Grasping The Thistle (from The Herald Election Site)

Alex Salmond yesterday staked his claim to become Scotland's next First Minister as the SNP became the largest party at Holyrood.

The historic achievement, which ended 50 years of Labour dominance in Scotland, was achieved by a margin of only one MSP. It left the future of Scottish government on a knife-edge, and Mr Salmond with the initiative.

However, neither the SNP nor Labour can rely on any single other coalition partner to reach the 65 votes needed for a majority administration after results knocked back the smaller parties in a day of tense waits and upsets.

Just before the much-delayed counting process was finally completed, leaving the SNP with 47 seats to Labour's 46, Mr Salmond declared: "Scotland has changed for good and for ever. There may well be Labour governments and Labour First Ministers in the decades to come, but never again will we see the Labour Party assume that it has a divine right to rule Scotland."

The Scottish Labour leadership of Jack McConnell is now in doubt, but having lost only four seats, there is still a chance he will remain as First Minister. Mr McConnell said yesterday he would "keep all options open" and that he would not rush into hasty coalition decisions.

He said: "I have not spent the last five-and-a-half years of my life as First Minister building up Scotland and improving this country to make a snap decision this weekend about the future of our country. It is right and proper this weekend that I and my party reflect on how best to take forward our priorities in government and the parliament again."

As well as the single-seat advantage, the SNP beat Labour in share of the vote on both constituency and list ballots: around 33 to 32% and 31 to 29%, although that represented a difference of only about 16,000 on the constituency vote. The total turnout was estimated at 51.8%, ahead of 2003.

Mr Salmond insisted the electorate had opted for change, and that Labour now had "no moral authority left to govern Scotland", adding: "Scotland has chosen a new political path This is a historic moment - a 50-year storm.

"We will lead with humility but also with passion. We will lead with verve and imagination but also always mindful that we serve the people - all of the people of this ancient and proud nation."

The Holyrood result was part of a pattern of Labour setbacks across England and Wales, posing particular problems for Gordon Brown, as the likely next Prime Minister, in trying to handle a Salmond administration at Holyrood.

It was accompanied by radical changes to the political complexion of Scotland's local authorities, with Labour retaining an overall majority in Glasgow council but falling short of that in former strongholds, including South Lanarkshire.

Yet the results were partly overshadowed by the counting chaos, caused mainly by changes to ballot papers and the voting system. Computer problems involving the new electronic scanning machines led to final results being delayed until nearly 6pm yesterday.

That followed an estimated 100,000 ballot papers being rejected by returning officers for being unclear or blank, in some constituencies representing a bigger number of voters than the majority. The Electoral Commission yesterday promised an urgent inquiry, and Mr Salmond said it should be a judicial investigation.

Mr McConnell said: "It is clear that the arrangements for the conduct of the election were unsatisfactory."

"I want to say on behalf of my party that lessons need to be learnt, lessons will be learnt, but today might not be the day to allocate blame. If action is required, action will be taken."

Annabel Goldie, the leader of the Scottish Conservatives, said the voting problems had been "a catalogue of disasters".

She said: "As we predicted, the number of spoiled ballot papers has increased. Responsibility for this sorry mess lies fairly and squarely with the Lib-Lab pact."

Nicol Stephen, the LibDem leader, said: "I always knew that there could be issues with the electronic counting system on this, its first ever use, but I never expected the problems to be on this sort of scale."

Plans to introduce electronic counting in Northern Ireland Assembly elections have now been shelved as a result of the fiasco.

Douglas Bain, the province's chief electoral officer, was in Glasgow to observe how the system worked. He said yesterday: "There have been a number of problems, of which the problems with e-counting have been one.

"I'm not going to do anything which takes any risk with the democratic process in Northern Ireland. The people of Northern Ireland are confident in the current arrangement and whatever the reality, they now have the perception that e-counting doesn't work."

As the dust finally settled last night, the SNP's tally of seats had risen by 20 to 47 MSPs, out of a total 129. Labour was down four to 46. Tories and LibDems were both down by one seat each, to 17 and 16.

The Socialist parties were wiped out and the independent voices such as the health campaigner Jean Turner silenced. Indeed smaller parties secured only three seats; two for Greens and Independent Margo MacDonald in Lothian.

Two ministers lost out to the SNP as seats changed hands; Labour's Deputy Enterprise Minister Allan Wilson in Cunninghame North, and LibDem Deputy Finance Minister George Lyon was defeated in Argyll and Bute.

The SNP strategy of winning 20 constituencies did not work as planned, with the party failing to win marginal seats it had needed, including Aberdeen Central, Cumbernauld and Kilsyth and Tweeddale, Ettrick and Lauderdale. However, Mr Salmond and his deputy, Nicola Sturgeon, both gained seats, in Gordon and Glasgow Govan, while the SNP won some seats unexpectedly, including Stirling and Edinburgh East and Musselburgh.

Yesterday, the SNP staged a presidential-style statement by Mr Salmond before the final result was clear, seeking to build momentum while Labour and LibDems stalled for time. Their MSP groups meet today to discuss options.

Hurray, chuffed with that. well done snp and alex salmond for standing up to scaremongering and negativity. Up yours the sun and the record.

I'm pleased that the Tories have held up, they seem to be doing well in the Borders and are still strong in Perthshire with three list seats and a substantial const. vote. Before the SNP brigade get too ecstatic, remember there are a lot of forward thinking Scottish voters (forget the knuckle draggers!) who want a centre right presence in Scottish politics for a bit of balance.

Today is an historic day for Scotland. It just goes to show that the people of Scotland will not suffer 3rd rate mediocrity. You are the weakest link Jack...Goodbye. Now for a new government to show us that they can do better. Best of luck Alex.

Come forward the Independence Tories.

"It is right and proper this weekend that I and my party reflect on how best to take forward our priorities in government and the parliament again."

You will have more than just the weekend to reflect if the Greens and Lib-Dems agree to a coalition, Mr McDonald.

Well done SNP.

Scotland is domestic policies are not set in London, for all intents and purposes, for the first time in 300 years.

We no longer have a government in favour of Weapons of Mass Destruction on the Clyde.

We no longer have a government in favour of sending our troops to fight for oil in Iraq.

We no longer have a government full of supporters of war criminals.

Labour's divine right to rule in Scotland has finally been put in its place. The arrogance of Labour politicians has been nothing short of disgraceful. Hence the negative campaign.

A coalition of Greens, Lib Dems and SNP will be a marked improvement on the Westminster controlled Labour party / Lib Dem coalition.

Now to push for full independence - the main difference will be control of foreign policy, which sounds like a good idea!

IT`S THE SUN WOT WUNNIT

paul h wrote:
IT`S THE SUN WOT WUNNIT

Say What?
Never mind I don't want your reply...we are dancing in the streets here
Hail Caledonia!!!!
Oh and the S. N. P. Of Course!!!!!!!

paul h wrote:
IT`S THE SUN WOT WUNNIT

Looking forward to new legislation against such tripe.

