Political Spin

Prime Minister Gordon Brown and Tory leader David Cameron have apologised after claims they used an Armistice Day service as a photo opportunity. Officials at Westminster Abbey raised concerns that the leaders had failed to notify senior staff they were to be pictured in its Field of Remembrance.

Mr Cameron's photographer pictured him inspecting tributes on crosses. Mr Brown was also filmed there. Mr Cameron said: "It shouldn't have happened... I want to make that clear."

From the BBC News Website

Doesn't this just sum up our politicians today? Spin, spin and more spin. It wasn't enough for Messrs. Brown and Cameron to pay their respects in a dignified, unobtrusive manner. They just had to ensure someone was there to record them doing so.

'New' Labour has been spinning like a Catherine Wheel for more than fifteen years now. When Tony Blair was Prime Minister he was the perfect front for Labour lies and conning the British public into thinking the country was great again. Nice Tony, smiling Tony, caring Tony - how could anyone disagree with him? Until the weapons of mass destruction fiasco and losing soldiers lives unnecessarily in Iraq and Afghanistan showed his true colours...

The Tory Party are no better. David Cameron comes across as a smug, know-it-all politician who is desperate to show he's the new, improved Tony Blair. The prospect of the Conservatives getting back into power again is a truly frightening one, particularly for Scotland. Few Scots will ever forget how Margaret Thatcher - who was shaking the hand of Gordon Brown outside Number Ten Downing Street the other day - tried and damn near succeeded in destroying our country. Something Cameron should think about next time he thinks it's a smart move to head for Glasgow to campaign for his party in a by-election (will he be in Glasgow for the general election a few months from now? Probably not...)

What a pity Jim Hacker isn't still around. The fictional MP and Prime Minister from the BBC comedy Yes Prime Minister, along with his civil servant Sir Humphrey Appleby, probably knew more about politics than Brown and Cameron put together...

Yes Minister...

Harriet Harman has said reports that she and other senior colleagues are positioning themselves for a future leadership battle are unfounded. The deputy Labour leader said she was "loyal" to Gordon Brown and there was not a "shred of truth" in reports she was already planning for the future.

She told the BBC's Andrew Marr show that there was "not a shred nor iota of truth" about such claims. "I am very proud to be Gordon Brown's loyal deputy and that is what I am," she said.

From the BBC News Website

For those who remember that excellent political satire Yes Minister and its sequel Yes Prime Minister from a few years ago, Harriet Harman's comments could well have been penned by Sir Humphrey Appleby.

Ludovic Kennedy: "Given the timing of your speech are you interested in challenging for the PM's job?"

Jim Hacker: I have no ambitions to become Prime Minister.

Kennedy: So you are interested!

I have learned over the years never to trust what politicians say, particularly since 'New Labour' came to power. After years of Thatcherism and Conservative policies intent on destroying communities throughout Scotland, we've had more than a decade of spin, spin and more spin from what used to be the party of the working class. If Prime Minister Gordon Brown, Harriet Harman or any other politician says today is Sunday I'll immediately check to see what day it really is.

I don't really care who leads the Labour Party or who will or will not be Prime Minister. I yearn for independence for Scotland and a chance for our nation to prosper, free from the shackles of Westminster and the political machine in London. As another quote from the wonderful Yes Minister illustrates...

Jim Hacker: "This government believes in reducing bureaucracy."

Ludovic Kennedy: "Well, figures that I have here say that your department's staff has risen by 10%."

Jim Hacker: "Certainly not."

Ludovic Kennedy: "Well, what figure do you have?"

Jim Hacker: "I believe the figure is much more like 9.97."

Ludovic Kennedy: "How are you going to meet the challenge in reforming local government?"

Jim Hacker: "It is far to early to give detailed proposals, after all I have just come here direct from Number 10."

Ludovic Kennedy: "From Number 9.97, perhaps?"