Hi folks! As I draft this, yet another bank is going under, but as this is becoming a regular occurrence people aren’t paying quite as much attention.

However, the reason people aren’t scrutinising the demise of Bradford & Bingley (I’m worried – I have £3.16 in a savings account with them) is that all eyes are still on HBOS. Jeff thinks that the SNP’s reaction wasn’t quite as sure-footed as he’d expected. Kez attacks the SNP for launching a petition calling for HBOS jobs to be protected, while David Farrer is slightly disturbed by the possibility that most if not all of our politicians seem to be clueless about how all of this managed to happen.

Political Dissuasion is exasperated by the media’s coverage of events.

But who’s that, flying in to save the Bank of Scotland? Is it a bird? Is it a plane? No, it’s Alex Neil MSP. But sadly, he cannot count on support from either (a href=http://linlithgow-libdems.blogspot.com/2008/09/alex-neil-and-bos-kirk.html>Stephen Glenn or Bernard Salmon.

Adopted Domain has this post on how current economic policies have failed, and looks at the English & Welsh Greens’ plans to make changes.

Andrew Burns notes that the Irish economy has gone into recession, and notes the Scottish Government’s silence on the matter.

With a trans-Atlantic take on things, Zetta Brown explains the financial situation over here for the benefit of readers over there, and explains the situation over there for the benefit of readers over here. Well worth a read.

Oh, and Gordon Brown tried and failed to meet US Treasury Secretary Hank Paulson this week. Richard Thomson raises an eyebrow at the snub.

Speaking of Brown, Labour delegates gathered in Manchester, where they heard the PM speak. Ewan Aitken is satisfied. Alex Massie isn’t so sure.

But events in Manchester were blown of course somewhat by Transport Secretary Ruth Kelly’s post-dated resignation announcement. Transport Minister Tom Harris MP pays tribute to his boss, but Political Dissuasion is glad to see the back of her. Meanwhile, Bernard Salmon notes her decision to quit to spend more time with her family, as Nicol Stephen did, and wonders if the overly centralised nature of UK politics is to blame. Interestingly, both of them also have surnames that can also be forenames. Co-incidence? You decide…

Anyway, while I go and don a tin-foil hat having uncovered a new conspiracy, why not read this post by Malc in the Burgh, translating Iain Gray’s speech at Conference?

While we’re on the subject of the Gray Man, Holyrood Watcher has raised a question about the Leader of the Scottish Opposition’s accent, while Mono has noticed that not everyone on the Labour benches was enthralled and enthused by Gray’s performance at FMQs. The question is, who is the Mystery Bored Woman?

But Iain Gray isn’t the only Leader failing to set the heather alight: Iain Dale (the Scottish LibDem one) notes that there’s criticism of Tavish Scott’s leadership style already, while Duncan isn’t too impressed by the LibDem’s attempt to contact voters with a recorded phone poll.

Speaking of polls, YouGov appear to have carried out the mother of all opinion polls and project a major SNP advance in the next Westminster election. Both ASWaS and myself take a closer look.

IndyGal tells the tale of the night she found herself face-to-face with BNP activists at the Baillieston By-Election.

And speaking of By-Elections, there’s the small matter of the upcoming poll in Glenrothes. Caron wonders if Labour have given up already, while ASWaS has taken a look at an opinion poll putting Labour and the SNP level, concluding that the Labour figure has been overstated. David McDonald saw the debate between Labour candidate Lindsay Roy and SNP challenger Peter Grant, and found Roy wanting. Calum Cashley saw it too, and reckons that Labour need to dump Roy and replace her with his pin-up of choice, Helen Eadie. Stephen Glenn saw it and was horrified by STV’s failure to invite the LibDem candidate.