40 long years I've waited. What a superb night. Congratulations Kenny,Angela,Fiona,Ian and Stef. Build from this and free our country

If they want to have an inquiery , can they look at the role of a FREE PRESS in a democratic society. What happened to balance, truth, integrity and all those other cliches which so called journalists used to use to convince us of their worth. We cant believe a word they say any more.most of the election day coverage was the worst we have ever seen. It made the suns treatment of Michael Foot look fair and reasonable. The totally bogus totalling up of jobs that will be lost/ govt. departments that will be shut was a disgrace. Why not just say the NHS in Scotland will close and all pensions and child benefit will stop tomorrow. If we want to call ousselves a democracy we must do what it takes to ensure our press is not allowed to dictate who can and cannot run any country

I think that I will now return home, after an exile in Nouvelle Ecosse as we are finally on the road to our own independance - the only real question left ........should it be Zoom or Air Canada?

A significant number of people overcame the disgusting diatribes of the Labour party and the scum press - the Sun and the Record, in particular - to return a winning party. Well done the campaign team for the SNP and will Brown's croney, Douglas Alexander, whose entire tactic was to 'engender fear' slink off now and leave Jack to face the music, or will he have the guts to take responsibility for losing Scotland to the Labour party?

We have no real free press in Scotland, that was made abundantly clear in this election. It is the function of the press to inform, not to try and influence. However in our PC society, many journalists see their role as to "save society from itself" thinking that only they know the "inner secrets" and the "truth" because they are the ones who interview people in the public eye.

History will see this SNP victory as "against the odds". All the opposition parties, central government, businesses and people with vested interests all came against them, but still they won.

Well done the SNP, well done ALL the people of Scotland who voted. To all those who had a vote and but couldn't be bothered to vote - you are a disgrace.

Great to See Jack get his P45. it will be great to see the cosy relationship public sector employees have with the Labour party broken up and perhaps we'll see some work and added value from them - the Police will be looking forward to the SNP promised public enquiry into the McKie miscarriage and the Crown Office must be betting on the number of charges their staff will face for perverting the course of juctice which they thought they would have got away with under Labour. It will be great to see people with real experience and qualifications in the Executive not the undereducated clerks, ex union officials, social workers, failed teachers, art students that made up the Labour front bench that were Kerr, WIlson, Jamieson, McConnell and that lightweight Brown lackey Douglas Alexander

I always voted Labour but they are not the same party. I am glad the people of Scotland put them in their arrogant place. Put the people first Alex and we will not forget you when the referendum comes along. As for the Daily Record and the so called Scottish Sun, I call on every fair minded scot to stop buying them. Let them feel it where it hurts. Better still, if you run out of toilet roll...........

I'm so ecstatic. I just don't know what to say. I'm going around with this awful smug smile on my face. My wife says I look lie Alex Salmond. Oh, magnificent. BUT - there's a problem which might wipe the smile off my face. THE LIB-DEM POISONERS!!!! Only came 4th, you know, but they'll be plotting even now to divest us of democracy. Wee nichol and his slimy mob may even now be sooking up to old Joke. May i suggest that Alex and friends be ever vigilant. The Lib-Dems and their weasly words about holding democracy so dear to themselves are the ones who just might take democracy away by siding with failed maths teacher and his coterie.
BTW, where's AM and his numptie crew? Can't stand the heat, I suppose. HAH HAH HAH to them. WELL DONE SCOTLAND - YOU SAW THROUGH THE LIES!

I hate the 'sun' and the 'daily retard' with every fibre of my being.

Oh happy day, when the last labour supporter is battered to death with the last copy of the daily record.

Im not an SNP supporter but this sounds good. We agree with you on local income taxes, votes at 16, more powers and alot more. Hope we keep Labour out folks.

I'm just back from the pub where I had a small glass of wine to celebrate the health of my new MSP. I hope that my fellow posters will allow me that little indulgence. I took down my "SNP It's time" window poster as my neighbours were taking down theirs. It was a long night. For these last few weeks I felt we could do it here in Gordon. At times I had my doubts. The Libdems put up a tough fight here. I know they had a lot to lose and I feel compassion for Nora, my former MSP. But it had to be done. We had to make that extra effort to get Salmond in. We would have looked like numpties otherwise. The world's media was watching us. I have always lived in this constituency. When I was at school, The Gordon Schools I was converted to being an SNP supporter. And as I grew older all the seats round about became SNP, but we were always represented by the Liberals here. Why were we never like our neighbours? Moray & Nairn, Banff, East Aberdeenshire. One day it might happen. I did all I could to get Salmond elected here. And yesterday, I felt that history was made. I felt that I had the power to change things. Enough of my fellow Gordon dwellers felt the same. We had to do it for our fellow Scots. It was a great privelege to find the hand of history on our shoulders. And now it has come about that my MSP is Alex Salmond. The road to freedom has been long and hard. Now I feel our journey's end is in our sights.

I'm just back from the pub where I had a small glass of wine to celebrate the health of my new MSP. I hope that my fellow posters will allow me that little indulgence. I took down my "SNP It's time" window poster as my neighbours were taking down theirs. It was a long night. For these last few weeks I felt we could do it here in Gordon. At times I had my doubts. The Libdems put up a tough fight here. I know they had a lot to lose and I feel compassion for Nora, my former MSP. But it had to be done. We had to make that extra effort to get Salmond in. We would have looked like numpties otherwise. The world's media was watching us. I have always lived in this constituency. When I was at school, The Gordon Schools I was converted to being an SNP supporter.
And as I grew older all the seats round about became SNP, but we were always represented by the Liberals here. Why were we never like our neighbours? Moray & Nairn, Banff, East Aberdeenshire. One day it might happen. I did all I could to get Salmond elected here. And yesterday, I felt that history was made. I felt that I had the power to change things. Enough of my fellow Gordon dwellers felt the same. We had to do it for our fellow Scots. It was a great privelege to find the hand of history on our shoulders. And now it has come about that my MSP is Alex Salmond. The road to freedom has been long and hard. Now I feel our journey's end is in our sights.

Well done Scotland - not the majority it should have been but its a move in the right direction. Good on you Alex - at last a leader with intelligence who will put Scotland and the Scots first not like lackey Jack. And all this despite a nasty campaign by pro Labour media types and McBLiar/McBroon attempts to quell the tartan savages. As for the single Tory supporter on the campaign trial above - clearly there were a lot of forward thinking Scottish voters which is why the SNP did so well.

Let's hope that this momentous win for the S.N.P. and Alex Salmond does indeed signal the " winds of change in Scottish politics", and I agree with Rab about the Scottish print media. Surely the Daily Racist and the Sun have to re-examine their recruitment criteria for journalists. I of course use the word 'journalist' in the weakest sense!

Let's hope that our fellow Scots can become more positive about their own abilities and become more engaged with the democratic process.

Fantastic! Great result for the SNP! Onwards and upwards for Scotland.

Over here in Canada I had to watch from afar, done ma wee bit though, sent a few bob to our upright Scots.

How do I feel? Righteous!

Wish I was hame!

Well done Scotland.!!!! Well done SNP!!!!. A truly world class campaign and leadership by incoming First Minister Alex Salmond. Professional and pitch perfect. and showcased what Scotland can really do. Up and down the east coast, we expats enjoyed every minute watching the YouTube, blogs and exciting reporting from the Herald. (No one over here reads the other papers, they're just rubbish....tho we did enjoy inundating the SUN with email complaints`in the last few days). None of us can wait to see the new Scottish Government get into power. This is beyond politics. The Scottish Government led by Alex Salmond means a better future for Scotland as we work to invest in a Scotland we can believe in. So for all of us who were heartbroken at what 50 years of London Labour has done to Scotland, this is a reason to come home. With our businesses and our networks to put to use for a real Scotland. Thank you Scotland and all you voters who voted to join the world.

