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The truths they don't want you to read....

Tuesday, September 15, 2009

Rocket range saved!

The magnificent effort of the Range Taskforce in successfully managing the campaign to save the Uist rocket range deserves to be recognised and applauded from the rooftops.

The Councillors, officers and other members have worked extremely hard to persuade the Government to retain the vast range of skills in the range, and to reverse the decision of QinetiQ and their owners, the rapacious private equity firm the Carlyle Group.
Uist rocket range
The effort has been unstinting, and despite the short timescale, the full resources of the Council have been mustered to fight for the islands.

'To fight for the islands": remember that phrase.

Reports have been commissioned, arguments gathered and then expounded in an exemplary fashion, despite HIE refusing to release information to the Council. No other public sector body could have achieved what they have done, and without the local Council, the range would be have been closed by today.

Those close to the Taskforce have praised Vice-Convener Angus Campbell for being the driving force behind the whole rescue mission. He has been described as being a powerhouse of discretion, drive, tact and superb negotiating skills at every level, bringing on board everyone in a magnificent joint effort. He has also had to bite his tongue very often; as some 'supporters' have proved to be less than helpful.

But credit must extend to the other members of the Taskforce, who now must rightly be proud of their achievements; but who also need to realise that the closure issue will come back again, and there needs to be major effort to build up the base and the Uist economy to protect it from such a potentially serious blow ever striking again.

The brickbats lie with everyone involved in the creation of QinetiQ - from its ultra cheap sale privatisation, to those who allowed private greed to become more important than the strategic (inter)national interest.

--

But there is a bigger censure that needs to be applied; and I make no apology whatsoever for returning to the scene of the crime and pointing the finger, not least because many friends and clients are employed - directly or indirectly - by QinetiQ, and the employees do not deserve what has happened to them.

Nearly two years ago our MP was told that closure was proposed. He did nothing. He told no-one. He didn't lobby the Minister, despite meeting her.

The proposed closure was announced. He blamed Labour and issued press releases. Constantly.

He didn't join the Taskforce; preferring to work alone, including setting up a conflicting petition. Conflicting, because the Council signed up to another petition, simply because the official petition was created by someone who actually spoke to the Council.

Never mind. MacNeil put down 14 written questions in the House of Commons relating to the proposed closure. The Taskforce found out about the questions through the media. They were questions the Taskforce wanted asked, but was MacAvity there to help?

He has been absent without apology for all (possibly bar one) of the Taskforce meetings.

He didn't submit a response to the consultation process.

He hasn't met with the Scottish Secretary to discuss the proposed closure, despite repeated requests and offers to do so. [He did gatecrash the first meeting, having not bothered to ask to attend, and pretending to be Angus 'Storas' MacMillan, issuing a press release dismissing the meeting before it had finished!]

As one person said to me, "He wants the Range to close, so he can build his election campaign upon Labour's failures."

The rent-a-quote-stuff might look good in the press, but the staff in Uist know exactly what he has done and what he has not done to fight for the islands.

And his biggest failure is to not engage with the staff, preferring to issue ill-informed statements on their behalf.

I have known about today's announcement since Monday afternoon. Why am I better informed about Westminster decisions than our MP?

Is it because I actually speak to people of all political parties, instead of grandstanding and alienating them? MacNeil's credibility in Westminster is paper thin as he is perceived to be a self-publicist rather than a serious politician.

And that doesn't help us one iota to fight for the islands.

The inclusion of Donald John MacSween in the Taskforce opened many doors that would otherwise have remained closed. Indeed many of these doors were being slammed in the face of the MP, as a direct result of his grandstanding.

Don't forget that his appointment was bitterly opposed by the SNP, in a spectacular piece of misjudgement, but it is clear from sources close to the issue that his political contacts made all the difference to the outcome.

70 comments:

Anonymous said...

Leader Campbell thanked lots of people for their help, but the MP and MSP are very noticable by their absence.

They spent the weekend trying to attack Labour when the decision had already been taken.

Anonymous said...

MacNeil's main contribution to the debate was to call for Jim Murphy's resignation before even the decision was made. (Greater self-love has no man than this than to ask others to lay down their jobs - both in Benbecula and Westminster - for his own errors ...)

To speak once again of 'honour', it is long past time the gentleman took his own advice - and laid down his own job. He is clearly and supremely unqualified to perform the role he has been elected to carry out.

Anonymous said...

