Referendum: Alexander denies Brown rift SCOTTISH LABOUR leader Wendy Alexander today denied she had tried to bounce the Prime Minister into backing her call for an early referendum on Scottish independence.
The embattled Ms Alexander, who yesterday staged an apparent climbdown, denied misrepresenting his views.
"Where Gordon and I are at one is we want to expose the hollowness of the SNP", she said.
"I have the Prime Minister's support in pursuing whatever tactics are right in the Scottish Parliament.
"This goes to the heart of the devolution settlement."
Interviewed on the Scottish edition of BBC TV's The Politics Show, she denied an irreparable rift had opened between herself and Mr Brown, denied weakening his position, and said she had no plans to quit.
The interview came exactly a week after she set in train a process that convulsed the Labour party north and south of the border by saying she favoured an early referendum, challenged SNP First Minister Alex Salmond to "bring it on."
Mr Brown conspicuously failed to support her publicly, and yesterday she staged what appeared to be a climbdown, saying that as Labour was a minority party in Holyrood lacked the numbers to force the SNP's hand.
Ms Alexander claimed during the week that she had the support of Mr Brown but he today told the Sunday Telegraph he was "not persuaded" of the case for a referendum
And Ms Alexander's brother Douglas, Westminster's international development minister said today he was "not convinced" now was the right time to hold a referendum.
But Ms Alexander argued that the episode had been a tactical success by flushing out the SNP, who have insisted that despite her call they have no intention of bringing forward their plans for a referendum in 2010.
"The big story is we called the SNP's bluff and they blinked," she said.
But rival parties have heaped ridicule on Ms Alexander.
Former Labour MP Brian Wilson said the full facts were not yet known but went on: "To commit to a referendum which ultimately only the UK government can deliver, without checking out what the UK government thinks when it is of the same party - I think carelessness would be an understatement."
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Posted by: Jim P, Netherlands on 2:18pm Sun 11 May 08
Am I seeing things:
"a tactical success by flushing out the SNP"
Labour in Scoland have just exposed themselves as mere political tacticians when it comes to Scotland. It is clear that they have no vision for Scotland, other that things are to stay the way they are until "Gordon" approves.
My favourite quote: "None of this was approved by Gordon".
VOTE SNP - VOTE FOR SCOTLANDS INDEPENDENCE
.j.
Am I seeing things:
"a tactical success by flushing out the SNP"
Labour in Scoland have just exposed themselves as mere political tacticians when it comes to Scotland. It is clear that they have no vision for Scotland, other that things are to stay the way they are until "Gordon" approves.
My favourite quote: "None of this was approved by Gordon".
VOTE SNP - VOTE FOR SCOTLANDS INDEPENDENCE
.j.
Posted by: Im no really here, but over there on 2:49pm Sun 11 May 08
This Holyrood session will be remembered for some wonderful quotes:
Lord Haw Haw, on the SNP implementing their manifesto policies "Their doing this deliberately".
Wendy, again on the SNP implementing their manifesto policies: "This is another broken promise they have failed to keep".
And now we have "Bring it on!".
And it's only been a year!!
I want to thank Wendy Alexander very sincerely (honestly), for confirming, in the full glare of the public and press of the whole of the UK, what the SNP and it's supporters have been saying for years. The SNP are the [bold]ONLY[/bold] Party that has the [bold]SOLE[/bold] interest of Scotland at heart. When you have elected Scottish Labour Party members saying of their Westminster counterparts [quote]"they don't give a f*** for Scotland, they are only interested in the General Election"[/quote] and when you see the Leader of SLAB being forced into a humiliating statement by her Westminster masters, it confirms everything we have been saying for years.
Tories and LibDems are no different. The only reason Annabel and Nicol are not in the same quandary is they bend over nicely and take it from their masters without a whimper.
She would be far better off standing up and saying "I miscalculated, I made a mistake'. She would earn a **** site more respect than the ludicrous statements such as[quote]"a tactical success by flushing out the SNP"
and
"The big story is we called the SNP's bluff and they blinked"[/quote]
Not a single person outside Wendy's die-hard supporters believe a word of it. I doubt is a single voter in Scotland believes it either.
The SNP is the only Party that does not have to "check in" with London to get permission for what they say and do. The press and officials of the Labour Party have made it abundantly clear that this is the "norm" and what is expected of any Scottish Labour Party leader.
I like the statement in one of today's articles which sums it up nicely:
[quote]The Labour Party in Scotland has shown that it cannot even speak for itself, let alone the people of Scotland.[/quote]
This Holyrood session will be remembered for some wonderful quotes:
Lord Haw Haw, on the SNP implementing their manifesto policies "Their doing this deliberately".