Moving on to an Election that will have a slightly greater impact on the course of human events, James takes a look at an image slating Republican candidate John McCain for his many houses, many cars and private jet, but wonders if actually, that might make him more attractive to the aspirational American voter. Andrew Burns reflects on the first Presidential Debate between McCain and his Democratic rival Barack Obama, while Duncan casts a weary eye over use of the term “un-American”.

Back on this side of the Pond, Louise is not impressed by concerted plans by a number of Universities to give a leg-up to students from poorer backgrounds, while the Catholic Church gets pelters from Last Year’s Girl and Caron after a Catholic school in Manchester decided not to let its girls receive the HPV vaccine.

Julie McAnulty provides us with a pictorial post which goes some way to explaining why alcohol consumption is quite so high.

Richard Leyton is disappointed at the Scottish Government’s decision not to intervene in the Go Ape! planning application in Pollok Park.

James is sick of politicians criticising local post office closures but not backing a proposal to prevent them.

Elsewhere, Kez has launched her Give Them a Roasting campaign, looking into business practices at Edinburgh’s many, many coffee houses. There seems to be widespread support, but Fred Barboo doesn’t seem willing to join the consensus just yet.

Meanwhile, this post by Kez last week accusing Alan Duncan of trying to mislead the Question Time audience has been met by a post from Calum Cashley, suggesting that Harriet Harman wasn’t being entirely straight with people either.

And on planet MSM, Richard Havers reflects on the proposed cuts to ITV’s commitment to regional programming, and suggests that it’s a consequence of ITV’s reduced revenues.

Neil Craig takes a look at China’s latest advance in the space race.

Mr. Eugenides has taken a dislike to Marianne Mikko MEP, and ehr proposals to regulate the blogosphere.

Finally, Mike Smith asks key figures an important question, and if you’re not laughing by the end of the post then you’re one of the subjects.

That’s all for this week… Duncan’s in the hotseat next week and you can send your suggestions to scottishroundup@gmail.com or by using the shoobedoobedoowop on the right. Bye-de-bye!

Apologies for the late arrival of this month’s non-political round-up, but here it is, finally, in all its bloggy glory……

And we kick off with a food review by Carine Seitz which, to the shame of an editor somewhere in Edinburgh, never made it to print, but which is a must-read for food-lovers across the city – not least those with a taste for something Italian. Beware the scallops…

Also on the food front is a short and delightful post by rhythmaning on one of my pet topics – he calls them sossiges and that will do for me. Yum.

Sara suggests a little anodyne for those of us trapped in our hermetically sealed offices each day. Personally I favour her first suggestion, particularly for the Monday after the weekend before.

Those afflicted by camera-inspired shyness might want to ponder understandingglasgow’s post, which touches on the increasing presence of Google Street View cameras across Edinburgh. The devices are yet to have an impact in Glasgow, but watch this space. This blogger urges some snapper on snapper action.

Mike Smith, and Edinburgh-based blogger like myself, is experiencing general malaise and wonders whether the person who coined the term credit crunch took out copyright on the term. Mr Farty however, is more interested in the demolition of a towerblock at Sighthill. Better than the fireworks any day. Noddy, meanwhile, brings some breaking health news.

There’s been a fair bit of this about recently and mid-life Bassist Andy Gilmour is the latest of bloggers to suggest that he might be making an exit from this sphere. After Scottish Tory Boy’s spectacular u-turn on the matter, can Andy be persuaded to follow his example? We can only wait and see.

Michael Greenwell details, after what would appear to be a considerable and tortuous time of coming to terms with the fact, his personal dirty secret. It sullies me even to say it but a Weir’s Way habit would appear to have taken grip on this blogger. We wish you well Michael – stay strong.

David L Blackwood has a strong word or three about the TV licensing authority but John Kirriemuir is having better luck with his new laptop. I know nothing about technology (hence lateness of this post in part) but even I think this new machine has sex appeal. And it has WiFi capabilities too apparently. However, Calum Carr is speaking more my language with this close-call on the typo front. I’m sure we have all been there with embarrassing typos – I know I have.

