David Maddox: The lonely world of Malcolm Chisholm

As I wandered into the canteen earlier I noticed a table full of Labour MSPs with a couple of free seats. On the next table sat all alone was Labour MSP Malcolm Chisholm.
Could it be that the former UK and Scottish minister (the first to resign from the Blair government in Westminster and also resigned from McConnell's executive) wanted a quiet moment to himself?
Or was it that he is now persona non grata after stating he will support the SNP Scottish Government in the Lockerbie bomber vote tonight and condemning his own party colleagues for politicising a quasi judicial ministerial decision?
Mr Chisholm is listed as the Labour for Edinburgh North and Leith or should that read Coventry?

David Maddox: This constitutional stuff is really interesting...

Or maybe not, as this picture of Labour's Cathy Jamieson listening to her colleague John Park in this morning's debate on the Calman Commission proposals shows. Thanks to a contact in the MSP tower with a quick camera trigger finger for his TV screen.

David Maddox: Why are some MSPs silent on Gaza?

MSPs have moved on to an emergency debate on Gaza. I may be underplaying the Scottish Parliament's international influence, but I supsect this debate called by Deputy First Minister Nicola Sturgeon has more to do with the need domestically to be seen to say something on the grim events in the Middle East.
However, what interests me is how one-sided these debates always end up being. Almost all the speeches condemn Israel for the dreadful events and the rare attacks on Hamas, a terrorist organisation that started this latest conflict, come in for fierce criticism.
Certainly there is no doubt that the Israeli Government's reaction to the mortar attacks has been disproportionate, appalling and rightly condemned, but they are definitely not the only culpable party.
Only two Tories - Ted Brocklebank and Jackson Carlaw - have pointed out that Israel is a small state under siege by larger neighbours - one of which, Iran, is trying to get nuclear weapons -which are committed to its annihilation. Hamas, they correctly say, is also dedicated to the destruction of Israel and Jews and funded and armed by Iran.
They also point out how many of the attacks on Israel in this country are anti-Semitic and have led to an increase in assaults on the Jewish population here. Anti-Semitism does exist in Scotland. One of the most chilling and unforgettable responses I had to a story on the web was when I wrote about Holocaust Education Trust trips from Scotland possibly being cancelled by the SNP government. The comments were removed by the Scotsman because of the anti-Semitic content in them, but it was also the moment when some of the regular cybernats allied themselves with anti-Semites and Holocaust deniers.
But the fact that only two Tories were able to say this underlines the misnoma that support for Israel comes from parties of the centre-right and Palestinians from the parties of the left and centre-left.
Yet I know of several MSPs in the centre left parties - certainly in the SNP and Labour - who share and, at least in one case, have stronger views in support of Israel than Messrs Brocklebank and Carlaw.
The question is why do they never raise their voices in these debates? Is it that they are ashamed of their views or that party managers prevent them from expressing them?
On such subjects where frankly the Scottish Parliament has little influence these debates should be beyond the party managers' control and MSPs should have the courage to argue their beliefs so that we can have a more balanced discussion.

David Maddox: the girl band strikes back

It is difficult to know if the Labour MSPs have been partaking in too much festive merriment of the sort that will keep them from their cars.
However, following the success or otherwise of the "boy band" at their Christmas party in Holyrood earlier this week rumours are abound that the girls intend to push them aside in next year's event.
As reported by my colleague Hamish, the not so young MSPs Michael MacMahon, Ken McIntosh, John Park and Frank McAveety made up the boy band.
Pauline McNeil is said to be a decent folk singer and there is now talk of Johann Lamont and Marlyn Glen - or "Marlyn er whatsername" as one of her colleagues referred to her today - making up a girl band to give the boys some competition.
The mind boggles.

Hamish Macdonell - Labour's boy band

LABOUR MSPs took over the whole of their ground floor last night (TUES) for their annual revue.
The highlight of which was a 'boy band' featuring the young, and not so young MSPs Michael MacMahon, Ken McIntosh, John Park and Frank McAveety.
One of those present said afterwards: "That Ken McIntosh, he really can sing."
What was left unsaid about the other members of the band said it all really.
For Frank McAveety, though, the revue has provided a much needed focus for his working life. He spent so long preparing for his role as compere that one of his colleagues said: "I have never seen Frank work so hard at anything, even when he was a minister."
ends