Bah Humbug
Yuletide spirit? No chance. At least, not at Holyrood.
Alex Salmond heaped scorn and anger upon Nicol Stephen (for his comments about the Trump affair). Then he barked: 鈥淗appy Christmas.鈥
Today鈥 session of FMQs was decidedly sparky. The prime contenders were, mostly, on good form.
It was Wendy Alexander鈥檚 best outing yet (who said that wouldn鈥檛 be hard? Take that person鈥檚 name).
Seriously, Wendy was persistent and controlled, having sensibly seized upon a potentially questionable element in the government鈥檚 explanation of how the Trump issue was handled.
She questioned why the MSP for Gordon (one A. Salmond) had phoned the chief planner in the Scottish Government (Leader: A. Salmond) to investigate the possibility of said planner meeting Team Trump.
Mr Salmond had a robust reply: that, as constituency MSP, he was querying the feasibility of such a meeting, in the light of events. He did not request the meeting. That was done by Team Trump. He had acted at all times with propriety.
Indeed, generally, Alex Salmond was on potent form. He tackled Ms Alexander head on. He had the grace to laugh when Annabel Goldie got him with a deft funny.
And he was brutally assertive in slapping down Nicol Stephen who, last week, had claimed to detect a scent of sleaze around the issue (Mr Stephen, incidentally, had chosen not to pursue the Trump matter, opting to challenge the FM on health provision in Aberdeen).
Does this all go anywhere? As billed previously, I rather suspect not. Even those who have helped orchestrate the Holyrood committee investigation forecast a 鈥渟lap on the wrist鈥 for Mr Salmond. No more.
I'm 
Comments
Yet a further waste of taxpayer's money by those who think that playing politics is acting appropriately as an elected representative of the Scottish people; I hope the voters remember these inadequate individuals when they next have to step behind the polling booth curtain, whether or not they have one or two ballot papers to hand.
A "slap on the wrist" for what exactly?
Is Wendy Alexander out of hiding then? It seems she's been very quiet these last couple of weeks. If I were her, I'd be worried that my invisibility was hastening my replacement.
So Nicol Stephen 'chickened' out on FMQs.
There is an orthinological theme to the opposition now at Holyrood.
Chicken Little - Nicol Stephen
Henny Penny - Annabel Goldie
Lame-Ducky Lucky - Wendy Alexander
It looks the sky has really fallen in on these Unionist birds of a feather.
The FM was on top form today...Nicol Stephen's face drained when Salmond launched into his attack - it was brilliant theatre! This is just one of many things that the SNP has brought since their election win in May.
Salmond, while not without his faults, has demonstrated leadership not seen in Scotland for, dare I say it, hundreds of years! This is the man I want to see lead this country, and while he has to be subject to all the checks and balances that one would expect (though, the so-called Trumpgate has done nothing but harm to the Lib Dems and the project itself) he and his party are putting Scotland on the map...something that we all should applaud.
Wendy's 'best outing yet'? Didn't look all that great to me. After all the bleating, all the accusing, the Unionist bluff is finally called, the investigation will be taking place in a couple of weeks, and yet Wendy STILL has to screech on about Trump. Unbelievable.
Does our chief opposition party have nothing positive or constructive to offer to us, the people it claims to represent, at all? Wendy spent months bleating on about broken SNP pledges, and about how generous the settlement from Westminster was, you would have thought by now she'd at least have been able to come up with ways to fund some of those pledges.
Maybe if the opposition parties spent more time trying to help make Scotland a better place to live and work in, and less time attacking Alex Salmond just for the sake of it, they might just present themselves as the credible govenments of the future they surely wish to be.
Why is it, Brian, that on matters of Labour 'sleaze', we're told to keep quiet and wait for the cover up to be complete, but with this Trump nonsense (which even you grudgingly admit probably won't 'go anywhere'), it still warrants daily updates and comprehensive step-by-step coverage?
Do you anticipate the Hollyrood Trump committee meeting coinciding with the Electoral Commission's report into Labour donation irregularities being published? Would you put this down to coincidence or an intentioned outcome? (Thanks for the daily probing into the matter by the way).
I know you won't answer those, so how about this - if in your opinion this was Wendy's best FMQ's, where would it rank for Nicol Stephen?
Brian I suspect that Alex salmond was gob smacked when he first heard Nicol Stephen make his invented assertion about the smell of sleaze. Today Salmond was ready for him and bluntly reminded Nicol Stephen of the damage done to him and the lib/dems in this sorry tale. Nicol Stephen is reviled on his home turf. The wish that he will have a Merry Christmas made generously by Alex Salmond I fear may not come about.
