For those of you itching to return to the days when the Scottish Roundup never included any blogs about Lockerbie please look away… now.

Yes, not too surprisingly Lockerbie continues to be a burning issue, although now it’s the Labour government in Westminster rather than the SNP in Holyrood receiving most of the flack. Still, that’s not to say that the SNP have got off Scot free (That’s not even a pun!).

Caron had a lengthy blog on the Scottish Parliament’s decision to reject the SNP’s decision to release the Lockerbie bomber, lauding Malcolm Chisholm’s principled stance during the debate. SNP Tactical Voting also highlighted Chisholm’s contribution. It’s worth noting that I received a number of emails from colleagues back home saying the exact same thing. In another post, Two Doctors claims that New Labour appear to be struggling to stay on message, whilst Mr Eugenides dissects Magnus Linklater’s article in the Times.

Meanwhile, the Spectator’s Alex Massie continues to lock horns with his colleagues at Coffee House, noting that the “votes in the Scottish parliament… would have had a much greater impact if members had voted their consciences, not the party line.” It’s most certainly worth adding that Mr Chisholm acknowledged that he would have voted with the Scottish government had he participated in a free vote. Mr Massie and yours truly also critiqued a post by Iain Dale, who cited a News of the World article claiming that the SNP’s decision to release Mr Megrahi has led to the United States threatening to halt sharing terrorism intelligence with the UK. Mr Dale was kind enough to respond, claiming that he was merely highlighting the article, not necessarily agreeing with it.

Yet, it’s worth noting that it was only a few weeks ago that Kenny MacAskill – and, I guess, Scotland in general – was lambasted by the media and a number of reputable bloggers for releasing a convicted terrorist on compassionate grounds. It was repeated that because justice is a reserved issue, it was those wretched Scots who made the decision by themselves, and are to blame for drawing so much opprobrium on the British isles. Hell, even those fine unionists at ConservativeHome suggested that because it was our tinpot council that took such a reckless decision, any boycott should target Scotland and avoid inflicting any pain on our brothers dan saf. News from this week has surely turned the tables on Westminster.

Just a week after Tom Harris stated that al Megrahi’s release could not have been part of a trade deal, Jack Straw has acknowledged that trade was part of the deal to include the latter in the prisoner transfer agreement. Robert Black has some interesting thoughts on this latest development, a blog well worth reading on all matters Lockerbie. I guess the name of the blog gives it away. Bill Cameron also takes Gordon Brown to task for his role in the unfolding debacle whilst Guido is all over this story.

… And in other news… (Kinda’)

The ‘i’ word was again back in vogue, not too surprising given the amount of furor surrounding Lockerbie. Just a couple of weeks ago Michael Forsyth advised David Cameron to hold a referendum on independence in order to nip the movement “in the bud”. Mike Small notes that “…conventional wisdom is that the Megrahi case has sent independence off-track, shattering confidence in self-determination just as the banking collapse was supposed to. This didn’t happen and next year’s referendum might just confirm the inevitable.” I think he’s most certainly got a point here. On the other hand, isn’t talk of a referendum just “free politicking” for Alex Salmond? And should the First Minister be allowed to participate in a leaders debate before the next general election? Andrew Reeves thinks not. Scottish Unionist has a little giggle at the SNP’s candidate for Glasgow North East who has appeared to change his position on the decision to release al Megrahi.

Now to a different subject all together: booze. Stephen and Gary Marshall both appear to have a bone to pick with the SNP over their new licencing laws. Count yourself luck – in Minnesota we can’t even buy booze on a Sunday!

Cllr Debra Storr blogs about her decision to reject “planning permission for Trump to extend the resort to include 5 new areas.” Stephen also chips in with his three cents. Is that the Local Hero guitar riff I hear?

Stephen has some thoughts on Nigel Farage’s decision to run against John Bercow MP, who was only just elected speaker of the House in June. Jeff asks if we are witnessing the end of newspapers, Julie McAnulty discusses big pharma, and Tom Harris defends Eric Joyce against claims of hypocrisy.

