Sights for Sore Eyes
As I watched the BBC's Question Time programme last week - I was struck by a weird thought.
How strange was it to see Alex Salmond sitting on the panel as First Minister - for the second time and with a majority SNP government at his back - alongside (Lord) Michael Forsyth and Labour's Margaret Curran.
Now for readers who don't know - Michael Forsyth was the Secretary of State for Scotland when Margaret Thatcher's Tory government ruled the country - like an arrogant colonial power.
An able chap in some ways - but Michael was truly detested throughout the land.
Yet years later Lord Forsyth just looks like some kind of beached whale - stranded by the ebb and flow of Scotland's political tides.
Likewise with Labour's Margaret Curran - a decent person, for sure.
But a politician who put Westminster before the Scottish Parliament - which just about sums up Labour priorites - and its lack of trust with the Scottish people.
So there was Alex Salmond - in his pomp - jousting with David Dimbelby and agreeing for the most part with Tom Hunter - a serial philanthorpist and one of Scotland's richest men.
You couldn't make it up - really.
How strange was it to see Alex Salmond sitting on the panel as First Minister - for the second time and with a majority SNP government at his back - alongside (Lord) Michael Forsyth and Labour's Margaret Curran.
Now for readers who don't know - Michael Forsyth was the Secretary of State for Scotland when Margaret Thatcher's Tory government ruled the country - like an arrogant colonial power.
An able chap in some ways - but Michael was truly detested throughout the land.
Yet years later Lord Forsyth just looks like some kind of beached whale - stranded by the ebb and flow of Scotland's political tides.
Likewise with Labour's Margaret Curran - a decent person, for sure.
But a politician who put Westminster before the Scottish Parliament - which just about sums up Labour priorites - and its lack of trust with the Scottish people.
So there was Alex Salmond - in his pomp - jousting with David Dimbelby and agreeing for the most part with Tom Hunter - a serial philanthorpist and one of Scotland's richest men.
You couldn't make it up - really.
