Sunday in Polish

There are many things I do as a politician which I really enjoy and Yesterday was another one. It was Polish Navy Day and as well as laying a wreath along with the Commodore of the Royal Navy and representatives of the Polish Navy and many others at Dalbeth Cemetery in Glasgow. I also had the honour of doing a Reading at Mass at Saint Simon's with Father Marian Lekawa saying Mass. The remarkable thing was that most of it was in Polish. What was more interesting was that it isn't just on specific Polish days that the mass is in Polish but it is a regular occurrence. I had heard that Glasgow now had some masses in Polish but it was fascinating to experience it personally. It is another sign of how Glasgow continues to change with the times.

He apologised. She didn't

I have just finished being on the Lesley Riddoch BBC phone in and aswell as all the issues of the day she first wanted to know what I thought of Jeremy Clarkson's comments about Gordon Brown. My view is that it was foolish and reflected badly on him. It is just not acceptable to attack someone for having a disability. Most people don't realise that the PM has suffered for most of his life with the consequences of a rugby injury. But Mr Clarkson did and chose to utter an insult about it. Its foolish and narrow minded. I was asked should the BBC throw him off air? My response was that the BBC had to make those decisions but he had to make the obvious decision to apologise. He now has. But it will take a long time for many people to forgive him. I was also asked about how the BBC had thrown Carol Thatcher off air due to her comments earlier in the week. Quite simply what she said was racist and she hasn't apologised. It doesn't matter that you are the daughter of a former Prime Minister you can't be openly racist in that way and not expect there to be consequences.

Clarkson apologises for PM remark

Jeremy Clarkson also accused the prime minister of lying to the public Clarkson's comments Top Gear presenter Jeremy Clarkson has said he is sorry for calling Gordon Brown a "one-eyed Scottish idiot". He said: "In the heat of the moment I made a remark about the Prime Minister's personal appearance for which, upon refection, I apologise." The broadcaster made the comments to journalists in Sydney when he was speaking about the economic crisis. The BBC said it noted Clarkson's apology for the comments and would be taking no further action. Public figures have reacted angrily to the presenter's remarks, with Labour MP Gordon Banks saying what Clarkson said was "unforgivable". Number 10 would only say that Clarkson "is entitled to his own interpretation of the economic circumstances". The spokesperson declined to comment on the specific insult about Mr Brown, who lost the sight in one eye after an accident as a teenager. 'Unacceptable' But the Royal National Institute for Blind People called the comment was offensive. "Any suggestion that equates disability with incompetence is totally unacceptable" said chief executive Lesley-Anne Alexander Scottish Labour leader Iain Gray joined in the criticism. "Such a comment is really a reflection on Jeremy Clarkson and speaks for itself," he said. "Most people here are proud that the prime minister is a Scot and believe him to be the right person to get the UK through this global economic crisis." Clarkson is in Australia to host Top Gear Live, a stage version of the hit BBC show. Such a comment is really a reflection on Jeremy Clarkson Iain Gray Scottish Labour leader The controversial presenter compared Mr Brown to Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd, shortly after Mr Rudd had addressed the country on the severity of the global financial crisis. Clarkson said: "He [Rudd] genuinely looked terrified. The poor man, he's actually seen the books. "[In the UK] we've got this one-eyed Scottish idiot. "He keeps telling us everything's fine and he's saved the world and we know he's lying, but he's smooth at telling us." In November, more than 1,800 people complained to the BBC after Clarkson made a joke on Top Gear about lorry drivers killing sex workers. The joke followed the conviction of forklift truck driver Steve Wright for the murders of five prostitutes in Ipswich. Some 340 people also complained to regulator Ofcom, but it later ruled the joke did not breach the broadcasting code.

This is better

Two days, two posts about Obama, don't worry I wont doa third tomorrow. But many of today's papers are full of stories about my old boss Tony Blair meeting the new President. Most of the coverage was poor but Michael Whyte gets it about right. A good mix of informed fact and cynicism.
Read it yourself and make your own mind up.

Blair and Obama: Tony walks on water again

It's easier to Campaign than Govern

Barack Obama ran a brilliant campaign and will be a great President. But he is finding out what everyone who wins an election realises pretty quickly. It is easier to run an election than run a country. He has started really very well but the unique US process of having your Cabinet confirmed by the Senate throws up challenges and it has created real problems for his team as some have had to stand down. There are very many considered pieces of analysis about this in the US media but this from the Economist is worth reading if you are interested in US politics.

The importance of being sinless

Feb 4th 2009 | NEW YORK
From Economist.com

To lose a cabinet appointee may be regarded as a misfortune. To lose two looks like carelessness

 

 

WHEN his transition began, Barack Obama was praised both for the smoothness of his moves and the high-powered people he had brought to unglamorous jobs. No longer. On Tuesday February 3rd Tom Daschle became the second would-be member of Mr Obama’s cabinet to step down over past sins. On the same day Nancy Killefer, who had been nominated as a “performance tsar” charged with scouring government programmes for waste, stepped aside too. Yet a third mini-scandal, over unpaid taxes, did not stop Timothy Geithner from being confirmed as treasury secretary last week.

