Scottish Budget 2009

[GlesgaeHibby]

I'm surprised this hasn't been mentioned in here yet. I'm absolutely appalled at the Labour party once more after their shambolic performance in the Scottish Parliament midweek. What little credibility they did have has completely evaporated after that lot putting their petty political focus (removing Alex Salmond and instating Iain Gray as first minister) instead of helping to pass a budget that will benefit the people of Scotland.

Labour got their town centre regeneration wish into the budget with an extra £10m added in, they got more apprenticeships but yet they still had to play the games, at the latest possible stage. Councils in Scotland are faced with disruption as they don't know what to do now regarding the council tax freeze-measures that help people in the downturn-all because these balloons wanted to play games.

After hearing Iain Gray speak at a burns supper only last saturday, my estimations of him had risen significantly, only for him to pander more to Jim Murphy and balloons like Andy Kerr's wishes and try and cause disruption in parliament.

Credible opposition is healthy, and always needed, but that lot are frankly an embarrassment to the people they are meant to be serving.

[IndieHibby]

I'm surprised this hasn't been mentioned in here yet. I'm absolutely appalled at the Labour party once more after their shambolic performance in the Scottish Parliament midweek. What little credibility they did have has completely evaporated after that lot putting their petty political focus (removing Alex Salmond and instating Iain Gray as first minister) instead of helping to pass a budget that will benefit the people of Scotland.

Labour got their town centre regeneration wish into the budget with an extra £10m added in, they got more apprenticeships but yet they still had to play the games, at the latest possible stage. Councils in Scotland are faced with disruption as they don't know what to do now regarding the council tax freeze-measures that help people in the downturn-all because these balloons wanted to play games.

After hearing Iain Gray speak at a burns supper only last saturday, my estimations of him had risen significantly, only for him to pander more to Jim Murphy and balloons like Andy Kerr's wishes and try and cause disruption in parliament.

Credible opposition is healthy, and always needed, but that lot are frankly an embarrassment to the people they are meant to be serving.

Welcome to the sordid viper's nest that is politics...

[GlesgaeHibby]

Welcome to the sordid viper's nest that is politics...

Tell me about it. What a bunch of tosspots they are putting their political careers before the needs of the people of Scotland.

[Woody1985]

The problem I have with politics is that by the very nature of it you generally get a mixture of parties thoughts on matters before bills etc can be passed even if one parties method is clearly the best way forward.

I suspect that a lot of politicians out there will actually agree with the stuff they're opposing because of the party they belong to.

I know that sounds like a bit like a dictatorship but what I mean is that you never hear a politician say 'that's a cracking idea, lets see how we can work together to help put that in place / benifit people'

[Don Giovanni]

The problem I have with politics is that by the very nature of it you generally get a mixture of parties thoughts on matters before bills etc can be passed even if one parties method is clearly the best way forward.

I suspect that a lot of politicians out there will actually agree with the stuff they're opposing because of the party they belong to.

I know that sounds like a bit like a dictatorship but what I mean is that you never hear a politician say 'that's a cracking idea, lets see how we can work together to help put that in place / benifit people'

Exactly! :agree:

Party politics makes a mockery of democracy by encouraging/forcing members to vote according to whatever their party decrees to be the best course of action.

It removes the individual members ability to think about any proposal and come to their own decision. They do as they are told by the party leader in order to maintain power rather than doing what is best for the people they are supposed to represent, their constituents - the people who voted for them to look after their interests.

IMO we'd be better off without party politics and simply elect individuals to represent the constituency. If the outcome was more debate and compromise on issues raised would we be worse off than proposals being rail-roaded through due to the party system?

More power to the independents not bound by party doctrine and agendas.

[steakbake]

I'm surprised this hasn't been mentioned in here yet. I'm absolutely appalled at the Labour party once more after their shambolic performance in the Scottish Parliament midweek. What little credibility they did have has completely evaporated after that lot putting their petty political focus (removing Alex Salmond and instating Iain Gray as first minister) instead of helping to pass a budget that will benefit the people of Scotland.

Labour got their town centre regeneration wish into the budget with an extra £10m added in, they got more apprenticeships but yet they still had to play the games, at the latest possible stage. Councils in Scotland are faced with disruption as they don't know what to do now regarding the council tax freeze-measures that help people in the downturn-all because these balloons wanted to play games.

After hearing Iain Gray speak at a burns supper only last saturday, my estimations of him had risen significantly, only for him to pander more to Jim Murphy and balloons like Andy Kerr's wishes and try and cause disruption in parliament.

Credible opposition is healthy, and always needed, but that lot are frankly an embarrassment to the people they are meant to be serving.

An opposition worth its salt should be hot on the heels of any government. But Scottish Labour, more at grassroots level than anything else have one of the most absurdly polarised view of the world than any other party out there. It's a very strange "four legs good, two legs bad" attitude.

Lib Dems are no fans of the SNP themselves and certainly neither are the Tories, but at least they recognise an opportunity to influence government policy from the sidelines.

I'm delighted to see that Margo managed to get some of her wish list ticked off, especially extra cash for Embra. That's a proper politician who is worthy of getting anyone's vote (unless, of course, you're a Weegie).

[Calvin]

If I were to become an MSP, I'd stand belonging to a party, hopefully get elected then re-stand at the next election as an independent when I've won approval from the electorate.
The Scottish Parliament just now is a shambles. I'm confident it'll go through this time though.

[Mibbes Aye]

I'm surprised this hasn't been mentioned in here yet. I'm absolutely appalled at the Labour party once more after their shambolic performance in the Scottish Parliament midweek. What little credibility they did have has completely evaporated after that lot putting their petty political focus (removing Alex Salmond and instating Iain Gray as first minister) instead of helping to pass a budget that will benefit the people of Scotland.

Labour got their town centre regeneration wish into the budget with an extra £10m added in, they got more apprenticeships but yet they still had to play the games, at the latest possible stage....

I thought it was the Tories who wanted town centre regeneration funding?

[GlesgaeHibby]

I thought it was the Tories who wanted town centre regeneration funding?

They did, Labour did originally as well but jumped of the bandwagon when they found out the Tories wanted it too.