Wendy, again on the SNP implementing their manifesto policies: "This is another broken promise they have failed to keep".
And now we have "Bring it on!".
And it's only been a year!!
I want to thank Wendy Alexander very sincerely (honestly), for confirming, in the full glare of the public and press of the whole of the UK, what the SNP and it's supporters have been saying for years. The SNP are the
ONLY Party that has the
SOLE interest of Scotland at heart. When you have elected Scottish Labour Party members saying of their Westminster counterparts
"they don't give a f*** for Scotland, they are only interested in the General Election"
and when you see the Leader of SLAB being forced into a humiliating statement by her Westminster masters, it confirms everything we have been saying for years.
Tories and LibDems are no different. The only reason Annabel and Nicol are not in the same quandary is they bend over nicely and take it from their masters without a whimper.
She would be far better off standing up and saying "I miscalculated, I made a mistake'. She would earn a **** site more respect than the ludicrous statements such as
"a tactical success by flushing out the SNP"
and
"The big story is we called the SNP's bluff and they blinked"
Not a single person outside Wendy's die-hard supporters believe a word of it. I doubt is a single voter in Scotland believes it either.
The SNP is the only Party that does not have to "check in" with London to get permission for what they say and do. The press and officials of the Labour Party have made it abundantly clear that this is the "norm" and what is expected of any Scottish Labour Party leader.
I like the statement in one of today's articles which sums it up nicely:
The Labour Party in Scotland has shown that it cannot even speak for itself, let alone the people of Scotland.
Posted by: Wallace, Perth on 3:04pm Sun 11 May 08
"Brain the size of a planet" was the propaganda put out by Wee Wendy's supporters. If that were so, then to take this ludicrous claim to its logical conclusion, her brain is Pluto, compared to Alex Salmond's Jupiter sized one!
"Brain the size of a planet" was the propaganda put out by Wee Wendy's supporters. If that were so, then to take this ludicrous claim to its logical conclusion, her brain is Pluto, compared to Alex Salmond's Jupiter sized one!
Posted by: nursebill, dumfries on 3:25pm Sun 11 May 08
Re Brian Wilson's point about the UK Government being the only parliament able to deliver a referendum.Is this true?Is Alex Salmond micturating into the ether when he says there will be a bill in 2010,and from that,a referendum?
What's all the hullaballoo been about then?
Re Brian Wilson's point about the UK Government being the only parliament able to deliver a referendum.Is this true?Is Alex Salmond micturating into the ether when he says there will be a bill in 2010,and from that,a referendum?
What's all the hullaballoo been about then?
Posted by: mairi macleod, broxburn on 3:30pm Sun 11 May 08
for goodness sake,if she had half a brain-cell she'd be dangerous!!even in defeat she makes an a--e of it.>
for goodness sake,if she had half a brain-cell she'd be dangerous!!even in defeat she makes an a--e of it.>
Posted by: Shylock Holmes, 221z Baker Street on 4:32pm Sun 11 May 08
[quote][bold]Wallace[/bold] wrote:
"Brain the size of a planet" was the propaganda put out by Wee Wendy's supporters. If that were so, then to take this ludicrous claim to its logical conclusion, her brain is Pluto, compared to Alex Salmond's Jupiter sized one![/quote] Planet - ach Mars - size of a peanut mair like. Ms Alexander, your heid is up Uranus.
Wallace wrote:
"Brain the size of a planet" was the propaganda put out by Wee Wendy's supporters. If that were so, then to take this ludicrous claim to its logical conclusion, her brain is Pluto, compared to Alex Salmond's Jupiter sized one!
Planet - ach Mars - size of a peanut mair like. Ms Alexander, your heid is up Uranus.
Posted by: Duns Scotus, Berwick on 4:41pm Sun 11 May 08
[quote][bold]nursebill[/bold] wrote:
Re Brian Wilson's point about the UK Government being the only parliament able to deliver a referendum.Is this true?Is Alex Salmond micturating into the ether when he says there will be a bill in 2010,and from that,a referendum? What's all the hullaballoo been about then?[/quote] Holyrood can introduce a referendum worded along the lines of the SNP's draft bill. That is, it seeks the electorate's permission to "negotiate" independence. Westminster can always say "NO".
That of course would be virtually impossible if a sufficient number of Scots who bother to vote gave the SNP that mandate. In my mind that is 50% + 1.