… And that’s all folks…

Have a fine Sunday. I’m going to make the best of my Labo(u)r Day weekend and brace myself for hell breaking loose this week.

And so we finish week three of ‘expenses-gate’ with still no sign that the public furor is even close to abating. In fact, given that the Daily Telegraph’s Benedict Brogan admitted that his paper has only scanned over a third of MPs expenses, we may just be getting started.

However, us talented bloggers don’t need the greatest political scandal in decades to find interesting and worthy issues to write about.

As Scotland mourns the defeat of our greatest Internet phenomenon since John Logie Baird invented fibre-optics, Tory Bear has a little guffaw at the wretched secessionist behind Advanced Media Watch as he “hyped himself into a frenzy about how fantastic” Britain’s Got Talent could united the UK. Tory Bear suspects that the end of BGT will signal the return of “the petty racism and romanticised, farcical, deluded nationalist dream.” In Boyle we trust. Another spectator was Tom Harris, who felt the best performer won.

Jack Deighton discussed the prospect of electoral reform, notably the myth that first past the post returns a strong government. Deighton flips the argument on its head asking whether a strong government is actually desirable. I think he has a point. Truman’s “weak” ‘Do-Nothing Congress’ accomplished a number of feats. However, yours truly is still to be convinced by the merits of PR, especially those arguments emanating from Nick Clegg. Political Dissuasion simply “shan’t be voting” at all in the next general election, whilst A Place To Stand has a number of questions about electoral reform.

Bid For Freedom dissected the subject of gender prejudice in politics – a subject that hit the headlines with Margaret Moran’s parting shot earlier this week. Subrosa discussed the NHS and red tape, notably her dreadful experience of NHS Direct. Yapping Yousuf was a little perplexed by the media reaction to David Cameron’s “radical” proposals on constitutional change. Stumbling and Mumbling also heard Cameron’s speech, notably his call for fewer MPs. Yuosuf also refers to Clegg’s statement that MPs shouldn’t be allowed a holiday until they sort out the expenses fiasco, a subject also raised by Stephen’s Linlithgow Journal. Let them go I say – have they not done enough damage as it is?

Kezia does a bit of digging and finds that Kenny MacAskill called for Cathy Jamieson to resign in 2006 after prisoners escaped from Reliance security vans. Unfortunately, MacAskill now finds himself of being in a somewhat unenviable position of witnessing another serious criminal escaping. By his very own definition, shouldn’t MacAskill now resign? Malc In the Burgh enjoys Msr. MacAskill’s hypocracy. However, Jeff calls on the opposition to “learn that you can’t just flounce around trying to get opposing individuals sent off, you have to actually string a few passes together once in a while if you are going to get ahead in this game.”

Meanwhile, Ideas of Civilisation criticises the media handling of a story regarding the tragic death of an army cadet, accusing the Daily Record of exploiting the family’s grief.

… but yes, there is still the subject of MPs expenses. Angus Nicolson criticises the 15 MSPs who claimed Remembrance Day wreaths on expenses, whereas Bill Cameron highlights the fact that Labour MP Bill Cook has gone a step further – expensing five bucks for a church donation at a war memorial service. The mind boggles. Flying Rodent has a humorous, succinct summary of each political faction and their stance on the expenses scandal. SNP Tactical Voting calls on Robin Cook’s successor, Jim Devine, to be de-selected for some of his questionable expenses, whilst yours truly asks Harriet Harman how she can defend her colleagues larges for being within the rules when she was all set to tear up Sir Fred Goodwin’s pension that was also perfectly legal. The “court of public opinion” ain’t so fun when you’re on the receiving end, is it Hatty? Mr Eugenides dissects the Independent’s Steve Richards after he accused libertarians of taking pleasure from the expenses scandal because they “hate politics.” Hate politics? No, answers Mr Eugenides, we “just hate politicians.”

And on that note, I bid you all farewell from these shores as I prepare to set up shop across the pond. However, just like Lord Foulkes in the House of Lords, I will of course be more than happy to continue to make the odd contribution.

How things change.

