Hello everyone and welcome to this week’s roundup, my first back from yet another of my little hiatuses (hiatii?).

The story of the week was probably the Crewe and Nantwich by-election. It does appear to signify curtains for Gordon Brown’s Prime Ministerial career. Scottish Politics points out that all political careers end in failure and looks at Gordon Brown’s legacy.

For Surreptitious Evil, it’s a case of “at last”. Political Dissuasion sees Gordon Brown as that person who just doesn’t get the message that it’s over.

Shuggy foresaw it — he described Labour’s tactics as “how to lose the next election“. Labour should give that man a job.

David Farrer is surprised — that Labour still had 30% of the votes.

Anseo at North to Leith analyses the rumours that Alan Milburn is waiting in the wings to challenge Gordon Brown’s leadership.

Jeff sums up the whole situation, complete with a little roundup of posts from the blogosphere on the position of the Labour Party. He also constructively suggests a way back for Labour.

From the Labour point of view, Andrew Burns takes the honest approach which I guess is the only way Labour can credibly deal with this result. A by-election is one thing, but coupled with poor opinion poll ratings and a thrashing in the local elections a few weeks ago, it spells disaster for Labour.

In the Holyrood political world, the main political story of the week was the SNP’s new plan for financing projects. For Holyrood Watcher, it’s a dog’s breakfast. Angus Nicholson reckons that the Scottish Future’s Trust won’t be any more efficient than PFI. But it has meant the creation of a new quango (weren’t the SNP meant to be getting rid of them?).

Kezia Dugdale calls it Diet PFI and points out that it won’t raise enough money for the SNP to meet its manifesto commitments. As does Ewan Aitken who says SFT would “embarrass the back of a fag packet”.

While we’re on the subject, Andrew Burns is getting set to grade the SNP on the progress on its education commitments.

Staying with education for a bit, and a couple of posts to think about when it comes to attitudes towards “intelligence”. Alex Massie argues that Chris Woodhead is wrong to say that the arts and sports are wasteful “fripperies” that schools shouldn’t provide. And he’s even more wrong to suggest that profit-seeking schools inevitable will eradicate them.

Meanwhile, John Connell points out that there is more to real intelligence than the narrow notion of the IQ.

Clairwil is fed up with her workplace. Her boss seems to want poor people to remain on benefits and have their enterprise sapped out of them. Clairwil now wants to set up her own business. I hope it goes well for her.

It looks as though the SNP are no less nannies than Labour are. Neil Craig points out what will go wrong with the SNP’s plan to ban the display of cigarettes in shops. Flying Rodent isn’t too happy either.

Meanwhile, Mark McDonald has an idea to try and help people sober up. Although if people wanted to sober up, I doubt they’d be in the pub…

The database state, huh? Well, there were a couple of stories this week to remind us that it’s not just the state that we have to fear when it comes to databases. And given Labour’s public IT cock-ups, you’d think that the Conservatives would be doing all they can to avoid this sort of thing. Of course, you can’t trust them to, as Scott points out.

Meanwhile, Louise is upset about companies keeping her credit card details on a database. A reminder that it’s not just the state which is responsible for the database culture.

But of course, the state itself is still a danger. Bill Cameron reacts to news that the Home Office is considering maintaining a database of all phone calls and emails in the UK.

For Holyrood Watcher, the logistics are just too much for the Home Office to bear: 1,000,000,000,000 emails is a lot to store on a database. Mr Eugenides takes the sarcastic approach… which is just about the only way, I guess.

David Cameron is promising to scrap the Barnett Formula. Yawn… not that old one again. Holyrood Watcher is sceptical.

In the wake of the news that the prosecution against a truth-speaking teenager has been dropped, Scott takes the opportunity to say that Scientology is a dangerous cult. And I’ll say it as well: Scientology is a dangerous cult. Meanwhile, Cabalamat tries to work out how to deal with religion.

Robert Sharp is fed up with journalists who use the hoary old “I found so many results on Google for x” cliché. The number of results is, of course, meaningless.

I’ve been trying to avoid Cherie Blair’s biography and I think I’ve been partially successful. However Richard Havers wonders who’s to blame for the inclusion of the spicier elements of the book.