I think it is more of a case that the Westminster Government/MOD got caught out by the advert and have done this to save face.

Anonymous said...

Where are all the lying pompous Nats today. After all their lies that Labour wanted to close the Range. Will they now apologise for lying about this and admit it was QuinitQ that was looking at closing the Range.

Well done to the Task Force without the help of the MP or the nasty Nat councillors.

Anonymous said...

Couldn't agree more Angus, believe me, we gathered in that room this morning expecting the worst, after all the crap put out by the MP and MSP over the last few days. When we heard the good news we gave a startled Murphy a very big cheer! What a victory, and what a result for the task force.
BTW, where were the MSP and MP today? Allan was at his work in Edinburgh, while the MP is on a cultural exchange with America.
Here's the deal- they keep him and we get Mickey Mouse, we're quids in, and the mouse will be more effective in Westminster!
Off to the DI for a swalley with my mates!
Thank you task force and thank you Murphy.

Anonymous said...

Erm, Labour consider closing it down; Labour give it a temporary reprieve. How is this laudable?

And as for Angus Nicolson knowing about this before Angus MacNeil . . . what is that supposed to prove? Gee, if only the SNP had picked the other Angus we'd be first to hear the non-news.

Temporary stay of execution probably menas until after the election. Who's fooled:?

Anonymous said...

I hear ABM went on a cultural visit to the US to check out a Range in Texas. When he arrived he got it wrong as it was a Ranch. The name of the Ranch was the world famous Ranch of ill-repute the Chicken Ranch.

Just wondering if he had his privat piper in tow.

Anonymous said...

See 2.43 pm

Perhaps, Angus, it is time you abandoned the right to remain anonymous in certain cases. The man who wrote the above entry is clearly a case in point.

Perhaps his hero the Caped Crusader (AB) could arrange to run around to his house with a comforting bar of Toberlone and a straitjacket for him.

He is certainly in need of treatment. All these jobs saved because of a mere advert? Sorry. We're in Looney Tunes Land here.

And as for the 'temporary stay of execution until the election' alleged by another individual? Well, where there's life, there's hope. AB never even attempted to provide that.

And that's what was utterly disgraceful about his egotistical antics ...

Anonymous said...

This sums up the SNP party:

I think it is more of a case that the Westminster Government/MOD got caught out by the advert and have done this to save face

What a load of bulls**t. I've heard it all now. The SNP are going to say that Labour decided not to save £50m just to save face. What planet are you on??!!

Gee, if only the SNP had picked the other Angus we'd be first to hear the non-news.

Non-news eh? You are obviously an SNP overpaid civil servant who really doesn't understand the devastation that a closure decision would have had in the Uists. It was news to you when you thought you could beat up the Labour party about closure and now the result has gone against what you thought was going to happen, it is now non-news. I dare you to take a trip to Uist and tell them that. Let's see if you get out alive.

Face it Nats, your elected are both useless idiots who don't have a clue what is important to these Islands because you are all so far up Alex Salmond's arse that you can't hear or see what is going on. I really, really hope that these islands will vote DJ MacSween regardless of the party that he stands within against you lot at the next election because he will be 1000 times more effective in opposition as the SNP will ever be in power.

Anonymous said...

SNP anon 5.19

If you and your party wanted to insult the people of Uist, then you have succeeded beyond your wildest dreams.

The new SNP manifesto: "We're doomed! All doomed!" repeated ad infinitum.

Anonymous said...

MacNeil wanted a quick decision on the range. He got it, but he was too busy on a freebie to do anything but criticise.

Anonymous said...

I've heard that A Salmond has sent ABM over to the USofA as the poster boy of Scotland to try to placate them over the Megrahi decision.

I've heard that his first stop off is with Hilary to see if she fancies sharing a toblerone with his pipe(r)...... Well if Bill can why can't you....

Anonymous said...

5:36

I heard he was too busy showing his new American female PA just how to hold his chanter.

Mike Giggler said...

Is it true that the QinetiQ staff -with due reference to the rockets -call our MP and MSP "dud and dudder"?

Anonymous said...

I truly believe that the SNP wanted the range to be closed as it would have cemented their argument against Labour and helped their next campaign. ABM must know that his days are numbered and by clearly deliberately scuppering the campaign he would have had a great anti-Labour campaign.

I think this is fabulous news for the Uists and hope that they recognise who has worked tirelessly to make it happen and who has been blowing a lot of hot air and accusations without any action.

