Is Mister Speaker Taking the Mick?

All at Sea
Took the ferry over to Bruges for a midweek break this week to celebrate my sister-in-law Ann's 60th birthday with all her siblings and their partners. It was a great few days - and unbelievably the first time I have been abroad since 1980: everything was in black and white in those far off days and now it's all in full-blown technicolour!
Bruges was a magical, fairy tale wee place (although it's apparently a city) - churches, chocolatiers, lace shops and bicycles by the thousand - and then there's the dozens of bars and restaurants ...
I think we all had a great time, but restful it was not - walking for miles during the day followed by big meals (and even bigger drinks)until late into the night took their toll and I was knackered by the time we returned home on Saturday. I could handle the choppy seas and towering waves but those big litre steins of lager got me in the end ...
It's just as well we don't have these 'bonding sessions' too often - but I'm looking forward to the next one. Although nearer to home - Archerfield House - it's a whole family affair with over 30 attending. I just hope the old liver lasts out ...
Resolutions
Well, with the amazing 'duty-free' bargains on offer on board ship what do you think? Belgium was fairly expensive too, so the bank balance has taken a bit of a doing. On the brighter side, however, I have enough top quality Belgian chocolate to last me until at least Tuesday, and sufficient Hugo Boss aftershave to sink a small passenger liner. Cheers!
The economy drive will start next week, he vowed ...
Sport
Just got home in time to get out again to Easter Road. I missed last Sunday's victory over Aberdeen as I was picking up Knutt (she spoils everything!)and I was hoping that her first game of the season would be a good one. Sadly, it wasn't - although Hibs were two up in the opening five minutes they contrived to huff and puff their way through the remaining 85 minutes, and had Inverness shown any punch up front we could have been looking at a very different result. The three points was the only plus point of this particularly unforgettable encounter, a real shame as it had promised so much. Knutt, however, has become a lucky mascot for the time being.
Elsewhere, Rangers and Celtic march on (although Celtic were incredibly fortunate to be awarded a very dubious free-kick in the dying minutes of their game at St Mirren). Hearts got a good win at Motherwell but there are strong rumours that they are about to lose their top striker Velicka - that would be a severe body blow, although there may be another two dozen Lithuanians waiting in the wings to fill his boots!
What can you say about the rugby? Scotland were humiliated again - in Ireland this time. Another hapless performance, once again trying the flamboyant stuff without having a grasp of the basics like passing and catching the ball. It's becoming embarrassing to watch, and next up we've got England. Our friends from across the border beat France last night and one again they have become world beaters overnight. They are not, of course, but I fear they will still be far too strong for us - the way we are playing just now, the Isle of Man would probably push us all the way!
Politics
Having been away for most of the week I missed the city council's budget meeting on Thursday, which I understand went on (and on) for over six hours. Predictably the Lib Dem/SNP coalition got their budget through but I haven't had time to see what the details are yet.
And still on politics, it appears that Mister Speaker has got himself into a bit of hot water over his rather extravagant expenses claims. Michael Martin MP, esteemed Speaker of the House of Commons, was not a universally popular choice when he was elected to replace Betty Boothroyd - even some of his Labour colleagues thought at that time that he was not up to the job. Ever since taking office 'Gorbals Mick', as he is known to a few of the more toffee-nosed MPs, has not endeared himself to the House and there has been a growing pressure to get the Glasgow man to stand down. It seems that Mr Speaker has handed his growing band of detractors some pretty potent ammunition and while he hasn't broken any rules (rules created by MPs for MPs remember) he has been them almost beyond the point of recognition.
Mr Martin also chairs the group which has been tasked with looking into Members' Allowances and he hand-picked the committee members. That's handy!
The Speaker was defended by his old mucker Lord Foulkes on radio and television today - there's not much our George doesn't know about the various allowances systems currently in place, having been an old toon cooncillor, MP, MSP and member of the House of Lords in his illustrious career. George is often wheeled out on these occasions to deflect some of the heat, and he almost pulled it off today. However his comment about MPs being poorly paid and mention of 'penury' would have many choking and spluttering over their Sunday lunch - he's a rascal, that George! I reckon he should go for becoming a Euro MP - I think he would be the first politician to achieve that remarkable feat - the full house, a clean sweep - and if anyone can do it, our George can!
Anyway, George need not worry to much in the meantime - his old pal Gorbals Mick won't be resigning, of course; who does these days?
And finally, was very sad to hear the news of the death of Annette Lamont, former Regional Councillor and more recently Malcolm Chisholm's very able assistant. Annette was a real socialist who stuck to her beliefs, resigning from the Labour Party over the Iraq War. God knows, we could certainly do with a few more like her now.

