Heading for a crash landing
There鈥檚 a scene in Airplane, that cinematic classic, in which the doctor played by Leslie Nielsen repeatedly pops his head into the cockpit to encourage the struggling stand-in pilot and the air stewardess who are attempting to land the jet.
"I just want to wish you both good luck, we're all counting on you", he says, again and again. Each repetition, of course, simply adds to the tension.
Way back in 1999, I thought of that scene when told that Paddy Ashdown, the Liberal Democrat federal leader, was calling constantly to encourage his Scottish colleagues in their coalition talks with Labour.
The calls, I remember, became rather irksome to some of the LibDems who were conducting the negotiations.
Now it appears that his successor but one, Sir Menzies Campbell, also played an offstage role in possible coalition talks last year around the time of the Holyrood elections. However, Ming did things rather differently.
He didn鈥檛 badger his MSPs. Indeed, he didn鈥檛 tell them at all that he was engaging in private discussions with Gordon Brown re possible methods of preventing the SNP from taking power at Holyrood.
As The Times reports this morning, Sir Ming will disclose in his forthcoming autobiography that he was approached, twice, by GB. He met him, twice, and canvassed options while stressing that coalition decisions fell to the Scottish LibDems to determine.
Sir Ming then discussed matters with MSPs Nicol Stephen and Tavish Scott, without referring to the Brown talks.
He notes: 鈥淣either Nicol nor Tavish knew I was speaking privately to him but I am fairly certain they must have worked it out.鈥
Now I know it must be exasperating for UK political leaders, observing events which affect their party鈥檚 prospects deeply - and, in this case, potentially affecting the Union to which they adhere.
But isn鈥檛 it time that those MPs who voted for the Third Reading of the Scotland Act truly grasped the implications of devolution for their own party?
Yes, they can cajole. Yes, they can influence. Yes, they can advise.
But strategic decisions are not, primarily or finally, their call to make. Sir Ming acknowledges that - but doesn鈥檛 act accordingly.
He still doesn鈥檛 involve his Scottish colleagues fully. He still acts as if it can be, to some degree, fixed by Westminster politicians.
PS: Do you think Gordon Brown consulted Jack McConnell, the then Scottish Labour leader, before contacting Ming Campbell? No, neither do I.
PPS: Sir Ming鈥檚 text talks of Nicol Stephen, the Scottish party leader, alongside 鈥淭avish Scott, the Scottish LibDem deputy leader鈥. Tiny point but, last time I checked, the deputy leader of the Scottish LibDems was Michael Moore MP.
I'm 
Comments
Brian,
You appear to be trying to pin the blame for this one on Ming, even though it was GB who did the approaching in order to attempt to interfere with the Scottish political system.
GB should also have known about the rules regarding devolution. If not, perhaps he should try to read up on it quickly.
Oh sorry, GB and co tend not to stick to the rules, even if they are the ones who invent them in the first place. How sad.
WOW! How damaging this is going to be, how can anyone believe or take seriously what the Lab, Lib and tories Scottish party leaders say in Scotland.
This has clearly identifies the Scottish poitical puppets who have their strings pulled by westminster masters.
Any politician worth his salt cannot ignore this insult to Scotland, those two so called Scots colluded to prevent us Scots voting for the SNP, i clearly remember labours outlandish comments such as "Scots wont be able to visit relatives over the boarder and that the SNP will cost each of us 拢5000 per year" etc.
Even worse for the libs they had the rug pulled from them before they could even consider a coalition
with the SNP.
Not just a "parcel of rouges" but a sleekit traitorous parcel of rouges.
Shame on you
Gordon Brown... The UK's Vladimir Putin.
This simply confirms the view I've long had that Westminster parties still see devolution as a gift. The problem for the Westminster based parties is that they need to devolve power within their parties; the Tories seem to have managed this, hopefully the Lib Dems are making that transition now. Labour still seem to have some way to go before they grasp that particular thistle.
Another illustration, if it were ever needed, of how unionist politicians operate 鈥 talking up democracy in public, while holding backstairs discussions and pulling strings to block, by any effective means, the democratic outcome where it goes against their own political agenda.
