"The biggest test of leadership is this: have you made your country better?", Tony Blair says about Toxic Jack McConnell.

Scots can apply their own acid test - an annual 5,650 tonnes of it - well in advance of next May:

www.fluoridealert.org See Latest News - SCOTLAND

Battling Blair puts Labour on collision course with the SNP. where is the smallest coward in the world.
com on show yer face jackass. you have been sussed. IF JACKASS HAD BALLS. HE WOULD have a debate with wee eck.

Politics of Fear? Pardon? What on earth is fearful about saying its time to cut our umbilical cord and stand on our own 2 feet? On the contrary Mr Blair - The Independence movement is one that shows both boldness and courage.

Why are we waiting

The more I hear about Blair's speech, the more I think that the Labour mob are TERRIFIED!!!

I watched Blair's speech and thought it was disjointed and lacked conviction. It strikes me that he really doesn't have an answer to the SNP nor independence.

I'm afraid he's also talking utter nonsense about the oil price. The only thing that would push it down to $18 is a global economic collapse or the discovery of another Middle East. The SNP's $36 is very modest.

Aye,the photo of himself say's it all, toothless,past his prime and definately well past his sell by date.

Mr Bliar said it would be catastrophic for any nation to rely so completely on the price of oil. True,particularily when that nation hasn't any of it's own. Much of the benefits of that resource have already been frittered away and squandered on matters not Scottish or to Scotland's benefit.Whether or not Scots received the full benefits of it's nation's resources through tax revenues is maybe no small matter but it most certainly is a matter of major importance in the future. If the remaining reserves of our oil resource must be squandered on Westminster's policies elsewhere then surely it would be better if it was the Scottish nation that squandered them....On ourselves.

still waiting , on a reply from the scotsmans moderators. pleased hurry up

Is the Scotsman actually turning?

It really IS time.

Over the decades, the media have used a certain event in the lead up to elections as a springboard to support the politicians sympathetic to their vision of politics.
This time it looks like the commencement of brain washing the public has began with the Scottish Labour Conference.

Lord almighty Tony you finally noticed us up here. What is this rubbish about being cast adrift from relatives etc. And suddenly he's pleased with Joke McConnell's success (?) (tony's words not mine). If we are so damned useless, and we are so unworthy, then why oh why are they so determined not to let us go - do we have something they want? We want our own country and Tony knows fine well that we are shaking this union to crumbling point.

The tide of change is washing the labour support southwards from Carter Bar.

wow! that's one worried man!

Yes Yes Bliar only your perfidious lackie Scots care a jot what you think or say!
They are the one's Nationalist's have in their sight's-let me assure them they are fair game!!
I look forwad to these wretches being put to the sword in more way's than one, next May or whenever-but be assured it will happen!!

Bliar is the master of the perfidious Sottish labour lackies - we'll see who has the last laugh you the King's of nepotism job's for the boy's and back hander's brigade wiil pay a heavy price for your complicity with the Whitehall wretches! Be afraid! Big Time!

One thing to say b-LIAR!!!

He's running scared, leave and take Joke McConnell with you sooner rather than later.

Dudes, go for independence..screw anyone who tells you what's best for you.(woof..that's also me, damn.)

dudes-go for independence..don't be spooked by gloom sayers. you won't know 'till ya tried. all my best.

Quote - "TONY Blair delivered his most passionate and comprehensive condemnation of Scottish nationalism yesterday, declaring that he "detested" the SNP's "politics of fear and grievance".

Can you believe it? The spinmeister and fear monger himself "detested" politics of fear.

Is there a genuine or honest bone in this guys body, because he is certainly intelligent enough to note the hypocrisy?

No more lies. No more spin.

One word: b-LIAR

Leave sooner rather than later & take Joke with you.
I won't be voting labour again.

Blair's panic-mongering reminds me of Churchill's warnings in 1945 that Britain would face gestapo-style rule if Labour got in. People are not so easily panicked.

Does anyone in Scotland (or anywhere else for that matter) take the proven liar,Blair, seriously anymore?

Blair is lying. The British establishment lied in the 1970s, pretending that Scotland would be gripped by economic disaster if it became independent while admitting in private that it would be rich. Blair is probably more worried about Labour's future prospects in England post-independence. He is right to be. The SNP is not perfect but a damn sight better than a party led by a war criminal.
The dream result in May would be an SNP-Green coalition, swiftly followed by a yes in an independence referendum. I currently live in London but may move back to Scotland if it becomes independent. Finally, Scotland has the potential to be a renewable energy superpower, exporting energy to other countries. That is ultimately even more significant than oil.

I agree with Tony Blair's comments on the anti-nuclear lobby.

After all 'Green' Denmark is still connected to Sweden's nuclear power stations!

However, Tony Booth (Blair'ss father-in-law) has legged it back to Ireland. He made the choice now the Scots have to make their choice.

Tony Blair's father-in-law (Tont Booth) has legged it back to Ireland! He made a choice now the Scots have every right to choose.

I agree with Tony Blair on the nuclear weapons/power issue and considering:

1) Denmark's national grid is connected by undersea cable to Sweden's nuclear power stations for back up. This fact has been carefully edited out by the 'green' lobby and the Left!

2) Fidel Castro was for Russian nuclear weapons being based in Cuba (Cuban Missile Crisis).His Scottish (and Irish?) supporters outside Faslane have chosen not to mention this.

In my opinion, the Scots have a right to debate and vote on the nuclear issue seperately.

This should not be just lumped together with the independence issue.

To Anthony Blair and all his fellow Englishmen who feel they cannot live without us: "We don't want to lose you, but we think you ought to go!"

"The reason I detest this narrow nationalism is not because it engenders fear, but because it squanders hope" Tony Blair - the voice of reason.

A good honest speech, the SNP are such a negative party, arguing black is white when it suits them. Like the Liberals USED to be until they grew into a party with some intelligent ideas.

A great speech, telling it as it is. The SNP would argue black is white when it suits them, immature and emotional. The Liberals USED to be like that but now are respected.

Tony Blair and New Labour have become a real danger to the UK and Democracy. They are the Cosa Nostra of a New UK which, if left unfettered could change our type of politics forever.

Blair entering Scotland and patronising his own party faithful, and having the gaul to tell them how pathetic they are living in a country that thinks it can be independent and they are doing the right thing in joining him in crushing such silly thoughts, and all this being spewed out to our fellow Scots and in Scotland to boot.

What is wrong with the people of our country? this couldn't happen anywhere else in the world, and if it did, Tony Blair probably wouldn't have got out of that country alive!

He has to be either stupid or ignorant or both, but it is neither, he is simply arrogant, and should be shown the door and slammed and locked behind him never to be seen or heard from again.
It IS time, lets DO it.

Sounds like panic is setting in. Tony, its only going to get worse. Vote SNP

Blair the liar and murderer-the charlatan should be on trial for war crimes not performing to the labour "monkeys" in Oban-may god forgive you!

Yes yes Mr Blair for you of all people to accuse my party of the politic's of fear really is rich. You the man that fabricated the biggest lie of them all based around fear so as to enter an illeagal war to support the Bush agenda.
It is as well that you are speaking to your on Pravda outfit because real Scots do real job's & if they want to be career politician's they join the King's of nepotisim, that is the Scottish Labour party a the job's for the boy's brigade-what a joke you lot are mate! I'm an electrician not a politician but my faith with an independent Scotland & the ability of it to prosper is unbending.

Thanks Tony!

It's good to have such a credible politician with such unquestionable scruples come and tell us how to run our country.

No wonder Alex Salmond's so happy. As my Spanish wife often says to me, "What a great opportunity to keep your mouth shut you have just missed!"

It's very satisfying to see that 'New Labour' is obviously running scared. I see they're still using the same old and worn 'Old Labour' scaremongering tactics to interfere in Scotland's affairs.