Colin Campbell has unearthed the great Scottish kilt myth… as Lord Dacre saw it.

And Gordon McLean wonders, do children still play in the street? The answer is, of course not — their parents won’t let them.

That’s it for this week. I will keep the identity of next week’s rounder-upper a secret for the time being. That is because I like it to be an enigma, rather than the fact that I couldn’t organise a brewery in a piss-up, or something like that. Rest assured, though, the roundup will still be here whatever. So get those nominations in, either by using the doo-dah magical box thingy on the right there, or simply by emailing us at scottishroundup@gmail.com.

I’m particularly looking for some more non-political stuff because it’s good to break it up a bit, so if you know of any blogs that you think I’ve overlooked please do tell me! Thanks.

Hi folks! It’s been an ugly, ugly week for Scottish bloggers, with Rangers falling at the last hurdle of the UEFA Cup, their supporters trashing Manchester (which, to be fair, isn’t hard) and Scottish Labour’s policy over an independence referendum being as sure to work as a giant TV screen in Piccadilly Gardens. Yup, it’s one of those weeks.

So to start off, Dunfermline fan Councillor Ewan Aitken congratulates Rangers for getting as far as they did.

However, the good Councillor is very much in a minority: Gus at 1820 condemns the Rangers fans following their behaviour in Manchester City Centre and questions the Scottish-ness of the club. Shuggy, meanwhile, decides to do something that no one else has done so far: apologise to Manchester for what happened on Wednesday night, while Flying Rodent presents your own guide to the trouble-makers.

But it’s not just the fans who are coming under pressure: politicians are facing scrutiny for their reactions. Ewan Watt slates Scottish Tory Deputy Leader and Rangers fan Murdo Fraser for claiming that Greater Manchester Police over-reacted, while David Farrer is perplexed that Prime Minister, Raith Rovers fan and England supporter Gordon Brown is angry because it might scupper England’s plans to host the 2018 World Cup.

On the other hand, Manchester comes under fire as well. Big Rab reckons that the authorities in the area were simply unprepared for the wave of Rangers fans while Jamie K is dismayed by Manchester City Council’s performance. And he’s backed up by Alastair, who has photographic evidence that attention to detail isn’t the Council’s strong point.

Meanwhile, regular football-based hostilities were put on hold this week, following the tragic death of Celtic icon Tommy Burns: Big Rab leads the tributes., to a man who not only ate, drank and breathed Celtic, but also played his part in the national team’s setup, from the low point of the Berti Vogts era to the high point of the wins against France.

Anyway. While sport was dominating the front pages as well as the back, Labour were undergoing a rather painful series of twists and turns on their brief support for an independence referendum. Alastair sums up Scottish Labour’s position(s). Ewan Watt notes that Gordon Brown has justified other moves by citing their popularity with the public, but won’t agree to a referendum on independence or a vote on the Lisbon Treaty, both of which are seen as popular ideas according to opinion polls. Chris Stephens compares the saga to a bad episode of the Jerry Springer Show, while Tartan Hero sees it more like a surreal version of Call My Bluff. Calum Cashley has found a picture which he think sums up the Labour position, and also asks, “What Would Helen Eadie Do?”, while at Two Doctors, James reckons he’s found Wendy Alexander’s successor.

But at least Scottish Labour are only being criticised for one thing: Labour at Westminster are suffering right now. Bernard Salmon suggests that Alistair Darling’s attempts to put an end to the 10p tax rate debacle are less about helping the poor or even fending off a backbench rebellion than they are about the Crewe & Nantwich By-Election this Thursday. And Mr. Eugenides thinks that the Government’s decision to raise the personal allowance as a short-term panic measure but keep the complex tax credit system in place for the long term shows that the Government’s priorities are skewed.

Meanwhile, Stephen Glenn rips into Labour for their policy on ID cards, as trumpeted during the By-Election campaign. Mr. Eugenides attacks Brown for meeting the Dalai Lama at Lambeth Palace rather than at Downing Street. Richard Havers reacts to Gordon Brown’s speech to the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland by comparing him to a Victorian vicar who studies palaeontology while his parishioners suffer. And finally, Scottish Futures carries this article by Gerry Hassan on how Labour don’t seem to be coping with devolution or the SNP.