Enjoy your drams tonight ladies and gents, but make sure you turn up on time tomorrow and be ready to make this range the best in the country so that we are never faced with this threat again.

Anonymous said...

MacNeil - semi-detached
Allan - brown noser

Western Isles SNP assistance to the campaign - virtually NIL

Anonymous said...

The drams are flowing fast and furious tonight as we celebrate keeping our jobs.

So if we are being rude about our MP and MSP it is because they didn't help the cause in the slightest. Actually, quite the opposite.

(Broadband reception in the DI good, but the batteries being run down quickly by those wishing to make their point)

Anonymous said...

Apparently the Aplach Allan and the Barra Bhoy were creaming themselves at the prospect of a NO from Westminster. Am Paipear were readying themselves for a Range Special Edition - the Final Salute it was going to be called. (a nest of semi-literate Nats). It's all come to hee haw. They are depressed. UK politics and the Union prevail. Gum Beanaicheadh Dia luchd obrach an Raon Rocaid

Anonymous said...

Is it true that the SNP councillors boycotted the task force from the outset?
Pretty shortsighted, when you consider that two of them are supposed to represent this area. Memories are long in these parts, and the behaviour of the SNP generally will long be remembered. I will remember this night too for a very long time- I drew the short straw, so I am on ferrying duty tonight, (strictly sober!)and I do not expect a call until the wee small hours.
A red letter day for the Uists,and a heartfelt thank you to the Task Force.

Anonymous said...

I see on the news tonight that our MP did not know what parliament he is in. As I am sure that was Washington that was in the background. Well when he returns I hope he does not come via Benbecula as he may be strung up.

I honestly think he believes it was him that saved the Range the way he was talking on the news. It just shows what a conceited Arse he really is. I also hope he will not stand down before the next election because I want to see him humiliated at the polls.

Anonymous said...

Guess who are wearing the longest faces in all the Hebrides tonight?
the MP, the MSP, three SNP councillors and that Goof who thinks he is in charge of the range ( probably a Welsh Nat!)
We will not forget the often unsung contribution made by Peter Carlin, who was the only councillor from this ward who made a contribution to the task force from the very begining.
I saw him today, busy as ever, whirling the new unlikely but highly effective double act of Campbell and Macsween all around Benbecula and the range.
A grateful thanks to you, Peter, from me and my family.
Gum biodh beannachd Dhe agaibh uile.

Anonymous said...

um - New Labour spin trolls in
overdrive in terms of accusations. You must realise that even if its Qinetiq's name - who controls them?

The MOD

It was Quinten Davies MP defence ministers job to decide whether to cut the jobs or not - and given that they advertised for a decominssioning person - then I think they had made up their minds untill this was exposed.

As for Angus "I want to be an MP / MSP / Councillor" Nicolson - you critisise Angus Macneil for not going to task force meetings - but then critise him for "gate crashing" a meeting in London because he "wasnt invited"

Thats LUDICROUS - listen to yourself! If he wasnt invited to it then whos at fault?

Anonymous said...

The Westminster Government and the MOD got caught out and changed their minds to save face. And and,a rather more influential group called the National Trust with really big players was not going to surrender St Kilda.

Wrong? Try a FOI.

Anonymous said...

What a glorious morning, what a magnificent hangover!
Pity Angus Brendan was not here to share it, to hear first hand about how we all recognise all the work he put into this issue, all the press releases, all the telly and radio interviews.
A shame though, that he used all the above devices to try to CLOSE the range and give him a sure fire return for another term.
The truth about all the background to this is bound to emerge sooner rather than later, and we will see what all his press releases, telly appearances and radio interviews say then, and who he will blame.
the sooner he goes the better, before he causes more damage.

Anonymous said...

I think some of your correspondents are being a little hard on AB for being over in the United States.

Clearly he was over there in his role as the Caped Crusader, trying to save Gotham City. The Benbecula Range was apparently well beyond him.

PS - Some of the Nats' explanations are pretty desperate, aren't they? The National Trust? An advert appearing in a paper that was probably prepared weeks before? New Labour trolls?

Anyone got some kryptonite handy - or am I confusing my superheroes?

Anonymous said...

Anon 7:02

Completely wrong about the National Trust. Do you know nothing???

Labour were going to close the range, but then they were blackmailed by the mafia and the tooth fairy who are storing crashed UFO's in a hanger at Rangehead.

