Happy St Andrew's Day

Happy St Andrew's Day everyone! Today is the day we all celebrate our Scottishness, and as I walked through my home town of Carluke today everyone was doing it, either by wearing something Scottish or eating something Scottish! Not long before typing this post I went onto the BBC news website where they had a selection of pictures of buildings across the nation being lit up in blue to celebrate as well as a story about the number of parties going on. I think it's fantastic that we now celebrate our national day like this, and long may it continue!

Also, reading through the paper this morning I was reminded that it will be two years today that the people of Scotland will vote in the Independence referendum! This will be an historic vote, possibly the most historic in our nations history, and will decide whether we move forward to control our own affairs or let Westminster run Scotland! The choice, as it should, rests with the Scottish people and as far I'm concerned the campaign for the referendum has well and truly started!

HAPPY ST ANDREW'S DAY!!!

Homecoming Scotland launches TV ad

Hi all. I thought that with St Andrews Day tomorrow, being the start of the winter festival which runs right up until Burns day, I would post this video of the new Homecoming Scotland ad asking Scots from around the globe to back home to Scotland to celebrate the 250Th birthday of Burns with over 200 events throughout 2009! So here's the ad here, enjoy!

Darling's big gamble! What does it mean for you?

First of all, sorry I haven't been blogging for a while but I'll try and get into the habit again. As you all know, yesterday Alistair Darling unveiled his pre-budget report, something which usually doesn't make huge news but this time was different! This time, Darling made possibly the biggest gamble of his entire career! If it works (which is unlikely), it could possibly mean a fourth term for Labour at Westminster (God forbid!). If it fails, which looks as if it could be likely, it could result in a Tory government (again, God Forbid!). Either way, it's going to end up with every tax payer in the country having to pay 7 years of higher taxes! Why? Because the governments idea of getting us out of this crisis is to borrow billions of pounds! All of which, of course, has to be paid back! And it's us the taxpayer that's going to have to give the London government all this extra cash! So, basically, while it will mean a tax cut at the moment and a cut in VAT (all of which is to be welcomed), at the end of the day it's going to mean us paying seven years of higher taxes just for the government taking a penny of a Mars Bar! It's going to be the younger generation which is going to be hit hardest, as are many of small businesses which will result in thousands of people losing their jobs! It's also going to mean a cut in the next Scottish budget! Once again, it just goes to prove that Scotland is being short-changed by Westminster! All in all, I think this is just too big a gamble for the Chancellor, but, we shall just wait and see exactly what happens.

Even Alex does his bit for Children in Need!

Brown says no to giving Scotland more powers

When I picked up my Sunday newspaper this morning I already knew that there would be all the rubbish about so-called "SNP infighting" after losing Glenrothes (none of which is true) but I was admittedly shocked to read that Gordon Brown is to not give the Scottish Parliament ANY new powers!! He said that, due to Labour winning Glenrothes, he had no need to give the Scottish people any extra powers! This is just one of the consequences of when Labour win an election in Scotland, especially a by-election! They begin to believe that everything they are doing is right and continue to so. By not giving Scotland any new powers they are effectively halting Scotland moving forward! Then again, could we really expect anything better from Labour!

Glenrothes By-election update

Hi again, latest news is that it appears Labour may have just held on to the seat but with a much reduced majority! I will be gracious in defeat, I do congratulate them, but I believe that they have won by scaremongering and negativity about the local council. I still believe that Peter Grant was the best candidate and would have made the best MP. Let's also be blunt, the SNP vote is up and Labour's is down, but the swing just wasn't quite enough to win. Is this a victory for fear over hope? I sincerely hope not!

Glenrothes by-election update

Hi again, I can now reveal that the turnout is good- 52%! Sadly, while there has been a significant swing to the SNP there is talk that Labour might have pulled it off! But it's not confirmed yet and we shall still wait and see. By the way I'm not getting my news from the count itself but rather just from bbc scotland's coverage so I don't have all the gossip I'm afraid.

Glenrothes by-election update!

Hi again, talk going about that the Lib Dem vote has collapsed. Once again, still awaiting a turnout figure but certainly enjoying BBC Scotland's coverage where Jim Sillars is speaking as I write!

Glenrothes by-election update

Hi again, next update just to let you all know that the feeling in the count is that the SNP has won!

Still waiting on a turnout figure.

Glenrothes by-election update

Well, the polls are now closed and a declaration is expected between 12.30 and 1am.

Early indications show that the SNP might just snatch it! So things are looking good so far!

Can we win? Yes we can!!

First of all I would like to congratulate Barack Obama on becoming not only the next President of the USA but also the first black president! This truly is history! It presents a shift in American politics forever! This is a new era, not just for America, but for the world as well!! Only a few years ago, few would have even dreamed that a black man could become President! But now it has come true! It shows that anything is now possible! It also shows that the world is ready for change! Enough of the old! Enough of the same, old tired message!! Things, now, will change for the better!

And just as America has voted for change, so will Scotland! I am certain that, as the rest of the world moves forward, Scotland will too! This, I hope, will begin tomorrow as the people of Glenrothes go to the polls to elect their next MP! I am sure that the ruling Labour party is in for a shock! Already, Glasgow East delivered a message for change! Scotland, as a nation, is moving to a future of significant change! And what exactly that change will be is ours to decide! But tomorrow, as Glenrothes votes, I urge them to usher in that change! Follow what America has shown us can be done! Vote for change, vote for Peter Grant and the SNP! When we win, you win! And can we win? Yes we can!

I'm certain were in for another thrilling night!

Secret minutes reveal disarray in Labour

We already knew that the Labour campaign in Glenrothes was in complete disarray, but I don't think any of us could have believed just how badly they were doing! Indeed, it has been revealed in several of today's Sunday papers that secret minutes from the Labour Party show them in disarray as they planned the by-election in Glenrothes. The minutes showed that even Labour's own activists believed the photo of Gordon Brown with Margaret Thatcher was "a big mistake". They also admitted, what we've known all along, that the Labour party in Fife wasn't geared up for modern campaigning. The minutes, which were written by Gordon Brown's election agent Alex Rowley, also said that "across Fife there is a 5.5% swing to the Nationalists!" He also said "They (SNP) work hard to identify their support and get them out!" Labour activist Judy Hamilton claimed that Labour had lost touch, had no attraction for young people and the party ethos was that of the South of England stating "It does not resonate in Scotland"!! Councillor Ian Crichton admitted that the SNP has momentum! And as if that just wasn't enough, a senior Labour campaign organiser said that the party reckoned they were 3000 votes behind!!!

Well folks, with only a few days to go till Thursday and the Labour party acting like this, I think we can all guess which way it will go! Anyone wish to place a bet :)