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Scottish Secretary to sit in on SNP Cabinet

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Published Date: 23 April 2009
By DAVID MADDOX
FIRST Minister Alex Salmond is to set a date for one of his main political opponents to attend a Scottish Cabinet meeting.
Jim Murphy, the Labour UK government's Scottish Secretary, has written to the First Minister asking him to arrange a meeting after Mr Salmond accepted his offer to attend a Scottish Cabinet meeting to discuss the economy.

Mr Murphy said the Scottish people "won't forgive" politicians if partisan politics got in the way of economic recovery.

The letter is the latest stage of a political interplay which resulted in Mr Salmond being invited to dinner at the Prime Minister's house in North Queensferry, Fife, along with other Scottish political leaders to hold informal talks.

In his letter Mr Murphy said: "I think that we should discuss opportunities for working together on behalf of Scotland in these unprecedented times. It is more important than ever to work together."



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1

For Scotlands Future,

Vote For The SNP 23/04/2009 00:28:21
"Scottish Secretary to sit in on SNP Cabinet" - as an observer, not taking part - just like he does at the cabinet meetings in Downing street??

"...at the Prime Minister's house in North Queensferry, Fife..." that will be his "second" house, the one he claims ACA for, while living in a "grace and favour" house in Downing Street.

I hope Sir Ek ate up, because that's all he's going to see of Scottish Oil revenues while Maggie Brown in PM, and Scotland gets pocket money from Westminster.
2

Me Bungo Pony,

Dundee 23/04/2009 00:42:01
Perhaps he might learn something about standing up for Scotland instead of constantly trying to undermine confidence in it for Party political gain. Then again, he is a Party animal through and through with no experience of life outside the Party since leaving school. He is unlikely to turn on his meal ticket and will no doubt have his post meeting patronising statements ready before he's even left his house.

Just what is his job anyway?
3

Sierra Foothills Scot,

Diamond Springs 23/04/2009 01:57:04
#2 He has a formal job description but he seems to believe he is Governor General of Scotland.
4

subrosa,

23/04/2009 03:34:17
I'm not sure if this is a good move. Could be in some ways but the snub Alex Salmond got from Brown last week makes me think it would be better if Murphy stayed where he belongs.
5

Sierra Foothills Scot,

Diamond Springs 23/04/2009 03:44:12
#4 subrosa

It can be used a test. Murphy was invited as a guest. If he gets aggressive or offensive, Alex can adjourn the meeting and not invite him to the next one. If Murphy is an angel of civility, there is still no need to invite him again.
6

tartangladbach,

edinburgh 23/04/2009 04:35:40
smart move by jim boy! he knows he'll need a job in a years time. a bit of networking to keep on the gravy train, well done jim!
7

redcliffe62,

23/04/2009 04:39:03
it will be a set up job, a chance for spud to answer questions. something he avoids at all costs, but sitting in a chair hemmed in by snp cabinet mamebers he cannot do a steve mcqueen and try and escape.
might be fun as he begs just to be allowed to say no comment or just waffles on as he does on newsnicht with his buddy campbell.
8

donald,

glasgow 23/04/2009 07:42:55
When has he and his chums ever done anything for Scotland? He is even dutifully arguing for cutbacks for the nation he is paid to misrepresent. Ben Dover Hoose, London, England is where he belongs.

The sooner he takes his divisive Old Firm with him the better.
9

,

23/04/2009 07:58:15
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10

Tynietiger,

23/04/2009 08:22:56
Heard John Swinney on Radio Scotland. He is right UK government should scrap Trident replacement and ID cards rather than cutting the Scottish budget.

An efficiency saving by Westminster goes to London Treasury to spend on other things but an efficiency saving in Scotland (is a cut) goes to London Treasury despite latest GERS report proving Scotland was in surplus last year
11

McNasty,

Edinburgh 23/04/2009 08:24:10
I think Jim Murphy will benefit from sitting in on a Scottish government meeting.

He can go back to Westminster and let them know how a true democracy works.
12

smokey joe 1,

23/04/2009 08:39:16
A.Salmond and co will have to simplify discussions so as thicko spud understands what they are talking about.

13

,

23/04/2009 09:40:18
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14

Prudence,

Moray 23/04/2009 10:00:23
A positive move and a direct step in the right authentic communicative direction ( as per. Alistair direct Campbell ) There'll no be much laughs though .
15

Mr. Lachie Todd,

Edinburgh 23/04/2009 10:08:55
No matter how much fundamentalist Nationalists are suspicious of the Scottish Secretary's proposed participation in a Scottish cabinet meeting, this is to be welcomed?

Many forget that every Scots Unionist party is stuffed full of crypto-nationalists who will always defend Scotland's interests at the expense of our partners in this unitary State!

16

,

23/04/2009 10:21:09
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17

TheDisplacedGlaswegian,

Edinburgh 23/04/2009 11:00:52
This is a great move by Alex Salmond. With numpty infested Scottish Labour completely and utterly unable to perform, Salmond is sending a very strong message to Scotland that in order to take us forward, he has to bypass them. It's all good. Building a good working relationship with the UK Government is crucial for Scotland. Scottish labour can't do this as they are simply told what do say and do - they are effectively irrelevant and it's perfectly clear that their Westminster counterparts treat them as such.
I think it's also dawned on some senior labour figures that it's crucial that Westminster labour show they can work with the SNP. Tactical voting will be crucial for labour at the next general election. Hopefully Gray will see this as a message to raise his game.
18

Brianwci,

23/04/2009 11:40:37
This is actually a very good move from an SNP point of view....enough said. Another win win situation for A.S. and co.
19

connaughtboy,

stonehaven 23/04/2009 11:50:01
7 it would be a good opportunity to waterboard him !
20

connaughtboy,

stonehaven 23/04/2009 11:53:50
12 I heard Swinney too. Wee Gary Robertson wasn't best pleased that Swinney was able to list off a detailed list of potential savings. He just resorted to his rude and petty style of interviewing.

