Glasgow's Killing Fields (07/0411)
I watched a rather surreal interview with Scottish Labour leader, Iain Gray, earlier this evening.
In which he compared being ambushed by a handful of political groupies in Glasgow to the 'killing fields' of Cambodia.
In fact, Iain Gray went further - much further
The Labour leader said that his previous experience of civil war in Mozambique, of tribal genocide in Rwanda and the aftermath of General Pinochet's fascist state in Chile had helped him brush off his political 'mugging' by the Citizens United Against Public Sector Cuts (Glasgow Branch).
Now all of this seems like the mother of all overreactions to me, comparing a little contretemps at Central Station with some of the worst war crimes in human history is more than bit over the top, don't you think?
But maybe it's catching.
Because Labour's real top banana and UK leader, Ed Miliband, recently compared the TUC 'anti-cuts' marchers with the Suffragettes, the Civil Rights Movement in America and the Anti-Apartheid Campaigners in South Africa.
Now I understand why people want to inject a bit of colour into election campaigns - they can be very boring and normally any publicity is good publicity.
On this occasion I think not, especially at the memorable sight of Labour's Scottish leader being run to ground in a Subway sandwich bar, no less.
Clearly New Labour is dead or he would have sought refuge in a Pret a Manger's at least.
Though things could have been worse, you have to admit.
He might have had to fight his way out of the murderous mob with a crusty baguette.
In which he compared being ambushed by a handful of political groupies in Glasgow to the 'killing fields' of Cambodia.
In fact, Iain Gray went further - much further
The Labour leader said that his previous experience of civil war in Mozambique, of tribal genocide in Rwanda and the aftermath of General Pinochet's fascist state in Chile had helped him brush off his political 'mugging' by the Citizens United Against Public Sector Cuts (Glasgow Branch).
Now all of this seems like the mother of all overreactions to me, comparing a little contretemps at Central Station with some of the worst war crimes in human history is more than bit over the top, don't you think?
But maybe it's catching.
Because Labour's real top banana and UK leader, Ed Miliband, recently compared the TUC 'anti-cuts' marchers with the Suffragettes, the Civil Rights Movement in America and the Anti-Apartheid Campaigners in South Africa.
Now I understand why people want to inject a bit of colour into election campaigns - they can be very boring and normally any publicity is good publicity.
On this occasion I think not, especially at the memorable sight of Labour's Scottish leader being run to ground in a Subway sandwich bar, no less.
Clearly New Labour is dead or he would have sought refuge in a Pret a Manger's at least.
Though things could have been worse, you have to admit.
He might have had to fight his way out of the murderous mob with a crusty baguette.
"Opting Out and Opting In - 18 February 2011"
Here's something I found out only the other day.
The Labour party's Scottish leader - Iain Gray - is almost the same age as me.
Apparently he was educated at George Watson's College in Edinburgh - before going on to study at Edinburgh University.
Now the last time I looked, George Watson's College was a private school - and I presume the same was true back in the late 1960's and early 1970's.
The fees today are almost £10,000 a year - even more than the student highest fees that the government is proposing for 'elite' universities like Oxford and Cambridge.
But what I find odd is this.
How come some people think it's OK to jump out of the state education system for five or six years - at a cost of £50,000 to £60,000 at today's prices?
Yet also seem to believe they have a right to go on to study at university - only this time at public expense.
Having bought themselves the benefits of a private education - why should the taxpayer subsidise the cost of that same person going on to university - for another four years and more?
Surely public money should be better spent on the students and young people - who really need the financial support."