Return of the Knutt

Everything this week's been focused on my daughter Gail's return from her sojourn in New Zealand - she arrives back this afternoon, so it's been a busy week in terms of getting things ship-shape for when she gets home.
Work
Finished up work on Friday for a week's holiday - bit of a rush to get everything written up before I went off (not totally successful so I will return to bit of a backlog, which is good because it makes you concentrate on the job in hand). There was also a bit of confusion over a couple of articles/events we are working on with Lothian and Borders police - got a bit messy as too many people are involved, and the communications (mine included) were not as good as they should have been.
Other than that, this week's work has centred around a couple of cheque presentations at the Western - a Drylaw couple donating money to the Western's Oncology Unit and the Local Parents Together group giving money earned from calendar sales to Maggies Centre.
Community
Sorted out the residue of Tierney Award presentation staff - ordered plaque and Honours Board sign-writing - so only minutes and agendas to type up for February's meeting before I go away.
Fortunately no evening meetings this week - a real bonus as so many other things to do - but the first signs that a niggly community issue is fast approaching: the future of our community council's role on the North Edinburgh Trust, tied in with the whole Neighbourhood Partnership boundary thing that has festered away since the NPs were established last year - we wanted to be in Forth, but the decision was made that Drylaw Telford would go into Inverleith. A review was promised after six months (far too early in my view) but I am resigned to the fact that we will be left exactly where we are - I just can't see officials choosing to restructure boundaries and giving themselves all the extra work that this would entail.
I also received a phone call from a very experienced community activist who wanted to check out correct CC procedures - it seems the individual's feathers have been ruffled by another member of her community council. Its' all rather petty and of no great consequence and I do wonder how some of the new North Edinburgh CCs would continue to function without NET development worker support.
Politics
Gordon Brown appeared on Scotland's Politics Show this afternoon - a concerted effort is being made to heal the cracks within Labour's Scottish and Westminster wings. Brown was talking up 'Wendy's' constitutional commission - although he suggested it was more of a review - and if this is Labour's 'Big Idea' in Scotland it's just not 'big' enough.
Over in the ole USA, I'm delighted to see Obama surging ahead in the race for the Democratic nomination. It would be great if he could win, but expect the Clintons to use every devious trick in the book to get their campaign back on track. I hope Obama can make it - not only as a real candidate for change, something the Clintons just don't offer, but as the Democrat most likely to beat McCain for the Presidency. Quite simply, more Americans will vote for him than they would for Clinton, who is admired and despised in equal measure. I must admit I am one of the latter camp and I hope the Americans will vote to break with the past.
Sport
Easter Road in midweek to experience another Jekyll and Hyde performance from Hibs against Gretna. Two up after 20 minutes, the game could have been dead and buried by half-time, and indeed should have been when they added a third in the second half. However Mixu brought off Boozey for Kerr after the third, and we almost let it slip by gifting Gretna two goals. Fortunately sanity was restored by a late Fletcher penalty but it was much closer than it should have been. Hibs have crept into the top six again but this is a fragile recovery - there is not enough strength in depth in the squad so we need Jones back soon to free up Ian Murray.
Resolutions
Spending? Ach, well ... Brian got in touch from Canada to say that the Hibs League Cup video was on sale at the Hibs Shop for just £10, so could I pick one up for him. I went along after work on Friday (see pic above), with the sale in full flow. So many bargains ... I left around fifteen minutes later and £90 poorer. C'est la vie!

Bashing the Bishop and other pastimes ...