Well done Scotland.!!!! Well done SNP!!!!. A truly world class campaign and leadership by incoming First Minister Alex Salmond. Professional and pitch perfect. and showcased what Scotland can really do. Up and down the east coast, we expats enjoyed every minute watching the YouTube, blogs and exciting reporting from the Herald. (No one over here reads the other papers, they're just rubbish....tho we did enjoy inundating the SUN with email complaints`in the last few days).
None of us can wait to see the new Scottish Government get into power. This is beyond politics. The Scottish Government led by Alex Salmond means a better future for Scotland as we work to invest in a Scotland we can believe in.
So for all of us who were heartbroken at what 50 years of London Labour has done to Scotland, this is a reason to come home. With our businesses and our networks to put to use for a real Scotland.
Thank you Scotland and all you voters who voted to join the world.

I have never felt so proud. Well done the SNP. It might be time to return home and join the push for a free Scotland.

I was one of the TENS of thousands who lost out on my postal vote - the first time i have missed voting - and i am incandescent about this latest SCOTTISH NATIONAL DISGRACE that was our supposed election. But there is about as much chance of our newly elected self-serving politicos demanding a re-run to this debacle as there is in Alex Salmond wiping that permanent smug grin off his chubby face. The politicos who were pipped by a few hundred votes, where the "spoilt" ballot papers outnumbered the overall "majority", should be taking IMMEDIATE legal action. Let's hope "King Alex" and his Court Jesters (Kenny "The fact of the matter is... " / "Man of Justice" MacAskill; "The Wee Nippy Sweety"; and the rest of the inner-circle) are forced into a minority rule and we somehow, in the next few weeks / months, get a complete re-run of OUR DEMOCRATIC (fare, proper and JUST) SCOTTISH PARLIAMENTARY / COUNCIL ELECTIONS ... though, of course, we won't hold our collective breath. Q: What do you call a 129 MSPs (and ALL self-serving Scottish / UK politicos generally) at the bottom of the North Sea? A: A b****y good start!

I was one of the TENS of thousands who lost out on my postal vote - the first time i have missed voting - and i am incandescent about this latest SCOTTISH NATIONAL DISGRACE that was our supposed election. But there is about as much chance of our newly elected self-serving politicos demanding a re-run to this debacle as there is in Alex Salmond wiping that permanent smug grin off his chubby face.

The politicos who were pipped by a few hundred votes, where the "spoilt" ballot papers outnumbered the overall "majority", should be taking IMMEDIATE legal action.

Let's hope "King Alex" and his Court Jesters (Kenny "The fact of the matter is... " / "Man of Justice" MacAskill; "The Wee Nippy Sweety"; and the rest of the inner-circle) are forced into a minority rule and we somehow, in the next few weeks / months, get a complete re-run of OUR DEMOCRATIC (fare, proper and JUST) SCOTTISH PARLIAMENTARY / COUNCIL ELECTIONS ... though, of course, we won't hold our collective breath.

Q: What do you call a 129 MSPs (and ALL self-serving Scottish / UK politicos generally) at the bottom of the North Sea?

A: A b****y good start!

to J Alan in Edinburgh....Er, you DO know that labour was behind the voting fiasco, right? I mean, that's our point, you have had an incompetent labour party in charge of these things, amateur night. I liked the earlier post: Jack , you are the weakest link. Goodbye.
With Salmond and SNP you will actually achieve a democracy We were sort of hoping you all noticed and we thank all those voters who voted for Scotland and the snp.

Congratulations to the SNP from Australia. In a recent trip back home, I was astounded by the blatant negativity and personal attacks on Mr Salmond from the Scottish Labour Party.
Here in Australia we have been in the grips of far right politcal domination for a decade. And it is causing poor policy outcomes in areas such as health, education, employment and housing. It is great to see the Scottish people rejecting this type of dog eat dog economic model.

Callin' out around the world
Are you ready for a brand new beat
S. N. P. is in and the time is right
For danching in the street
They're dancing in Chicago
Down in New Orleans
Up in New York City
Dancing in the streets
All we needed was that win now the future is so sweet
We're swingin' and swayin' and records playing and we're
dancing in the street
It's an invitation across the nation
A chance for folks to meet
C'mon you all let's swing those hips c'mon and join the beat
'cause we are dancing in the streets!

Once Again Well Done SNP Voters

Now the work really begins. Onward and upward

Well done all the voters and SNP. Finally Scotland is taking pride in herself. Why did it take so long. We have to believe in ourselves. We are a brilliant nation loved throughout the world. Now we can work towards showing the world exactly what we can do. Scots wha hae!

[bold]"A VOTE FOR SCOTTISH INDEPENDENCE, IS NOT NECESSARILY ACCEDABLE-TO BY THE REST OF THE UK"[/bold] While it is true that voters in Scotland have every right to "vote for independence", it is another matter whether such a vote would be legally enforceable, and/or accede-able-to by the rest of the United Kingdom, considering the hugely different world of today as compared with 1707 (when the Act of Union- joining Scotland into the UK- came into force)... and considering how the United Kingdom-> as a cohesive-nation-state-> is extensively interconnected both internally and to the outside world/its nations + its/their many varied & complex structures. The leading, exceedingly broad international role the UK plays- as a unit- in the 21st century, participating as an integral part of, & regularly positively influencing the world's most powerful political, economic, legal, development/aid & military structures, could not have been foreseen 300 years ago. Given the immense interconnectedness & comprehensive interdependence of the UK's component parts (Scotland, England, Wales & N Ireland) with each other & at levels and in ways unimaginable 300 years ago- when the primary legislation underpinning the nation was enacted-> [bold]it could be viewed by a competent court that arbitrarily declared "independence" of one part of the UK, say Scotland, would be illegal, & could not occur without the reasonable interests/needs of the other parts of the Nation taking priority.[/bold] Similarly, if unilateral "independence" of one part of the UK, say Scotland, could reasonably be deemed by an objective body- such as a high court- to result in significant damages, immediate or in the future, to other parts of the Nation, such declarations of independence, could be subject to limits, and restrictive-conditions, as put into a needed WRITTEN UK national-constitution. [bold]"WRITTEN" UK CONSTITUTION NEEDED??[/bold] The UK's recent decentralization/devolution programme (which has led to talk of Scottish independence) would have made much more sense (if done at all!!) & been far less destructive if the UK�s central govt functions went to (perhaps 10 or 11 of) the country's most well defined economic-regions, with (where necessary) these economic-regions' borders "adjusted" & made to cross the non-working geopolitical borders between England, Scotland, Wales & N. Ireland. Laying blame for what is clearly a bungled programme would, arguably, be counterproductive.... But, the facts relating to this dangerously poorly thought out, and highly contradictory programme ought to be faced head on & deliberated widely & openly, rather than wait for a future referendum on independence in Wales, N Ireland or Scotland. How? with a several-month-long [bold]"UK national dialogue" leading to a written constitution...[/bold] a constitution that defined explicitly not only the rights of ALL UK residents & the obligations & duties of various levels of government, but also outlined the UK's political structures & what limits, if any, there are to any of the UK's component parts from declaring unilateral "independence". Ideally, the outcome of such a "UK national dialogue" would politically bring closer together, & strengthen the bonds between the nation's component parts, at least in terms of the rights, quality/type and levels of publicly funded services, taxation, etc that citizens/residents in these areas receive and can expect. Roderick V. Louis (near) Vancouver, Canada ceo@patientempowermentsociety.com