I'm not saying which way other Scots should vote - that's for each and every individual to decide. But I for one don't need English politicians to come and remind me how my country's not really up to the job of running itself. Aye right, Tony, like you're doing a real good job down there.

Away and start another futile war somewhere with your mate Bush. Or are you going to bomb us into submission next if you don't get your own way?

Blairs speech was a joke, he states scotlands public services are better because of the union even when we had the electronics downturn- WRONG
Public services didn't suffer because council tax and income tax shot up above inflation and are still rising above inflation, WE ONLY GET WHAT WE PAY FOR.
According to tony our health servives are getting better, I dont know about anyone else in scotland but my local hospital ST Johns has been downgraded even tho apparently west lothian is the fastest growing area in scotland, this makes no sense, more people moving to the area so they move the services further away from a perfectly good hospital.
Apparently private companies are the way forward to running public services, labour wants to increase this. So why now do they say the trains should be in public hands and its been a disaster.
Labour had the nerve to also say the comments about the bridge where ' ALARMIST', 1 cable snapping a month, i think anyone would be scare especially when labour cant even decide if there going to replace it and when.
Every year since Gordon Brown took over the economy labour have sung his praises, he made the bank of england independent to set interest rates, then what has he done ' NOTHING' , the only reason the economy has done well is because of house prices ' more capital to release in your house means more money to spend ' and why have house prices shot up, because there isnt enough of them which has locked first time buyers out of the market. Now most 18-25 year olds cant get a house, which means they need to save for a larger deposit, which means they cant save for a pension. Thats labour looking to the future.
Apparently SNP are basing there economy policie on oil 'WRONG' corporation tax, council tax, energy prices and many more is what the SNP are ready to change to make Scotland more competative in buisness, Tony did say he read there policies just not all of them.
More pensioners lifted out of

' Independence will be bad for Scotland '. HOW dear labour party please state facts or better yet show us the facts.
Tony blair went on in his speech about how familys live in different parts of the UK and how the economy would suffer if Scotland gained independence, HOW, does Tony really beleive that familys would stop crossing the border or put in place border controls, everybody knows this would not happen. Scotland would not stop cooperating with the rest of the UK and the UK would not stop cooperating with Scotland, the only thing which would change is scotland would decide on its own tax and foriegn policie, there is no need for a long drawn out and expensive porccess to making Scotland independent.
We are not in a union with the USA but we cooperate very well with them same said for japan.

Some people have said ' who will Scotlands armed forces fight if we pull out from NATO ', the SNP have always said we will still commit to the UN which UK forces already play a major part in.
Tony Blair himself has said the UN is very important in protcting the rights of people all over the world, shame he doesnt listen to them. He preches about close cooperation for all countrys all over the world, then why didnt he even listen to france, gemany and the rest of the EU when they said going into Iraq is a big mistake and why didn't he get Iran and syria involved in Iraq. Yes close cooperation with countrys only when it suits his needs.
Tony Blair stated in his speech that UK forces are the best in the world, i think anyone in the UK don't doubt that. So why Mr Blair don't you find the money for more equipment for our armed forces so they can stay the best in the world. Iraq will play an important part in the Scottish election even if labour don't want it to.
For me its not the fact that we went into Iraq its the way we had no plan A- how do we destroy the enemy, B- what happens after we take Iraq and C- how do we get out if it all goes wrong, we only have one plan A- follow America.
This goverment need to decide if Iraq is going to be lond term like NI or short term, if we are going to be there for 10+ years then we need a proper UK plan for Iraq not just Basra and more funding for the UK forces over long term. Or are we there till spring like they have said ' we should beable to handover in spring 2007 ', i cant remember who said this but please labour dont tell the troops they could come home in the spring when labour have no idea whats happening. Imagine if you where in Iraq and being told that you could go home in maybe 6-7 months and suddenly your goverment changes its mind and says your going to be there for years, yes our soldiers are the most proffesional and best trained in the world but even they have there limits.
Nobody in th

This speech of course was designed to shore up the already wavering Labour support. And well they might waver as they attempt to fathom Blair's New Labour pick'n mix Thatcherism with occasional recourse to the mobilising properties of red flag envy.

Is it unreasonable to ask why Alex Salmond should not sell the same unisex message ?

Running scared Blair?

To Anthony Blair and all his fellow Englishmen: "We don't want to lose you, but we think you ought to go!"

"........is not socialist, is not Conservative, not anything other than the basest metal of politics, the politics of grievance"

said by a man who, at a conference for his own people, decides to aim his speech not at his own party's ideas and future policies for the country but at "grievance" for that of anothers. Hilarious.

Does this mean Tony Blair is seeking a complete fiscal and political union with the rest of Europe forthwith?

His Finance Minister might have a wee problem with that. He seems to have a problem with giving up control of the economy to a political centre in another nation. He firmly believes in the importance of independence!

From the various comments that Fifi (Le petit chien) has made, see below, it would seem that the leader of the Labour Party, (sorry I can't get myself to call him a Prime Minister) cannot put together anything resembling a joined up argument, which on reflection, is unsurprising as he has proved himself incapable of producing a joined up Party.

His performance shows that he has totally failed to understand the Scottish psyche; and I think his last desperate attempts to salvage his party's chances in Scotland next May, have now established his place in history as the most effective recruiting sergeant which the SNP has ever had.

Yours etc

Angus Whitton

Quote 1

"The Prime Minister used almost all of his final speech to the Scottish Labour Conference to take on and "dissect" the SNP's arguments.

Quote 2

"Look, I've never met someone in the oil industry who could predict the price and the one confident thing you can predict is that any prediction will be wrong," he said.

Save your breath Tony, you dont scare me
and the people of Scotland can see right through your lies.

What a lousy speech. Sorry but I dont recall the SNP blaming the English for anything. Where have you been for the last 20 years? Not Scotland, if that's the tripe you are peddling.
The "politics of fear", eh?
Erm.... weapons of mass distruction anyone?

Sling your hook back over the border, we've heard it all before.

Stll not convinced SNP for me

B'Liar the snake in the grass that he is, insulting us Scots again so we are too stupid to look after ourseleves. May be we should make every MSP an Iraqi or a croatian or Irish or Norwegian or a swiss or Ugandan or a Samoan or a what about this what if we had every MSP English and put B'Liar in charge NA!!

From Robert Macneil's article it is clear that senility,alas, is now skewing Mrs Jones political judgment. In Oban the New Labour leader lists his objections to those who wish to establishment a small democratic country being able to stand on its own two feet in a global environment and improve the lot of its populace. Is this not the very same message he puts out for Iraq,Iran,Syria, Lebanon and many others? I ask you all to consider what has happened to those countries under his stewardship! Under this discredited politician with all his weasel words thousands of innocents are dead and hundreds of our own militaryhave been killed and maimed. If this is the kind of politician Mrs Jones supports then she really is disfunctional! New Labour for Scotland? Don't be daft!

The man is running scared.All this doom and gloom what would happen if SNP got power.I don`t see this happening but a good shake up would do us no harm.Time for change in the balance of power is needed,

Still Blair refuses to have a live debate with Alex Salmond. Hmm.

i dont understand tony blair going on about the nats
labour have given us our own parliement so we are have way there to being independant and can anyone tell me how many times has tony blair been in scotland since 1997 is about eleven times

In Robert McNeill's article with Mrs Jones from Dunbar it is plain that, alas, senility has set in to the poor lady. Her hero, Tony Blair, lists a catalogue of objections to those who want a small democratic country to stand on its own two feet in a global environment for the better of its populace. Is this not the very reason this discredited politician wants to impose these very same principles in Iraq, Iran,Syria,Lebanon and elsewhere but only with brute force and suffering? So far Blair has inflicted on those countries mayhem and carnage and is directly responsible for thousands of civilian deaths and hundreds of our own military casualties. Mrs Jones if this is the man you so admire then you and those of your ilk who support him are certainly disfunctional. If this is the way forward with the Union then the sooner the divorce goes through the better.