Given recent 鈥榗ommon cause鈥 agreements between Gordon Brown and the 鈥榰nionist rump鈥 at Holyrood 鈥 under the guise of 鈥榗ampaigning鈥 for more powers for the Scottish Parliament (ha!) 鈥 should we be surprised??
As for the so-called Liberal Democrats: their ongoing manipulative antics are an increasingly farcical affront to anything resembling either Liberalism or Democracy!
Careful Brian
You'll be accused of Nationalist tendencies next!
And lets not forget the other news about Des Browne supporting Straw in calling for a review of the Barnett formula.
This is nothing short of disgraceful and clearly an attempt to subvert the democratic processes of Scotland and it's devolved government. How many times have activities such as this taken place? You can't blame GB for trying and he is VERY trying, but why didn't Ming whom I thought of as an honourable man not tell the GB to get lost there and then. Am I alone in finding the Lib-Dems a little tiresome in their continual childishness?
What is clear since May is that the people of Scotland are sick of being treated as fools by the Westminster mafia. The whole thing is now falling apart, especially for Labour. Now Scotland has a party in Government that doesn't take part in these petty, sleazy deals
Brian,
Pretty scandalous behaviour by Ming, but I would suggest even more so by GB. If Ming is to be believed, at least he conceded that it was a decision for the Scottish branch of the party (despite his tinkering). What you don't report from his memoirs is that Ming understood that GB sought to bring this coalition about withuot any involvement of the scottish parliamentary group.
A slap in the face for the "scottish" labour party.
A slap in the face for the Scottish electorate, who's opinion it would appear did not concern GB one iota.
A slap in the face for democracy.
And with it being very hard for one party to win a majority in Holyrood, what Brown proposed was tantamount to dictatorship. Which was, of course, what the architects of New Labour dreamt about - Holyrood was never about giving to the Scots a parliament, it was about the creation of a parliament New Labour thought they could never lose power over. Even supporters of New Labour ought to realise a one party (or one coalition) state is no good for anyone.
I'm no fan of the LibDems, but I'm glad they turned down Brown's plan. It concerns me though that next time Brown tries to pull the same stunt he may approach someone with the same low opinion of democracy as himself.
The so called kangaroo review of devolution, and the review of the Donald Trump plans are small beer.
Lets have a review of Scotlands natural resources, so we can ascertain why so much money from these resources has been taken from us by Westminster for the past 30 or so years.
GB wouldn't want that, would he, as it would bring into the public domain the truth about how much money Scotland has subsidised the wealthy south east with.
LETS HAVE A SCOTTISH OIL ENQUIRY NOW!
So finally we have the real explanation for the LibDems refusal to open coalition talks with the SNP despite a significant overlap in their election manifestos.
Ironic then that the meddling of GB and MC in Scottish politics has totally backfired. The SNP are in a far stronger position now as a minority Government than they would ever have been as coalition partners with the LibDems.
Unlike Labour over the last 8 years, the SNP have all the Ministerial jobs and all the power. And unlike Labour over the last 8 years, they don't have to put up with a junior partner that claims the credit for anything popular and refuses to share the blame for anything unpopular.
All thannks to the strategic planning of the Prime Minister and the former leader of the LibDems!
PS In the end what did Ming get out of this deal? Or was it really just two Unionists trying to stop the SNP.
as i have said before the lib dems managed to back the wrong horse in a 2 horse race after the election. this blog is now explaining why! fully agree with t clarke & cj with the following add ons
1. would you rely on the labour msp's to do anything correctly?
2. anyone else notice how quick GB was to congratulate the new russian leader?
3. T Clark - you might not be a fan of the lib dems but what alternatives are there?
Brian these deals being discussed secretly behind closed doors in London do nothing to enhance the position of unionist politicians.As a fundamentalist this was my great worry over devolution that as long as we discuss mundane items we will be left to our own devices but when important matters arise then our "elders and betters" will step in.I genuinely wanted to give devolution a real chance and campaigned with a little apprehension at the time of the referendum but now I fear these career politicians don't just understand devolution but more worryingly don't respect the democratic decision of the Scottish people.They may very well destroy that they seek to preserve by these actions
So did Gordon speak to Ming only to avoid the chance of Nicol getting too pally with Alex,in the same way that Nicol was pally with Jack,only to shut the door on that nice old man after he had made sure that Nicol wasn't talking to Alex?