"A VOTE FOR SCOTTISH INDEPENDENCE, IS NOT NECESSARILY
ACCEDABLE-TO BY THE REST OF THE UK"

While it is true that voters in Scotland have every right to "vote for independence", it is another matter whether such a vote would be legally enforceable, and/or accede-able-to by the rest of the United Kingdom, considering the hugely different world of today as compared with 1707 (when the Act of Union- joining Scotland into the UK- came into force)... and considering how the United Kingdom-> as a cohesive-nation-state-> is extensively interconnected both internally and to the outside world/its nations + its/their many varied & complex structures.

The leading, exceedingly broad international role the UK plays- as a unit- in the 21st century, participating as an integral part of, & regularly positively influencing the world's most powerful political, economic, legal, development/aid & military structures, could not have been foreseen 300 years ago.

Given the immense interconnectedness & comprehensive interdependence of the UK's component parts (Scotland, England, Wales & N Ireland) with each other & at levels and in ways unimaginable 300 years ago- when the primary legislation underpinning the nation was enacted-> it could be viewed by a competent court that arbitrarily declared "independence" of one part of the UK, say Scotland, would be illegal, & could not occur without the reasonable interests/needs of the other parts of the Nation taking priority.

Similarly, if unilateral "independence" of one part of the UK, say Scotland, could reasonably be deemed by an objective body- such as a high court- to result in significant damages, immediate or in the future, to other parts of the Nation, such declarations of independence, could be subject to limits, and restrictive-conditions, as put into a needed WRITTEN UK national-constitution.

"WRITTEN" UK CONSTITUTION NEEDED??

The UK's recent decentralization/devolution programme (which has led to talk of Scottish independence) would have made much more sense (if done at all!!) & been far less destructive if the UK�s central govt functions went to (perhaps 10 or 11 of) the country's most well defined economic-regions, with (where necessary) these economic-regions' borders "adjusted" & made to cross the non-working geopolitical borders between England, Scotland, Wales & N. Ireland.

Laying blame for what is clearly a bungled programme would, arguably, be counterproductive....

But, the facts relating to this dangerously poorly thought out, and highly contradictory programme ought to be faced head on & deliberated widely & openly, rather than wait for a future referendum on independence in Wales, N Ireland or Scotland.

How? with a several-month-long "UK national dialogue" leading to a written constitution... a constitution that defined explicitly not only the rights of ALL UK residents & the obligations & duties of various levels of government, but also outlined the UK's political structures & what limits, if any, there are to any of the UK's component parts from declaring unilateral "independence".

Ideally, the outcome of such a "UK national dialogue" would politically bring closer together, & strengthen the bonds between the nation's component parts, at least in terms of the rights, quality/type and levels of publicly funded services, taxation, etc that citizens/residents in these areas receive and can expect.

Roderick V. Louis
(near) Vancouver, Canada
ceo@patientempowermentsociety.com

Didn't Jock McDonald and his London bent Muppets do well? "Coming from behind", as First Minister of the ruling Numpties for the last 50 years in Scotland, with the full backing of the British Media in Scotland ,they still couldn�t keep their Union Jack flying.

An amazing feat for the SNP in the circumstances. Pity the SNP did not have the required majority to deal with Labour's two faced poodles, the not so liberal Dummies. Sell nothing out to them and force them into another election, if they dare. They would soon be wiped out this time. The public would not stand for their cowardice, including the angry disenfranchised.

Put them to the test. Fortune favours the bold, not the sold.

My rampant lion flag was raised in Florida today when the sun shone on the SNP's victory for Scotland and our nations new beginings.

One small step for Alex, One great leap for Scotland. Patience is now needed as the game is played out in Edinburgh. No overall majority means a bit of chaos to begin with. But it is clear we are on our way to independence.
I have not read The Sun or The Record for decades, they are the most destructive of all the papers profiled by their masters overseas to find or create mischief so that profits are made. Truth might be buried in the sea of opinion but opinion in these papers was not a friend to the facts or the truth. From the various comments shown above and over the past few weeks it is nice to know I need not waste my pennies on their rags.
Congratulations to the SNP and to those who bothered to vote. All the rest of you who have no opinion can rest assured i will not seek to inform or solicit opinions. You have none.
Euan

As ever a millionaire funded party has won thanks to a media that ignores any party that doesn't have ESTABLISHMENT stamped on its forehead.A party that is dominated by LAWYERS. We will continue to expose and DEMAND the REMOVAL of all msp's that are trolls for the most criminal organisation in Scotland.Those who make our legislation CANNOT gain financially from its enforcement. Real democracy is having REAL choice not what is shoved in our face .Scotlands TV stations ensured any smaller parties were squeezed out of the race. Under the circumstances It was probably the best of a bad lot and ensures Heir McConnell cannot ruin Scotland any further and lawyer Sturgeon hasn't got a mandate for Drumsheugh gardens to control Scotland. Scotlands people must have a better opportunity to get rid of the biased ,prejudiced and discriminatory way our election system operates UNDER ,an UTTER SHAMBLES for anyone with the most basic of intellect.Scotlands media cannot continue to suggest we have a democracy after this debacle. NO wonder so many didn't even bother turning out to vote for a bunch of GANGSTERS . SCOTLANDS DESERVES MUCH BETTER THAN THIS . LJPR LEGAL JUDICIAL POLITICAL REFORMERS http://www.ljpr.cjb.net

As ever a millionaire funded party has won thanks to a media that ignores any party that doesn't have ESTABLISHMENT stamped on its forehead.A party that is dominated by LAWYERS.

We will continue to expose and DEMAND the REMOVAL of all msp's that are trolls for the most criminal organisation in Scotland.Those who make our legislation CANNOT gain financially from its enforcement.

Real democracy is having REAL choice not what is shoved in our face .Scotlands TV stations ensured any smaller parties were squeezed out of the race.
Under the circumstances It was probably the best of a bad lot and ensures Heir McConnell cannot ruin Scotland any further and lawyer Sturgeon hasn't got a mandate for Drumsheugh gardens to control Scotland.

Scotlands people must have a better opportunity to get rid of the biased ,prejudiced and discriminatory way our election system operates UNDER ,an UTTER SHAMBLES for anyone with the most basic of intellect.Scotlands media cannot continue to suggest we have a democracy after this debacle.

NO wonder so many didn't even bother turning out to vote for a bunch of GANGSTERS .

SCOTLANDS DESERVES MUCH BETTER THAN THIS .