It seems to come around at least once every year - an 'academic' clergyman makes an utterance that sparks the tabloids into a frenzy of 'Bonkers Bishop!' headlines. In the past, our very own Richard Holloway was a prime candidate but this time round it's none other than his Eminence (or is that His Grace?)the Archbishop of Canterbury - and it's not just the red-tops that are furious.
The good Archbishop seemingly thought it would be a great idea to share his thoughts on introducing some aspects of Sharia law into the British justice system, to initiate debate apparently. Now the Archbishop clearly spends too much time in the cloistered wee world of Lambeth Palace, in the company of other 'intellectuals' and senior churchmen who have climbed the spiritual ladder (the political equivalent is the 'greasy pole'). It's a pity that none of them found themselves able to advise the Archbishop that airing his views on this issue may not be the best course of action. And so it came to pass that the eminent churchman got an absolute kicking in the media and there have even been calls for his resignation from senior Church figures - the Archbishop, meanwhile, is said to be stunned by the reaction. And the sad thing is - he probably is.
So we've had the Bonkers Bishop story this week, next week it will probably be the first appearance this year of either The Abominable Snowman or Loch Ness Monster! Or maybe another WW2 Japanese soldier will be discovered in some inaccessible jungle, still unaware that the war is over ...

Wendygate

'My honesty and my integrity have been confirmed by this judgement'. So said Wendy last week in a defiant address, her performance described by chief cheerleader Jackie Baillie as 'fabulous, f****ing fabulous' (although we weren't supposed to hear that bit).
As has become wearily consistent, Wendy isn't quite telling the whole truth. She was not 'cleared' as she claimed in her carefully prepared speech. In fact, the much-derided Electoral Commission decided in their wisdom that there was insufficient evidence to refer the case to the Procurator Fiscal, and that it wasn't in the public interest! As leaders of Wendy's 'campaign' had already put their hands up to breaking the law that was some judgement, that asks major questions over both the competence - and perhaps even the impartiality - of the EC.
So Wendy's 'honesty and integrity' have been confirmed - but, when you hear public opinion on the issue, certainly not in the manner that she would have liked. According to Wendy, the whole episode has been a distraction to the 'real issues that people really care about' - nursery places for two year olds, central heating for pensioners and of course modern apprenticeships. Actually Wendy, your lack of candour, your team's deliberate attempts to bend the rules and subsequent attempts to cover up wrongdoing ARE real issues that people really care about - and not just anti-Labour voters. And isn't it strange that these 'very very important' issues were not given quite the same prominence when Wendy was in government - this seems more like a desperate attempt to 'draw a line under this and move on'.
Despite her towering intellect (!) her performance since assuming leadership has been lamentable. Labour's shambolic performance on the SNP budget is the latest example of a party that is badly led, in turmoil and seemingly incapable of providing robust opposition to the SNP. Wendy may have escaped culpability for the dodgy donors, but she's got to accept responsibility for the damage that is being done to the Labour Party's reputation, or what's left of it. If Wendy Alexander really has any honesty or integrity left she should go now - she should have gone weeks ago. It's the greatest service she could do for the Labour Party and politics in general.

Sport

Another miserable display by Scotland, this time against Wales. Time after time, Coach Frank Hadden always seems to be able to analyse and pinpoint where it all went wrong. Call me naive, but isn't it your job to fix that, Frank? Basic lessons on how to pass and catch the ball would be a welcome start! Watching the performance of the Italians, narrowly beaten in their two games, I fear that the dreaded Wooden Spoon is a distinct possibility. Grim.

The old Hibs gained an ill-deserved point at Tannadice on Saturday and may even have stolen a victory in the dying minutes. Now Dundee United are a better than average SPL team so a draw is no disgrace, especially while Hibs are still not yet firing on all cylinders. So there is still hope, but I don't believe that we'll make the top six, though.

Champions

Photographed two 'celebrities' with widely contrasting talents last week. Olympic champion Sally Gunnell was in town to promote a nursery kids' healthy eating and fitness initiative, while Big Brother winner John Loughton was back in Pilton to address kids at Forthview School and then a youth group in the evening. Physically they couldn't be more different - Sally is much smaller and slighter than she appears on TV, while John is very much as you see him - a genial, gentle ginger giant of a bloke! However they share a ready sense of fun, were more than willing to chat away to both their 'audiences' and to me and were also very patient when countless people wanted to get their photographs.
Two decent folk - both real stars in their own way - and a breath of fresh air after the nasty smell of Wendygate and the Curious Case of the Bonkers Bishop!