Lord Lucan led the negotiations on behalf of Mars, riding into battle on a Unicorn. The Council taskforce were all robots controlled by David Icke and a team of 12 foot of blood drinking shape shifting lizards.

After a top-secret meeting on board the Titanic, the Majestic 12 team decided to keep the range open purely to upset the SNP, so that the trolls can continue mining for plutonium under the Dark Island hotel.

MacNeil, meantime, rescued the entire range single handed whilst away on yet another jolly drunken shagfest in the USofA where he could avoid his constituents.

Anonymous said...

Interesting on these pages that if you voice an opinion you are branded either SNP or Noo Liebore. Well what if you have absolutely no party allegiance and can stand back and look at things without worrying about who's who and what's what? I think there has been a disgraceful manipulation of the electorate over this case and people's liveliehoods have been used to score political points. And so it goes on.

Anonymous said...

9.57 ask Peter he will tell you who supported him being the local member to sit on the taskforce as places were limited.

Anonymous said...

10:05 am

Being an Uibhisteach, not working for Quinetiq, and having no allegiance to any political party, I am dismayed by the split which this threat to Uist jobs appears to have caused on Labour / SNP lines.

Taking a longer view - and remembering the campaign which Mairi Bremner waged when the army initially announced their withdrawal from Uist - I would not be surprised if this was only the first salvo in the long term MOD strategy.

Yes, it is great that the jobs have been saved, but there are other jobs and local industries in Uist which have been under threat and have been eroded over the last few years.

Lets have a wee bit of joined up thinking and leave the politics to one side. After all, it is a poor reflection on the Uists if we have to go to Lewis to find someone that can head up a Uist task force

Anonymous said...

Lunch Time Laugh.
I have just had a look at the press release from the SNP group at the council on Heb News- absolutely hilarious, full of praise for ABM and AA, shadow spokespersons, Uncle Tom Cobbly and anybody else, except the guys what did it! Better for a laugh than ABM on reporting Scotland last night- from the White House!

Full marks for a famous campaign for the Task force, and full marks to the Scottish Secretary of State, who has restored meaning and credibility to his office, which has been in the doldrums since devolution.
Watch Murphy's star rising- anyone who can take on the MoD and QinetiQ and beat them so comprehensively is worthy of praise.

Anonymous said...

The majority of the 'comments' on this page remind me of some of the myriad reasons I will never vote for Labour again. Ever.


and, Anon 11:31

"Watch Murphy's star rising- anyone who can take on the MoD and QinetiQ and beat them so comprehensively is worthy of praise."

Yep. That's a 'Lunch Time Laugh' all right.

Anonymous said...

Re 10.05 am, 11.22 am

Sorry - but both of you have a rather touching faith in human decency.

If the Western Isles was not a political battlefield between two parties vying for power, like say Caithness and Sutherland,for instance, the base would certainly have gone.

We should be grateful for the clash of opinions on this page. It may not mean peace and harmony, but it saved people's jobs.

Anonymous said...

12.56
Who cares whether you or anyone else will ever vote labour again, the important thing for us is that the range has been saved with no small print, by the efforts of the task force and Murphy.
You really are a miserable shower, can you not give credit where it is due?
You are not doing the SNP any favours by your small minded antics. Get over it.
The range and our jobs have been saved while you sniped on the sidelines.
You and your party will get few votes this neck of the woods next time round because of your silly behaviour.
Whoever represents the islands after the next election, whoever he or she is, cannot fail to do better than the present joker.

Anonymous said...

10.20- New Labour Trolls
News just in- a lesser spotted bearded troll in Barra has just announced that his friend, the transport Secretary for Scotland, has asked Calmac to start a Castlebay-Stornoway service as soon as possible , to save the troll the embarrasment of travelling through Uist and past the range he and his fellow islander, ABM, did toss all to save.
No one is fooled by spin and bluster, people here are fully aware of who did the work and who saved the jobs, against a background of negative noise and disinformation from the SNP. Dont forget that only two days ago they were taking great delight in telling us all that the range was finished. For our MP and SNP councillors to put party interests before the interests of the people is unforgivable. Only two short years ago the SNP were riding the crest of the wave in the islands,my how times have changed!They point the finger and spray blame hoping it will stick, refusing to take responsibility for anything.
May God help us if anything else happens requiring wisdom and action from these people between now and the next elections, local, London and Edinburgh.

Anonymous said...

Word has it that the people of Uist want to give Campbell, Macsween and Murphy the freedom of the Western Isles.