Blair is a liar. Why would anyone think he is capable of telling the truth. He lied about WMD. And he is lying now.
Tony, if Scotland is full of whingers and such a bother to Westminster, why are you spending so much time trying to get us to stay in the union, could it be another lie?
The bad man in Iraq was supposed to have WMD that he could hit us with in 45 minutes, oops no he didn't, but hey let's move on. Thousands have done just that Tony, moved on to meet there makers.
What do Scotland and Iraq have in common, OIL.
D I V O R C E is expensive Tony as you have said repeatedly. But what a joy when it is done, what a feeling of elation and freedom, and the self respect you get back after living in a bad relationship that has stripped away your happiness dignity and aspiration. You are a liar Tony, I and many others do not believe a word you say.
IT IS TIME.

He will be judged by what he is famous for... "Infamous"... He took Britain..to war against Iraq.. This was of course okd by the British goverment..

The SNP and Liberals at least had the balls to stand against this Potential War Criminal.

In May we will have our chance to judge Blair and his goverment.

" .. Scotland would have to contest a campaign based around a "cause". "

Nice wee, twee comment there from the Arch-cynic himself.

Scotland's cause is simple enough: disassociation from war criminals like Bliar and his pal George Bash and speaking with our own voice.

Nice to see him running scared!

Surely Blair is irrelevant. His comments should be dismissed out of hand!

Just BTW, it's interesting to see that censorship has been established by The Northbritainman.

I feel that I should object on principle, but it has to be said that the totally free format of these pages did fill the threads up with large quantities of irrelevant rubbsh by posters mostly interested in talking about themselves.

Hopefully it will not be used to exorcize all comments contrary to the paper's rabidly pro-union stance.

"Have you made your country better?"

Is the PM blind, or just mad? That's from a man who has 'improved' education, the NHS, social services, ....

Is it any coincidence that with the most important election to face Scotland for decades on the horizon, the Scotsman chooses to modify all comments before they are displayed? Someone obviously doesn't like what they are reading.

Eh Tony?

From the various comments that Fifi (Le petit chien) has made, see below, it would seem that the leader of the Labour Party, (sorry I can't get myself to call him a Prime Minister) cannot put together anything resembling a joined up argument, which on reflection, is unsurprising as he has proved himself incapable of producing a joined up Party.

His performance shows that he has totally failed to understand the Scottish psyche; and I think his last desperate attempts to salvage his party's chances in Scotland next May, have now established his place in history as the most effective recruiting sergeant which the SNP has ever had.

Yours etc

Angus Whitton

Quote 1

"The Prime Minister used almost all of his final speech to the Scottish Labour Conference to take on and "dissect" the SNP's arguments.

Quote 2

"Look, I've never met someone in the oil industry who could predict the price and the one confident thing you can predict is that any prediction will be wrong," he said.

proof at last that Labour has something to hide which they cannot afford the people of Scotland knowing about finances.

Blair and Brown are running scared, so scared that they will say and do anything to cover up their illegal and immoral behavior.

watch this space!! it has already been revealed under the freedom of information act exactly what the British Government was prepared to do about the fishing fleet in Scotland under Ted Heath. too bad Ross Finnie was the one to carry it all through to fruition.
we now know the true cost of the waste by the British Government on oil, just wait till the last 10 years of Labour cock-ups comes out.
Attack like this only has one motive, get rid of the opposition at all costs, and Jack McConnell is nothing more than a London poodle now that the Big guns are out, allbeit they have no ammunition and are broken.

on the day Blair tries to gey IRA Sinn Fein into gov in Ireland he says the SNP are people with a grievance...Goodness Blair's double speak and hypocrisy really have no boundaries.

on the day Blair tries to get IRA Sinn Fein into gov in Ireland he says the SNP are people with a grievance...Goodness Blair's double speak and hypocrisy really have no boundaries.

Get real, Blair, the SNP is there by the will of the people. It is the people of Scotland who want independence. Are you, Blair and your fearties, denying the people the right to wish independence?
Get real man!!

what is the diff between a moderator and a censor ..leave it open as before .it was a great success and faster

Blair is still a good speaker...still dangerous as Labour somehow manage to maintain a strong support in Scotland! The SNP do not command a united support in Scotland. Many won't vote for their parochial and over-Nationalistic Independence.

We need an alliance of all the pro-Independence parties to stand in May under a new name- say the Scottish Freedom Alliance- without the attaching policy baggage. One official pro-Independence candidate would stand in each seat, coming from existing parties based on current strength. This would be the true test of public support for Independence across ALL parties.

If the SNP agreed to such a coalition, it would show that they were not simply another bunch of self-serving politicians.

Assuming a resounding mandate, we could then ensure a seamless transition from satellite state to full Nation, with all business and State systems operating as at present. True proportional representation could be introduced and a Scottish election could be held on proper democratic grounds soon afterwards. The people would then choose the policies they wanted along party lines.

This all seems so obvious if we in Scotland want to look after our own destiny. We have the talent to succeed. Do we have the will? Is this all a bit too simple for the politicians to grasp?

This just shows how running scared New Labour and Tony Blair are,to praise Jack McConnel who just about everybody agrees has been a weak and ineffective first minister is true despairation,roll on May when we can vote New Labour out and get on with making Scotland the "best little nation in the world" without the pettiness of the current executive

Being a bit of a political ditherer myself, I can see the Prime Minister's disquiet with the possibility of independence. Just say the SNP win in May and we go down the road of independence. Assume too that (for whatever reason) it doesn't work and in the subsequent election the SNP are voted out. How do we become "unindependent"?

"It is time" ..... for ..... "the politics of grievance".

A nation reborn - why not.

A nation reborn in grievance - no thanks.

Labour in both Wales and Scotland will see the depth of loathing of this Government next year. They have made politics into a euthanism for dishonesty, corruption and selfserving. Never has a government and individual members broken so many rules and laws and yet has not had the integrity to go without being pushed. The legacy of Tony Blair and Jack McConnell will be of two politicians who could look you in the eye whilst removing your gold fillings

good on ya tone!!!!

moderator?

""...the politics of grievance.

"It has absolutely zero to do with our politics of progress," ...""

What was the period from the late 1600's to the mid 1800s if it wasn't a Nation (UK) born in grievance?

Scotland fought bloody battles to stay, and then regain, independent but lost.

The Union was all about England trying to annex her troublesome Northern neighbour, as she had done with Wales in 1535, and later Ireland 1801, so that she could get on with fighting colonial wars of conquest without having constantly to look over her shoulder.

As Great Britain, England robbed and plundered the world to feed her ambition and greed, at whatever cost to the indigenous populations.

At home she let millions starve to death in Ireland in spite of exporting grain all over the world, just so market prices wouldn't be compromised.

Soon after the repealing of the capital proscription of Scottish culture, in Scotland, from about 1850 on, she supported mine and mill owners who threw starving workers into the streets when they took industrial action to stop their wages being cut again to further below starvation level and gave their homes and jobs to even cheaper immigrant labour.

She also stood idly by as aristo landlords burnt out the towns and hamlets in the Scottish hills and glens to make way for sheep and wool production.

150 years ago that 'magnificent unspoilt wilderness' was alive with towns and villages full of thousands upon thousands of Scots, forced to the coast or to the colonies.

It's not supposed to look that way, just ask how difficult it is to maintain a good 'sporting' estate.

At that time there was no possible chance to vote out the Government, only land owners had the vote.

Much has quite rightly been said about women winning the right to vote.

What has not been made clear is that until not that long berfore WWII most men did not have the vote either.

""...TONY Blair delivered his most passionate and comprehensive condemnation of Scottish nationalism yesterday, declaring that he "detested" the SNP's "politics of fear and grievance". ...""

And what would he call his self inflicted "War on Terror"?

Why?