As well as his amusing rant against dogs and their owners, Shuggy has some thoughts to share on the resignation of Michael Reiss from the Royal Society and John Stewart Mill on freedom of speech.

Anastasia Beaumont-Bott is taken with the latest tartan to hit the market. I was pleased too, assuming it to be something to do with LGBT Scots. However, it is apparently, a tartan for Scots with a Japanese heritage, which is equally exciting.

Craig notes the conduct of Lewis Hamilton during the Italian Grand Prix and asks whether the driver’s attitude could be enough to cost him the world championship and Robert Sharp is intrigued by the field of flash mobile texting – sports commentary takes on a new lease of life.

Stephen Bowman notes a study by the Universities of Sheffield and Manchester. Having written about Cumbernauld in the past and visited it very recently, his post about positive coverage for the town certainly makes interesting reading. Angry Steve gives the story attention also, from the perspective of an Edinburgh resident less than thrilled with the findings for his city.

Cat touches on a topic close to my own heart at the moment – what the devil to do at Christmas and the Family Question. Cameron McEwan meanwhile, brings us some distressing images from the makers of Lego.

As a PSP lover I give my entire sympathy to Jaggy. RIP, PSP.

Susan Dalgety is still on the Road to Dot, this time making me feel terribly boring after an uneventful week while she makes her way from Madagascar to Malawi via Johannesburg marvelling at a convoy of beer on the way. Jealousy lies here.

Alanna touches on a number of subjects. While I’m taken by the post about cats having just dropped my own kitten off at the vets for the removal of his boy-bits [vet parlance], I was equally taken with the news story detailing exactly how to not go about catching a flight.

Duncan also has some in-flight news, this time from Air France, and how not to communicate with your customers – take note chaps.

And finally, Naomi McAuliffe has also been on the road – first to Africa and now to Peru. Check out her account of filming in both locations as part of an all-new Amnesty International campaign. Check it out.

Lloyds and HBOS to merge

James of Two Doctors looks at the past of Lloyds TSB and HBOS. Lazychicken thinks there’ll be redundancies, regardless of whether the unions “accept” them. Anseo notes there’s been some domain squatting. Jeff thinks Gordon Brown’s slowness to act has doomed HBOS.

Adopted Domain says “Farewell HBOS”.

Political Dissuasion smells a scandal:

This is a scandal. There has been no mention, no suggestion of a conflict of interest, and as more and more details are revealed, it’s just getting more and more a political deal, rather than financial one. Take the whole “the Prime Minister was involved in pushing through the deal” nonsense. That just sounds like a spun line that the media just took up, nodded their heads and ran with.

Ideas of Civilisation ponders if this will make Scottish independence harder to argue for. Jeff agrees.

Neil Craig thinks there should be an inquiry into short selling. David Farrer is worried. HW thinks the consequences will be severe.

The financial crisis…

…continues. Ben Lomond asks “The death of capitalism?”

Niall thinks banks should become mutuals.

Glenrothes by-election

Over at LabourHome, ACLB thinks Tony Blair should be the Labour candidate, and if he wins, take over from Gordon Brown as Prime Minister. View from North Britain says this shows Labour are self-destructing. I’m not aware what Brown thinks, but his comments are probably unprintable.

David Cairns resignation

David Cairns resigns as Minister of State at the Scotland Office; Richard Thompson has his resignation letter in full. Ewan Spence wonders if Caroline Flint will be next to resign. Bellegrove Belle is disappointed, while Anseo thinks Eric Joyce will be the next Labour rebel. And Malc says that Labour should stop attacking others instead of “getting their own house in order”.

Sectarianism — Scotland’s shame?

Tom Harris says sectarianism is Scotland’s shame:

sectarianism makes you feel embarrassed to be Scottish. I hate it when the subject is even raised when I’m with English friends because I imagine they must look at us as a backward nation.

