Blowing a Gasket

Scottish Labour leader - Iain Gray - seems to have blow a gasket in Glasgow yesterday - in a valedictory speech to the party faithful.

Iain was addressing a special meeting of party members to vote through new changes - which will strengthen the role of his successor as Scottish Labour leader - and used the opportunity to launch a vitriolic attack on the SNP.

Iain spoke of the forthcoming referendum on independence for Scotland and warned party delegates:

"You will be attacked, you will be smeared, you will be lied about, you will be threatened.

The 'cyber Nats' and the bedsit bloggers will call you traitor, quisling, lapdog, liar and worse.

They will question your appearance, your integrity and your sexuality. They will drag your family and your faith into the lies and the vitriol.

If you are a woman it will be worse."

Now I've had reason to criticise Iain Gray in the past - but to the best of my knowledge  I've never questioned his sexuality or faith - or called him a quisling or a lapdog.

But I have challenged his double standards.

For example, in being quick to attack the SNP government on Freedom of Information - and its willingness to waste public money in cynical appeals to the Court of Session.

Yet Iain Gray had nothing to say about Labour-led South Lanarkshire Council - doing exactly the same thing.

I think a spell on the backbenches will serve Iain well- for the future.

Because he seems to have lost the plot - and getting a bit of perspective back into his life will do him a whole power of good.