Just seen FMQ's. Salmond absolutely destroyed NS!!
wonderful to watch, NS is a political lightweight as is Wendy
The Inquiry must also be given the power to drag Nicol Stephen before it as he brought the allegations and has in turn threatened the economic wellfare of his own voters.
Is it any suprise then that the Lib Dems are asking for a 'tight inquiry -limited to the actions surounding the calling in of the Trump application'.
They will do anything they can to avoid having Nicol pulled in for questioning - never mind, the voters of the north east won't have forgotten and Nicol's political career amy suffer in the next election.
Also, why is it alright for Jack McConnel to fly around in Trump's private helicopter and visit him in Trump Towers, as he did as First Minister - basically doing what he could to secure investment for Scotland, and yet it is not alright for the current FM?
Hypocracy - old Scotland vs new Scotland.
It's also wonderful to see the Lib Dems and Tories happily working with a party that has admitted to breaking the law - Wendy alexander is discredited in Scotland - she shouldnt even be in the chamber, not until the police inquiry is completed.
Someone should have stepped in and stopped the First Minister after his first few remarks in response to Nicol Stephen. Even most battered of boxers is entitled to a ten count. Nicol was out on his feet and being pummelled mercilessly when Alex Salmond administered the coup de grace.
"Happy Christmas", indeed.
Here here #5 I couldnt agree more.
Excellent performance by Alex Salmond. Different league altogether from Nicol Stephen.
To be fair it was Wendy's best outing. It just shows how bad she's been in previous weeks that this very lame effort when Alex Salmond was still head and shoulders above her and landed several blows on her and Labour can accurately be described as "her best outing yet".
Her main problem was that last week was probably the week to go on Trump. It just shows how weak a leader she is and how weak a position that she is in that this was the week she chose to go on the attack.
Annabelle Goldie yet again showed Wendy and Nicol what an opposition leader should do.
As for Nicol there can be no sympathy. He started it knowing full well there was nothing in the story, he has deliberately twisted everything and to get it all flung back in his face today was fully deserved. His face at the end said it all. He has damaged his party in the North East. If the lib Dems had any sense they would get rid of him now before he does more damage.
Guys 'n' Girls,
Wendy's question today was perhaps not very well delivered but spots on:
A constituency MSP does not phone up the Chief Planner and ask them to do a job. A constituency MSP contacts a Minister and asks them to instruct their staff.
The Chief Planner only works on the instruction of Ministers. He clearly thought Salmond鈥檚 phone call was in his capacity as FM or he would have had to refer him to a Minister. Ordinary MSPs do not instruct the civil service.
The FM has jeopardised legal process, is risking the legitimacy of the Government鈥檚 eventual ruling on the matter and deserves a slapped wrist 鈥 at least.
As a country we need the Presiding Officer to take charge when he sees the FM literally squaring up to other MSPs in the chamber and not even referring to the subject of their questions. Nicol Stephen looked shocked of course 鈥 but not because of the FM鈥檚 words but because the thug standing two seats away from him looked like he was about to take a swing at him.
Jings, what a bruiser Salmond is! He was - as someone commented - probably taken aback last week by the vitriol from the LibDems and the Tories. Well, who wouldn't have been.
But today he was taking no nonsense. He was in brilliant form. Well done Alex. They deserved all they got.
PS Wendy who?
This whole thing is a case of making mountains out of molehills, and it does indeed smack of diversionary tactics away from Wendygate.
I'd like to thank you, Brian, for your blogs which I find generally impartial and insightful.
For those of you concerned about media bias, or who feel there is little scope for discussing those stories that really ought not to be forgotten about, try here.
All are welcome to contribute.
Yuletide best wishes to all!
Funny how on all these boards everyone always seems to think Salmond is wonderful? Normally, when Salmond is angry, he slaps down his opponents with some wit and grace, but his reaction to Nicol Stephen's accusation of "a whiff of sleaze" - not an accusation that Salmond had done anything wrong - seems to me to be out of character, which makes me wonder why.
Wee Ec was outstanding. It's well worth watching again on this site.
Given the latest developments in the Trump affair, it will not be long before the opposition and media (who jumped in with both feet), start to take a few tentitive steps backwards while whistling and looking for an exit door.
Excellent performance from Salmond. Tore Nicol Stephen to shreds. Stephen was left shell shocked.
As for Wendy's best performance ?? I must have fallen asleep when that was on..slightly biased there Brian I'm afraid.
Robbie (comment 14) seems confused about what actually happened.
In the answers he gave earlier today, John Swinney states: "Mr Salmond sought advice from the chief planner on whether it would still be permissible for the officials of the planning directorate to meet representatives from the Trump organisation. The chief planner confirmed that officials can meet with parties involved in a planning application, but only to discuss options and the procedural implications not to consider the merits of the case."