THE internet police are here

Quoting from Blair "...Blair argued that nationalism would borrow "any clothes" to suit its arguments".

Does not Blair recognise that he is simply a British nationalist?

A futher quote from Blair "In a modern, interdependent world, countries are moving together, not apart."

While true, it is a major reason for Scotland to seek at seat at the top table in,say, Europe, UN etc. Virtually ever year the number of members of the United Nations increase. Large entities dissolve into multiple smaller ones. Like it or not, the SNP are certailnly not swimming against the tide.

not many posts this morning

If the SNP become the largest party in 2007 then Scotlands independence is unstoppable, but half of 'em will probably be in England by then anyway!

Seriously though why do scots think we in England hate 'em and can't wait for scottish independence, it ain't true.

don't do it .
Don't vote for independence.

Tell Tony and Jack to wake up and look around themselves.

‘TONY Blair delivered his most passionate and comprehensive condemnation of Scottish nationalism yesterday, declaring that he "detested" the SNP's "politics of fear and grievance".’

A rich statement indeed, all we have had from Labour for the last 2 Terms is "politics of fear and grievance" - wars - weapons - identity cards - asbos - increased police powers - fear of the split of union - immigration controls - blah, blah, blah!

Union with Europe? Whens that then Tony? The world can better communicate as individuals - whether it’s smaller Countries such as Scotland - England or ultimately - single individual identity.

Since the dissolution of the USSR - the world has become more aware and gained access to areas we never had the chance to discover before. We are now becoming aware of these cultures and the countries. They will survive.

What is the reason for wishing to keep the Union? It appears to me that it has forever been held together in reality by force throughout its history.

If the feeling is that this is not the case - simple - everyone born in Scotland gets a vote - yes to union or no to union. Only the yes men have something to fear because if Independence doesn’t happen the no vote will feel no difference.

The truth is with its large food and water resources, space of land and small population - it, unlike its neighbour England, is self suficient should it need to survive within its own border.

This is not anti English but England has more to lose by a seperation and Scotland has more to gain - devolution is proving this. The more powers we are given the better we can handle our own affairs.

Where are all the comments????

Dennis

Is our Tone getting the wind up with the approaching election in May. Seems like it. Our Tone has had 10 ' Grin filled years ' to establish his credentials, and as a lifelong labour supporter, I am afraid he has failed to convince. He told us at the outset that everything his government did or sanctioned would be squeeky clean. Sorry Tone,you haven't fulfilled that promise by any means. Your buddy - Jack - is also not without severe shortcomings. Jacko cannot even reply to simple questions like - ' Can Holyrood be likened to Westminster, as Holyrood is to Scotland ( Outside the Central Belt ). Unless you live north of the Forth, I'm afraid you cannot answer that question.

"So, if England's attacked, the fall-out will stop at Carter Bar?" he (Tony Blair) asked"
Sorry , if England is attacked, does he think the fall out would stop at the English Channel and not go to France?
His arguement is absolute rubbish, based on fear an inuendo. IF England were ever attacked by a nuclear weapon it would just be the British Isles that would be effected but the whole of western europe

I hate Blair and Labour...though I can't help looking at that pic of him and feeling sorry for the guy. He's obviously now TOTALLY in nervous breakdown and exhausted.

Who's Tony Blair again?

Labour is on the run. I will be voting SNP.

how can one comment on that

how can one comment on that

I can't believe there are no comments here yet.

So Tory Blair has at last declared 'war' on Scotland.
Stand by for more lies from the mouth of this pathological teller of blatant inexactitudes.

If he want's to fight the 'Parish Cooncil' elections on what Black Jack and his 'expense account fiddling, croonies' have done 'for the Benefit of Scotland' then so be it.

His chide about a 'Nuclear war scenario', shows just how low this 'Thatcherite Pirate' will go to preserve Englands Domination over the free people of this fair Country.

Lets examine his 'politics of Grievance'.

He is basically stating it is wrong to identify a 'wrong doing' and then actively campaign to address and rectify that 'wrong doing' viz-a-viz I have a grievance, I address that greivance and rectify it = 'Progress'
ergo no greivance = no progress.

Wake up you fork tongued tories!!!! Politics is ABOUT Grievances!!!

Let's take it a stage further Dubya has a grievance with Sadam, Dubya kicks Sadams butt = Progress??

So then Tory B liar you are wrong in backing Dubya as that is following a 'Cause' or the politics of 'Cause' or 'Grievance'

If there were no 'Grievances', there would be no 'Politics of Progress'

If Black Jack and Tory B liar, feel that by following an extreme 'right wing' agenda, that we have made 'progress'. I have just one question for them.

Why has the poorest portion of the populus of the UK suffered more deprivation, in real terms, at thier hands, than under any previous 'Labour' Administration?

Answers in full to everyone in the UK and more especially those of us under John Bull's Domain in the formerly Free Countries that make up this Illegal Union.

Let thier words come back with a vengance to haunt and destroy them at the polls in May 07.

Make the Tri-centennial year our Freedom Year!!!

And let this Evil Empire crumble and dissolve for ever.

'The Scots deserve no pity, if they voluntarily surrender their united and separate

How this former long haired guitar player who is ashamed of being Scottish and in any way being connected (unless when seeking their votes) has the gall to come and lambast Scottish people is beyond belief?
He has revealed himself as being as notorious a liar and as guilty of war crimes as the former Nazi,
Doctor Goebbels.
There can no more greater political hypocrite than this glory and power seeking impostor.

That's me bloke!

So much for 'freedom of Speech'

New Labour has successfuly killed off freedom and democracy as your reply to my initial comment has gone to prove.

Billy Liar has spoken. “The SNP are the basest of metal”. Is that as opposed to the corroded, rusted and mangled structure of Labour and the remnants of the conservatives.

“Politics of Zero progress”. Compared with post-war Britian – Zero progress would be progress indeed! A change from back pedalling.

“Divorce is expensive”. From personal experience, I agree – initially. It took me five years and every penny I had to obtain my divorce. Finally I was a free man but with a load of unpaid and pressing bills. With little hope, I approached my bank for a loan and to my surprise I was given more than I’d asked for. In the past, a penny overdrawn and I would be called to account. I asked the manager why the difference and he replied “I know who spent the money and that’s now stopped – you’re a good risk. Since then I’ve never looked back in health wealth and happiness. Now I ask why I didn’t do it sooner.
We all know who spends the money in this Union, although they’re careful that we don’t find out how much. Prof. McCrone anybody. That does not include the waste on pretending we are still Great Britain; nobody uses the Great anymore it’s just Britain and even that just means England. Nor does it include going to war against people who have done us no actual harm, or even threatened us. And all to be able to stand at the side of the most incompetent US President ever, in the hope he will give us a smile and maybe, just maybe, a pat on the head for being good doggies. I’ve no doubt that this divorce will cost us dear but the rewards of freedom are worth it. Prior to the Union we were a well regarded nation throughout the world and particularly in Europe and we can be again.

“SNP campaign around a cause”. No argument there! It is a just cause and long overdue.

“Normal politics of left and right”. What does he mean? The punch & Judy show at Westminster? Why not try a truly democratic government with real representatives of the people and n

Continued
“Focus in the issue of independence. Shame we have to debate existence of the UK interdependence world countries". Yes! Let us focus on the legitimate desire of the Scottish people and let us stand as one of those countries taking part and contribution to a free world not shackled to that burnt out parody of a government in Westminster.

“Catastrophic for any nation to rely so completely on the price of oil”. This government and its predecessors ,have relied on oil to balance their crooked books for the last thirty years. Yes, we will use oil revenues to help rebuild our nation, but show me where in the SNP Policy documents does it say that we will forever rely on oil.