As a senator Mr Obama championed ethics legislation, and as a candidate he promised a clean White House. One of his first acts was to sign an executive order forbidding people from leaving the administration to join the private sector and turn around to lobby their former colleagues. Good-government types cheered, although Mr Obama has since appointed a former lobbyist from Raytheon, William Lynn, to a post in the Pentagon.

Even before his inauguration Mr Obama saw a first candidate fall because of scandal. Bill Richardson, a former presidential contender himself, was nominated for commerce secretary. But the governor of New Mexico was named in an influence-peddling investigation. He maintained his innocence but bowed out to avoid embarrassing Mr Obama. This week Mr Obama nominated Judd Gregg, a Republican senator from New Hampshire, to become commerce secretary instead. The choice of a moderate Republican was hailed as another canny, bipartisan move.

But the same week has brought the withdrawal of Mr Daschle and Ms Killefer. Mr Daschle, a former Democratic leader in the Senate, was to be secretary of health and human services and the leader of Mr Obama’s efforts to pass a big reform of health care. However it emerged that he had taken the services of a round-the-clock driver and a limousine, an expensive perk for which he never paid taxes, after leaving the Senate in 2005. He also failed to report over $80,000 in consulting income on which he also owed taxes. On Monday Mr Obama “absolutely” continued to back Mr Daschle. On Tuesday morning many still thought he would be confirmed until a joint statement from the president and Mr Daschle announced that he would step down. Later in the day Mr Obama admitted that he had “screwed up” in his handling of the affair.

Mr Obama’s frankness is welcome. But the scandal is an embarrassment in part because Mr Daschle is a former “man of the people” campaigner, who had made so much since leaving office that he could mislay six figures in taxes. A similar irony beset the stepping aside of Ms Killefer. A former partner at McKinsey, a big consultancy, she was to be given the task of going through the budget line-by-line, scouring for waste. In the end she stumbled over another tax peccadillo that has haunted many politicians: failure to pay taxes for a nanny and a chauffeur. Saying she did not want to be a distraction, she too stepped aside on Tuesday.

Mr Obama has let one former tax-avoider through: Tim Geithner, the new treasury secretary, who failed to pay self-employment taxes when he was a consultant for the International Monetary Fund. (Foes of America’s absurdly complicated tax code were delighted to note that even a reputedly brilliant economic mind failed to comply with it.) But with the financial and economic crisis raging, Mr Geithner appeared simply too important to lose. He was confirmed last week.

Republicans, who were tainted by corruption before their loss of Congress in 2006, are enjoying the Democratic stumbles. Mr Obama will claim that the departures of Messrs Daschle and Richardson and Ms Killefer prove that he really is holding his government to a higher standard. And although Mr Obama, two weeks into his presidency, retains a clean image and high approval ratings some doubts are being raised over the competence of those who screened candidates for the top jobs. Mr Obama’s challenges are enormous, not least in pushing through reform of health care. As the shine comes off his halo the real work of governing will grow harder.

An unexpected day in Scotland

This is why we have 2 Cats

I was struck by this news story about a cat making going missing and making it's way to Millport. A less dramatic version of this is why we have 2 cats. Two years ago our Gini that we have had for 14 years simply disappeared. We searched everywhere for her but after weeks assumed the worst. A couple of months later we decide to get a new cat and went to the RSPCA place in Cardonald and our new cat Pippin came home with us.
and you've guessed it. About 5 months after Gini had gone missing and Pippin had settled in we got a call to say a cat with our name on its collar was scavenging for food. We were delighted but surprised. A much thinner Gini came home. Unfortunately both cats think the other an intruder and fight  nearly every day.

Cat home after two year 'holiday'

Ozzie was reunited with his owners through his microchip identification A cat has been reunited with its owners in East Dunbartonshire after being found on a Scottish island - two years after it vanished. Karen Ratcliffe bought Bengal tabby, Ozzie, and his sister, Ellie, for her children. They put up laminated posters after Ozzie went missing from the family home in Bearsden in 2007. He was found in Millport, Isle of Cumbrae. Cats Protection staff later identified Ozzie from a microchip. Mrs Ratcliffe said that when Ozzie initially left the house the family was not unduly worried. But this changed when he had not returned several days later. She said: "We started getting worried and phoned the local vets and police. When we found out it was Ozzie we were delighted. My daughter Hannah was weeping with happiness, she was absolutely delirious Karen Ratcliffe "We walked round local streets to see if he had been run over and my children also laminated a photo and put it on lampposts." Mrs Ratcliffe said her children were very upset when Ozzie could not be found. As recently as this Christmas they had wondered what had happened to him. Then, out of the blue, they received a call to say that Ozzie had been found scavenging for food in Millport by a woman. "Apparently he had been terrorising her cat and she got a bit upset by this and contacted the North Ayrshire branch of Cats Protection," Mrs Ratcliffe said. Mrs Ratcliffe said Ozzie had made himself at home again "They picked him up from Millport, brought him across the water, scanned him and found that he was a Bearsden cat belonging to us called Ozzie. "I then got a call on Friday asking if I had lost a cat but I said that was eons ago. "When we found out it was Ozzie we were delighted. My daughter Hannah was weeping with happiness, she was absolutely delirious. "Now we have him back he's exactly the same. He's really affectionate and he's very big. He's obviously been fed by people who have looked after him." Mrs Ratcliffe said she had no idea how Ozzie managed to get away from Bearsden, never mind make it across the water to Millport.