If this is correct, then Mr Salmond wasn't instructing the Chief Planner to do anything, he was asking him for information.
If Mr Salmond's critics believe it's NOT correct, then we'd all be grateful if they would show us their evidence.
But as we all know, the Opposition attack has nothing to do with planning or procedures or even golf courses, and everything to do with putting short-term party advantage ahead of the national interest.
So Alex finished the year at Holyrood on a high, surprise, surprise. He was very good today, on the other hand Annabel was brilliant, shame she's in the Tories.
Thank God Nicol flew his plane onto an altogether safer course, inevitably though he still got shot down for being completely out of order on the sleaze front last week.
Wendy was relaxed but relatively tame. Can't wait for January. Trust we all have a Happy Christmas and a stunning New Year.
That was perhaps the best FMQ's of the session so far, and perhaps the best in my recent memory of FMQ's. Salmond destroyed Wendy and Nicol and had took greatshots at Margaret Curran and Jackie Baillie. The Chamber was in uproar a lot of the time but Annabel got in a good few good points and laughs to follow her questions. Nicol's face was a picture and so was the Presiding Officer's. Alex Fergusson is not normally a man aroused easily to anger but I think the man was livid at the disruption in the Chamber. He named George Foulkes twice and you could see how uncomfortable he was at the whole direction the question time was taking.
Just watched the FM eating Nicol Stevens.
Had to laugh!
People in glass houses etc.etc.!
And that numpty in the background!
No 17 wonders why Alex Salmond lacked his usual wit and grace in dealing with Nicol Stephen yesterday. Maybe because he was absolutely furious at the mud that that Stepehen has been throwing his way? AS is justified in being angry.
Salmond showed real leadership. Nicol was hopeless desperately scanning all round him waiting for help - thats right son you help out Labour, but they wont help you back. After two terms of the Liberals getting abused by their coalition bedfellows you would have thought they'd have learned that lesson by now.
Incidentally, I have just watched FMQs who is this "Wendy" you speak of? If it is the Labour "leader" then her delivery was awful and her pointed somewhat blunted by the very real allegations she will have to answe in a matter of weeks!
Watching politicians dishing the dirt is good entertainment but certainly couldn't be billed as an impartial examination of the issues involved.
That type of yah boo politics hasn't enhanced Westminster over the years. I don't think it enhances the reputation of Holyrood either.
Excellent performances all round yesterday - Wendy, Annabel and Nicol all asked first class questions and none got the scintilla of a straight answer from the FM; guess that's why they cal it FMQs rather than FM Answers.
Fanstastic bully boy stomping around from Alex in replying to Nicol with a beautifully petty happy christmas at the end - is anyone else suspecting Eck may be psychologically flawed?
The mask is starting to slip....
I would rather visit a zoo which FmQ's reminded me of, I completely forgot these were human beings, so called professionals. Blood sport. A complete embarassment which they get paid - for what?
To all those who thought this was politics I would be very scared if this is what people want from Holyrood; Perhaps bar brawls is what energises some folk.
Well Brian, I can only assume your Unionist 大象传媒 Glasses are as tinted as my SNP ones are.
I am going to write a letter to the Holyrood TV unit to clarify as to why your observations and comments suggest you watched a very different session. I can only assume there is one show recorded for you and the 大象传媒, and one for us the lowly people of Scotland.
Do your London Masters insist that you fill your BLETHER with attacks on the SNP Scottish Government by trying to give the impression that they are on a defensive position which is as far from the truth as your comments. Perhaps a good start would be that articles about an opposition leader who has admitted her criminal activities, are kept on the Scottish 大象传媒 News site as long as the SNP Scottish Governments. There is absolutely no excuse or justification for the both yours and the 大象传媒 bias no matter how much you feel disdain to the fact that Scotland will be an Independant Country once more. Is it possible that you are in the same position as the three London Controlled Unionist Parties who fear their comfort zone is going up in smoke, leaving the rights of the Scottish People as the one certain honest fact left.
Lord Ha Ha was executed for less than this after the end of the War that killed so many members of Scottish Families. Perhaps you could try to remember that when you take the road of scoundrels who hide under the blanket of the status quo to protect your lifestyle.
Have watched the news clip over and over...great fun. Wee Wendy and Nicole Stevens deserve all thats coming to them.....You lost... try and get used to it you pair.
I thought the FM was "cup tied" (his own words) on the Trump application. Why then, at First Minister's Questions, is he claiming that Nicol Stephen is "unelecatble"? This sort of comment puts him fairly and squarely in the Trump Camp - something by his own admission he shouldn't be doing.
