Hi. Sorry the roundup is a bit late and rushed this week. Garry is unable to write this week’s roundup, so you’ve got me again.
Undoubtedly the big talking point among Scottish bloggers this week has been The Scotsman‘s new monthly opinion poll. Anthony Wells points out that these will be the first regular Scottish opinion polls we’ve had for a while and judging by all the comment it’s produced it’s been much-needed.
Supporters of independence are pleased that a majority (just) supports their position. Mark McDonald thinks the unionist parties have been squirming on the issue, and Richard Thomson isn’t impressed either. Labour MP David Cairns said that the poll was actually bad news for the SNP because a majority don’t support them even though they seem to favour independence.
David Farrer thinks he knows the reason why.
Meanwhile, from a conservative point of view, Scottish Political News is in despair at Anabel Goldie. With the Conservatives’ opinion poll rating sitting at just 14%, surely Goldie and the Scottish Conservatives need to be doing more to attract support.
Now some news from last week’s annual Adam Smith Lecture which is held right here in glorious Kirkcaldy. Mervyn King used the opportunity to announce that the new face of the Bank of England £20 note will be Adam Smith himself. Reactionary Snob is glad that the man who has become a symbol of capitalism is to be recognised in such a way.
Of course, support for the move isn’t universal. Gracchi in Reactionary Snob’s comments asks, “Where is Keynes?” Meanwhile, Tony at Cynical Chatter From The Underworld doesn’t like the fact that a Scot will be appearing on a Bank of England banknote.
Shuggy has a post on The Sharpener taking a look at proposals to ban flag burning.
Osama Saeed wants to know when the media is gonnae lay off the Muslim stuff, pointing out some stories in the mainstream media where a Muslim angle has been contrived.
Elsewhere in the media, ITV News has been banned from reporting on war. Or something. Garry isn’t best pleased, even though he isn’t the greatest fan of ITV News (who is a fan of ITV News, to be honest?).
Alastair Campbell was speaking for the Politics Society at Edinburgh University recently. I gave it a miss, but Bookdrunk took a look at what the Student newspaper had to say about it and wasn’t impressed at Campbell’s hypocrisy.
Alister at Perspective found out that Ukip have set up an office in the massively multiplayer online role playing game, Second Life. But Alister points out:
…in cyberspace there are no national boundaries and the defence of ‘Britishness’ ‘imperial measurements’ and the ‘pound sterling’ are a bit meaningless.
The Devil’s Kitchen takes a look at the NUS’ opposition to top-up fees.
OK, well, let’s say that we will pay for doctors, nurses and engineers and all those other useful professions, and we don’t pay for the English Literature, History and History of Art students, shall we? Or don’t you think that’s fair?
(At the risk of straying yet further onto Worstall territory) George Monbiot must be fairly used to being criticised from those on the right, but I don’t think Clairwil can be described as being on the right. Nonetheless, she reckons Monbiot must be clinically insane.
Meanwhile Holyrood Watcher thinks that Nicola Sturgeon might need a few English lessons.
And that’s it for this week! Please remember that we could do with your suggestions every week. We’re always looking to try and discover new Scottish political blogs so get your nominations in at scottishroundup [at] gmail [dot] com. Seeya later!