However, eggs are also being thrown at the SNP as well as at Labour: following Alex Salmond’s speech to Holyrood trailing the Scottish Government’s priorities for the year ahead. Andrew Burns is baffled that there could be more Scotland-only legislation at Westminster than at Holyrood, while Kezia Dugdale is put out that the Government appears to have nicked a Labour policy without mentioning where it came from.

Still, the good news is that somewhere in the world, someone was saying something nice about someone else. The someone was John Edwards, and the someone else is Barack Obama, who has now received his former rival’s endorsement for the Democratic nomination, as Iain reports.

And staying with the USA, Bill Cameron cheers the decision by California’s State Supreme Court to overturn the state’s ban on gay marriage.

Anyway, moving on, it wouldn’t be a Roundup if we didn’t discuss the MSM. Clairwil posts in support of the woman who has made versions of the Adipose (the cute little Doctor Who creatures that inspire maternal feelings in the least likely of people), only to come up against the wrath of the BBC’s lawyers. Holyrood Watcher is relieved to discover that he is not the only viewer of BBC Parliament (I’m also relieved that I’m not alone!). And while Kezia Dugdale enjoys George Kerevan’s columns in the Scotsman, she notes that they never seem to mention the fact that he’s the SNP’s Prospective Westminster Candidate in Edinburgh East.

Finally, some sad news: Reactionary Snob has decided to hang up his keyboard. However, the good news is that he’s left open a return to bloggery at some point in the future. Here’s hoping it’s sooner, rather than later.

And on that note, it’s time to end this Roundup – but it will be back next week when Duncan will be making a welcome return to the chair. As always you can leave suggestions for him using the doodahshabubu on the right, or by dropping us a cod at scottishroundup@gmail.com. Bye-de-bye!

Hello, and welcome to this week’s roundup.

Surely, the biggest fear for anyone entrusted with taking a shot at compiling the weekly Scottish blogs runaround, is that nothing of any note whatsoever will happen on your watch. I’m now on my second outing, but with a bank holiday weekend of glorious weather being thrown into the mix, I began to worry that for the rest of the week, everyone would be so mellowed out and full of the milk of human kindness that nothing interesting would happen, and that no-one would be prompted to opine about anything very much.

Thank goodness, then, for the BBC’s Glen Campbell and his interview with Wendy Alexander – an event which gave rise to a story so big it survived the bank holiday Monday, still managed to appear on the radar screens of the London networks and commentators, and even became the main issue of the Brown/Cameron exchanges at PMQs. ‘Bring it on’, she said, to a referendum on Scottish independence, and fellow keyboard bashers, you didn’t disappoint.

One of the first out of the blocks was former Labour Leader of Edinburgh Council, the Rev Ewan Aitken, who was unbridled in his enthusiasm for the gambit. He wasted no time in suggesting that in not taking up the challenge, the First Minister was somewhat deficient in the respective departments of bravery and bottle. Similarly, New Saltire saw it as a way to attack the very soul of the SNP. More wary was Aitken’s council colleague, Elizabeth Maginnis, who was clearly less than convinced by the gambit. Elsewhere in the City Chambers, Cllr Andrew Burns (who in 1999 had the temerity to beat me in a local election!), adopted a tone of weary resignation about the whole thing.

But if you thought Gordon Brown was surprised, it was nothing compared to the serried ranks of ‘Nat Pack’ bloggers. Julie Hepburn admitted as much here, as did Cllr Allison Thewliss. Other gasts evidently flabbered were those of Anseo, as well as Lib Dem Bernard Salmon. Stephen Glenn thought the move was the right one, but charitably, linked to some other Lib Dems with alternative views on the subject. Marco Biagi seemed happy, offering some (perhaps unwelcome) cross party support for Wendy to carry on her good works, while Alex Massie played it straight. Meanwhile, the wonderful Clairwil, as ever, managed to inject a dose of sanity to the topic, together with a side helping of amused incredulity.

