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Election 07

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Stupid questions

  • Mark Devenport
  • 28 Mar 07, 04:18 PM

This lunchtime I found myself standing outside Sinn Fein HQ on the Falls Road interviewing Sweden fans about tonight's match. Were they worried about David Healy, I enquired. We are not Liechenstein, came back the reply.

I bumped into the fans after interviewing Gerry Adams. My sports colleagues were glad of the vox pops, although they no doubt secretly thought my questions about the likely result were uninformed.

At least they didn't tell me to my face they were stupid questions, which was what Gerry Adams had just done. The enquiry that provoked this dusty response concerned Jim Allister, his erstwhile colleagues in the DUP, and the future of the IRA Army Council.

The Sinn Fein President told me that unionist concerns about the continued existence of the Army Council would be dealt with, but not in my interview. Unwilling to leave it at that, I enquired whether the Council might be gone by the new devolution date of May 8th. Gerry told me journalists had a right to ask questions, but not stupid questions. Later he said such issues would be dealt with "even to the satisfaction of Jim Allister" who he referred to as "yesterday's news".

Unbeknowns to me, at the time we were sitting in Sinn Fein HQ, the DUP MP Willie McCrea was on his feet in Westminster asking almost exactly the same question of Tony Blair. Stupid or not, I'm not convinced this question will go away.

By the way, does anyone out there know who said "there's no such thing as a stupid question..."? Is it a quote or just a commonly circulated cliche? All intelligent answers warmly appreciated.

Name calling

  • Brian Taylor
  • 28 Mar 07, 02:24 PM

Questions, questions. Which Minister was absent from this morning's final Scottish Cabinet meeting before the Holyrood elections? Answer: Andy Kerr who was "otherwise engaged" briefing the media on the latest poll in The Times.

A poll which was somewhat adverse for Labour.

And, at Cabinet this morning, which Minister deployed dry humour to name the Health Secretary in England as "Patricia Halfwit"?

Could it be the chap Ms Hewitt earlier misnamed as "Jack McDonnell"? It could indeed.

And so onwards. Holyrood may be about to shut up shop for the election but ministers remain ministers until at least one of three things happens.
1. They lose their seat.
2. They are sacked in a reshuffle.
3. Their party is replaced in Government as a result of the election.

Here's the gossip...

  • Brian Taylor
  • 28 Mar 07, 12:38 PM

Minor subterranean muttering at Holyrood about party strategy. Who鈥檚 getting it right? Whose best laid schemes are drifting mildly agley? All, of course, influenced by polls continuing to suggest an SNP lead over Labour, including Populus in The Times today.

Here鈥檚 the gossip, variously. Is Jack McConnell entirely wise to stress the London link 鈥 eg signing a partnership on policy with the PM, in Westminster?

Yes, say those who argue it trumps the SNP and their supposed plans to 鈥減ick fights鈥 with the UK Government. No, say those who fear that Tony Blair may now be a vote loser by association.

Secondly, is Alex Salmond entirely wise to lay out so much detail on the party鈥檚 plans, including the challenges to Westminster and the wording of a potential referendum on independence?

Yes, say those who argue it reassures the voters by spelling out that they鈥檇 decide, separately and later, on independence, while the SNP stands up for Scotland in the interim. No, say those who fear it simply gives unnecessary ammunition to Labour.

How about the Tories? Should they rule out joining a coalition, as they do? Doesn鈥檛 it make them look ineffective, prepared to say popular things but not to act on them?

No, say the leadership, you can exert influence without Ministerial office.

And the LibDems? Less muttering, frankly 鈥 but still the submerged issue of whether to form an alternative coalition. With the SNP? On what terms?

Anyway, that鈥檚 the goss thought I鈥檇 share with you.


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