moves this proposal off the back burner, I would suggest this will be repackaged as part of the Government鈥檚 green policy.
It would be political suicide to place before Holyrood, legislation pertinent to an independence referendum; there would clearly be accusations of wasting Parliamentary time when such legislation would stand equal chances of success of that proverbial snowball.
Not scrapping tolls on the Tay and Forth bridges was even recognised by Jack McConnell as a major faux pas of his administration but in order that he could save face what he proposed was too little, too late; Fife and North of the Tay should never have been detrimentally subjected to taxes placed on industry and tourism.
Planning now seems to be restricted to fourth level scheduling; no doubt those disingenuous MSPs will label it fire fighting, if we are forced back to the election booths the reality of who is responsible should be made public.
Yes, David MacDonald, I disagree. A "very public apology" for making a barbed joke at Salmond's expense? Aww, diddums! Dictators never could tolerate ridicule, could they?...
Welcome to the real world of minority government. It's often suggested that 'nothing can be accomplished' by a minority administration, but perhaps we should reflect on the amount of ill-considered legislation we have witnessed at the hands of majorities.
Poll tax, Illegal wars, half-baked reform/destruction of the Lords, divisive action and massive waste of Parliamentary time on the truly trivial matter of fox-hunting, constant re-organisation as a substitute for true progress...
I look forward to a period where every piece of legislation which is made has had to find support based upon its merits and careful construction rather than the agenda of a single, dogmatic, sold-out governing majority. In fact, such 'majorities' have almost always been elected on a minority of those voting.
After all, a small amount of well-considered progress is better than a mountain of partisan rubbish.
Interesting times indeed.
In response to (3) and the remarks of Ann Moffat:
Yes, she has shown herself to be utterly uncouth and not fit for office.
This plays right into the hands of other parties. Even if people agree with the policies of labour, they do not want their MPs or MSPs to behave as if they had been brought up on a pig farm.
Any idea why Alistair Darling has been so stupid over the BP plant or is it simply because it is in Wee Eck's constituency?
Now the Labour Tabbard Toom of the last 8 years has been displaced is this just an example of 'Longshanks' politics or more a version of Henry VIII 'rough wooing'.
The bottom line is yet again Westminster is loosing the UK the opportunity to lead in an engineering field.
Hey! I was brought up on a pig farm (for a bit) and take just as much exception to Ann Moffat's unpleasant comment as most others on this blog (sorry Paul, comparisons with Hitler aren't 'ridicule' they are asinine and almost certainly offensive to many Scots).
Doesn't do much for Labour's image in Scotland: rather than being sore and vindictive losers they'd be far better off being constructive and trying to make this Parliament work on behalf of the Scottish people who voted them in and pay their salaries.
The loss of this important (and not just to Scotland) project, whatever the motives of the promoter, is yet another example of Westminster incompetence, and simply strengthens the argument for greater control of such issues (and many others) to reside at Holyrood.
I think Alex Salmond and the SNP have rapidly adjusted to the new political realities, perhaps because they've never had absolute power anywhere, particularly not with around 33% of the vote (last UK General Election, Glasgow City Council....) which as we've seen leads to eminently sensible decisions such as Iraq, Trident etc.etc.
It remains to be seen whether the other parties, particularly Labour, which persists with the now outdated language of 'opposition' are able to do the same. The Scottish public are, I believe, watching closely and will be well aware of, and punish, any obstructionist behaviour. (Assuming they can see past the trash printed in the unionist tabloids, of course)
As for the 'Hitler' reference, I'm fairly certain Alex Salmond won't be sitting by the phone waiting for an apology, particularly as the comment from (who is she again?) says far more about Labour attitudes to the fact they lost massively under much fairer and more representative electoral systems. It also says quite a lot about the calibre of MP/MSP Scottish Labour are seriousy overloaded with (See various Labour 'acceptance' speeches at the Glasgow count for examples)
Re- BP Scottish Proposed Investments, perhaps the Scottish electorates marriage with Labour may require extreme marriage counseling. I believe this lost Scottish investment was down to UK Westminster tinkering or spite, relatiing to recent Scottish election results. I truly hope that whatever new engagement the Scottish electorate make with whatever party take note what has happened in instances of this nature.
After a judge ruled that the consultation leading to the decision to go pro-nuke was "misleading", "seriously flawed" and "procedurally unfair", the Great Southern Leader responded.
"But Tony Blair said while the ruling would change the consultation process, "this won't affect the policy at all"."
So much for the process of careful
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I have no doubt that this is the first of many attempts by the British, sorry, Scottish Executive to derail anything positive that comes from the SNP and/or Scottish Parliament.