Alex Massie — correctly in my view — points out that sectarianism is more of a Glasgow problem than a Scottish problem. It’s bigots who should be ashamed, not decent Scots.

Creationism in schools

Tom Harris thinks that Professor Michael Reiss’s words about dealing with creationist students in school science lessons have been misunderstood. Shuggy agrees, and adds that teachers need to deal with it on a case-by-case basis: “I’m also disinclined to discuss things like this at all if I think the individual in question is simply wasting my time and/or is so fanatical in their beliefs as to be impervious to rational argument and evidence. It’s not that uncommon. The question is, how to deal with it? Sometimes you talk about it, sometimes it’s appropriate to close conversations down.”

Iain Gray

Iain Gray’s been elected the leader of the Labour group in the Scottish Parliament. Cyber Nat makes the point that Gray referred to “Great Britain” instead of “United Kingdom of Great Britain AND Northern Ireland – United Kingdom or UK for short”. Cyber Nat, you’re a pedant.

Mr H has a run-down of Gray’s shadow cabinet.

Political Dissuassion isn’t impressed by an article Gray wrote in the Independent.

Kezia Dugdale accuses the SNP of being innumerate:

Was intrigued to see the Sunday Papers carry lines from the SNP calling Iain Gray, “Mr Three Percent,” because according to last week’s Sunday Times poll only 3% of Scots think Iain would make the best First Minister…

So I got my SNP calculator out – you know the one that helps you inflate oil revenues and makes the local income tax balance

Councillor threatens blogger with libel action

Jahangir Hanif in an SNP Councillor. He’s also going through an acrimonious divorce. His daughter Noor apparently doesn’t like him very much, because she wrote a letter to SNP leader Alex Salmond making very serious allegations about her father and saying he should be kicked out of the SNP. Noor also made the letter public. Blogger Kezia Dugdale published the letter, but later took down the blog post after Hanif threatened her with a libel action.

Incidently, the legal threats didn’t work, because the letter is still on the net, just a Google search away. I didn’t know whether the accusations in the letter are true, but if they are not, why else would a 17 year old girl make such serious public accusations against her father?

Miserable Old Fart noted:

But an SNP councillor suing a Labour blogger for mentioning something that was already in the public domain is going to do more harm to the councillor and his party than ignoring it would have done. I hope that Alex Salmond has the sense to publicly distance the party from the individual actions of the councillor, otherwise the SNP will be open to attack for using the law to silence its critics.

Miserable Old Fart also challenged bloggers to publicise this, which Tim Ireland later did.

Tavish Scott’s tax cut proposal

Scottish Liberal Democrat leader Tavish Scott wants to cut income tax by 2p in the pound.

Adam Smith Was A Socialist wonders if this is really an “emergency”.

Niel Craig is keen, but cannot fully endorse Scott’s proposal, because:

1) He has made no specific proposal as to how it should be paid for. We said that a 3p cut should be paid for out of the £1 billion a year of pointless windmill subsidies.

2) 2p is a very silly figure to choose. There is a fixed cost in changing the rate which is about equivalent to 1p income tax. Therefore it makes financial sense to go for a 3p cut or nothing. 2p is falling between 2 stools.

3) We have been quite clear that the first priority is encouraging growth & that the way to do that is, as the Irish did, by cuts in corporation tax & rates which should be the priority. Desirable though income tax cuts are it is obvious that a one time only 2p in the £1 cut will provide only a fraction as much to ordinary people as Ireland’s 7% growth (let alone the 9% we are committed to), year on year.

Caron’s in favour:

A tax cut would help to bring children of working families out of poverty – for the first time, more children in poverty come from families where someone is in work. It would give hard pressed Scots, struggling to pay all their bills, a bit more of a cushion.

Fatties

NHS nurses are patrolling the streets, looking for fatties. Mr Eugenides is outraged:

I live in a country where government employees are coming up to me in the street and telling me that I look overweight? I mean, what?

