Salmond, the liar with a direct connection to God

Ah bless.

I see it hasn't taken long for it to go to his head.

His Immensity the Fat Minister is now claiming a direct connection to the Almighty.

He's also managed to work himself into a lather over several energy-related issues; remember, he is an expert "energy economist" by background, isn't he?

So first of all, he's offended that the UK Government has decided not to award £1bn of subsidy to a privately-owned Spanish company (that would be Scottish Power, sports fans) to make some ruinously expensive mods to Longannet power station to allow it to bury some of its CO2 emissions under the sea bed.

Which would incidentally make the power produced by that part of the station totally uneconomic, requiring yet more ongoing subsidies from US to allow it to operate.

Is he an idiot or a liar? Oh hang on, it's Salmond, he's both.

(By the way, isn't it crude, tawdry and offensive that he decides to declare his faith in a "creator of the universe" who has favoured us with all this renewable bounty at the moment that he's rowing with the Catholic Church over gay marriage? The man really is a sh1t.)

Back to the "renewables bounty". Remember, he gave us a "vision" and a "pledge" that Scotland would be 100% renewable-powered by 2020.

As previously blogged, for these "visions" to become reality will require the completion of 1000 MW of renewable capacity, each and every year, from now until 2020.

Including this year, 2011.

How are we doing?

According to renewableUK, the grand total completed in Scotland in 2011 so far is...












is...











wait for it...











241.15 MW.



Pathetic.

It seems that the Enormous Shyster's direct connection to the Almighty has not resulted in any connection with the facts.

I look forward to the total failure of his referendum and subsequent humiliating defenestration from office with relish.

Further concerning the leadership

I went along to the Edinburgh hustings on Saturday.

Margaret Mitchell was nice but baffling; what exactly is she standing for?

Ruth Davidson was good, Jackson Carlaw excellent. Highlights included his impression of Annabel Goldie and a quote from a non-Tory MSP: "Call yourselves what you like, Jackson, we'll still be calling you the effing Tories."

Murdo Fraser sounded tired. Partly, no doubt, a result of a three-hour car journey from Perth (due to Forth Bridge-related delays). However I suspect also that he has realised that he just doesn't have enough support to get over the top. He may well get the most first-preference votes; but the second- and third-preference votes from the other candidates will not be going to him.

Which I think leaves things between Carlaw and Davidson. On policy matters they are offering similar agendas. I think most would agree Carlaw is the best at public speaking and rousing a Tory audience; but he has the "handicap" of being an archetypal 50-something successful businessman. (Irony intended.)

I have a feeling it's going to be Davidson. That is actually quite something for the Scottish Tories; we are supposed to be conservative, after all.

Oh yes - fashion fans may want to know that instead of the trouser suits she is usually pictured in, she showed up in a skirt suit, red blouse and a pair of killer FMBs. Out-FMBing Yvette Cooper, which is saying something.

(Yes, I know she wouldn't be interested. Nurse! Time for my medication.)

Concerning the leadership

My, doesn't time fly. Nearly half-term already.

Clearly one of the big political issues out there is the question of the Scottish Tory leadership - which has been transformed into a bigger issue by Murdo Fraser's decision to campaign on the basis of dissolving and replacing the party. (Or something like that.)

Where do I stand on this?

I've met Murdo, and he's a smart guy. His thinking seems to be on the lines of the famous quote (which apparently was NOT by Einstein):

"Insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting a different result."

He has a point.

The trouble is, he could be falling into another fallacy:

"1 - We must do something.

2 - This is something.

3- We must do this."

I had the opportunity last week to meet the other leading contender, Ruth Davidson, and that's certainly her view.

She also used a fairly powerful analogy:


When VW bought Skoda, conventional wisdom was that they should dump the brand as being irredeemably contaminated, and just use the factories to churn out cheaper VWs and Audis.

They didn't. They kept the name, brand and badge, and improved the product to the point where Skodas get higher satisfaction and reliability ratings than VWs, Audis, and Seats, as well as being cheaper. Edinburgh residents will be aware that just about every taxi / private hire car which isn't a "black cab" is now a Skoda. There's a reason for that - cabbies know their cars.

Ruth also made a good case that she has the background, experience and skills to do a similar job on the Scottish Tories.

I haven't decided which way to vote yet - the first big hustings meeting is next weekend, and I intend to go along and give them all a listen.

But, I have to admit that a few months ago I bought a Skoda...