Is Mr Salmonds bruised ego more important than the Ministerial Code? It makes you wonder.
I totally agree with the comments at post 30. Brian makes me ashamed of being a Dundonian! HE, of all people, should know better!Where was he brought up-the Overgate?
Wendy's best outing yet?
"Seriously, Wendy was persistent and controlled, having sensibly seized upon a potentially questionable element in the government鈥檚 explanation of how the Trump issue was handled."
Her claim was that Alex Salmond was confused about his two roles of Forst Minister and Constituency MSP, leading to him making a phone call to arrange a meeting with the Chief Planner, which no ordinary MSP could do.
Apart from the fact raised by many, that if the call was in relation to a 拢1billion investment, then they probably could, this misses the point.
It has been clarified that Alex Salmond's call to the Chief Planner was to check if it was still permissible for the Trump Organisation to arrange a meeting with the Chiwef Planner and, after receiving affirmation, instructed the Trump Organisation to contact the Chief Planner themselves.
The call was not to arrange a meeting but to check if a meeting was still possible.
It seems that this whole argument by Wendy Alexander is based on her confusion of how an individual can manage two seperate roles. She also seemed to have difficulty in balancing the dual roles of MSP and donee.
After the Aberdeenshire Council Infrastructure Committee rejected the Trump application, the planning options open to them were quite clear. They could appeal or reapply.
They stated that they would do neither. It seems very strange that face-to-face meetings with both the First Minister and the Chief Planning Officer would be required to confirm the planning options.
Also, does anyone know why Trump's right hand man George Sorial pulled out of 'Riddoch Questions' last week. Perhaps he was scared of being asked some tricky questions.
#30: Mike - I think you mean "Lord Haw-Haw" although "Lord Ha Ha" does fit Brian perfectly given the ridiculous 大象传媒 posture that his blog is "impartial".
Hmmm. What ever the rights and wrongs of the Trump affair, FM's question time yesterday was hardly an edifying sight, and good advertisement for a New Scotland. I don't think Alex Salmond has much to answer for in the Trump affair, but yesterday's question and answer session was thouroughly unpleasant as Salmond's mask of self-control slipped and we saw what really lies under the skin. No leader of any worth conducts himself or herself in that manner.
Reading the replies to this blog there are times when I wish those who think that politics is all about the besting of Bendy Wendy, Wee Nick, and Aunt Annabel would realise there is a wider dimension to political debate. For instance, I wonder what potential investors in this country would make of what they saw yesterday. Did it reassure those of us who voted for devolution and now have grave reservations about it? I don't think so. It was petty and unedifying, and I, for one, hope it changes.
Lord Foulkes should have been expelled from the chamber at FMQs. The man is a disgrace.
#37, maybe if the opposition parties stopped playing silly cheap point scoring in the first place, they would not need to be put in their place.
As for devolution I would not worry about it - Independence will replace it.
I liked AS after the election, but after listening to most of the FMQs since then, I have yet to hear him actually answer a question.
I suspect Nicol Stephen will come to regret his ill-judged mud slinging very quickly. I suspect he has already.
Aberdeenshire Council (Lib Dem led)is now officially behind the Trump plan. Aberdeen City unanimously supported it too including all the Lib Dems.
Stephen had a big pro-SNP swing against him in May and the Lib Dems are taking full flak up here for the debacle. By calling into question the FMs integrity I suspect he may lose Aberdeen South next time. Salmond is highly respected in the North East- Nicol Stephen is not.
This plan has been on the table for a year now, long before Salmond became FM.
Obviously some of you dont get out much if you believe FMQ was anything but a healthy exchange of opinions. This Parliament is finally paying the dividends many many times over for democracy. The 400 million seems a very small price, if it continues to deliver the healthy discussions we are now starting to see. Obviously the tone will change the more that the stakes increase.
Lets not forget the countries where expressing thoughts are rewarded by disappearance, or physical attacks like the South Korean Parliament.
Scotland and its democratic systems are merely sharpening their skills after three hundred years of no voice. The future of an Independant Scotland is as good as guaranteed even though there are still some Scots who put their own selfish interests ahead of the good of the Nation. Alex the Greats description of Nicol on Thursday best describes the experience that we who support The Scots Way have put up with from Unionist Puppets over many years. Scaremongering should perhaps be part of the three Unionist Parties Manifesto. That and London Labours, how much is in it for me.
It is little wonder that today's youth have so so little trust in politicians when there are continual allegations of slease.
When these allegations are unjustified, it does little credit to the politicians who make them, trying to discredit their opponents without adequate foundation.
Nicol Stephen should be ashamed of himself and should reflect on the fact that this gives a bad impression of all politicians!