Holyrood cannot propose a YES/NO independence referendum. That is reserved to Westminster who are so confident of winning that they will not have one. Who's a fearty noo?
The Labour stance is now to quibble over the question "No blank cheques Cairns and Alexander are wittering. They know the wording of the question so why pretend they don't?
Meanwhile the SNP gets on with governing Scotland well.
nursebill wrote:
Re Brian Wilson's point about the UK Government being the only parliament able to deliver a referendum.Is this true?Is Alex Salmond micturating into the ether when he says there will be a bill in 2010,and from that,a referendum? What's all the hullaballoo been about then?
Holyrood can introduce a referendum worded along the lines of the SNP's draft bill. That is, it seeks the electorate's permission to "negotiate" independence. Westminster can always say "NO".
That of course would be virtually impossible if a sufficient number of Scots who bother to vote gave the SNP that mandate. In my mind that is 50% + 1.
Holyrood cannot propose a YES/NO independence referendum. That is reserved to Westminster who are so confident of winning that they will not have one. Who's a fearty noo?
The Labour stance is now to quibble over the question "No blank cheques Cairns and Alexander are wittering. They know the wording of the question so why pretend they don't?
Meanwhile the SNP gets on with governing Scotland well.
Posted by: Vivas, Embra on 4:54pm Sun 11 May 08
So the 2 major achievements that Labour can point to this week are as follows
1. SLAB/UKLAB/Toom Tabbard/Wendy are in unanimous agreement ... eh ... that they all hate the SNP.
[bold]DOH ![/bold]
2. Wendy/SLAB have flushed out the SNP's referendum position as being ... eh ... 2010.
[bold]DOH ![/bold]
11 out of 10 Wendy for that absolutely stellar achievement !
Wendy's next media outing ? That bears sh1t in woods ... and the pope declares his catholicism...
So the 2 major achievements that Labour can point to this week are as follows
1. SLAB/UKLAB/Toom Tabbard/Wendy are in unanimous agreement ... eh ... that they all hate the SNP.
DOH !
2. Wendy/SLAB have flushed out the SNP's referendum position as being ... eh ... 2010.
DOH !
11 out of 10 Wendy for that absolutely stellar achievement !
Wendy's next media outing ? That bears sh1t in woods ... and the pope declares his catholicism...
Posted by: Truthseeker, Lanarkshire on 6:00pm Sun 11 May 08
S-bendy Wendy "[italic]was said to have been described as “mad” by her predecessor Jack McConnell ahead of the humiliating climbdown that threatens to bring her party to its knees[/italic] ." (timesonline.co.uk/t
ol/news/uk/scotland/
article3908865.ece)
[bold]Whom the gods would destroy, they first make mad.[/bold] (Euripides:Greek tragic dramatist (484 BC - 406 BC))
S-bendy Wendy "
was said to have been described as “mad” by her predecessor Jack McConnell ahead of the humiliating climbdown that threatens to bring her party to its knees ." (timesonline.co.uk/t
ol/news/uk/scotland/
article3908865.ece)
Whom the gods would destroy, they first make mad. (Euripides:Greek tragic dramatist (484 BC - 406 BC))
Posted by: azg, Glasgow on 6:00pm Sun 11 May 08
[quote]"The big story is we called the SNP's bluff and they blinked," she said.
[/quote]
Um, no.
She really should seek treatment for these delusions.
No, Wendy, only in your wee head is that the story. :) Perhaps best to leave to spend more time with the caterpillars.
"The big story is we called the SNP's bluff and they blinked," she said.
Um, no.
She really should seek treatment for these delusions.
No, Wendy, only in your wee head is that the story. :) Perhaps best to leave to spend more time with the caterpillars.
Posted by: jim mitchell, Sauchie, Clack's on 6:16pm Sun 11 May 08
And to think that she was selected unapposed as Labours leader at Holyrood!
Now [bold]all[/bold] the people of Scotland will be waiting to see what happens with Wendy and her crew the first time the British government brings up something that's against Scotlands interestsand not just us Nat's
And to think that she was selected unapposed as Labours leader at Holyrood!
Now
all the people of Scotland will be waiting to see what happens with Wendy and her crew the first time the British government brings up something that's against Scotlands interestsand not just us Nat's
Posted by: Jimmy the Pie on 7:19pm Sun 11 May 08
Humiliated Red Wendy, now that you've discovered, stealthily, that the SNP are planning a referendum and you have craftily 'flushed' out Eck as the nationalist that he is, what is your next cunning scheme????
Would it not be more like the thing for you to resign, and try and and regain any dignity you might have had at some time in the distant past.