I am genuinely outraged at this because it embodies a lot of what is wrong with the relationship between state and citizen in our modern democracy; in this case, an assumption on the part of the state that my weight is any of their fucking business.

Where does this assumption stem from? By what authority do they harass me on the street and tell me to eat a fucking salad? Because be in no doubt, harassment is what we’re talking about here. It may not be in-your-face, finger-jabbing bullying; no, it’s more insidious than that. You! Yes, you, citizen! Look at the size of that gut! Aren’t you ashamed of yourself?

Caron is also against, but for different reasons:

As, to put it mildly, a bit of a porker, I would be exactly the sort targetted by these women. They might well choose to refer me to weight watchers – but I expect I know more about every single slimming club/diet in the history of time than they do. Most overweight people know exactly what they have to do in order to lose weight – it’s not rocket science. Eat less and exercise more. There, I have just saved NHS Ayrhire and Arran a fortune.

The serious side of this is that many people with weight problems struggle with self esteem too and this sort of public dressing down would cause them no end of distress. I wonder, too, whether this violates nurses’ professional conduct in some way. Effectively what they are doing is bullying often vulnerable people.

Other stuff

Flying rodent has an international politics round-up.

Calum Cashley thinks the Lib Dems are being hypocritical by planning to make junk phone calls.

Bill Cameron notes the BBC’s new Gaelic language TV channel, as does Alwin Ap Huw.

Mark McDonald writes in favour of euthanasia for dementia sufferers.

Bernard Salmon thinks liberals aren’t treated fairly by the media, and gives some ideas on how that could be improved.

Fred Barboo thinks it’s OK to be proud of your country.

Mr Farty writes about the woman who claimed benefits for 14 non-existant kids:

“Er, hello, is that the Social? Aye, it’s Mrs Semple. Again. It’s aboot oor wee, er, haud on…Tariq. The poor wee thing’s got, let’s see, Gulf War Syndrome. How much can we get for that? Pardon? Aye, he’s three. Well, Ah suppose he must of caught it from his dad. Along with the mesothelioma, cirrhosis and Madonna’s Disease. Making it up, what makes you think I’m making it up? The Internet wouldn’t lie to me…would it?”

David Simpson wants us to plug his blog, Democracy Scotland.

SNP Watch bills itself as “exposing the tyranny of the minority”.

Signing off

And that’s it for this week. If there are any spelling mistakes or errors, you can blame tiredness caused by my cat, who decided to wake me up at ridiculous o’clock in the morning by attacking my toes, the little shit.

If you’re looking for this month’s non-political roundup, don’t worry. This month’s editor, Jacq Kelly, is having internet troubles. It’ll be published ASAP.

This is a good moment for me to also point out that, for ease of telling it apart, the non-political roundup will appear in red. So don’t be shocked if you see red next time you visit!

Hi all. Sorry the roundup is a bit late this week, but there was a schedule clash with the best news story Formula 1 has had for a long time. Priorities and all that, you know? Now, on to the much less important matter of politics.

The big news is the election of the new Scottish Labour leader who is Iain Gray. Reaction seems to be mixed.

IndyGal said that Gray was the person she would have voted for, as an SNP member. Of course, many SNP members did have votes in the contest. Mono didn’t, but that didn’t stop him from voting.

Will P is concerned that he is too close to Downing Street which, in the current climate, could be disastrous. But Political Dissuasion points out that the other candidates represented the Labour ‘old guard’: tried and untrusted.

Jeff had a few criticisms of Iain Gray’s acceptance speech.

But perhaps it is just as well Cathy Jamieson wasn’t chosen in the end. Caron was critical of Jamieson’s decision to use FMQs to ask not about economic woes or policies, but about Jahangir Hanif. Richard Thomson was also shocked by Cathy Jamieson’s choice of subject.

Meanwhile, Scottish Tory Boy (who didn’t take long to U-turn on his promise to abandon blogging) thinks that John Mason was wrong to “play the race card” when he rejected attacks on Cllr Hanif.

