Standing On Your Head
Labour's Scottish election campaign seems to have got off to a bumpy start - with the publication of its manifesto.
The Scottish Parliament is facing a cut in its budget over the next few years - because of the desperate state of the UK economy.
Yet Labour says it will create as many as 250,000 new jobs - while reforming public services (and cutting jobs), freezing the council tax and continuing to fund 'free' university education and 'free' prescription charges - out of general taxation.
I watched Andy Kerr - Labour's finance spokeperson and outgoing MSP for East Kilbride - on Newsnight Scotland last night.
He put up a feisty performance, but sounded completely unconvincing - when asked to explain why Labour had suddenly - and belatedly - embraced all of the key policies of the SNP.
Policies that Labour has argued against - and actively opposed - for so long.
Underlying the question was the proposition: Doesn't this make Labour in Scotland look completely daft?
So there's all to play for - as the election campaign gathers pace.
Increasingly voters will get their chance to ask the politicians what it feels like - to stand on your head.
The Scottish Parliament is facing a cut in its budget over the next few years - because of the desperate state of the UK economy.
Yet Labour says it will create as many as 250,000 new jobs - while reforming public services (and cutting jobs), freezing the council tax and continuing to fund 'free' university education and 'free' prescription charges - out of general taxation.
I watched Andy Kerr - Labour's finance spokeperson and outgoing MSP for East Kilbride - on Newsnight Scotland last night.
He put up a feisty performance, but sounded completely unconvincing - when asked to explain why Labour had suddenly - and belatedly - embraced all of the key policies of the SNP.
Policies that Labour has argued against - and actively opposed - for so long.
Underlying the question was the proposition: Doesn't this make Labour in Scotland look completely daft?
So there's all to play for - as the election campaign gathers pace.
Increasingly voters will get their chance to ask the politicians what it feels like - to stand on your head.
