Comic master
So how was he? Alex Salmond, that is, at his first outing facing questions in Holyrood. Me, I think he was rather splendid emollient, controlled and, above all, genuinely funny.
He rose to a feed line from Annabel Goldie like a comic master. You'll recall that Tony Blair hasn't yet got round to contacting the new FM to offer congratulations on his election. (Unless, that is, he tried to place a reverse charges call from Libya, Sierra Leone or South Africa - and the executive wouldn't pay.)
A stock question at FMQs is to ask when the first minister is due to meet the PM. That gives the questioner the chance to follow up with a vicious supplementary about pretty much anything they like, given that the original question was so open.
When Ms Goldie rose to deliver that stock opener concerning the PM, she was struggling to keep a grin off her face. (Actually, she didn't struggle all that much: she knew the hinterland.) When, she giggled, would the FM meet the PM?
Alex rose mock-wearily. "He never writes, he never phones", he bemoaned, struggling not one whit to suppress a broad grin. I know, I know, it looks pedestrian in print. But it was a good gag, exceptionally well delivered.
So how did the rest do? Bella was notably good - but then she's had plenty practice in the role. Jack McConnell wasn't at all bad, especially given the hideous challenge of shifting from FM to opposition. He laid deliberate, ironic stress on the words "first minister" as he rose to ask his opening question. And he pinned the FM pretty well on the issue of whether the executive would continue to fund the Edinburgh trams and airport link.
And Nicol Stephen? To be frank, it wasn't his finest parliamentary moment. Perhaps it's because he came, inevitably, third in a queue of three opposition leaders. But his chosen issue appeared to waver between the A9 and schools without offering a convincing challenge on either. (He was trying to make the point that an executive that had, allegedly, vacillated on transport might be equally unreliable on education. Arguable syllogism - but didn't work as a Holyrood hit.)
This was Alex Salmond's day.
I'm 
Comments
Attempting to hold the Holyrood Government to ransom over the bill to scrap the tolls on the Forth and Tay is the first evidence of dishonourable conduct by the opposition parties, truly a political addition to the monumental βDisgrace of Edinburgh;β these politicians and parties who choose to promote these grandiose schemes which will waste many millions in order that supporters of these schemes can bask in the limelight of the project.
Oh how easy it is to spend taxpayers money!
Scrapping the trams and the airport rail link, would at last be an indicator that common sense has prevailed at Holyrood.
Edinburgh trams are just the dream project of a dreamer, a cost too far; back to the good old days!
Edinburgh airport link an overpriced nonsense tunnelling under runways when the existing Fife circle line / East coast line abuts the east end of the main runway of Edinburgh Airport.
If this option of placing a new station on this line causes conflict with the proposed expansion plans within the airport it would be much safer and more cost effective to dig vehicle underpasses and build the new runways atop them rather than tunnelling under the existing, operating runway
A new station on the Fife circle line offering multiple options of transport links to and from the airport terminal is the obvious choice; I believe this option was discarded because this was not seen as an Edinburgh solution, and there would not be enough room for dedication plaques.
As trains travelling from Aberdeen to Berwick and back use this line it is more then the Edinburgh / Fife circle, it is a feeder line from the whole East Coast of Scotland not just Edinburgh.
Rather than a producing ground breaking astonishingly modern and extremely costly monuments to be dedicated in the honour of those politicians who chose to waste our taxes we should encourage our politicians to choose the most suitable cost effective solution; cast your mind back to the last major building project that MSPs were involved in, the carbuncle that is Holyrood.
"He never writes, he never phones" with a delivery that Rikki Fulton would have been proud of.
I'm not cure I entirely agree. Alex is an outstanding orator, but starting each answer with a gag may become a little wearing in time. He also deftly avoided answering many of the questions put to him. Perhaps he was a wee bit nervous as he'll have re-discovered today that FMQs in Holyrood is a different proposition to PMQs at Westminster - less knockabout theatre and more attention paid to his answers, or at least what is said in response to questions. Loved those puppy-dog eyes when answering Nicol Stephen's question though - almost pleading with him to go into coalition and stabilise the administration.
Does anyone else think its disgracefull that Tony Blair has not been in touch with the new FM.
Playing into the hands of the independents is not goin to help labour come the election.
Mind you cant see the Labourites around care as their heads are still buried well and truly in the sand.
Click your heels three times and you will be back inn power
We never lost
We never lost
We never lost
Doh
So Alex knocked the spots of the opposition. No surprises there!
Anabel Goldie is behaving more and more like the Hattie Jaqcues character from Carry On Matron.
Poor Jack looks completely lost. Perhaps thinking of where the nearest bus stop is so he can get home in time for his tea.
The LibDems will have do something about Nicol Stephen - poor election campaign followed up by poor performances at Holyrood. It can't go on like this.
I thought he was brilliant, and ably assisted by Ms Goldie.
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Unfortunately, I missed the first question time, but did see some short highlights. I don't know if its good scrutiny, but the Goldie- Salmond double act was hillarious. Its got a certain ring to it...Goldie Salmond...
I agree. I enjoyed the response to Tony not phoning. I so look forward to the fun now injected into the Scottish Parliament. I had no idea Alex Salmond was so funny!
Finally we have a Scotsman at the helm rather than a London puppy who toes the line. This is an exciting time for Scottish politics
Alex Salmond was superb. I almost got the impression he and Annabel had rehearsed the line!
On a serious note I do feel that the longer this stonewalling goes on the worse it looks. Their feelings about Salmond are not the issue, it is a real insult to the voters of Scotland. I'm not sure the damage can be repaired now and I expect the shot of Gordon turning his back on Glen Campbell will feature in SNP Party Political Broadcasts for years.
Gordon's alleged "psychological flaws" are going to be one of the Tories main weapons against him. By this kind of behaviour he just gives them more ammunition.
I liked the bit when Wee Eck stood up and gave Joke one on the nose with his quote from Donald Dewar.
I think Annabelle has a soft spot for Wee Eck with all the giggling, nudge, nudge , wink, wink behaviour.
As for Wendy Alexander.....enough said.
Nichol who? I thought the Lib Dems leader was Tavish Scott :-)
Let's nail once and for all this bogus argument about the SNP Executive not representing the majority of the Scottish people, that somehow therefore they didn't really win, have no mandate, and that therefore it's not only permissible but desirable that the other Parties should all gang up to defeat any SNP policies from being carried out.
The Labour Party ruled Scotland for 50 years. AT NO POINT during that 50 years did they represent the majority of the Scottish people - that's a fact. However, nobody challenged their right to rule.
The Tories under Thatcher destroyed all our Industries, emasculated the Trade Unions, and introduced the Poll Tax during their years in office. Irrespective of your opinion of those actions, AT NO POINT did they represent the majority of the Scottish people. AT NO POINT did they even represent the majority of the UK people. Nobody challenged their right to govern.
Tony Blair is swanning around the world right now this minute on 35% of the vote in 2005. Nobody challenges his entitlement to do so
But the minute the SNP win we have this pathetic whinging, wringing of hands, and downright denial of the result from many Unionists. I cannot recall any of this when Thatcher won, when Blair won, or when Labour won in Scotland for 50 years - all on a minority of votes cast.
If this is a new concept in democracy - that you don't have to accept the result of an election if it doesn't suit you then these anti-democrats should be aware that they are setting a very, very dangerous precedent.