Even Labour spinner Kez Dugdale seemed a little taken aback, before embarking on a philosophical meander through the differences between the general concept of ‘independence’ (good) and ‘seperatism’ (bad). Looking to the future, Kevin Willliamson believes it’s ‘game on’ on the constitution, even if it might be ‘game over’ for Wendy herself. Scottish Tory Boy took delight in being amongst the first to point out that even if she wanted to bring forward her own referendum bill, the standing orders of the Scottish Parliament wouldn’t allow it. Meanwhile, Jeff of SNP Tactical Voting was positively straining at the leash, hoping that Alex Salmond would go ahead and call what he saw as Labour’s bluff.

Wither the Prime Minister, though, after the pounding of last week’s electoral contests? Love and Garbage took a sideways look at the much lauded individual talents of ‘Team Brown’, and in best Lord Gnome style, concluded that the people had been misled previously. Shuggy also cast a weary eye over the present malaise. Meanwhile, the peerless Mr Eugenides mined the dark, dank, dripping recesses of his imagination to share with us the disappointment a prominent Guardian columnist may be feeling with the Brown premiership. Those under 18, or of a squeamish or nervous disposition, should skip straight to the next item – don’t say you weren’t warned…

Turning to a very different ‘Polly’, there’s a new political podcast out there called ‘PollyOdd‘. I haven’t had a chance to listen to it yet myself, but your regular genial host, DoctorVee, seems very excited by the whole shebang. In my relatively limited blogging career to date, it’s been a source of amusement and, if I’m being honest, occasional frustration, that some great ‘Scottish’ blogging can go almost completely unnoticed in the Anglosphere, while some very ordinary but harder to pigeonhole content can find itself with (in comparison) astronomical exposure. If we don’t shout about ourselves, no-one else will do it for us, so do please give it a listen and lend it your support.

To other matters, and Richard Havers has what sounds like a well-deserved go at a website – booksfromscotland.com – set up to promote and sell the work of Scottish writers. A laudable aim, but is the product or the measurable end result all that they both ought to be? Here, Bishop Hill throws a sharp kitchen knife at Gordon Ramsay for suggesting that restaurants should be fined for serving out of season veg. Will Ramsay be too worried? Probably not – a whole lot of controversy and meeja appearances coming just one week before his new series appears on our screens – give the man’s agent a pay rise!

Elsewhere, Silversprite, the librarian at the end of the world, continues a riff about astronomical fuel prices, in the process making me feel guilty for complaining the other day about having to pay £50 to fill up my small hatch with diesel at £1.16/litre. In the Uists, with the price at £1.36/litre, it would have cost me £60. Ouch, ouch, ouch. Meanwhile, Almax has a look at the reclassification of cannabis and concludes that with the latest move to return it from Class ‘C’ to Class ‘B’, people will just be more confused than ever about its legal status.

So, after a short, if tumultous working week, it’s time to reflect on the bank holiday that was. Auld Reekie Rants, sadly, had to spend his convalescing from man flu – I’m sure I speak for everyone in wishing him the speediest of recoveries. Groanin Jock recounts an all too familiar experience resulting from the rare encounters which take place between the Scottish male and strong sunshine. Meanwhile, Angus Nicolson regales us with a picture of the barbecue which Carlsberg would make, if they did that sort of thing. The question is, with fuel so expensive in the Western Isles, how on earth can he afford to run something like that?

And that’s your lot for this week. Remember, posts can be nominated for next week’s roundup by using the form on the right hand side of the page (even for viewers in black and white), or by email using scottishroundup@gmail.com.

As I start writing this we are just recovering from having two consecutive days of rain here in Adelaide. A very unusual occurrence in our current drought affected climate. The rain dancers have clearly done their job and the farmers are hoping to sew a crop. My kids were moaning and groaning about not being able to go outside to play and were incredulous about my stories of my early years in the land of the wind and rain. Sunday started off with bucketing rain, some cloud, brilliant sunshine, some overcast… and so it went on. You get the story. Anyway it put me in the mood to craft another high quality Scottish Roundup. Thank you for your indulgence as I take at a look at some of the stuff that caught my eye this week. Oh and thanks Duncan for your suggestions.

Richard Havers joins in with the majority of the population of England and Wales and sticking the knife in to Gordon. Nae Balls would seem to be the theme. (Perhaps he should get rid of Mr Balls instead?) Angus Nicholson highlights the benefit of burying bad stories. Perhaps Gordon could change the law? Casillis tries his hand at political advertising. Don’t look yet Gordon, things are still looking pretty bad (remember John Major?). Doctor Vee on the other hand has just had it with politicians in general.

