SOME Scottish Government ministerial banter on the stage yesterday. Like watching a Twitter conversation played out in real life, Humza Yousaf goaded Richard Lochhead over a football-related bet the Rural Affairs Minister lost. The wager was a fish supper. Lochhead back in his old stomping ground of Aberdeen promised to take him to the Ashvale for an Ashvale Whale. No ordinary supper, this £12.45, 1lb cod behemoth has beaten many men and women in its time. Anyone who finishes a whale gets a special prize. Another whale.
ONE of the more tragic stories was Keith Brown telling of the time he introduced Alex Salmond to his constituency party, as part of the former First Minister’s book tour for The Dream Shall Never Die. Brown pointed out that he served under Salmond for four years but only merited one mention in the book. Salmond asked him if he would have preferred one year as a minister and four mentions? Brown intimated that the one mention was fine.
THE AECC has played to all the big names; Kevin Bridges was here last week, the Prodigy and Simple Minds are coming up soon. It might be difficult for them to top the reaction given to Mhairi Black as she spoke on a resolution condemning the Tory welfare cuts though. You had to feel sorry for Glasgow MSP Bob Doris, who followed her. You could barely hear his speech over the sound of press leaving. That didn’t stop Doris giving it laldy. If there are awards to be handed out here, then the prize for following the hardest act to follow should be his. Maybe he could have Humza Yousaf’s spare whale.
Mhairi Black: Divide and rule tactic lets the Tories deflect attention from their own shortcomings
Fracking moratorium backed by members who reject calls for an outright ban
Victory for Our Land campaign and members as land reform motion is rejected
Jim McColl's Ferguson shipyard wins £97m CalMac ferries deal
John Swinney: Councils will have the power to cut business rates
The National View, October 17: A good day for SNP members as party is made to think again
Why are you making commenting on The National only available to subscribers?
We know there are thousands of National readers who want to debate, argue and go back and forth in the comments section of our stories. We’ve got the most informed readers in Scotland, asking each other the big questions about the future of our country.
Unfortunately, though, these important debates are being spoiled by a vocal minority of trolls who aren’t really interested in the issues, try to derail the conversations, register under fake names, and post vile abuse.
So that’s why we’ve decided to make the ability to comment only available to our paying subscribers. That way, all the trolls who post abuse on our website will have to pay if they want to join the debate – and risk a permanent ban from the account that they subscribe with.
The conversation will go back to what it should be about – people who care passionately about the issues, but disagree constructively on what we should do about them. Let’s get that debate started!
Callum Baird, Editor of The National
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here