“Prediction of oil at £18”. This is simple Scaremongering on an almost laughable scale. “Ask any body in the oil industry”. Well until I retired I was in the oil industry so perhaps I qualify. You don’t need to be in the oil industry to know that the oil price fluctuates nor to know that the price continuously rises. It’s not that long ago that the price was around 4$ a barrel. We keep being told that oil is running out, but demand is increasing. I assume that these mandarins of the Labour Party have heard of the law of supply and demand. I rather think the oil price may follow a hockey stick curve in the not too distant future. Of course Scotland has many other energy resources, we are an energy rich country but our greatest resource is the people of Scotland.

“Nuclear policy”. This is for the Scottish people and only the Scottish people to decide.

“McConnell made Scotland better”. HOW?

“McConnell and Blair allies against Salmond”. Ah Well! War makes strange bedfellows indeed.!!

It is time Scotland threw off the shackles of this enforced marriage and stood on its own two feet. We were once a proud and strong nation and can be again. This government of Westminster, regardless of party, would like to keep us as ‘social dependants’ just l

Lord Foulkes can have a prize if he can name the MPs who have been evicted from the Commons for being drunk and incapable?

I shall be pleased to reveal on world - wide Internet what sham democracy exists in Scotland when you must comment the way our media desires other-wise it is binned. Shame on you! Are you such a closet supporter of the shameful liar and hypocrite Blair that you only allow lies adulating this lying Bilderberger?

I surrender; and I wish in hind sight, that people such as me had surrendered to the Nazis during the Second World War conflict!
You are a disgrace to the word FREEDOM!

Dear Politicians,
Please look at the state of the West of Scotland.The worst health record,the lowest number of crimes solved,the highest number of drink and drug abusers,the largest number of unemployed youth.
The failure of the education...education...education mantra in the primary secondary and tertiary education sector is a national disgrace.
The police,health workers and educationalists cannot make a move, without the politicians making their jobs impossible with unneccessary paperwork and some other new and useless project.
Isn't it about time to do what we elected you people to do?The future depends on it.If you cannot deliver.............there are others ready to do your job.
Mentorscotus.

wot no comments?

I just can't wait until the May election. I just hope the Scottish People show some real courage and spit the Labour Party into the gutter were they belong. I realise it will be a struggle for the Scottish Nation to go it alone but I know we can rise to the challenge and create a powerful and confident future for us all. The words of Tony Blair and his cronies only help my determination and hopefully a huge majority of us Scots to see the end of English rule forever.

1309hr and not one comment !

Obviously, the Scotsman has been hit with a gagging order !

Labour and Englisjh establisment will do whatever it takes to stop Scotland going indepdent and that includes putting troops on streets !

Why according to B-Lair and Paw Broon is Scotland to only country in the world supposedly incapable of ruling themselves ? Mind you we really don't want to type of democracy Iraq or Afghanistan style forced on the people by Bush and B-Lair.

Tony Blair has a bloody nerve accusing anybody else of employing politics of fear!

It would appear that the Scottish Labour Party with it's tentacles deeply embedded now in the English Parliament is in panic!

Seems to me that even my Scottish non gullible British friends have had enough of the MacMafia.

How soon can we have free care for our elderly and student grants? A truly vote rigging dodge!

Corrupt B.......individuals!

wot still no comments/

Give us your best "Bleary Blair" we already know what your made of. "slugs and snails and puppy dogs tails"

What a waste of space this Blair character (if that's not stretching the word 'character' too far) is. I'm English through and through. My father had the great misfortune to serve(??) in the Cameron Highlanders during the war and hated the Scottish bullying experience with a passion. But I hope you vote SNP in bucket loads.
The oil is an irrelevance. It will go in a few years anyway so has to be ignored. Plainly the union satisfies neither Scots nor English. Either the Scots influece English laws or the English Scots - not a happy arrangement. Blair talks as though the border between Scotland and England will become like the Iron Curtain. If we can live with Poles in England I'm sure the Scots won't be a problem.
So who is going to attack England? Indeed who is England going to attack - only those that the Yanks ordain!
Come on Jocks free us from this yoke. Rise up and declare independance from these scoundrels.

"In a modern, interdependent world, countries are moving together, not apart." The Prime Minister
said...

Och Aye Tony, just like how you have attached your arse to the George Bush's willie in the USA.

Dont get me wrong, I have nothing against that sort of thing, but dont put everyone elses' arse in a sling as well.

bleary blair give us your best shot,"slugs and snails and pupy dogs tails "thats what little boys are made of

Is Labour worried about the SNP threat perchance? Tony Baloney knows next to nothing and cares even less about Scotland. No doubt the mindless 'fears and smears' will continue but I don't think they will be as effective this time as in 2003. Roll on May (roll off TB).

A PARTY LED BY A LIAR AND A MURDERER.

A party that does not care about the interests of Scotland.

A party in Scotland led by the half-wit McConnell.

A party not worthy of votes.

Deary,deary me, praise for jackboot.

Mr Blair set the current ball rolling with devolution. His (and Mr Brown's) comments could well be delivering a coup to the pro-independence side. Methink he doth protest too much!

Politics of fear and grievance? What the blazes does that mean? Its just another phrase for the Labour voters to repeat and think they sound intelligent,when in fact they merely confirm that they are too stupid to realise it means absolutely nothing of any substance at all.
If there are any genuine reasons why Scotland cannot go it alone it must be the government of the last 300 years who are reponsible for that, since we have only had the Westminster parties even when you include Holyrood.
Far from being an argument against seperation,its one more reason why we must leave!
The Labour party repeat the same empty meaningless drivel again and again,parrot fashion and its obvious that their faithful have not got the brains to work out that its all lies!Elect these morons into government I THINK NOT!

"It can be all things to all people except that, in the end, it is not all things, but one thing: an outdated, reactionary view of the nation state that is not socialist, is not Conservative, not anything other than the basest metal of politics, the politics of grievance."

Sounds to me like a good description of New Labour - something that is neither here nor there.

Is this the same man who claimed that Iraq had the ability to strike the UK within 45 minutes, talking about an alleged SNP-politics of "fear and grievance"?

'Interest rates are down'? Is this the achievement of the Labourite war pigs or the City and its Bank which raises and lowers rates? Rates and oil prices went down for the US elections.

That this creature is a friend and ally George W. Bush should be enough to condemn him out of hand for all eternity!

That Labour keeps this creature as the leader of a once honourable party is ample testimony that this party has outlived its usefulness as a driving force for rising living standards for working men and women...If Anthony Blair is all that Labour stands for and behind, then Labour deserves to disappear from the political stage and stand with the Liberal Party conclaved now to little more than the crowd 'round and 'bout the Marble Arch and Speaker's Corner before disappearing forever into the maw leading to the Central Line.

Blair and Labour stand for the slaughter and ruin of the Squaddies.

Blair and Labour stand for unchecked, untrammeled immigration.

Blair and Labour stand for a police state as a check on all those who would resist the wanton, immoral and unjust regime that he leads in Her Majesty's and Parliament's name...in the name of the subjects of the United Kingdom.

While one need not agree with every dot on every 'i' of the SNP's program...the proof is in the pudding as they say...and the Labour pudding is a vile thing, conjured with the blood of innocents, concocted with extravagance and waste of monies taxed from the labour of working men and women.

Now, do you really want to choke down another bowl of Labour 'sick' or will you let your own Scot leaders try their hand at dumping the foul Labour muck down the drain and starting anew with fresh, good Scottish ingredients?

the Tony fella should keep his nose out of Scottish Politics

Yer tea's oot, Blair!

Fear & grievance....Hmmm, sounds like Lab & Tory tae me!

Yer man Gogs says a vote for SNP would NOT be good for the UK..Aye, why on earth should WE care what is good for E&*land, Wales or NI..Is it not time WE cared for what is good for us!!!!

Vote SNP, vote maturity, vote for our future!

Yer tea's oot Blair!

The politics of fear & grievance & the past?

That can only apply to Labour or the Tory's!

SNP means the future, means taking care of our own lives..at last!

Yer tea's oot Blair!