One day you are being praised for having a unique understanding of business, the next you are responsible for a collapsed banking system, when all this time you had been squandering the assets of a once proud institution. As if you couldn’t earn enough disdain from the general public, you also get to keep a lucrative pension despite your plethora of failures.

Yes, Mr Brown, you have a lot to answer for.

But this week it was revealed that Sir Fred ‘The Shred’ Goodwin would also be reaping the rewards for similar failures – an annual pension of £650,000. Although the former chief executive of RBS is likely to be safe from the group carrying pitch forks and torches outside Chateau de Shred, it has been been pointed out by some politicians – somewhat ominously – that this should net spring chicken Sir Fred around £16m over his lifetime, twice as much as he would have been entitled to had RBS gone bankrupt. Not too unsurprisingly the Prime Minister has threatened legal action to “claw back” whatever Sir Fred found at the end of the rainbow. Be warned. Mr Brown knows a thing or two about “clawing back” pensions.

SNP Tactical Voting noted that the news was “detracting from the overall concern of how to safeguard jobs, stabilise the UK economy and get RBS back on its feet” before calling on people to “keep things in perspective… the pension is £650k and the insurance plan is £325bn.” Bill Cameron guffawed at Harriet Harman’s vacuous claim on the Andrew Marr Show that Sir Fred “should not count on” keeping his pension because “we rule in the court of public opinion.” Rule of law? Courts? Pah! Ideas of Civilisation merely highlighted the, er, “shock” at the news that Sir Fred wouldn’t be giving up his pension. In addition Stumbling and Mumbling claims that Sir Fred’s pension is another “failure of New Labour ideology”. Yours truly found himself in the slightly unenviable position of being on Sir Fred’s side. Guido thought it was a little too convenient that the details of Sir Fred’s pension should be leaked on the same day the government took a £300bn punt on RBS. What next? Lord Fred of Shredshire in the cabinet?

Meanwhile, Iain Dale and the Devil were involved in a mini fracas over the matter with the former later admitting to allowing his “heart to overcome his head.” Aye We Can, who went to school with Sir Fred, wonders whether he will have a Profumo-style revelation and “use a personal disaster to tun his life around, serving the poor rather than living off the backs of them.”

Scottish robber barons… They just don’t make them like they used to.

In other news, Cllr Fraser Macpherson referred to a couple of “climbdowns” by the SNP, notably plans for an independence referendum over a lack of support. Interestingly only this week Angus MacNeil MP was highlighting that support for Scottish independence was “rising.” Stephen’s Linlithgow Journal, SNP Tactical Voting and Two Doctors had excellent blogs on the questions that continue to surround constitutional issues, with the latter looking at how the Liberal Democrats could shape them. Perhaps my other favourite from this week was Lallands Peat Worrier who was calling for a Scottish Criminal Code.

Again, returning to the SNP, Bernie Salmon “does the math” that the First Minister appears to have failed to do, whilst Scottish Unionist cringes at the latest NatConspiracy. SNP Tactical Voting discusses how the SNP have to convince people to vote for them at Westminster when, after all, they can’t form a government.

Another story that seized the headlines was the news of Ivan Cameron’s tragic death. A number of bloggers questioned the decision to replace Prime Minister’s Question Time with a number of tributes, although personally, after watching the packed House at 12 on Wednesday, it became pretty clear that very few MPs were “up for” business as usual. Subrosa expressed her condolences to the Cameron family before referring to the four brave sons who died in Afghanistan.

Turning to Northern Ireland now, North to Leith noted the creation of the new Conservative-UUP ticket: Ulster Conservative and Unions – New Force. Like many of us I’m sure, North to Leith questions whether it was a savvy PR move to have another ‘Force’ in Northern Irish politics.

From PR to retail politics, Kezia questions the nay sayers (are you listening Mr Bruni?) by pointing out that Labour’s VAT cut has actually helped stimulate retail sales by putting £12.4bn “back into the pockets of all tax payers.” And here was me thinking the surprise rise was down to competition, falling prices, and closing down sales. Kezia also reported on the crazy story surrounding BBC Children’s presenter Cerrie Burnell, who has apparently drawn the ire of many parents who claim that she is “scaring their children” because she only has one fully functioning lower arm and hand. Kezia criticises the BBC for giving so much air time to the complainants, a point I hope we can all agree with.