An athlete or a friendly horse

Barack Obama has been voted the sexiest politician on earth. Its hardly a surprise. I think he would win any contest at the moment - even those he doesn't enter.
So step forward the Scottish Sun and a bit of fun with their follow up poll of Scottish politicians in today's paper.
Sandi says of yours truly "Looks like he should be an athlete. He has a nice smile" and rates this MP 5 out of 10. Lisa Marie says "Looks like a friendly horse. Why the long face? But I might be tempted to try to cheer him up." and marks your MP as 6 from 10 for a total score of 11 from 20.
I'm not surprised that I am on not on the same stratosphere as Barack Obama but my wife was a bit annnoyed by the fact that I am only 3 points ahead of First Minister Alex Salmond!

A Special hour with Michael Foot

Tonight I attended the weekly meeting of the Parliamentary Labour Party which all Labour MPs can attend.
Usually it is a Cabinet Minister who speaks and is open to question.
But tonight was a special occasion.
The speakers were former Labour leader Michael Foot and Veteran pensioner’s campaigner Jack Jones. Neil Kinnock was there and spoke. The Prime Minister spoke and a message was also read from Tony Blair. Margaret Becket was also there (remember she was Labour Leader for a short time as an interim measure after the death of John Smith)

It was a tribute event to Jack and Michael. They are both thoroughly decent men of greatest principle.
We were reminded that the combined age of our three visitors (Neil, Michael and Jack) is 258.
Jack Jones is a hero as a veteran of the socialist international Brigades during the Spanish civil war. He volunteered to fight against the Fascist government in Spain . He is now a brilliant campaigner for pensioners today.
Michael Foot is a man of great principle and helped keep the Labour government of 1974 to 1979 going but was beaten of course by Mrs Thatcher in 1983. Michael Foot was parodied for wearing a donkey jacket and for being old fashioned but his decency is timeless. It was great to see him tonight. Neil Kinnock said that without him there may not have been a Labour Party anymore. Michael Foot first stood for Parliament in 1935 and was elected in 1945. I remember reading his speech of 1979 in the House of Commons in the “no confidence” debate in the Labour government. He won the argument but not the vote. He couldn't persuade the SNP MPs - all of whom voted with the Tories and brought in 18 years of Tory rule. This must have been heartbreaking for Michael who spoke tonight again about his pride in his Scottish roots. All in all a special hour of politics. I wish the readers of the blog could have seen it for themselves.

BBC - Show the Appeal

The BBC should and does make its own decisions. It should always be independent in every decision it takes.
But some people have emailed me to ask my view on whether the BBC should air the Gaza emergency appeal. So here it is.
I think the BBC should show this humanitarian appeal. I think it would be a chance for many British people to make a donation to help make a difference. The British government has increased our donations to Gaza to help overcome this humanitarian appeal. That's my view but it must always be for the BBC to decide what to do. I won’t say anything more in public on this as it is up to the BBC.
But what is clear is that Gaza has to be rebuilt. Tragically Hamas are in charge there and it’s hard to see how an organisation that fires thousands of missiles into Israel can be the type of people that can be trusted with the stability and peace in the Middle East which ultimately must include a secure Israel and a democratic Palestine.

Five big speeches

I was prepared to watch President Obama's inauguration speech while doing some paperwork. Just as the then President -Elect stood to speak a vote in the House of Commons was called. So I missed most of it but I ran from the Scotland Office in Whitehall to vote in the Commons in record time because there was almost no traffic as clearly almost everyone else seemed to in front of the TV. I caught up with the speech after the vote from the tearoom in the HOuse of Commons. The tearoom is a quiet room where the TV is never turned on or if it is it is always on mute. BUt perhaps for only the second time (the other being Tony Blair leaving office and Gordon Brown arriving in office) the TV was turned up to full volume and Labour MPs were crowded round watching. It was a great speech which will be regarded so by all historians.
But it is not the first historic US political speech. You may have your own favourite but I have picked my own six and linked below onto the Youtube page. As usual even though I link onto the Youtube page the comments there are obviously nothing to do with me.

JFK Inauguration Speech

JFK Speech on putting a man on the moon

Martin Luther King “I have a Dream” speech

Evil Empire Speech by Ronald Reagan

Richard Nixon resignation speech

Bill Clinton Inauguration