David Maddox: Nationalist spring conference

In many ways the SNP's conference today started in Greyfriars Kirk in Edinburgh today rather than in its venue in Glasgow. Many in the party gathered friends and political foes to commemorate the life of one of Nationalism's greatest voices - Professor Sir Neil MacCormick (top right). More on the funeral in tomorrow's Scotsman.
But the official conference opening in the Glasgow Thistle Hotel was delivered by a more recent hero, John Mason, the man who won Glasgow East for the SNP in the stunning by-election last summer.
A contact in Labour has noted that "immitation is the best form of flattery" as Labour just a few weeks ago got their by-election hero of November, new Glenrothes MP Lindsay Roy to open their Scottish conference.
Some wag (apparently a member of the Labour student movement) has tried to liven up events by providing a conference bingo card.
On the link below are two bingo cards to mark off favourite phrases and names in conference speeches. The nice 'n easy one apparently gets delegates a tartan keyring, but the more difficult killer version's prize of shares in Iceland may not be quite as valuable.

Readers will note on the easy version that popular topics and people such as "Scotland's oil", "Glasgow East", "Homecoming", "independence" and "John Mason" are mentioned.

Meanwhile Education Secretary Fiona Hyslop, seen by many as a weak link, may not be chuffed to be on the killer version of unlikely embarrassing mentions along with "Kosovo", "Scottish Futures Trust", any country from the arc of prosperity (or bankruptcy) and any education pledge made in the 2007 election.
SNP%20Conference%20Bingo.pdf

David Maddox: Lib Dem conference - subliminal messages

As the final day of the Lib Dem Scottish conference gets underway we are already getting ready for the party's young energetic leader Tavish Scott to get to his feet and deliver his first speech since being voted to the top office.
But, whatever you think about the position of the Scottish Lib Dems at the moment - the polls suggest they are facing a possible doomsday or two in upcoming elections - but one interesting point is that their choice of venue this year is very positive.
The Perth Concert Hall (pictured right) is a new looking fresh location, very accessible and easy to organise in. It gives the impression of a party which knows what it is doing, is up and coming and is very open.
No wonder the Nationalists were also here for their autumn conference and the Conservatives will be here for their Scottish conference.
In contrast last week we all crammed into the Caird Hall (pictured left) in Dundee for Labour's Scottish conference. It is tired looking with stained carpet (not necessarily with blood), peeling wallpaper, difficult to find your way around, generally disorganised and anything but easily accessible. Any party that is on its way down would fit well into it.
Venues give strong subliminal messages - the Lib Dems this week have got it right and Labour unfortunately fitted the image many have of them now.