Humiliated Red Wendy, now that you've discovered, stealthily, that the SNP are planning a referendum and you have craftily 'flushed' out Eck as the nationalist that he is, what is your next cunning scheme????
Would it not be more like the thing for you to resign, and try and and regain any dignity you might have had at some time in the distant past.
Posted by: Disgusted Dorothy, Glasgow on 7:20pm Sun 11 May 08
But you have to give her 10 out of 10 for entertainment value!
I've never laughed so much at a politician in my puff!
Watching the wriggles and squirms and wasp chewing on the Politics show was great, particularly since I have taken an all encompassing interest since last May.
It menas that all the twists and turns are etched in my memory and I can regurgitate them at will, and have another laugh at that great brain!
Happily , someone posts them on youtube and should I ever need a prompt ,I can refresh my memory and other peoples too!
But you have to give her 10 out of 10 for entertainment value!
I've never laughed so much at a politician in my puff!
Watching the wriggles and squirms and wasp chewing on the Politics show was great, particularly since I have taken an all encompassing interest since last May.
It menas that all the twists and turns are etched in my memory and I can regurgitate them at will, and have another laugh at that great brain!
Happily , someone posts them on youtube and should I ever need a prompt ,I can refresh my memory and other peoples too!
Posted by: robert, Glasgow on 7:42pm Sun 11 May 08
[quote][bold]Disgusted Dorothy[/bold] wrote:
But you have to give her 10 out of 10 for entertainment value! I\'ve never laughed so much at a politician in my puff! Watching the wriggles and squirms and wasp chewing on the Politics show was great, particularly since I have taken an all encompassing interest since last May. It menas that all the twists and turns are etched in my memory and I can regurgitate them at will, and have another laugh at that great brain! Happily , someone posts them on youtube and should I ever need a prompt ,I can refresh my memory and other peoples too![/quote] Here is Wee bendy as we all know her, talking gibberish..
http://youtube.com/w
atch?v=ekXTjzsyaog
Disgusted Dorothy wrote:
But you have to give her 10 out of 10 for entertainment value! I\'ve never laughed so much at a politician in my puff! Watching the wriggles and squirms and wasp chewing on the Politics show was great, particularly since I have taken an all encompassing interest since last May. It menas that all the twists and turns are etched in my memory and I can regurgitate them at will, and have another laugh at that great brain! Happily , someone posts them on youtube and should I ever need a prompt ,I can refresh my memory and other peoples too!
Here is Wee bendy as we all know her, talking gibberish..
http://youtube.com/w
atch?v=ekXTjzsyaog
Posted by: northern scot, Wick on 8:43pm Sun 11 May 08
Please stop these attacks on poor Wendy, she is doing a great job and must stay as Labour leader. Every time she opens her mouth is another step on the road to freedom
Please stop these attacks on poor Wendy, she is doing a great job and must stay as Labour leader. Every time she opens her mouth is another step on the road to freedom
Posted by: Disgusted Dorothy, Glasgow on 11:02pm Sun 11 May 08
Do any of you read Brians blog?
I think one has been removed ,can anyone tell me if I'm right??
Do any of you read Brians blog?
I think one has been removed ,can anyone tell me if I'm right??
Posted by: Wullie on 10:53pm Sat 17 May 08
Labour will and are self destructing.
They are incapable of contributing to good government.
Snide sour and rancid opposition is all Labour can offer, and the people know it.
Time for change and for a future of open and honest governance.
Labour will and are self destructing.
They are incapable of contributing to good government.
Snide sour and rancid opposition is all Labour can offer, and the people know it.
Time for change and for a future of open and honest governance.
Posted by: Donald Anderson, glasgow on 7:23am Sun 18 May 08
We have to thank her Bendiness for revealing to the whole world that the SNP stands for Independence. For those in the Nunmpty Party who did not know, this must indeed be a revelation.
We have to thank her Bendiness for revealing to the whole world that the SNP stands for Independence. For those in the Nunmpty Party who did not know, this must indeed be a revelation.
Posted by: Arrow, edinburgh on 7:47am Sun 18 May 08
have you noticed that, when interviewed on TV when Wendy is being economical with the truth, she blinks a lot? watech if you can the re-runs of the interviews and when she is asked if she has the backing of gordon her eyes are doing a great imitation of a signalling device!!
have you noticed that, when interviewed on TV when Wendy is being economical with the truth, she blinks a lot? watech if you can the re-runs of the interviews and when she is asked if she has the backing of gordon her eyes are doing a great imitation of a signalling device!!