LJPR LEGAL JUDICIAL POLITICAL REFORMERS
http://www.ljpr.cjb.net

The old Labour strongholds are as frightened of change as they ever were, so it is in these areas where the new Scottish National Party leadership can be magnanimous and open the doors for further suces in the future. Unable to sleep last night, I tuned in on the compter and while it is beyond midnight, Friday, my shift has just ended, and I have not slept for two and a half days, I feel refreshed, alive and absolutely delighted that enough Scots have had the courage to make May 4th 2007 a memorable day here in the good old/bad old (whatever your preference is) US of A. Congratulations to all my old SNP friends and former colleagues, it has been a long struggle, but what doesn't kill you, makes you stronger. Good Job ladies and gentlemen of Scotland. Congratulations Mr. Salmond be bold, be fair and be honest, but above all put Scotland first every time. Prove the doubters wrong, and prove finally that an independent Scotland is richer than all, except God, Luxemburg and Norway. Living as I do in the USA, I look forward to the day when our per capita rates demote my current homeland in that rich list. Develop our education, pay our workers well, and educate the old miners and trade unionists etc. with pleasant experiences beyond their wildest freams. And enact laws which keep our people and our country safe from all who threaten our peace. Personally, my next word will be a private one with the God who made us all, who knows our potential, and who gave us our astonishing assets, the best of which are the people of Scotland themselves. Lift their spirits and show them what big boys and girls can do when they are empowered. Remember the most vital reason why we have failed in the past. The nation divided against itself shall not stand - so lets get together and rid Scotland of divisive politics, replacing it with do what is RIGHT policies, rather than do what is best for me alone. [bold]bold[/bold] Proud of you guys - Good Job, the people of Scotland[bold]bold[/bold]

The old Labour strongholds are as frightened of change as they ever were, so it is in these areas where the new Scottish National Party leadership can be magnanimous and open the doors for further suces in the future.

Unable to sleep last night, I tuned in on the compter and while it is beyond midnight, Friday, my shift has just ended, and I have not slept for two and a half days, I feel refreshed, alive and absolutely delighted that enough Scots have had the courage to make May 4th 2007 a memorable day here in the good old/bad old (whatever your preference is) US of A.

Congratulations to all my old SNP friends and former colleagues, it has been a long struggle, but what doesn't kill you, makes you stronger. Good Job ladies and gentlemen of Scotland.

Congratulations Mr. Salmond be bold, be fair and be honest, but above all put Scotland first every time. Prove the doubters wrong, and prove finally that an independent Scotland is richer than all, except God, Luxemburg and Norway. Living as I do in the USA, I look forward to the day when our per capita rates demote my current homeland in that rich list.

Develop our education, pay our workers well, and educate the old miners and trade unionists etc. with pleasant experiences beyond their wildest freams. And enact laws which keep our people and our country safe from all who threaten our peace.

Personally, my next word will be a private one with the God who made us all, who knows our potential, and who gave us our astonishing assets, the best of which are the people of Scotland themselves. Lift their spirits and show them what big boys and girls can do when they are empowered.

Remember the most vital reason why we have failed in the past.

The nation divided against itself shall not stand - so lets get together and rid Scotland of divisive politics, replacing it with do what is RIGHT policies, rather than do what is best for me alone.

Proud of you guys - Good Job, the people of Scotland

The venom ,vitriol and hatred spewed out by the Scottish tabloid press had the effect of keeping many Labour voters at home ,rather than voteing SNPHere is Argyll the Lib Dems payed an awesome price for their stand against democracy.It is a price they really deserved to pay.

Well done to the SNP for overcoming the unionist slander machine. Get in there.

The hard work starts now.

This is the beginning of the end of the union as we know it, it is tight but the initiative is with the nationalists who have gained a SPECTACULAR if narrow win up yours alex ferguson,alex macleish,robbie coltrane etc and the rest of the unionist slanderers independence is on the agenda and alex salmond will push it along with the reforms scotland needs..........as for that arrogant b*****d gordon brown bet hes happy hahahahahaha

Was Salmond in London for so long joining the funny hand shake club before they gave him the money to win over Scotland?

LJPR LEGAL JUDICIAL POLITICAL REFORMERS
http://www.ljpr.cjb.net

Goood morning Scotland.

Here's the new national anthem.

http://youtube.com/watch?v=ZAVwukJ7xLM

There is much celebration by Scots throughout the world today as this result has came through. It was a magnificent achievement considering that the SNP were up against the propeganda of the whole of the British press. This was a refreshing result for democracy, morning has broken to a new day in this friendly wee country of ours. Lets get it right !

When is Scotland going to get a party that is not at the exclusive beck and call of the rich who bankroll them into power?

SCOTLAND NEEDS TO WAKEN UP TO THE FACT THAT NO MATTER WHICH ESTABLISHMENT SANCTIONED PARTY GETS INTO POWER NOTHING WILL CHANGE UNTIL "WE" SCOTLANDS PEOPLE FORCE CHANGE ONTO THE MOBSTERS WHO WILL CONTINUE TO DOMINATE AND CONTROL SCOTLANDS WEALTH AND INEQUALITY WILL REMAIN DEEPLY IMBEDDED IN OUR NATION.

LJPR LEGAL JUDICIAL POLITICAL REFORMERS
http://www.ljpr.cjb.net

There are other casualties. Whither Brand Sheridan and his fellow chauvinist, Mr John DirtyBook Aberdein of Orkney and Montmarte? Whither Mr Steve Arnott of that unlikely grouping, Socialists for Vivisection ? Perhaps they'll find a people's fortune writing for the wretched rags which have so disfigured this election - ie all of them; our thoughts must be with these warriors as they continue to battle for our freedoms; with any luck they will do this from penury and anonymity, perhaps even from Barlinnie. Mr Salmond might indicate, as a gesture of renewal, that MSPs are elected and paid to work full-time. Tory lawyers popping into the legislature when nothing more lucrative beckons in Court are no worse than mouthy celebrity socialists giving themselves paid leave of absence to pursue a legal battle of their own instigation; a nurse couldn't act like this, or a firefighter, they wouid be sacked . There was nothing in the deeply unpleasant McCletchie's manifesto about him working in the courts or taxi-ing himself about at my expense; nothing in tearful Tommy's vulgar, bombastic proclamations about taking three months off, trying to repair his marriage in front of the TV cameras. Mr Salmond should put a stop to MSPs larging it like this, contemptuously. The LibLab pactors distinguished themselves in so many ways that it is difficult to single-out one specific achievement. Kirsty Wark House at half a billion pounds, ten times the cost of the Welsh Assembly building, is pretty outstanding. Care homes all over Scotland are in meltdown for want of a few grand, fiver-an-hour arse wipers busting their backs, demoralised and undervalued. They must take comfort from the fact that the catastrophically incompetent Lord/Sir/Mr. David Steel, failed LibDem leader, has built himself a fitting monument with our money. Go back to your constituencies and prepare for sinecures. Arsehole. Three quarters of a million pounds of hush money paid to Officer McKie, for her HURT FEELINGS, didn't even have the desired effect of shutting her up. Jim Wallace QC MSP and Lady Jamieson, "Justice" ministers in charge have not offered one word of apology. The cross-dressing imbecile McConnell has refused an enquiry into events which have made Scottish jurisprudence (not to mention himself) a global laughing stock. McConnell should be impeached for perverting the course of justice. The Lord Advocate, Carpenter, jumped-up mouthy, Blairite gabshite has fled the country. Mr Salmond should seek his extradition; he could share a cell with Mr Sheridan. Mr Sticky Fingers McLeish has re-emerged, sharing with us his wisdom on electoral matters, comforted no doubt by the thirty-five grand a year for life pension we gladly and gratefully pay him for his own unique contribution to the body politic, Funny how politicos are allowed to retire on a fortune when anybody else would go to jail. Disgraced commentators, from Lardman Taylor to He-man Bell.have fed us pap that Holyrood has taken time to bed down, that the people have a growing pride in their parliament ( and, presumably, by association, in those tuppenny hustlers who report on it We have seen the nobility, the impartiality of the Scottish press in the past few weeks; only the perpetually bemused Gordon Brewer showing any signs of even-handedness) The Scottish Parliament owes us much. Reinvigourated by a presently untarnished nationalist party, emboldened by a rebellion against the thieves and traitors of NewLabour and their chums in the press the coming session should involve the urgent shining of light into some dark corners. Mr Salmond's supporters have done well and are right to rejoice. There is particular pleasure to be found in contemplating the displeasure caused to the anxious, grubby, Calvinist dictator in number 11 Downing Street as he contemplates his "succession;" in the bitter hatreds which will explode among NewLabour UK plc, rivalry and opinion will cast their wild spell; we must hope that when they lie down their sleep is fractured by dead Iraqi children coming through the walls, screaming; by the unforgiving gaze of Tommy Atkins' bereaved mother and wife; by those condemned to torture, courtesy T Blair and J McConnell, in Uncle Sam's gulags. We have done well to oust at least some of the tyrants, the bullies, the torturers. We must hope that Mr Salmond , in pursuit of a second and third term, does not, as generally happens, let politics over-ride decency and humanity. Stick it to 'em.