Apart from anything else, I believe this to be the case because Alistair Darling looks like a baddie out of Thunderbirds.
I've just heard a feature on Radio 4 about the Peterhead scheme, and it really is enough to make you despair - the usual Whitehall dithering, prevaricating and inability to make decisions, and a notable addition to the long list of subjects which are endlessly talked about and never implemented.
I know Alistair Darling and his department don't fall within your remit Brian, but it really is time for your colleagues to give him and the rest of the Whitehall timewasters a robust kick up the jacksie. We elect politicians to do things, not just go on and and on endlessly delaying decisions!
Incidentally I look forward to the odd mention in your column of Dundee's other football team - you know, the one with the longer and more distinguished heritage....
Those Scots who voted Labour still happy, now that Labour have caused BP to pull out of the world-beating carbon capture plant in Peterhead?
BE IN NO DOUBT LABOUR IN LONDON ARE TO BLAME thanks to their suspicious dithering & sheer incompetence.
They are simply not interested in Scotland, & NE Scotland, especially since the May Elections.
I will never consider voting for them again, the people of Scotland should remember what Labour have done...or HAVEN'T done.
A great chance for Scotland slipping away.
If this decision can't be reversed and Scotland loses out on the opportunity to be world leaders in this technology then I believe the Labour party in London will live to regret their decision. We can all see how they're thinking. Petty and rather nasty. It's much more than incompetance. Broon (through his poodle Darling) wants to kick Alex Salmond in the North-east, where it hurts. Get Salmond at any price. Broon's raison d'etre will be to frustrate the Scottish administration at every turn (I see today they've also postponed giving the Scottish Exec their budgets figures thereby stymying(?) them on pricing the policies they want to present to Parliament). In doing so they want the new Exec to appear ineffectual in the eyes of the Electorate. Broon's telling us in the North that 'he's' the one running the show and we better not forget it.
But we wont Mr Broon - we are all taking careful note of what you are up to and don't YOU forget it!
This is nakedly anti Scottish and against the new executive.It is being done in order to create a feeling that Scotland needs the union to be a technological leader. Apparently, BP disagree!
I think it is the first of many of these deliberate policy decisions from Westminster, that we will see over the next 4 years.
#24 Max Russell. Why would the Scottish Executive try to derail anything from the Scottish Parliament? We're civil servants, yes, but we're also Scots. You know nothing about how we work. And you are SO wrong!
#26 - it was Scottish Labour who did all the hard work at the beginning of this project. The SNP just sailed in at the last minute, thanks to the recent election. They had nothing to do with it.
Ed Iglehart has it right. Maybe less will be accomplished by a minority government if measuring by sheer quantity, but the quality of whatever legislation etc that is passed is sure to improve with everyone having to discuss things properly and no one party (with an overall minority of the votes anyway) dictating to the rest.
"Gone are the days of four year plans" - GOOD! We need long term, sensible, well thought out strategies that won't be overturned on the whim of another party a couple of years down the line.
Issue by issue is the best way forward. I look forward to exciting times for Scotland.
Listen to Darling ">Squirm like a snake.
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Alistair Darlings excuse for letting the BP plan fail are a patently a cover for the real reason. Such a scheme that could have quickly moved forward, as the academic from Edinburgh University pointed out on the Today programme on radio 4 this morning, would have given ammunition to those opposed to nuclear power. Added to this that it is in Alex Salmond's Westminster constituency and would have helped the first minister in his case against nuclear power in Scotland. Given that when it wants to the government can move mountains to secure prestigious projects, it is clear other motives were at play. Nothing could more clearly show why Scotland would be better off as an independent state than this kind of subordination of Scotland鈥檚 legitimate interests to the pretty interests of the Labour Government in London.
Great to see the new blog going, but as others have said, it'd be nice to get the full posts in the RSS feed.
Could it be that the reason Labour "dragged their heels" when it came to supporting BP is because they are absolutely desperate to build a new nuclear station. It is common knowledge that nuclear stations provide the plutonium needed for weapons of mass destruction. Most of the UK's nuclear stations almost at the end of their life. Are Labour ensuring they will have a future supply of plutonium for the "Cold War" style stand off, that is quite a real possibility, between Britain and Iran? I dread to think.
Garyd (34),
They already have more than they could ever imagine wanting. It's the main reason they engage in the re-processing of 'spent' fuel at Sellafield (formerly Windscale, formerly Seascale, etc.).
When I was last there the plutonium was stored somewhere behind a barbed-wire-topped chainlink fence, but there was scaffolding which seemed to have been there for some considerable time and which would have made access easy within seconds....
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