The politics of the past? Fear & grievance?
That was, & is, the Labour/Tories!

SNP means the future, means taking our fate in our own hands! Vote independence!

Yer tea's oot Blair!

The politics of fear, grievance & the past?

That was & is, labour & Tory.

SNP is our chance for the future!

Vote independence!

Now we have Bliar on the run. Of course the 'fallout' from a nuclear attack on England won't stop at the Scottish border Just the smae as it would not stop at the border of any other nuclear free country if their neighbours were attacked. That does not detract from their right to be nuclear free themselves. It simply means that they will not let 'neighbours' use their countries for bases for their nuclear weapons or to dump their nuclear waste in. What a low intellect remark that was Bliar.
As for the cost of a barrel of oil in the future. It is enough that the people of Scotland know that both Labour and Conservatives in turn have hidden the true cost of Scotlands wealth by direct lies while stealing the massive profits that they have gained from our oil to throw away on trying to fill the economic black holes that they have created while telling us that the union is stronger than the countries themselves. So what if the cost of oil does go down as low as he predicts. There is more oil left there now than previous 'unionist' governments said there was to begin with and once independent, this revenue will come to Scotland. Because about 56 million people in what will be left of the union will have been removed from the equation; the 6 million people left in Scotland will benefit greatly. The revenue lost to the rest of the union will be sorely missed by them. Of course we would get no more financial 'aid' from the 'union' but hey, we 'may' be able to give them a loan to tide them over. Returnable with interest of course.
As to his statement " In a modern, interdependent world, countries are moving together, not apart." What planet is this man living on? Hasn't he seen what has happened all over the world with countries seeking their own identities and breaking into independent nations. Few of them have the natural wealth of Scotland but ALL have their own voice in the world and they are happy to sink or swim in the knowledge that

What a nerve Tony Blair has. An Eglishman ( his own categoric statement ) coming up to Scotland to tell Scots how they should vote and what a dismal failure we would all be when he gain our sefl-respect once more and become a normal independent nation once again, as we were pre c1707!

Moaning on the rostrum in our Highland town of Oban of the dire circumstances we all face when we become independent of his war-mongering copy-cat policies of the other failed mentor George Bush!

And he says he despises the SNP's policy of scare mongering and grivances, while in the same breath he warns us all about the danger of what he calls "fall-out" at Carter Bar. Forgotten of course of the many times he has "fallen out" with his arch rival Gordon Brown and other leading members of his so-called "Socialist Party". Obviously a comedian as well!

Mac Mhic Raonuill

The reason why this "old debate", like that of Britian being in Europe, keeps raising its head is because no one asked the people in the first place. Scotland was always a land "of the people" not "of the rulers" and the people want their say.

"Divorce is expensive"
Tell Blair, McConnell and all the rest who are holding Scotland back that we are still paying for the wedding.

Where oh where are the comments?
Do I detect the smell of censorship?
It wouldn't be due to the Scottish Labour Party Conference pehaps and the desire of readers to comment on Blairs speech.

Haw! Haw! Haw! The mans a clown, standing there giving it pelters to a bunch of morons
Listen good,Tony. You and that gaggle's fight begins when you ATTEMPT to dump your ATOMIC WASTE in SCOTLAND. Make no mistake the NEW labour party shall be held to account. I've started knitting.

yawn

Ah well, there goes my vote for Labour.

Iraq was almost bad enough, but obviously there's still something left in Scotland for Westminster to plunder.

Dear Adjudicator,
You havent printed my comment yet and it is 17:21 I havent sworn been abusive nor offensive.What is wrong?

I don't have much time for Tony Blair these days, but I'd rather have him than that smarmy, double chinned, fat git from Aberdeenshire running the country.

Is it worth any of us commenting on issues important to us. It seems that if we don't pass the 'censor' then our opinions will not be aired. I adhered to the 4 stipulations you set when posting comments and my only transgretion was to misspell Blair as Bliar and that has been a common feature in such comments on this topic. Are you prepared to question that this is in fact true anyway? For my post to be answered with 'Thanks for your comment. Comments on this article must be approved by our moderator before being displayed.' smacks of Big Brother. Are you afraid that someone might write something that could be used by others in order to get them to give up the 'sheepishly' voting for Labour that we inherited from our predecessors?
Post this comment if only to show that comments have been made. I don't even get the chance to see that a posting has been made farless censored and deleted before people can see my comment. Where is my free speech? It really is time.

So Blair says that he "detested" the SNP's "politics of fear and grievance". This from the party that has basically said that Scotland is too poor and stupid to go it alone. The hypocrisy of the Labour Party is breathtaking

This is all extremely odd. I would have thought that the PM's speech would have provoked a lengthy and interesting debate in the Scotsman's excellent Comment facility. But not a whisper. Is nobody listening to Mr Blair or is the Scotsman indulging in a spot of censorship? Or maybe it's my PC and the new Internet Explorer 7 that's blocking access to the anticipated comments?

A suprising lack of input on this story. Where are the Nationalists today? AJ?

Wot? Still no comments. It is time.

still silence then? has the Scotsman gone pro Tony in its old age?

I’m at the other end of the earth and obviously miss a lot of what is happening g in the UK.
Does Tony Blair talk of Scottish independence only in Scotland? If he doesn’t mention it much when delivering speeches in England it may indicate that Scotland - independence and the Union is no big deal south of the border - they don’t really care.

How long does the moderator take?

Was'nt the intent of the labor government granting the devolution vote merely an appeasment ploy in the first place?

Help me out please. Blair, a minor "shrub", is p****d off at the SNP for a "climate of fear & grievance." I guess that is the same as his fear of Hussein & WMDs. Get a life Tony, move on or move over.

Well, I haven't seen any of the Scottish Labour gathering in Oban yet. Can somebody send me a video link?

But I'm sure Mrs Jones is right about the Prime Minister's communicative abilities. He is second-to-none in UK politics.

I think she may be wrong when she said, "..... while she loved Tony Blair, she wasn't surprised he was standing down (because) his body can't take any more."

I am constantly surprised how much he CAN take. And he keeps coming back for more! The man's amazing.

Blair has more political ability and nous oozing out of the knifewounds in his back than any of his would-be successors in ANY party. Wounds inflicted by his "friend" the Chancellor, by the way, Mrs Jones, in case you have forgotten. Brown and his cabal are the reason Blair is going before he said he would.

Soon you could have Brown in charge and then you'll wonder why Labour threw out one Scots-born international leader (Blair) for a second-class politician like Brown.

I don't live in Scotland now, but I sincerely hope they don't go for Salmond in the local elections. Alex Salmond is a man with ONE aim in life - to get Blair. His hatred (and jealousy) of Blair is clear to see in Prime Minister's Questions every week. He is, in my humble opinion, a nasty piece of work.

Mrs Jones, if she ever goes onto the internet, should click through to my site which has one aim in mind too. To keep Tony Blair as Prime Minister.

http://keeptonyblairforpm.wordpress.com

Panicking now eh Blair!

Your time, the unions time is past.

Prosperous Scotland and NO Union!

ALba Gu Brath!

The party which Mr Blair is unfortunely leader was created by people with a justified grievance

These people must go. Corrupt, dishonest, inept and misguided, as they always have been.

Post-war they dismantled everything we stood for and replaced it with a welfare feast for parasites. They demolished our architectural history and erected modernist slums, while lining the pockets of their friends.

Now, they are dismantling what is left of the United Kingdom - selling out Northern Ireland to the back-stabbers who tried to help German nazis win the war - and making Scotland a laughing stock with an over-priced eyesore for a "parliament" full of sweetie-mice politicians.

Labour, new or otherwise, is a pariah. Socialism is merely covetousness. I note that none of the "socialists" in the current government subjects their children to the shambolic educational system they destroyed under their last term of office!

I note that the current mob thoroughly enjoy the trappings of Empire and past glories, while making sure no-one else gets a shot at it!