There are other casualties. Whither Brand Sheridan and his fellow chauvinist, Mr John DirtyBook Aberdein of Orkney and Montmarte? Whither Mr Steve Arnott of that unlikely grouping, Socialists for Vivisection ? Perhaps they'll find a people's fortune writing for the wretched rags which have so disfigured this election - ie all of them; our thoughts must be with these warriors as they continue to battle for our freedoms; with any luck they will do this from penury and anonymity, perhaps even from Barlinnie.

Mr Salmond might indicate, as a gesture of renewal, that MSPs are elected and paid to work full-time. Tory lawyers popping into the legislature when nothing more lucrative beckons in Court are no worse than mouthy celebrity socialists giving themselves paid leave of absence to pursue a legal battle of their own instigation; a nurse couldn't act like this, or a firefighter, they wouid be sacked . There was nothing in the deeply unpleasant McCletchie's manifesto about him working in the courts or taxi-ing himself about at my expense; nothing in tearful Tommy's vulgar, bombastic proclamations about taking three months off, trying to repair his marriage in front of the TV cameras. Mr Salmond should put a stop to MSPs larging it like this, contemptuously.

The LibLab pactors distinguished themselves in so many ways that it is difficult to single-out one specific achievement. Kirsty Wark House at half a billion pounds, ten times the cost of the Welsh Assembly building, is pretty outstanding. Care homes all over Scotland are in meltdown for want of a few grand, fiver-an-hour arse wipers busting their backs, demoralised and undervalued. They must take comfort from the fact that the catastrophically incompetent Lord/Sir/Mr. David Steel, failed LibDem leader, has built himself a fitting monument with our money. Go back to your constituencies and prepare for sinecures. Arsehole.

Three quarters of a million pounds of hush money paid to Officer McKie, for her HURT FEELINGS, didn't even have the desired effect of shutting her up. Jim Wallace QC MSP and Lady Jamieson, "Justice" ministers in charge have not offered one word of apology. The cross-dressing imbecile McConnell has refused an enquiry into events which have made Scottish jurisprudence (not to mention himself) a global laughing stock. McConnell should be impeached for perverting the course of justice. The Lord Advocate, Carpenter, jumped-up mouthy, Blairite gabshite has fled the country. Mr Salmond should seek his extradition; he could share a cell with Mr Sheridan.

Mr Sticky Fingers McLeish has re-emerged, sharing with us his wisdom on electoral matters, comforted no doubt by the thirty-five grand a year for life pension we gladly and gratefully pay him for his own unique contribution to the body politic, Funny how politicos are allowed to retire on a fortune when anybody else would go to jail.

Disgraced commentators, from Lardman Taylor to He-man Bell.have fed us pap that Holyrood has taken time to bed down, that the people have a growing pride in their parliament ( and, presumably, by association, in those tuppenny hustlers who report on it We have seen the nobility, the impartiality of the Scottish press in the past few weeks; only the perpetually bemused Gordon Brewer showing any signs of even-handedness) The Scottish Parliament owes us much. Reinvigourated by a presently untarnished nationalist party, emboldened by a rebellion against the thieves and traitors of NewLabour and their chums in the press the coming session should involve the urgent shining of light into some dark corners.

Mr Salmond's supporters have done well and are right to rejoice. There is particular pleasure to be found in contemplating the displeasure caused to the anxious, grubby, Calvinist dictator in number 11 Downing Street as he contemplates his "succession;" in the bitter hatreds which will explode among NewLabour UK plc, rivalry and opinion will cast their wild spell; we must hope that when they lie down their sleep is fractured by dead Iraqi children coming through the walls, screaming; by the unforgiving gaze of Tommy Atkins' bereaved mother and wife; by those condemned to torture, courtesy T Blair and J McConnell, in Uncle Sam's gulags. We have done well to oust at least some of the tyrants, the bullies, the torturers. We must hope that Mr Salmond , in pursuit of a second and third term, does not, as generally happens, let politics over-ride decency and humanity. Stick it to 'em.

LPJR . When are you going to give yourself a breaK? This constant stress and shouting can't be good for the soul. Take a moment and listen to Nina.

Blair crowed yesterday that it was so bad for Labour as they turned a 10% poll deficit to 2% in the last days of their campaign in Scotland. What he did not say was that this was achieved by a massive attack of by biased media against ordinary people freely arrived at views. The man is a complete scoundrel. OK Labour can never complain again when the Media turn against them as it will when it suits their proprietor's interests. It shows how important mass media endorsement is to them. They should have been totally stuffed yesterday. If indeed the media can effect a 5%-7% swing in the last moments of a campaign then there is now strong evidence for the claim 'its the Sun wot won it'. Maybe we should force them to print large/bold 'dishonesty' warnings on their front pages in the last day of an election. Well done Alex and everyone that worked so hard for an SNP victory in such a scary and undemocratic environment.

Blair crowed yesterday that it was so bad for Labour as they turned a 10% poll deficit to 2% in the last days of their campaign in Scotland. What he did not say was that this was achieved by a massive attack of by biased media against ordinary people freely arrived at views. The man is a complete scoundrel.

OK Labour can never complain again when the Media turn against them as it will when it suits their proprietor's interests. It shows how important mass media endorsement is to them. They should have been totally stuffed yesterday.

If indeed the media can effect a 5%-7% swing in the last moments of a campaign then there is now strong evidence for the claim 'its the Sun wot won it'. Maybe we should force them to print large/bold 'dishonesty' warnings on their front pages in the last day of an election.

