Shooting the fox

Billy's party went well - some very droll speeches and the opportunity to connect with many people I haven't seen in a long time. Billy was emotional, to be expected from a man who wears his heart on his sleeve, but plainly appreciated the event. Best speech of the night went to David Pickering ex- Regional councillor, current journalist for the NEN and the best Elvis impersonator I know. He caught Billy's sense of mischief and occasional high wire behaviour exactly: Billy was in trouble for taking a swing at the Group Leader and he asked David to be his representative at the ensuing disciplinary hearing. The decision was to suspend the Whip for a couple of months, effectively to temporarily bar him from the Labour party. Later, both comrades went in search of a pint to reflect on the hearing and its outcome and David suggested the usual watering hole, Jinglin' Geordies. 'Cannae mate,' replied an embarassed Fitzpatrick, 'Ah've been barred from there too!'

Today I have been asked by email whether Jenny Dawe intends to release a Leader's report in
the way that both Donald & Ewan did. I could not answer since there is only silence from the corridors of power except to tell us what they don't like. I know Ewan intends to distribute a 'leader of the opposition' report - at least, people will know the council still exists. In truth, there is currently little reason to travel to the City Chambers: except for meetings with officers to discuss local matters or to catch up on gossip with colleagues there is a strong sense of hiatus. This week I attend the Scrutiny Panel so one may get a sense of action there...we'll see. And then, next week, the final council meeting before the summer break...it could be a long summer.

More interesting is today's report in SoS that the Conservatives may be thinking about supporting an independence referendum though it is clear Annabel Goldie is still resistant. I understand the argument of 'shooting the fox' but I have my doubts about the merit of the strategy. The SNP government is untried, untested: it has been relatively easy for them so far. Opposition has been at sixes and sevens and from what I have read there has always been a large, unspent surplus in Scottish executive budgets which makes current policy largesse simple to achieve. I think I would prefer to test their mettle in difficult, testing situations first. Moving early towards a referendum sends the whole of Scottish politics down a a cul de sac and puts all the other 'real life' stuff completely on the backburner: not to mention what is would do to Gordon Brown's first year as premier. All the big international ambitions for Africa and presumably withdrawal from Iraq completely overshadowed by a wrestling match in his own backyard. How to shrink the vision in one easy move. ..and because the Tories are a spent force in Scotland they can afford to play such politics.