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Reluctant Hero

check it out!

http://www.sundayherald.com/oped/opinion/display.var.1494294.0.0.php

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George · This is Ma' Life! Joined: 02 May 2006 Posts: 767

Yes, just read it myself.....praise indeed.

He is correct on one thing though, the new government have yet to face a crisis or 'take a punch' as it were. The trams will provide their first real test. Am I correct in thinking that decision day is Wednesday or is this just the vote?

My reason for asking is that it appears the new government have managed to coincide the decision with the coronation of Brown. Thus probably helping to limit the prominence of any coverage of a decision to cancel.

SLG · Posted: Sat Jun 23, 2007 10:37 pm Post subject:

The piece is spot on IMO. Sometimes in the day to day of it all it looks like the SNP are being hard pressed to keep it going. But when you take a step back, it really is quite remarkable what they've achieved.

George you're right, they will lose a vote eventually, in fact very shortly. How they react will be telling. MacWhirter makes the obvious point that they shouldn't get over confident. I'm worried that the tram issue is one where they should be more respectful of Parliament. They've done everything right so far pretty much, here they could voice their objections and then proceed with the project maintaining the morale upper hand. Never mind avoiding some of the inevitable backlash.

I don't imagine they have to make a decision straight away George, but they will have to make one soon. It's still costing all the time it's on hold so if they are going to scrap it, it needs to be done ASAP.

Brown's taking over of the premiership (or Labour leader job at least) will take a lot of the press and benefit the SNP nationally. In Edinburgh, the Evening News will never for give them. Of course it's a Labour paper anyway, but I think it would damage the party in Edinburgh.

wisnaeme · Posted: Sun Jun 24, 2007 12:13 am Post subject:

SLG · Posted: Sun Jun 24, 2007 11:24 am Post subject:

That's a fair point as well Wisnaeme. There is bound to be an overspend, yet the Executive is only committed to fund the project for ~£500m, the rest coming from the council and through land sales. I think the Exec will be in a very awkward situation if the money runs out. Depending on the level of overspend, they might have no option other than to cover the costs if Edinburgh Council are unable to do so. The Evening News and opposition parties would be sure to blame financial difficulties that the Council lands itself in on the SNP if the don't.

Holebender · Posted: Sun Jun 24, 2007 2:49 pm Post subject:

How would they manage to turn an overspend into the SNP's fault if the SNP make it clear from the start they oppose the project and that there will be no additional funding?

It would be like blaming your bank manager if you exceed your overdraft limit, even thought he's warned you it will not be extended.
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"My instinct is to agree with your opinion of his verse, but I've never so much as glanced at it." - agentmancuso

SLG · Posted: Sun Jun 24, 2007 3:17 pm Post subject:

They would presumably dig up other transport infrastructure projects that have over ran that the Executive have continued to fund; they would suggest that if the trams were being built elsewhere, the SNP would be stepping in to save the project; they would suggest that the SNP is punishing Edinburgh for going ahead with the trams against their wishes.

Of course it would be rubbish and it would be uncertain how it would play out with the public. It is also complicated by the fact that the SNP are running the council in coalition. But Labour and Lib Dem (less Lib Dems now that they are in coalition with the SNP) politicians and the Evening News (and the Scotsman for that matter) have been accusing the SNP of being anti-Edinburgh for some time for wanting to scrap EARL and the tram line. They would have no qualms about taking a similar line should the Exec fail to bail out a stretched city council.

kevin04 · Standing in a Council Ward Joined: 06 Mar 2007 Posts: 459

Another great article from Macwhirter, I basically agree with everything he says in this article and that does not happen that often for me. I thought pre-election MacWhirter was excellent as well, He's a fair, transparent and open minded journalist, Scotland needs more like him

Holebender · Posted: Mon Jun 25, 2007 9:49 am Post subject:

Except for his Gordon Broon fixation. We could do without his uncritical praise of everything Broon does.
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"My instinct is to agree with your opinion of his verse, but I've never so much as glanced at it." - agentmancuso

Scott2006 · Posted: Tue Jun 26, 2007 1:10 pm Post subject:

MacWhirter is fairly unbiased in general.

But some journalists are modern day Daniel Defoes reporting from a British perspective... and being paid by more than one master. The agents of the state aparatus will not be known for more than 30 years - though more than likely those files will be shredded at a future inconvenient time.

Who watches the watchers? And who goes for drinks in Vauxhall?

With all the handicaps and impediments, knobbling and double-speak, the standard of journalism is really quite high.

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The Scottish Parliamentarians who voted for Treaty of Union in 1706 and signed away Independence had been voted for by less than 2% of the Scottish population