Well done Alex and everyone that worked so hard for an SNP victory in such a scary and undemocratic environment.

Well done all, but brace yourselves - they won't just let us walk away. You thought that campaign was dirty? You ain't seen nuthin yet.

@Roderick, Vancouver

A tip when posting, Roderick: less is more. You're wearing out the PgDn button on a lot of PCs over here.

WHEN SCOTLAND WAKENS UP TO THE FACT THAT THEY HAVE BEEN DUPED ONCE AGAIN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

THE SINISTER UNELECTED SHADOW GOVERNMENT WILL CONTINUE THE DOMINATION OF INEQUALITY SCOTLANDS LONG SUFFERING CITIZENS HAVE TOLERATED FOR WAY TO LONG GIVING ONLY AN ILLUSION OF DEMOCRACY

LJPR LEGAL JUDICIAL POLITICAL REFORMERS
http://www.ljpr.cjb.net

Ok, I'll try another tact when are you going to realise that TRYING TO MAKE YOUR POINT IN FULL ON CAPS MAKES YOU LOOK LIKE A DOBBER?

Well done the people of Scotland. You saw through the lies, the scaremongering, the most vile tabloid campaign(and a couple of broadsheets). The labour party should hang heads in shame you tried every dirty trick in the book. Labour used to be a great, proud, and honest party, Look at yourselves now. you offended and digusted the scottish people. IAN...ABERDEEN

Couldn't have put it better myself Ian.

Well played the people, Alex Salmond, Angus Robertson and the thousands of SNP activists throughout Scotland. You have given us all hope for the future.

Roll on 2010. It's Time for that too!

We haven't properly thanked Tony and Gordon for their help in securing an SNP victory. While we would have done it without them, their nauseating interference in the Scottish election must have removed any remaining doubts in the minds of the undecided.

Great to see so many exiled Real Scots now thinking of coming home.

Conversely, some of our Snivelling Quislings have long promised that they would leave a free Scotland. Well, wait no longer - go now! The sooner we get rid of the dead wood, the better. The collective IQ of Scotland would shoot up immediately. Mind you, I am sorry for the countries that you would go to. Perhaps the decent people of England would stop you at Hadrian's Wall, and send you to a resettlement camp in the Malvinas or some remaining British colony.

Archie

Look Oscar if you have nothing more to say than criticise the use of caps lock to make a point dont waste your time on frivolous insults you obviously cant argue about what we are stating but pick on frivolous stuff instead.
Quite a common ploy of trolls of the establishment using forums to undermine anything that challenges the status quo.
Your the DOBBER!!!!!!!!!

LJPR LEGAL JUDICIAL POLITICAL REFORMERS
http://www.ljpr.cjb.net

It's strange to look back at John Smith and Donald Dewar,both Labour heavyweights, advocating,pushing for and implementing devolution as the settled will of the Scottish people. They recognised that the long Thatcher years had broken the union link in Scotland and we could not go through those years again. Fast forward to the past couple of weeks and you had the astonishing sight of Labours' Brown and Blair trying to browbeat the Scottish electorate to toe the unionist party line and Brown even threatening that he would not talk to Salmond if the SNP won the vote. It was the final proof that the real Westminster view of Holyrood was and is more of a parish council that could be seen but not heard. They turned this into a heavyweight slugging match and enough of the people have now spoken. There is a future mandate to press for an Independent Scotland but right now is the time to hunker down and consolidate the new bedrock.

It's strange to look back at John Smith and Donald Dewar,both Labour heavyweights, advocating,pushing for and implementing devolution as the settled will of the Scottish people. They recognised that the long Thatcher years had broken the union link in Scotland and we could not go through those years again.
Fast forward to the past couple of weeks and you had the astonishing sight of Labours' Brown and Blair trying to browbeat the Scottish electorate to toe the unionist party line and Brown even threatening that he would not talk to Salmond if the SNP won the vote.
It was the final proof that the real Westminster view of Holyrood was and is more of a parish council that could be seen but not heard.
They turned this into a heavyweight slugging match and enough of the people have now spoken.
There is a future mandate to press for an Independent Scotland but right now is the time to hunker down and consolidate the new bedrock.

Parochial update fae da Nort Isles:
Scotty Dyble, failed UKIP candidate in Shetland, and recently featured in a full page 'serious' article ida London Times, accompanied bi various 'divide & rule' stirrers on da blogs stood as a cooncil candidate in Shetland Central in 2007.
Result: Dyble S - nineteen votes 19. Wan nine.
Shetland is Scottish

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/politics/article1723077.ece

A cheer rang round this Irish houshold when we, all Scots, saw the final results but don't be fooled lib-lab will do a deal and rule again.Scots must realise that this is the first of many battles and the important lesson to be learned is that YOUR vote can count even if only to encourage the voters the next time. Confidence grows and victory becomes certain.

ian wrote:
Well done the people of Scotland. You saw through the lies, the scaremongering, the most vile tabloid campaign(and a couple of broadsheets). The labour party should hang heads in shame you tried every dirty trick in the book. Labour used to be a great, proud, and honest party, Look at yourselves now. you offended and digusted the scottish people.

Hear, hear Ian !!

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/pages/live/articles/news/news.html?in_article_id=452834&in_page_id=1770

How does Britain's richest solicitor earn �16 million per year?

Solicitors such as Jim Beresford "displayed a ruthless greed, the like of which I have never before witnessed in my 81 years,"

This is the shadow government that runs Britain the SNP are FULL of them.

LJPR LEGAL JUDICIAL POLITICAL REFORMERS
http://www.ljpr.cjb.net

[quote][bold]Gregor Addison[/bold] wrote: A significant number of people overcame the disgusting diatribes of the Labour party and the scum press - the Sun and the Record, in particular - to return a winning party. Well done the campaign team for the SNP and will Brown's croney, Douglas Alexander, whose entire tactic was to 'engender fear' slink off now and leave Jack to face the music, or will he have the guts to take responsibility for losing Scotland to the Labour party? [/quote] Record and Sun..(Spit !!) .................................................but let's not forget that the Hootsamn and this formerly esteeemed p[ublication were less than equitable re the debate. The great miracle is that enough of our countrymen had the vision to see past the "This is as good as it gets" spin put out by disingenuous men in red rosettes. As for Wee Dougie...a poisonous lying wee toad of a man, who needs (a rhetorical) burning at the stake !!....................but REMEMBER..............the job just begins now...and if you think that you've seen SCARE tactics thus far,,,,,,,,,,fact is, you ain't seen nuthin' yet !!. Be ready..FIGHT BACK !!

Gregor Addison wrote:
A significant number of people overcame the disgusting diatribes of the Labour party and the scum press - the Sun and the Record, in particular - to return a winning party. Well done the campaign team for the SNP and will Brown's croney, Douglas Alexander, whose entire tactic was to 'engender fear' slink off now and leave Jack to face the music, or will he have the guts to take responsibility for losing Scotland to the Labour party?