Is it soap opera or school playground?And should we be bothered anyway!
Paul
PS In the end what did Ming get out of this deal? Nothing!!!
What he thought he was getting was a seat in Browns cabinet, but he was conned.
These talks about a possible cabinet seat were reported in the English papers at the time but no coverage in Scotland. Strange that.
What was in the offing for Ming out of these discussions? He doesn't say. But we can guess.
Brown was Prime Minister presumptive, looking to shape his first Cabinet. It needed a grand gesture to signal inclusive politics and deflect the constant "Stalinist control-freak" criticism he was subjected to during his Treasury reign. On 21st June 2007, Lord (Paddy) Ashdown revealed that he had turned down an offer from Brown to become Northern Ireland Secretary in his first Cabinet.
My guess: back in May, Campbell was offered the same role but wanted something better (NI Secretary's an even bigger non-job than Scottish Secretary now). Brown had said he'd think about it and Campbell delivered his side of the bargain, nobbling any possibility of a Lib Dem/SNP coalition in Holyrood. Brown then shafted him by offering the non-job to another LibDem.
As has been said above, it's backfired on both of them remarkably, mainly due to the sheer incompetence of their Holyrood lackeys.
What you neglect to mention Brian is the fact that passages from Campbell's autobiography were censored and removed from the final publication.
One can only wonder how much more offensive to Democracy these passages were.
Mr Brown or Mr Benedict Arnold...?
Oran's Dictionary of the Law (1983) defines treason as: "...[a]...citizen's actions to help a foreign government overthrow, make war against, or seriously injure the [parent nation]." In many nations, it is also often considered treason to attempt or conspire to overthrow the government, even if no foreign country is aided or involved by such an endeavour.
Outside legal spheres, the word "traitor" may also be used a person who betrays (or is accused of betraying) their own political party, nation, family, friends, ethnic group, religion, social class, or other group to which they may belong.
Craig
Brown is brown (bread)
Gordon Brown where was your moral compass when you arranged this secret meeting?Were you doing "your out-most"to con the Scottish people?You Sir will be held to account by the Scottish people first chance we get!
Unionist politicians - who can trust them?
Politicians have trust or nothing.
You can interview the most brilliant candidate for a job, but would you offer them the job if you took them to be dishonest?
Brown and Campbell's actions reveal them to be less than frank, open or honest.
I have to laugh when I hear the Unionist parties saying that the SNP are just looking for arguments with Westmister. The Al Megraghi affair is case in point - if we had Labour governments in both London and Holyrood, then this would be quietly swept under the carpet. Now that the bold Alex is in charge he's having none of it. He's not picking fights - he's exposing the back-stabbing deals that the Scottish public never got to hear about from Jack, Gordon & Co.
Hardly surprising that Gordon Brown tried to tempt Ming Campbell to collude with him in attempting to pervert the course of democracy in Scotland when things didn't go Brown's way. The only thing that surprises me is Brown didn't put tanks on the streets of Glasgow and Edinburgh to quell any possible uprising by the natives. What this highlights is the fact that Gordon Brown cannot be trusted by the Scottish electorate. Gordon Brown has no respect for the Scottish Parliament or for the Scottish electorate and neither do his London based stooges Browne, Cairns and Darling. Every time these people open their mouths their contempt for what is happening in Scotland is quite evident.
I have to laugh when I hear the Unionist parties saying that the SNP are just looking for arguments with Westmister. The Al Megraghi affair is case in point - if we had Labour governments in both London and Holyrood, then this would be quietly swept under the carpet. Now that the bold Alex is in charge he's having none of it. He's not picking fights - he's exposing the back-stabbing deals that the Scottish public never got to hear about from Jack, Gordon & Co.
As a Scottish person, I am unable to trust Brown, Darling, Browne or Cairns. The dodgy four, London based politicians have an absolute say in the way my country, Scotland is governed. They are duplicitous, anti-Scottish and mislead the electorate about wars London based labour have waged over the past 10 years.
Water, that is Scotland鈥檚 over supply and England鈥檚 lack of, will be one of these bones of contention in years to come. Water will over take oil in importance in this respect.
What excuses and lies will unionist politicians have for giving away our water?
In sum, do you trust unionist politicians with Scotland's water?