Word also has it that the Mad Barrach Councillor and the Nicker Pincher Councillor, along with Barra Bhuoy and the Beach Buoy are looking to block the Lochboisdale Mallaig ferry service now.

Just as well that Peter Carlin has allies in Campbell and Macsween.

Anonymous said...

Wonder what shite the the Grey Sheets chief reporter (what a joke) will have tomorrow. I am sure it will be Range saved by the Magnificent Two of Macneil and Allan.

It certainly won't be Murphy saves Range.

Anonymous said...

Amusing how the SNP spin machine has tried to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory.
Decisive action by Jim Murphy to stop QinetiQ plans dead = Labour U turn.

Victory for task force in reversing two years of QinetiQ planning after being given the nod by local MP = triumph for MP and his tory opposition chums.

Personal tour de force by council leader = silly blotting out of any reference to task force in press releases.

Keep it up guys your are doing a grand job for the opposition.

Roll on the Stornoway paper coverage this Friday.

How about a competition to mguss the headline?

Heres mine for starters-

"Macneil Waves Wand and Saves Range Singlehanded With Help From Allan, Manford, First Minister and Batman."

Anonymous said...

Great news for the islands that the jobs have been saved.

Some of the party political comments, from both sides, are extremely tiresome, but they are to be expected on Angus' blog.

The Range Task Force did a power of work to help save the jobs - am I correct in saying that the Task Force was a cross-party body?

I'm sure someone will correct me if I'm wrong, but were't ABM and DJM both members, along with Angus Campbell, Alastair Allan, Peter Carlin, Archie Campbell and several others. Each and every member of the Task Force deserves credit, along with the other members of the local community who worked to get this result.

Incidentally, criticism of ABM for being in America when the decision was announced is ironic, given the Defence Minister (Quentin Davies) was also in America when he announced his decision!

Anonymous said...

lol - Murphy saves range.

Murphy represents the party that proposed to close the range....

Murphy didn't "take on" the MOD - who is the MOD controlled by? His own party...

New Labour - how on earth can you say that the SNP need to take responsibilty for the propsed cuts - given that it was your party that propsed it?

Anonymous said...

Re 11.58 pm

Cuts like the Benbecula range are proposed by Governments of all poltical persuasions all over the world - especially at a time of economic restraint. It is part of their duties in running the national economy and won't change whatever flag flies over government buildings.

However, even they would expect the constituency MP to defend the employment of those who live in the area.

Not in this case apparently ...

Anonymous said...

Even the most staunch Labour supporters must realise that the MOD fully intended to close down the base as part of their budget savings until Labour realised that closure would destroy any slim chance they thought they had in winning the Western Isles seat in either election. Difficult to credit Labour with winning the fight to keep it open when they were the party planning to shut it in the first place

Anonymous said...

"allies in Campbell and Macsween."


On Lewis this duo are a joke. Funny how they have to head south to gain support.

Take a 50-50 guess on which one is 'friendly' with a lady on the Uists so now likes to visit.

More black eyes for him I suspect when the missus finds out.

Anonymous said...

Fascinating to see the 'diary' of the MP and MSP in today's Gazette. An entirely Rocket Range-free zone. MP more concerned to use each comment to show his unrelenting loathing for anything to do with the UK. A politician working for the Islands who is going to achieve anything significant has to have the maturity to work effectively with opposition parties. Donald Stewart did it, Calum MacDonald did it; it's beyond the mental grasp of Macneill. Pity for us.

Anonymous said...

As a Labour man I'm glad that the Comhairle didn't heed Councillor Maclean's call for Councillor Macsween to step aside to allow another Uist councillor to join the Task Force as now we can claim all the credit.

Anonymous said...

dear 8.12-8.22 really you shouldn't talk to yourself it's a bad habit

Anonymous said...

do you really think i talk to myself?

Anonymous said...

yes i do!

Anonymous said...

and why do you think that that is a problem?

Anonymous said...

well it is a sign of madness, fellow nat!

Anonymous said...

are you saying i'm mad?!

Anonymous said...

well, you've sounded pretty angry before! this is not the first time youve displayed your wrath!

Anonymous said...

we thank you very much for listening to us!

Anonymous said...

Interesting definition of 'irony' from 11.32.

Surely it is entirely legitimate for a Defence Minister to be in the States at the time of a decision affecting a constituency not within his immediate jurisdiction. He has things to do; people to meet - all in the 'national' interest.