Finally, another favourite was Malc in the Burgh’s blog about the banana republic that’s struggling with the ground work for a new tram system. Sorry, what’s that…? A Place To Stand criticises the MSM for failing to provide enough scrutiny and expertise for a project that appears to be slowly descending into a farce.

Mr Eugenides, er, laments that appointment of Henry McLeish to act as Chairman of the SFA’s Scottish Football Review Committee. Sticking with fitba’ J. Arthur MacNumpty floats a few of his bright ideas “to take Scottish football forward.” Not one of the recommendations includes a role for Mr McLeish. Just keep Alex Miller and Steve Paterson away.

Meanwhile, Tom Harris refers to Jack Straw’s statement earlier this week adding that civil liberties “are safe with Labour”. Mr Eugenides is not so sure and has a bone to pick with the Justice Secretary.

That’s that folks. I leave you in the tender care of Will Patterson. Blog suggestions are welcome – I’m sure he’ll do a great job of keeping any details/suggestions private.  So… get those nominations in by emailing us at scottishroundup@gmail.com or by using the form on the right.

Anyhoo, I’m off to call the White House and tell President Obama to stop staring at that ping pong match whenever he makes a speech…

Bon Weekend!

Good morning all, and welcome to Ewan Watt’s first ever Roundup.

I thought I’d start out today by congratulating those who finished in the Total Politics top 40 Scottish blogs, including the Roundup which lurked in a very impressive 31. No doubt Scottish blogs will have a strong showing in the UK top 100. Some fantastic entries… although no glaringly obvious omissions…

Although the Glenrothes by-election is looking more and more likely to be delayed until November, the race to succeed the late John McDougall still lingered in the headlines this week, notably Labour’s failure to get a candidate. In addition, Gordon Brown has allegedly “stepped in to help mastermind Labour’s bid to beat the odds and win the Glenrothes by-election.”

Mr Eugenides has already suggested that the First Minister should be breaking out the champagne. SNP Tactical Voting claims that the by-election is set to take place on either October 30th or November 6th. Furthermore, in a story close to home, Tactical Voting claims that there’s a strong rumour that Lindsey Roy CBE could be Labour’s candidate for Glenrothes, yours truly’s former Headmaster at Inverkeithing!

There’s also an interesting post here on SNP Tactical Voting about the potential role for bloggers in the forthcoming election. Stephen’s Linlightgow Journal notes that the Labour Party are already calling Glenrothes “hostile territory” and are preparing activists for the proverbial “run not a sprint”.

Next up we venture – rather than Zoom – across the pond and look at John McCain’s (he claims to be a distant relative of King Robert the Bruce y’know) running mate, Governor Sarah Palin. Due to the blanket media coverage I can’t remember what happened the night before McCain’s pick, but I’m sure some of us do. Shattered ceilings or walking on broken glass?

Yours truly thought it to be a fantastic pick, although deeply regretting the fact that I didn’t take a punt on Palin after I was told this two months ago by a McCain backer in Washington. The Debatable Land is waaaay ahead of the rest of us and is already looking at a Palin Vs Clinton match up in 2012, adding that it’s not “beyond the bounds of comprehension to anything like the extent it might have been just four years ago.” Pitty for the guy I know who owns Petraeus2012.com!

Playing Devil’s Advocate is Caron’s Musings who admits having no idea “what was in John McCain’s mind when he picked her to be his running mate, or why on earth she accepted”. Walk 500 Miles for Scotland is for Barack Obama and admits that another four to eight years of Republicanism will be hard to take.

Time will tell.

Closer to home, the Scottish Liberal Democrats selected Shetlander Tavish Scott to replace Nicol Stephen as their leader. J. Arthur MacNumpty is deeply sceptical about whether Scott can get the Lib Dems out of their present “mess”, adding that the member from Shetland will merely offer nothing more than a “visceral hatred” of the SNP.