In Australia, the former NSW(Labour) Premier, Bob Carr, has cost tax-payers $450,000 since he resigned last year; And they have the cheek to call the Royal Family parasites!

I don't see millions of tourists flocking to Great Britain to see the house Tony Blair grew up in, or the interminable and puffed-up council meetings of an inner London borough!

SOCIALISM IS DEAD. LONG LIVE THE QUEEN!

So, if England's attacked, the fall-out will stop at Carter Bar?" - Tony Blair
So, this is a reason to shun Independence? - Sheena

This must be the most ridiculous reason yet for maintaing the Union.

The party which Mr Blair is unfortunely leader was created by people with a justified grievance

What the story here?
No posts on the speech of the year?

aye, sic a parcel an a that!

After reading Tony Blair's rhetoric about the SNP, I like others I expect, realize that this man doesn't have Scotland at heart, too biased for England. My contention is, if Scotland were broke, had no world friends, spurned by this one and that one, political parties included, and went out alone, it would still be Scotland, the proud nation we all brag about, and our fellow countrymen of the past fought and died for. And one morning, all Scots would wake up in their beds and tell themselves that Scotland is now free of a 300 year yolk, of being a mere provincial.

aye, sic a parcel an a that!

Yes we all remember Mr Blair's passionate and comprehensive lies about Iraq too.
All Scottish labourites should revue the 'wonderful' Iraqi results.

So Tony is now the self appointed champion of the anti Scottish Independence Cause and pits himself head-on against the SNP. Great!...Can you imagine Keir Hardie agreeing with this effete, alleged friend of the working man. It's time those Scots families who for years have traditionally identified themselves with the Labour Party as their 'Protector' should realise that any English based political party will never answer their needs and that delegated power is a denial in terms.

It is also time for fellow Scots to stop denigrating their parliament however powerless it is. The parliament we have, is for the time being all we've got and it is an excellent platform (once the SNP is elected) from which to build and train an experienced cadre of politicians,legislators and executives who believe in Scotland and can demonstrate their ability to govern. We have to persuade those Scots who are faint-hearted about the competence of their countrymen (and women) and we have to show the world that we are not a 'Whisky Galore' comedy show.

Among the explosion of postings attached to Saturday's Blair story (I stopped counting at 700), were some excellent data refuting Blairs claims of non viability for independence. Let's have more of this and a little less rant and rave. It is up to all of us not only read and learn of the facts supporting these socio-economic benefits but to help others understand them...particularly the die-hard labourites that Tony Blair deperately needs to keep his government in power. Let those of us who currently support SNP have a clear understanding of our resources, strategies and objectives plus the counter arguments and develope the ability to reason with and influence others, without being offensive.Certainly keep the passion! it's the driving force but If each one of us were to covince only just five fence-sitters to vote SNP...imagine the strength of the cause!

Don't forget the opposition MSP's. Everyone of them (who is a

Oi! Mods! Where's the Big Debate?Democracy in action and all that ....

blair is looking for a legacy? he has one, the prime minister who could have done so much good but 'blew it', a walking, talking distaster.

So Tony's come out as the champion of the anti Scottish Independence movement and is going to go head on against the SNP. Great! He'll be an excellent recruiter! Can you imagine Jack McLellon wringing his hands at the fallout and what Keir Hardie would have thought of this effete, so-called friend of the Scottish worker. Those Scots families who have voted Labour for years, must by now... recognise that no English based political party is ever going to answer their needs or pay them the least bit of attention....except with pre-election promises.

So while the last poll was greatly encouraging there is much to be done.Tony Blair has the entire British government at his disposal to disseminate anti independence propaganda and will be ruthless in it's use. The Thursday Scotsman postings on Blairs first sally were compelling in number. I stopped counting at 700. Despite the rants and raves Many of the posting contained vital data and well reasoned pro-independence arguments and we need much more of this. Now that we have momentum, those of us who support independence have a duty to fully educate ourselves with all the facts so that we can influence and reason with the faint-hearted and less informed. Just imagine if every supporter could reach out to just five people and get them to vote SNP. Keep the passion!...it's the driving force but don't be offensive.

It's also important to stop denigrating our Scottish Parliament. Although it is today, relatively powerless it is the only significant platform (once the SNP are in power) from which to launch an effective campaign for final independence and begin to build an institution with world wide recognition. Here we can train and motivate future legislators, executives and civil servants and demonstrate our ability to self govern. If we think our Parliament is Mickey Mouse ...then the world will believe us and Tony Blair will be delighted!

And don't forget the opposition MSPs. Sooner or later if they

Face facts Mr B.Lair labour is going to lose in May and its all your fault. woo hoo

You have got to laugh. Yet again we have some eejit trying to scaremonger the electorate instead of giving us facts. The facts are that every country around the world is nationalistic, including Mr Blair's England.

What is wrong with nationalism? Why must we equate it with something bad? Why can people not be proud of who they are and want to do the best for themselves and their fellow countryman?

Nationalism does not equal the hateful, intolerant behaviour that Mr Blair tries so hard to portray. His speech says much more about his narrow, petty little mind than it does about nationalism.

It's time to give these sad little men their marching orders and begin the hunt for government that is based on sensible, mature and FACTUAL arguments.

Tony Blair; Gordon Brown; Jack McConnel? Thank god I do not have to live under their leadership....

>>>
.... he (Tony Bliar) argued that nationalism would borrow "any clothes" to suit its arguments.

"It can be all things to all people except that, in the end, it is not all things, but one thing: an outdated, reactionary view of the nation state that is not socialist,...
<<<

Funny we were thinking just the same things about your Nue Labour Party Tony!

Every entity has or should have the right to govern themselves as its people determine. You are lucky to be able to do it by vote while for us it took a war for America to be free.
It all also boils down to the question "will you gain more than you will loose"?

.

What the P.M. truly fears is that Scottish independence will result in the new nation driving on the correct side of the road.

Wot, no comments yet?!

I thought Alex Salmond's article on Tony the tube was very good and quite a good laugh to boot. Tony's speech was completely lame, and rest of the labour party had even worst and utterly pie in the sky reasons for the union. If that was best they've got to stick with the union, no wonder they are worried.

Anyone would think that when Scotland gains independence that huge shutters are going to come down and cut Scotland off from the rest of the island.

What absolute twaddle!

I think that we can really see who is peddling the politics of fear and it is not the SNP.

If the UK does suffer a nuclear attack, whose dirty war will probably be one of the main reasons.......? Also, what does the idea of not wanting to have nuclear weapons or power stations on one's soil have to do with being the target of an attack anyway? I mean, what idiot writes that sort of drivel?

It's time to kick Labour out and look to the party that really cares about Scotland's interests (not the Lib Dems, by the way)

Why can I not see the other comments?

#147 You may have missed the point a bit, but the leaders of parties in opposition to the government are meant to go for the Prime Minister at PMQs

WHY ARE LABOUR RUNNING SO SCARED????
SNP --- BORDER GUARDS/OIL RUNNING OUT/FINANCIAL COYS LEAVING/EXCESSIVE TAXATION /AND OH YESALL THE ENGLISH PEOPLE IN SCOTLAND GOING BACK SOUTH WHAT A LOAD OF *******RUBBISH******
IF SCOTLAND IS SUCH A DRAG ON THE ENGLISH YOU;D THINK THEY WOULD WANT RID OF US OR COULD THAT BE TOO SIMPLE AN ANSWER??????
COULD IT BE THAT THE ENGLISH GRAVY TRAIN WOULD DRY UP TAKE THE SCOTS OUT THE GOVERMENT WHAT HAVE YOU GOT BECKETT /HAIN ECT YOU COULD ALWAYS BRING BACK MANDY (OH DEAR) AND I MEAN DEAR.MIND YOU BROWN/REID/ALEXANDER ARE SCOTS &I BELEIVE BLAIR WAS BORN IN SCOTLAND BUT WE WONT TALK ABOUT THAT (WILL WE) WITH THE MESS WE ARE IN FLAME-ING
LORD SUTCH IS BEGINING TO LOOK GOODAND OH YES THE SPEAKER GOBILS McGILLIKUDY IS A SCOT MAY-BE WE SHOULD ALL GO SOUTH//

The tactics of the Labour party are clear. Put forward absolutely any old drivel in the knowledge that the only people who support Labour will be too stupid to know if it actually means anything,and what that could possibly be. The politics of democracy demand that the party in power be opposed,otherwise you live in a one party state (like Strathclyde has been for far too long),and you could be excused for thinking its Labours fault since nobody else ever governed Glasgow and the surrounding district,,and it cant possibly therefore be anybody elses fault that our largest city once boasted the worst housing in Europe and has now risen to murder capital. WOW !
The really frightening part is 700 people went to Oban who believe what Blair is saying,when the rest of us are still trying to figure out what he is saying.apart from he must be obeyed as in totalitarian government. If I am ever going to accept a dictator it certainly will NOT be the Dud frae Duddingston!