But a Local MP jetting across the Pond when the jobs of the one of the larger firms in his area are under threat ...? When a decision is going to be announced...?

Pretty unique timing in my experience ...

Anonymous said...

If only we could vote from our hearts today maybe we would not be regretting with our heads torrow???

Anonymous said...

The retention of jobs at the range, irrespective of the various political point scoring is to be applauded.

However, before we get carried away with our own exuberance it may be worth reflecting that as a community we are dependent to an unhealthy degree on the defence industry.

The range should be viewed as only part of the industry that takes place on the island, perhaps even only as the cream of a broad crop on account of the high degree of technical jobs that are carried out there.

Where we become more vulnerable is when the range is the only main employer. Irrespective of the glad handing that has taken place over the announcement, the range is only as safe as the next round of budget cuts.

Indigenous industry has also to be supported, and fostered where possible.
The bitter pill we are asked to swallow is that largely as a result of the political shagfest that we have witnessed we are told that the event we have witnessed was a triumph of multi agency interaction.
Try telling that to the members of the community that are being sold short, exploited, and at the receiving end of threatening lawyers letters by these self same grandees.

Island jobs; saved by labour politicians from...erm Labour gov. decision.

You couldn't make it up.

Anonymous said...

5.21
The Nats make a wonderful psychological study in these responses! Leaving aside the loony tunes ones (who believe, for example, that the decision was because of a mis-timed advertisment!), the ones like this who try to cover up the ineptitude of Macneil in his handling of the issue, do their best to run the middle course of welcoming the decision while not giving any credit to those who really led the battle. But they can't sustain this discipline, so the sphincter opens at the end to give the usual blast of what sphinters are designed to release. But just see who's got spattered!

T (Turbines) in the Pairc said...

Well Angus

Whilst the Lewis and Harris Expeditionary Force attacked on the Southern Front to see off rape loot and pillage of the Range we were counter attacked in the North by the SNP Government and HIE Alliance - see University in Inverness.

Those that study history will recall in 1066 Harold Godwin went North to thrash the Danes at Stamford Bridge only to return to be beaten at Hastings.

The reference to 2 black eyes makes me remark dear old King Harold got an arrow straight in the eye.

The Western Isles Government must watch its back (and front and side I think)

Anonymous said...

Well 6:48pm you are an ungrateful sod. You got your jobs back in Uist AND you were expecting HIE to plough money into the Islands as well??!! You can't have it both ways, just get back to your sheep and your missiles and remember which ones have the hole in the back.

Anonymous said...

Will our MP tell us the main reason why he is in the USA at this time. I think not.
Well let me tell you why. He is over in the USA on a fund raising mission for the Scottish Nationalist Party. It just goes to show you what is more important to him. Obviously not the livelihood of his constituents. It is well seen he is not our man in Westminster but Fat Salmonds puppet in the Western Isles.

Anonymous said...

Is that you, a Chalum Iain? A Dhomhnuill Iain??

Anonymous said...

I see the Beach Boy (last spotted entering Club Ego) was trying to gain brownie points today, after his and the Barra Bhouys lack of input in to saving the Range.

Anonymous said...

1

Thank goodness 10:06pm that you cleared this one up. I am mightily relieved that he was on a legitimate fund raising expedition and not...erm, looking for some cash for questions.

Anonymous said...

Anon 1.57
Was he spotted going in the rear entrance.

Anonymous said...

Anon 5:40

Aye...your rear entrance. Still, it stopped you talking for a while.

Anonymous said...

64 comments, 90%+ being supporters of one party slagging off the other. Has the election started?

Anonymous said...

12.09 pm

No, but it's not far off! Can you tell?!

Anonymous said...

Re 12.09

I must confess I'm neither going to vote Labour or Nationalist. (A plague on both their houses, if you ask me ...)

However, I can still recognise a complete lack of professionalism in any party.

And AB just about sums it up!!!

Anonymous said...

11.36

If your considering voting for New Labour your as well voting for the Tories because they really are just the same thing entirely.

Anonymous said...

Re 10.59

Think we're all about to discover - to our cost! - that your statement just isn't true!

A pity we have to relearn that every generation.

Anonymous said...

Tartan Tories? SNP – founded by landlords now years later heading back to their natural home. At Westminster they are referred to as the “Cameron’s Highlanders” – by whom you may ask? By the Tories……says it all really.