Meanwhile back in Scotland, the Anything Except Independence Committee is launched. Callum Cashley disects the great and the good who will ponder what extra powers to give to our friends in the Scottish Parliament. Based on recent polling it seems that Scots are happy to have a bet each way. Perhaps they are concerned about the declining oil supplies in the backyard. Councillor Andrew Barns Really Bad Blog (what a great name for a blog) examines the different agendas and responses to the poll. Speaking of empty strategies, Groanin Jock finds a way to boost Scotlands technology industry based on experience in the US. More empty promises? Adam Smith Was A Socialist throws in his 10p worth. Holyrood Watcher weighs in with more, although he seems more concerned about the demise of another Scottish business, sold off to global crap beer specialists based in Holland. Speaking of crap beers, more Tartan Special anyone? I used to love the smell of that brewery as I walked to the rugby at Murrayfield. Sick I know, but Just don’t get caught sniffing in public. Your political career will sink faster than El Gordos.

Speaking of more democracy, Kezia Dugdale pitches in to the How come China is not playing fair after we gave them the Olympics line.

However, with little more than three months to go before the Beijing Olympics, few substantial reforms have been introduced that will have a significant, positive impact on human rights in China. Recent measures from the authorities to detain, prosecute and imprison those who raise human rights concerns suggest that things are just getting worse – the promised, positive ‘Olympics effect’ hasn’t materialised.

And it won’t I doubt. The best that can be hoped for is for a blow torch to be shone on the real China during the countdown to the games. Mr Eugenides runs the numbers. As expected hypocrisy rating very high.

Onto other more uplifting things, Callum Carr continues to document the appalling service from the NHS that Mrs Carr is receiving. Let’s hope he plays Grand Theft Auto rather than taking matters into his own hands. Having had my fair share of wacky medical advice, better to take it out in computer games and virtual blog world therapy.

As a Scottish Cricket Fan living in the land of cricket tragics, it was good to read that there is at least one other Scottish Cricket fan. Allmax describes his love affair with cricket and digs up this amazing fact from the time that Freuchie were UK Village Cricket Champions in 1985.

Also emerging in the wash during that time was the quite extraordinary, but apparently true, statistic that more Scots, as a proportion of the population, played organised cricket during the summer than did the English.

Based on my own experience, cricket teas were very good and hanging out on a summers afternoon, even if it was raining was better than doing housework.

Ideas of Civilisation tackles James Bond and class warfare. My own kids example suggests that that smaller the class size the better. My other connection with James Bond and education was that Sean Connery was a nude model when my dad was at Edinburgh Art College. Scotland strikes me as a cold place for that career path. No doubt that is why he moved on to bigger and better things.

Silver Sprite tackles twitter. I am rather surprised that there is a blog post of things to say about twitter. My wife thinks it is the most moronic thing and looks at me in a suspicious way whenever I am on the computer. Blogging she can tolerate, but for Twitter “What is the point????” I generally have no good answer. Twerpy Twerpy Tweet Tweet.

And in a bid to become famous, Clairwill will be appearing live on her neighbourhood CCTV. Fame at last. And talking of crime fighting measures, Bishop Hill reckons some of our European Friends should be sent to jail immediately. Auld Reekie Rants confirms that being there might not be a sufficient punishment.

And in the if you have nothing better to do department, Grant analyses the new film, Iron Man. I wonder if there is an Irn Bru angle?

And now back to the important business of politics, Tom Paine, writing in the last ditch is often one to skewer the Scots, especially Gordon and the boys. Seems all it takes is a new Maserati and some good Scottish weather to mellow his ways.

On the other hand, honorary Scot for the day, Sally in Norfolk is doing it the hard way. Not quite as luxurious as Tom’s path, but more what I remember of touring Scotland. My trip to the top of Ben Nevis was classic Scottish hillwalking. Glorious sun and warm weather at the bottom and howling wind and snow at the top. And that was May.

And that is about it from sunny and Tartan Special Free Adelaide. Until the next time. May all your beers be good.