Labour delegates were impressed by what happened at their conference! Now you really are taking the Michael. It was the biggest preach to the only people stupid enough to listen excersize I have ever witnessed!Brain dead ONE and ALL !
I am a democrat and believe in the one man one vote representation,but it works best when there is an informed electorate. When you see the Labour party delegates you could be forgiven for momentarily wondering if giving everybody the vote is such a good idea after all!Nevertheless Im sure we will remain a democracy despite Blairs attempts at being the Supreme Being .IT will be as an independent Scotland though,because there is now absolutely nothing left of what little credibility the Labour Party ever had. They wont need Redding cards to identify their supporters at the next election,they will all have that same blank look on their face as the Oban 700 had. DOH !

This is an encouraging speech from Blair. It means we must have a few resources left for Westminster to plunder.

Lets just hope he doesn't discover we have weapons of mass destruction.

Has anyone seen the Sunday Telegraph poll? 53% of Scots want independence and 59% of English want independence for Scotland. That should cheer you nationalists up - or perhaps not as the case may be. Also, says most people in England want England to break away from every other part of the UK (ie including Wales and NI). This means a) English Parliament is a non-starter and b) all hell is possibly about to break lose. Hope the union survives. This is looking very emotional.

Amasing, All I've heard about this confrence is the Labour party slag of the SNP.

Sounds a bit like to me that they held this confrence with main aim to slag of the SNP. How pefetic.
I'm lost for words, I thought party conferces were about whats going on within there party and what there plans are for the future. It would appear from this article that there aims for the future are to slag of the main oposeion. How very sad. The Scottish labour party are really like children in the playground. Lets all hope that the unionist lose the election in May. Then we'll have more Adults who want to do work for Scotland and not just the noevlity stuff like McConnell.

What will really be interesting is the next Scottish opinion poll.

If the SNP and independence advance continues then Labour, already in an advanced state of panic, will go into meltdown.

I saw Salmond deal superbly with John Reid on the BBC today- Reid is Labour's best debaterf .

If Blair is wise he will stay away from Alex.

172. Brian1, Dingwall
>>>
Lets just hope he doesn't discover we have weapons of mass destruction.
<<<

Aye that's the thing, we do, HIS.

Enough to destroy every living thing on the planet many times over.

Just who they are pointed at though, there's the question, and under what circumstances is he prepared to use them?

To bomb Asama bin Laden perhaps, remember him?

if England is attacked where will the nuclear fall out stop, Carter Bar?

It will be of little consequence to Scots, the first nuclear strikes will be on the Clyde.

After that there won't be many Scottish voters left to worry about nuclear fall-out, and whether it crosses the border or not.

173. Royster: -
I’ve read many of your posts and from their general tenor I conclude that you may well be a professional PR lackey of the unionist persuasion, therefore it is difficult to take your rambling seriously. Many of your arguments are tautologies and as such are baseless and unworthy of response, other than to make you aware that you have been exposed and should be ignored.
The foregoing is amply demonstrated by your post @173. You have distorted the growing desire of the thinking Englishman to have an English Parliament run solely by English MP’s. I don’t think any Scot will have a problem with that indeed it is area where we can support each other and put paid to the lie of anti-English bias north of the border.

174. Eve, Scotland: -
My dear Eve nice to see you are still contributing to the forum
To misquote Shakespeare: Blair is a great noise signifying nothing!
Blair’s rant against the SNP (and similar noises from those around him) at the party conference clearly indicated that they – the Labour Party – have no policies to discuss,: nothing to offer, so they try to distract attention from their failure by starting a row in the hope that the press will chase that bone instead of their lack of a believable policy

#175. anderson

No editorial comments yet on what happens to UK Labour when, as it appears inevitable, the Conservatives win by a landslide of historic proportions at the next Westminster General election.

Due anytime, after the Scottish Parliamentary elections provide a comprehensive defeat for wee Union Jock and Tony Bliar.

Gordon Brown may be in the running for the shortest term ever as UK Prime Minister, but get handed the Chalice of being PM during the dissolution of the UK and, as the sitting MP of a Scottish constituency at Westminster.

Tony's parting 'gift'

The intriguing question presents itself.

What does Gordon Brown and his Scottish Westminster MPs do with themselves when Alex Salmond delivers a 'yes' result to the Independence referendum, and secede from the Union?

Labour will be in civil war with itself as the English rump of Labour MPs work out what to do with themselves.

It may well be the case that the only credible center left party still standing by 2008/9 will be the SNP!

Is it any wonder senior Labour politicians have a haunted look about them these days?

#177. Sanny, In reply to your condescending post. I have nothing to do with PR.

there must be an election due in SCOTLAND all of a sudden all these heayyweight "ex-pats " BLAIR ,BROWN, REID ARE PAYING US A FLYING VISIT.we.ve had the b liar apoligising for the potato famine in IRELAND 150 years ago, now its the slave trade in AFRICA 200 years ago......when will he apoigise for IRAQ today??

"""TONY Blair delivered his most passionate and comprehensive condemnation of Scottish nationalism yesterday, declaring that he "detested" the SNP's "politics of fear and grievance"""

He'll have been delighted to hear Dr John Reid's contribution in this morning's press then I take it?

#42 - William - Don't lumber us with your failed Scottish politicians - Blair is one of yours - please take him, and Brown and Reid and all the rest back when you go.
#119 Friend o.. you've said it all for me
#144 Robbie - even more English than Scots want an independent parliament - but we are only just beginning to talk back against the PC clods who equate English nationalism with racism - we have been propagandised into cowering if anyone shouts racist but the worm is turning - watch this space. Incdentally Reid might be right when he puts up the fear of illegal immigration to an independent Scotland - England is awash with illegals, and they'll have to go somewhere now we are waking up.
#151 Wee Hev - thanks - at last a clear view of Labour. When they lose Scotland, they lose the UK, because we in England have NEVER voted them a majority
#170 Bawsy - Don't shout - Yes we do want to get rid of you- or rather we too want to run our own country - The only people who want you are the Socialists you keep voting in to distort the UK parliament

Here's a job for you MP's, such as John Reid.Save Monkland's A and E.
Here's a job for you Tony.Proper medical services for everyone.
Here's a job for you Des Brown,proper aftercare for our brave forces.
Here's a job for you in the Edinburgh Parliament, proper medication for those with long term illness and assistance in the home, for their carers.

If you cannot do the job we elected you to do,we will get someone else.

Funny ,not long ago Blair was pretending that he was not a Scot

There is an air of desperation about this.

What is scaring them so much? Blair has been getting a lot of Scottish votes because of a perception that he favoured devolution.

Is this the last desperate attempts of certain MPs of Scottish origin who see that they will no longer have power in England if there is proper independence?

Blairs comments are the sting from the dying colonial wasp. Away with him! and english rule in Scotland.