Hi Brian-Bob from Linlithgow here..
Glad you liked my webcast question to Nicol Stephen, and the revelation above and the latest achievement of the LibDems in the Lisbon Treaty vote shows that it had more validity than poor Nichol gave it credit for.
But who cares about him ? As long as as a fellow United fan liked it...
First Ministers Questions
Don't you think the FM should know how to pronounce Glenmorangie properly?
Think oranges not orang-utans!
I was staggered by the seriousness of his attempt to disrupt the Scottish democratic process by means which can only be described as subterfuge, what pseudo-operations did Gordon Brown have in mind for his fellow countrymen?
Now that this particular Labour can of worms is public one has to wonder where this leaves Wendy Alexander, head of renegade Brown鈥檚 northern command, well strictly speaking, by definition she becomes agent provocateur, which, considering recent events is an improvement, albeit slight.
It is abundantly clear to all patriots that Mr Brown, Miss Alexander and the Labour Party are Scotland鈥檚 archenemy, this whole episode leaves me sceptical as what genre of Scot could possibly vote for Labour treachery.
On a positive note Brown has ruffled my feathers to the degree whereby I shall not only vote for, but will join and donate funds to the Scottish National Party.
We will try you at the polls Gordon Brown, and we will win,
But of course you will be sentenced in absentia as your moral compass no longer points north.
Alba Gu Bra !
Wansanshoo.
Gordon Brown seems to thinks he is a law unto his self.
He needs to be removed at the earliest opportunity.
Wansanshoo#30
It was brown and blair that made me join the snp .Where was broon's moral compass when he was signing all the cheques for the rape of IRAQ? I wonder how many other people out there are as enraged as me!
The arrogance of it! Hole in the corner meetings and grubby deals to deprive the electorate should they dare to pick the SNP. How despicable.
Well, they say chickens always come home to roost. No coalition with the Libs has allowed the SNP to play a blinder on their own, Ming got dumped,Brown's Premiership looks increasingingly like a failure and Scotland under the SNP has a new confidence. Fabulous!
The Wendster gets off with it again, and the Gordster's disgusting attitude towards Scotland is exposed again. An amazing couple of days in Scottish politics.
Labour ARE NOT to be trusted.
Labour DO NOT act in the interests of Scotland.
This merely confirms what a great many in Scotland already know.
I recall the meanderings of Brown and Menzies last year post-election. I knew in a heartbeat that the 'Scottish' Liberals would - under no circumstances - make a deal with the SNP - DESPITE their party having a REAL opportunity of pressing home their own apparent portfolio. I hope their voters desert them after this confirmation.
They never gave a reason. They never gave a reason that made any kind of sense at least, after the SNP offered the 'more powers' third question (a key liberal ideal apparently).
It was gutless unionist politicking at its very worst.
Before the election the Labour party in Scotland at once:
- Spoke down to the Scottish people. You're 'subsidised' (for the 'we've never had it so good brigade]
- Tried to influence votes by singly contemptible lies i.e. cross border relationships dying, Balkanization, Scotland a target for Bin Laden, the 5k tax bill, ex-party officials in PP-broadcasts etc Utterly deplorable.
- Pushed themselves as Scotland's 'only choice'.
Scaremongering. Lies. Deceit. Please understand, this union means that ANY party who is directed from London CANNOT -- CANNOT -- represent Scotland. Like most truths, it's that simple.
Since the election of course, we've seen Labour do ANYTHING it can to spanner any progressive Scottish govt. ambitions, inc. their sudden interest in the 'more powers' issue. Something they were diagrammatically opposed to but six months before.
Gordon Brown has no respect for the Scottish Parliament when Labour are not in office!! Not the Labour fort you envisioned Gordon? Neither do his London based traitors-at-arms Browne, Cairns and Darling. Every time these snakes open their mouths their absolute contempt for what is happening in Scotland is quite evident.
It is astonishing. Simply astonishing.
For the Labour-voting 'we've never had it so good' brigade and 'ma faither's faither' division PLEASE do NOT vote for these people.
You can have it BETTER and BRIGHTER if we throw their negative, shambolic lies to the four winds.
This is nothing less than opaque political espionage and for Scotland's sake you should NOT put up with it.