Labour leadership news isn’t quite so rosy in Westminster. Richard Havers considers the implications of Labour MPs calling for a leadership contest. Alex Massie reckons that Gordon Brown might, just might, resign if Labour loses in the upcoming Glenrothes by-election.

Anastasia Beaumont-Bott has come across a way to make you feel better instantly. Why not give it a shot?

It has also been revealed that leader of the Scottish Greens, Robin Harper, will not stand as co-convener when the time comes again. James at Two Doctors looks back on his time leading the Greens.

But with all of these leaders standing down over the summer, Jeff is worried about Annabel Goldie.

Labour MP Tom Harris wishes for a return to a two-party system. Not a very popular viewpoint these days I think. Malc in the Burgh took him to task.

Amid the ongoing debate about citizen engagement in politics, Ideas of Civilisation wonders if it is really a politician’s duty to go out and get in contact with voters. Stephen Glenn outlines why he thinks it is.

John Connell attacks the idea that creationism should be taught in science classes.

The Large Hadron Collider was started up this week. Rhythmaning enjoyed some of the media coverage. Neil Craig wasn’t so happy about the media’s coverage. Neither was Silversprite.

Meanwhile, Robert Sharp thinks it might be worth the risk of a black hole being created — if only to unite the whole of humanity in that last moment before the world gets sucked in.

With the collapse of XL Leisure Group having come so soon after Zoom went out of business, Holyrood Watcher wonders which airline will go next. The bookies have drawn up the odds. The current jitters in the industry have put Mike Smith off taking advantage of cheap flights.

Richard Havers points out the ridiculousness of adults unaccompanied by children being interrogated in Telford Town Park, as does Caron.

Elsewhere in civil liberties watch, Adopted Domain outlines why he thinks the SNP’s alcohol proposals will disproportionately hurt responsible drinkers.

Mike Smith is not pleased with Noel Edmonds who has decided to stop paying his TV License in protest at the current Orwellian advertising campaign. Even though Edmonds is right about the adverts, Mike Smith is right to point out that for years the BBC poured cash down a drain funding his career. LazyChicken makes the same point.

Meanwhile, Mr Eugenides has an interesting piece about all the gossip about politicians’ private lives that floats around.

SNP Watch has his say on how he thinks any independence referendum question should be worded. Meanwhile, Scottish Unionist considers the wording of opinion poll questions to determine the level of support for independence.

Clairwil shares some thoughts on date rape.

The US Presidential election has reached new heights of lunacy with Barack Obama being accused of sexism for using a very common phrase. Stephen Glenn takes a look, though it seems Malc in the comments doesn’t agree with him. Flying Rodent is here to show you a real sexist comment.

Meanwhile, amid concerns about Sarah Palin’s stances on foreign policy, Alex Massie points out that her ideas are much the same as Barack Obama’s.

North Britain has noted that Gordon Brown has invited Margaret Thatcher round to meet him again.

Angus Nicolson looks at tax and agrees with the TUC that the rich should be taxed at a higher rate. But Political Dissuasion would rather see a flat tax introduced.

Cybernat wonders, if Britain’s economy is as well-placed to face the effects of the credit crunch as Alistair Darling and Gordon Brown claim, why does the OECD think that the UK will be one of the few economies to go into recession?

Billy the Kidd wants to know why the Evening Express only allows comments on some of its articles — and makes a point about the disappearance of PIFs at the same time.

Mr H wonders: what can be historic about an advertising campaign?

Finally, some sad news to report. Edinburgh Labour councillor and blogger Elizabeth Maginnis died unexpepctedly last week. Andrew Burns and Ewan Aitken lead the tributes.

That’s all for this week. Cabalamat will be doing next week’s roundup. Send your suggestions in either by using the form on the right or by emailing scottishroundup@gmail.com. Thanks.