Record and Sun..(Spit !!)
.................................................but let's not forget that the Hootsamn and this formerly esteeemed p[ublication were less than equitable re the debate.
The great miracle is that enough of our countrymen had the vision to see past the "This is as good as it gets" spin put out by disingenuous men in red rosettes. As for Wee Dougie...a poisonous lying wee toad of a man, who needs (a rhetorical) burning at the stake !!....................but REMEMBER..............the job just begins now...and if you think that you've seen SCARE tactics thus far,,,,,,,,,,fact is, you ain't seen nuthin' yet !!.
Be ready..FIGHT BACK !!

What a shame Glasgow let the rest of the country down by doing what it always does, allowing the real villains to get back in again. I think the most embarrassing moment was Pauline McNeil's "victory" speech. Standing there pointing at people, shouting at people and generally behaving like a common wee Glesga hairy! Margaret Curran wasn't much better. I wish Alex Salmond well, and again the dignity of the man is what shone through in recent weeks. I hope the country really is changing and that Labour dominance is truly over. In the council elections it is wonderful to see my own Local Authority in South Lanarkshire being taken from Labour because since it's inception in 1996 they have failed to serve the people here and all they have done with any consistency is sell off the green belt against the wishes of the people. I think Scotland has been brave but I wish more had shown courage. I hope Mr Salmond wins people over by proving that his administration is going to be about people. Congratulations SNP, retain your dignity and you will just keep growing.

[quote][bold]tasty macfadden[/bold] wrote: There are other casualties. Whither Brand Sheridan and his fellow chauvinist, Mr John DirtyBook Aberdein of Orkney and Montmarte? Whither Mr Steve Arnott of that unlikely grouping, Socialists for Vivisection ? Perhaps they'll find a people's fortune writing for the wretched rags which have so disfigured this election - ie all of them; our thoughts must be with these warriors as they continue to battle for our freedoms; with any luck they will do this from penury and anonymity, perhaps even from Barlinnie. Mr Salmond might indicate, as a gesture of renewal, that MSPs are elected and paid to work full-time. Tory lawyers popping into the legislature when nothing more lucrative beckons in Court are no worse than mouthy celebrity socialists giving themselves paid leave of absence to pursue a legal battle of their own instigation; a nurse couldn't act like this, or a firefighter, they wouid be sacked . There was nothing in the deeply unpleasant McCletchie's manifesto about him working in the courts or taxi-ing himself about at my expense; nothing in tearful Tommy's vulgar, bombastic proclamations about taking three months off, trying to repair his marriage in front of the TV cameras. Mr Salmond should put a stop to MSPs larging it like this, contemptuously. The LibLab pactors distinguished themselves in so many ways that it is difficult to single-out one specific achievement. Kirsty Wark House at half a billion pounds, ten times the cost of the Welsh Assembly building, is pretty outstanding. Care homes all over Scotland are in meltdown for want of a few grand, fiver-an-hour arse wipers busting their backs, demoralised and undervalued. They must take comfort from the fact that the catastrophically incompetent Lord/Sir/Mr. David Steel, failed LibDem leader, has built himself a fitting monument with our money. Go back to your constituencies and prepare for sinecures. Arsehole. Three quarters of a million pounds of hush money paid to Officer McKie, for her HURT FEELINGS, didn't even have the desired effect of shutting her up. Jim Wallace QC MSP and Lady Jamieson, "Justice" ministers in charge have not offered one word of apology. The cross-dressing imbecile McConnell has refused an enquiry into events which have made Scottish jurisprudence (not to mention himself) a global laughing stock. McConnell should be impeached for perverting the course of justice. The Lord Advocate, Carpenter, jumped-up mouthy, Blairite gabshite has fled the country. Mr Salmond should seek his extradition; he could share a cell with Mr Sheridan. Mr Sticky Fingers McLeish has re-emerged, sharing with us his wisdom on electoral matters, comforted no doubt by the thirty-five grand a year for life pension we gladly and gratefully pay him for his own unique contribution to the body politic, Funny how politicos are allowed to retire on a fortune when anybody else would go to jail. Disgraced commentators, from Lardman Taylor to He-man Bell.have fed us pap that Holyrood has taken time to bed down, that the people have a growing pride in their parliament ( and, presumably, by association, in those tuppenny hustlers who report on it We have seen the nobility, the impartiality of the Scottish press in the past few weeks; only the perpetually bemused Gordon Brewer showing any signs of even-handedness) The Scottish Parliament owes us much. Reinvigourated by a presently untarnished nationalist party, emboldened by a rebellion against the thieves and traitors of NewLabour and their chums in the press the coming session should involve the urgent shining of light into some dark corners. Mr Salmond's supporters have done well and are right to rejoice. There is particular pleasure to be found in contemplating the displeasure caused to the anxious, grubby, Calvinist dictator in number 11 Downing Street as he contemplates his "succession;" in the bitter hatreds which will explode among NewLabour UK plc, rivalry and opinion will cast their wild spell; we must hope that when they lie down their sleep is fractured by dead Iraqi children coming through the walls, screaming; by the unforgiving gaze of Tommy Atkins' bereaved mother and wife; by those condemned to torture, courtesy T Blair and J McConnell, in Uncle Sam's gulags. We have done well to oust at least some of the tyrants, the bullies, the torturers. We must hope that Mr Salmond , in pursuit of a second and third term, does not, as generally happens, let politics over-ride decency and humanity. Stick it to 'em. [/quote] TASTY McFADDEN..(or is it "tasteless" McFadden???) This of all days, you'd expect a bit of emotion on these posts, some angry, some euphoric.......but then we get YOU !!.......I expect you're the village idiot up in the islands. Have you thought about speaking to (sorry..shouting at..a psychiatrist at all. Your submission is barking mad...and as for your attack on Shirley McKie................you merely confirm here that you know F*** All about that case. Merely adding a few pro-SNP words won't disguise your mental state from any of us. Give my regards to Alistair Crowley please, you scary man...................(do social services visit often??)

tasty macfadden wrote:
There are other casualties. Whither Brand Sheridan and his fellow chauvinist, Mr John DirtyBook Aberdein of Orkney and Montmarte? Whither Mr Steve Arnott of that unlikely grouping, Socialists for Vivisection ? Perhaps they'll find a people's fortune writing for the wretched rags which have so disfigured this election - ie all of them; our thoughts must be with these warriors as they continue to battle for our freedoms; with any luck they will do this from penury and anonymity, perhaps even from Barlinnie. Mr Salmond might indicate, as a gesture of renewal, that MSPs are elected and paid to work full-time. Tory lawyers popping into the legislature when nothing more lucrative beckons in Court are no worse than mouthy celebrity socialists giving themselves paid leave of absence to pursue a legal battle of their own instigation; a nurse couldn't act like this, or a firefighter, they wouid be sacked . There was nothing in the deeply unpleasant McCletchie's manifesto about him working in the courts or taxi-ing himself about at my expense; nothing in tearful Tommy's vulgar, bombastic proclamations about taking three months off, trying to repair his marriage in front of the TV cameras. Mr Salmond should put a stop to MSPs larging it like this, contemptuously. The LibLab pactors distinguished themselves in so many ways that it is difficult to single-out one specific achievement. Kirsty Wark House at half a billion pounds, ten times the cost of the Welsh Assembly building, is pretty outstanding. Care homes all over Scotland are in meltdown for want of a few grand, fiver-an-hour arse wipers busting their backs, demoralised and undervalued. They must take comfort from the fact that the catastrophically incompeten