To the barricades!

M'learned friend is squaring up to Auntie (not his auntie, he's scared of her) and is currently engaged in a most interesting legal case. The question to be settled is whether the BBC is in breach of its duty to be politically impartial by screening the leaders' debates in Scotland. It costs a fortune, apparently, and there's a wee appeal out for funds - it's already past the half-way point so dip in your pocket and shell out a shilling for the cause of fairness. I'm told that any amount will be welcome and that the spirit of Voltaire is knocking on the door of the BBC.

In other news, the leaves are back on the line with a secret weapon in tow.

Mind how you broadcast!

Lib Dem cuts

Ever wonder what a Lib Dem Government would look like? Well, where Nick Clegg promised 'savage cuts' Vince Cable has laid it all out for us. Here's the Lib Dem plan for cuts:

• £2.4 billion a year cut from public sector pay
• 25% cut in salary for highly paid civil servants
• Ending national pay bargaining (in Lib Dem speak, decentralised bargaining and independent pay reviews)
• £1.35 billion a year reduction in family tax credits
• £5 billion a year cut in child benefit
• Higher retirement ages brought in quickly
• £500 million a year cut from the Child Trust Fund
• £28 billion a year cut from public sector pensions
• Dismantling Contactpoint (English system that helps professionals care for children) - £40 million a year
• Scrapping ID cards (but not biometric passports) to save an unidentified amount of money somewhere between £5 billion and £20 billion (big capital costs)
• £50 million a year cut from England's NHS IT scheme (Barnett consequentials will apply, of course)
• Save £6 billion by scrapping a communications database that has only been discussed and not costed
• £500 million by using freeware
• £2.3 billion cut by scrapping England's Regional Development Agencies
• £200 million by scrapping the Export Credit Guarantee Department
• £500 million cut to England's skills and training budgets
• Unspecified amount to be cut from agriculture support £1 billion cut by scrapping England's Audit Commission and other watchdogs
• £2 billion cut by scrapping the Government's regional offices in England (they deliver things like the Supporting People Programme for vulnerable people, tackling social deprivation and encouraging local enterprise)
• £200 million by scrapping English Strategic Health Authorities
• £600 million cut from England's education budget
• £5 billion cut from maintenance and upgrade on military aircraft
• £22 billion cut from military aircraft purchase (didn't the Lib Dems criticise Brown for not providing enough aircraft?)
• £7 billion cut from military vehicle purchase
• £70 billion saved by not buying the Trident replacement - offset by the Lib Dems' intention to buy other nukes.
• £1 to £2 billion cut from military procurement by privatisation
• £2 billion cut from England's NHS budget

There's an awful lot of Barnett consequentials in there...

Then they want to raise money:

• Privatise Royal Mail
• Privatise Royal Mint
• Seek other Government enterprises to sell
• Sell the Highways Agency (that'll be England's roads then) and allow them to be tolled
• Sell the shares in the banks early (rather than wait for a good price)
• Sell off any public properties they can find

Can I just ask - what will they do next time there's a problem?

Mind how you go!

A wee thanks

Before the election consumes us all I thought I might just put on record my gratitude to the fantastic team we have at SNP Headquarters who seem to be working every hour of the day providing us with excellent support. Thanks very much, your efforts are appreciated.

My campaign team as well - you're all wonderful (well, most of you anyway). Thanks very much - three more weeks and then you can sleep!

Mind how you go.

Greens - do they practise what they preach?

When I left my office tonight I noticed that the Greens had left their office lights on - I had to go in and turn them off. Honestly, if the environment police are slipping up what hope is there? Everyone should complain to James.

To far more serious matters, I hear that the Greens are coming on a storm down Norwich South way and there's a possibility we may see the first Green MP elected in May. That'd be something, wouldn't it?

Campaign launch in Edinburgh North and Leith

The SNP's short campaign (the last three and a half weeks) was launched in Newhaven today with the First Minster, Alex Salmond MSP, rousing our activists from all over Scotland to get out and campaign for victory in seats the length and breadth of the country. Then he came campaigning with us in Stockbridge and the reception he got was as good as the reception we're getting on the doorsteps. I think, though, that it's the first time I've seen people queueing up to meet politicians campaigning.

2007 saw a sea-change in Scottish politics, 2009 confirmed the SNP as Scotland's biggest party, 2010 is going to show that Scotland keeps moving forward.

Mind how you vote!

A wee message

Indeed!

Neigh bother!

Have a laugh, go on. In the midst of an election where some candidates are being rude, some are telling lies, some are getting caught being twits with tweets, and some are taking themselves far too seriously, a wry smile and a wee chuckle helps things along. Politics is a serious business, just like comedy and tragedy, and there's enough faux gravity around. A bit of levity is in order.

This lovely poster was sent to me (as was the 'fire up the quattro' one) and I thought I'd share.

Mind how you vote!