See you next week.

Sic a Parcel of Rogues ...

Yes, I know, I didn't post anything last week. Full of good intentions as always, but just couldn't find the time. Goodness knows there's been plenty to talk about, but always round about Burns Night things are pretty busy and so it's proved again this year (hence the catchy title for this contribution; topical, eh?) Incidentally, the two fine gentlemen pictured above have nothing to do with the parcel of rogues theme - I was pictured with community beat officer Tony Lawrence at The Strada recently when I was interviewing him about an Award he had just received!
Anyway, here we go:

Politics
A new month, but same old, same old ... Wendy is embroiled in another donations problem - although in the latest case she seems to have received inaccurate advice from Parliament's officials. Be that as it may, Wendy's been referred to the Procurator Fiscal's office.
That's potentially two Court appearances, which is some achievement for someone who has only been in office for four months!
Since my last post Peter Hain has gone - found out this morning he's been employing his 80 year old mother as a secretary too - and an odious Tory called Conway has been caught bang to rights, dishing out jobs to family members and their chums with gay abandon, with little evidence of any of them having done any work at all.
Conway's punishment? Ten days suspension from the House of Commons and he's had the Tory whip withdrawn. How painful ... the great news is that he can return to Parliament in ten days time and then do absolutely sod all until the next election, when he will retire (with full pension of course). Yes, it's a hard life ...
And the even better news is that it's us - good old Joe Public - who will foot the bill!
Closer to home my old comrade Councillor Ian Perry has also come in for a bit of a battering - he's been getting paid £40,000 a year as a lecturer although he's not done any lecturing for quite some time. Doesn't look good, and the public perception is now that every politician - of every persuasion - is only in the job for what they can make.
On a slightly brighter note John Loughton won Big Brother Celebrity Hijack and he gave a polished performance on today's Politics Show. I don't know if John will ultimately decide to enter the world of party politics, but if he does I hope he sticks to his principles - it seems that too many politicians have forgotten the reason they got involved in the first place.

Sport
The Hibs put in a very creditable performance against Rangers in the Scottish Cup at Easter Road today - such an improvement on their abject display the last time the sides met just a few weeks ago. Rangers are the best team in Scotland by quite a margin just now, so things are looking a bit brighter down Leith way. Can't say I fancy them in the replay at Ibrox much, but at least Mixu Paatelainen seems to have restored some of the pride and battling qualities that evaporated under John Collins and then Craig. Maybe a top six spot is just possible?
Meanwhile, the oval ball - the Six Nations Championship looks on paper to be the most open in years and I had a sneaking fancy that Scotland could just do it this year. We have France and England - both rebuilding their teams - at home, so it's looking good ...
Well, until we actually played that is. We were woeful against the French, and for an experienced side we made some of the most basic errors imaginable. Passes going astray, spills, elementary mistakes - it was awful. Things, as they say, can only get better ... now where did I hear that again?
At least the Welsh managed to overcome a twenty year hoodoo against England at the new Fortress Twickers - and silenced Brian Moore in the process. Some achievement indeed.

Work
Work has started to pick up after a dreadfully slow start to the year. Went to print last Thursday and there's far more of interest in this month's paper than seemed possible just a week or two ago. It was a 'hold the front page' job on Wednesday when Health Secretary Nicola Sturgeon visited Pilton Community Health Project on Wednesday - also on Wednesday the famous Gruffalo visited Forthview School to launch a nationwide reading initiative. Great photos - and I suppose that day is a perfect example of the variety of things I get to cover in North Edinburgh. There are no two days the same.

Community
The local community is holding it's collective breath, waiting to hear how generous (or otherwise) the budget settlement is likely to be. From what I understand it appears to be better than has been forecast, which will be a huge relief to many. The council sets it's budget on 21 February, though, and no one's counting any chickens just yet ...