The Political Giant, The Tough Clever Teacher, The Urbane and Determined Politician and Nicola Sturgeon.

To The old Glasgow fruit market for the Labour ‘No’ campaign meeting. Over 600 people crammed in to the hall with standing room only all the way up in to the balconies. There is no doubt that many of those present were there to show their solidarity and their love and respect for Gordon Brown, a man who, despite what the right wing press and their allies in the snp say remains hugely popular with the Scottish people, his ain folk. This popularity stems from the people’s innate ability to recognise someone who is not only a brilliant man but also a down to earth honest politician, the affection for him was palpable, they were welcoming and saying thanks to one of their own. Their message was defiant and could not have been clearer, they knew and wanted him to know that he had been unfairly treated by the establishment and they knew why as well. His brutal treatment was down to one main thing, fear, the establishment feared him, they feared him because of his intellect his energy and his dedication to the cause of socialism, no PM has ever received such constant abuse and they also knew he could not be bought. Anyone who can’t be bought frightens the Capitalists and Tories, all of whom have a price. Sharing the platform was Johann Lamont who has made her critics eat their words by refusing to buckle under the pressure and abuse she has been subjected to, she was previously a secondary school teacher in Glasgow, what else would you expect?. She is quite fearless and like Brown she is direct, honest and devoted to the cause, both made combative and intelligent speeches and were cheered to the echo.

The atmosphere was electric and the meeting was inspirational, a great riposte to those who keep trying to tell us that the labour Party is finished, no other Scottish party could have done this, it was the party at its best, belligerent, cantankerous and ready for the fray, as mark Twain might have put it ‘reports of my death are greatly exaggerated’.

Another topical event worth noting was the TV debate between Douglas Alexander and Nicola Sturgeon. A distinctive pattern has emerged over the past 18 months or so when Ms. Sturgeon is debating and that is her preset intention to turn any debate in to a ‘stair heid rammy’ this sordid little con allows her to claim that she did not lose, but very little light gets shone on the subject in question. This one however was different, how they managed to get her to behave with some decorum I do not know but they did. Her decision to behave herself however in my opinion might well be the last time we see that side of her this side of the referendum. You see, this time she was quite lost without her loud hailer and broadsword and it turned in to a bit of a car crash for her as Mr. Alexander courteously and forensically dismantled her arguments and her credibility. I don’t think we will see her repeat this experiment again so we can look for the return of the ranting fishwife when next we see her on our screens, unless of course the snp put her on gardening leave before she does any more harm.