Anthony Barnett goes a little further, asking if the selection of Scott is a clear example of the Lib Dems voting “for the hole into which they are digging.” Over at the Sound of Gunfire, apologies are offered to Mike Rumbles after Bernard Salmon confesses to regularly jinx Lib Dem leadership candidates.

Two Doctors takes Scott to task over his oscillating stance on an independence referendum and offers up the option of a “multi-option referendum”, an option that has not endeared the new Liberal leader. Richard Thomson congratulates Scott for receiving “a stonking” 59% of the votes cast, and after some complex arithmetic points out that his party must have a membership of 4,029.

The Scottish Government were taken to task for allegedly failing to fulfill its election promise to put 1,000 extra police on Scotland’s streets. Stephen’s Linlithgow Journal highlights the fact that the SNP have failed in this election pledge because they pledged 1,000 more police rather than 1,000 more recruits by 2011. Scottish Unionist grapples with the SNP’s spin machine revealing that the Scottish Government has overseen a net gain of 74 police officers and not the 150 as initial claimed. Mr Smith Goes to Holyrood asks why the SNP made such an election commitment if they had no chance of achieving it in the first place.

After a cracking medal tally in Beijing, Team GB returned to Blighty. Alongside their heroes welcome, Team GB encountered political bickering about whether Scotland should have its own team at the Olympics. Tom Griffin points out that acting Scottish Labour leader Cathy Jamieson has already distanced herself from Gordon Brown’s calls for a British football team to compete in 2012, suggesting that the home nations should compete against each other in a tournament with the victors going on to represent Team GB. Then, as Bill Cameron pointed out, Scottish – or British – Olympic hero Chris Hoy became the political football for allegedly poo-pooing the idea that Scotland should seceed from Team GB.

Richard Thomson claims that Hoy said no such thing. Scottish Unionist claims that this year’s Olympics were the “most political I can recall”, while at Ideas of Civilisation serious questions about a Scottish Olympic team are raised, in addition to the question that perhaps even the “SNP can be too Scottish.”

Meanwhile, Mr Eugenides went Union Jack hunting as the Scottish members of Team GB took part in an open top bus on the Royal Mile. His sociological experiment found one UJ. Otan2 scoffs at the BBC for calling “the shipping forecast, Jerusalem, Greensleeves and harmonies based on the chimes of Big Ben” British. Bill Cameron just enjoyed Boris Johnson’s “bravura performance”.

The Ben Lomond Free Press is shocked, disgusted and surprised at the World Health Organisation’s report about health inequalities in Britain, notably the fact that a male in Calton will live 28 years less than someone living fifteen miles away in Lenzie. Meanwhile, the Duke of Sutherland is offering the nation two of his paintings for £100m.

Bernard Salmon looked at the “kerfuffle” over the Duke of Sutherland’s offer, noting that he would be “quite happy” for the taxpayer to purchase such an important piece of culture that’s actually worth £300m if necessary to keep them here.

The Daily Rabble finds the SNP’s attack against the Calman Commission “annoying”, while Clairwil looks at racism in the workplace.

The Cumbernauld Comrade celebrates the fact that according to a team of researchers at the universities of Manchester and Sheffield, his home town is the fourth most cheerful place in Britain.

Havering Havers looks at the collapse of Zoom Airlines, notably the SNP’s excuse that the Government should be using its energy windfall to help the Scottish economy.

Malc In the Burgh was perplexed as to who would be firing questions at the First Minister from Labour’s side of the aisle, while Angry Steve believes that Edinburgh is a “great place to live”, irrespective of the research that had so pleased Cumbernauld Comrade.

Mushkush ridicules the war on drugs and calls on Scotland to buy opium from Afghanistan and emulate the Swiss by producing legal heroin. SNP Watch claims that the ‘modern’ Conservative Party are still the same old Tories.

Finally, Ideas of Civilisation analysed the falling standards of game shows and how this reflects on society at large.

Thank you all, that’s that for next week. I leave you in the more able hands of Will Patterson next week, so do get your nominations in by emailing scottishround@gmail.com.