Has anyone else noticed how dumbed down Good Morning Scotland has become over the last couple of years? I can hardly bear to listen to it anymore.
21

Arfur,

23/04/2009 12:47:17
Scull will be torn to shreads in that meeting while Salmond will look good no matter what happens.

Scull come out saying he was tore to shreads, Salmond will be look at as fighting Scotlands corner....

Scull comes out saying meeting went well, Salmond looks like he is working with the UK gov for Scotland.

Another win - win.
22

Tris,

23/04/2009 13:57:04

I just wonder how genuine the Cabinet meeting will be with Spud sitting there taping it all for his big boss to listen to afterwards.

Still Brown may learn something about how to run a Cabinet meeting, and there may be benefits to be had.

It certainly puts Alex on the high moral ground after that buffoon refused to allow the Scottish Cabinet to sit in with the English one.

Alex 1 Gordo 0, as usual.
23

smokey joe 1,

23/04/2009 17:18:21
Mibee Salmond has a bone to pick with skeletor.

24

Curley Bill,

23/04/2009 17:22:35
#22 connaughtboy - It sure has! This bint Alison whatever is the worst by far. Gary (crush-a-grape) Robertson just has to parp and she'll laugh. It's supposed to be a 'flagship' new prog. for Chrissakes.
I miss the velvet-voiced Izzy Fraser - she's been posted missing since 'internet vermin' hating Doogie started at PQ
25

bully wee alba,

Edinburgh 23/04/2009 17:25:01
Scottish Secretary to sit in on SNP Cabinet


This is probably quite a good idea.

Murphy can go and get the tea and biscuits and make sure that everyone is supplied with a notepad and a pen.
26

Curley Bill,

23/04/2009 17:52:58
#31 - man-up, Smee, your cringe is showing...
27

hoblar,

23/04/2009 18:34:54
The sort of arrogance and contempt displayed above is typical and exactly why the mickey mouse views of the fewer than ever unionist commentators (which is why they multi post throughout) are a wee man mentality directly related to the equally depraved and amateur antics of New Labour.

To say that this disaster of a Labour Government (most unpopular ever) with the most unpopular leader in Gordon brown is quality is as vacuous a comment as you will ever read.

That arrogance won't lose them ANY election, it will be a COMBINATION of arrogance, amateur night antics, poor economic skills and basically they are just a load of old rubbish!

yep.
28

Jock Tamson,

Scotland, Caledonia, Alba 23/04/2009 18:43:53
Smee @ 29-31.

You manage to delude yourself thrice.

29. You believe in your published sums.
30. Radio 4. Live in English parochialism if you want.
31. It is an English cabinet in all but name.

Reality eludes you, doesn't it?
29

connaughtboy,

stonehaven 23/04/2009 21:06:10
30 sm

I lived 12 years in England and listened to that very programme all the time.

your point is??
30

frank mcbride,

lusitania 23/04/2009 23:52:38
#36, AM2.

Begone with your craven apologist comments.

sm753/AM2 says, Scots are too poor, too stupid, and too craven to govern ourselves.

Get a grip, man, and take a look at the reflection in your mirror; I'm sure it'll make you cringe.
31

Brianwci,

23/04/2009 23:56:09
When Murphy comes to tea perhaps a copy of this Herald article today will slow him down:

"Pressure piles on Labour as the SNP power ahead in the polls"

The latest polling makes grim reading for Labour on every count from voting intentions, to levels of party trust, to the individual standings of leaders.

There has been a 20-point swing on Westminster standings from Labour to the SNP. Far from facing mid-term blues, SNP ministers are stretching their lead at Holyrood. And the party's leader, Iain Gray, has plumbed disapproval levels not reached by his predecessor Wendy Alexander.

In short, if the latest YouGov poll on Scottish voting intentions speaks any truth at all, then the jig is truly up for Labour in the looming general election campaign, the European elections in June could be chastening, and prospects for Labour winning back control at Holyrood in two years will have stalled.
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The sampling period could not have been better for Messrs Brown and Darling - the eve of and the day of the Budget, a time when all the upbeat spinning of intentions had helped finally kill off the McBride/Draper sleaze affair and the Westminster expenses row, but before the horror of yesterday's front pages which almost universally traduced the Chancellor's best efforts.

This is a poll that is far more Glasgow East than Glenrothes, the best for the SNP since the autumn and a shift of seismic proportions within one month. In March YouGov put the SNP a single point ahead of Labour in the Holyrood constituency vote, two points behind in the regional vote, and 10 points behind in Westminster voting intentions.

A month later the same organisation using the same methods, albeit commissioned by the SNP itself, shows an astounding shift in fortunes. There has been a six-point shift in Holyrood constituency intentions (the SNP up two, Labour down four).

There has been an 11-point shift in the regional vote (the SNP up seven to 37%, Labour down four to 28%)
32

,

24/04/2009 00:03:06
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