Posted by: Bruce on 10:04am Sun 18 May 08
Meanwhile the Hootsmon is reporting that Brown was pee'd off with Wendy because he had a cunning plan to call a Westminster referendum by the end of this year.
That means Wendy took that to mean he wanted one, she wanted one. So when she opened her gub and said 'bring it on' and said Gordon was with her, yes, he was. But her giant intellect forgot he wanted it from Westminster, and worded their way. He did not mean she could run about braying at the SNP to bring THEIR referendum bill in.
She made a right hash of the whole thing if that really is the case. However, Gordon's crowd could be putting this story about because he wants to look as though he was in control all the time.
Whatever it means, it means a P45 is in the post Wendy.
Meanwhile the Hootsmon is reporting that Brown was pee'd off with Wendy because he had a cunning plan to call a Westminster referendum by the end of this year.
That means Wendy took that to mean he wanted one, she wanted one. So when she opened her gub and said 'bring it on' and said Gordon was with her, yes, he was. But her giant intellect forgot he wanted it from Westminster, and worded their way. He did not mean she could run about braying at the SNP to bring THEIR referendum bill in.
She made a right hash of the whole thing if that really is the case. However, Gordon's crowd could be putting this story about because he wants to look as though he was in control all the time.
Whatever it means, it means a P45 is in the post Wendy.
Posted by: JohnM, Perth on 12:32pm Sun 18 May 08
Now just tell me that photo from the General Assembly with her sat 20 feet away from him indicates "no rift". Either that or he let one go.
She doesn't realise that Gordon is far more sneaky than she is and that takes some doing, in that he's been thinking about a referendum, plotting how it could fail to go the SNP's way by holding it in winter, mentioning it to her and then blows the gaffe. Put him on the spot, he denies everything, because despite his moral compass he is an accomplished mis-speaker and drops her right in it.
Again tell me why the distance between these two should not be described as a chasm? Both are toast anyway. So do your stuff Nantwich and Crewe - looking forward to it very much.
Now just tell me that photo from the General Assembly with her sat 20 feet away from him indicates "no rift". Either that or he let one go.
She doesn't realise that Gordon is far more sneaky than she is and that takes some doing, in that he's been thinking about a referendum, plotting how it could fail to go the SNP's way by holding it in winter, mentioning it to her and then blows the gaffe. Put him on the spot, he denies everything, because despite his moral compass he is an accomplished mis-speaker and drops her right in it.
Again tell me why the distance between these two should not be described as a chasm? Both are toast anyway. So do your stuff Nantwich and Crewe - looking forward to it very much.
Posted by: Berti the bolt, Glasgow on 5:45pm Sun 18 May 08
The big story is we called the SNP's bluff and they blinked," she said.
More like the SNP were joining the rest of the normal people in Scotland, laughing our heads off at this idiots comments.
She is a blessing to the SNP and a disaster for the liebour.
The big story is we called the SNP's bluff and they blinked," she said.
More like the SNP were joining the rest of the normal people in Scotland, laughing our heads off at this idiots comments.
She is a blessing to the SNP and a disaster for the liebour.
Posted by: R MACLEOD, Glasgow on 6:43pm Sun 18 May 08
Why call for her to resign , she and Gordon are doing more for Independence than anything even the SNP could manage.
Brings back the memory that Zanulab Scotland branch office can not even buy wallpaper for their Scottish HQ without the ok from London .
As is said you just could not make it up .
this is better than Yes minister ever was ,hysterical !!!!
Why call for her to resign , she and Gordon are doing more for Independence than anything even the SNP could manage.
Brings back the memory that Zanulab Scotland branch office can not even buy wallpaper for their Scottish HQ without the ok from London .
As is said you just could not make it up .
this is better than Yes minister ever was ,hysterical !!!!
Posted by: Frank F on 8:21pm Sun 18 May 08
British treachery-Irish free State:
the Brits-STILL conniving-after 70 years!
http://www.inac.org/
irishhistory/1921
British treachery-Irish free State:
the Brits-STILL conniving-after 70 years!
http://www.inac.org/
irishhistory/1921
Posted by: rob4i, Scottish Borders on 3:13am Tue 20 May 08
Bendy Alexander, Scottish leader of London's Blair-Brown Regime, is discovered lying to the Scottish people!!
"Bye-bye baby,baby good-bye, baby,bye-bye,ah!"
Bendy Alexander, Scottish leader of London's Blair-Brown Regime, is discovered lying to the Scottish people!!
"Bye-bye baby,baby good-bye, baby,bye-bye,ah!"
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