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Labour rivals hit out at 'work-shy' First Minister

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Published Date: 19 April 2009
By Tom Peterkin
Scottish Political Editor
ALEX Salmond was last night accused of being a "work-shy" First Minister by his Labour rivals because his SNP Government had only passed seven pieces of legislation since coming to power in May 2007.
The comment by Michael McMahon, Labour's business manager at the Scottish Parliament, drew a furious response from the SNP, which claimed to be the hardest working administration at Holyrood since the beginning of devolution in 1999.

The minority
SNP Government has passed two budget bills, legislation for the abolition of bridge tolls, a Glasgow Commonwealth Games Act, a graduate endowment abolition act, a judiciary and courts act and a public health act.

McMahon claimed this work rate compared unfavourably with that of the previous Labour and Liberal Democrat administrations, which passed 40 Acts in the first parliament and 53 in the second.

McMahon claimed: "The SNP have run out of ideas and stalled. In the past two years they have consistently avoided bringing business to parliament and passed just seven pieces of legislation. This simply isn't good enough. Alex Salmond is a work-shy First Minister leading a group of idle ministers"

The SNP hit back and said it had either met or exceeded 46 of its 94 headline manifesto commitments. Bruce Crawford, the SNP Minister for Parliament, said: "Labour's claims are laughable – and everyone in Scotland knows it.

"The SNP Government are the hardest-working administration there has been since devolution, and we have already delivered 46 key policies despite being a minority government.

"The people of Scotland know that the SNP government have done far, far more in two years than Labour managed in eight."



The full article contains 281 words and appears in Scotland On Sunday newspaper.
Page 1 of 1

 
1

Observer,,

Glasgow 19/04/2009 00:14:00
The phrase quality not quantity does spring to mind. It does seem a tad ironic that an opposition who openly combine to prevent legislation being brought forward then criticise the Govt for not bringing forward enough legislation.
2

Jimmy Le Pie,

19/04/2009 00:20:17
This story is a bit like Nero fiddling while Rome burned.

The Sleaze Party are finished with the latest scandals engulfing them but the good old Hootsmon still publish their party releases word for word.
3

TheUnionisBritish,

19/04/2009 00:26:07
I may not support them but at least they (the SNP)are working quite hard and seem to be doing a competent job. Alan Cochrane on BBC TV made the same comment today. There is no contest if you compare the present administration with the previous 2 Executives in 1999 and 2003.
4

Dougie - Edinburgh,

19/04/2009 00:30:29
What utter rubbish. Westminster Labour has created a vast amount of new legislation, in fact a new prisonable offence for every day they've been in power, since 1997. But only the most gullible would believe that there's been genuine debate and consideration behind the vast majority of these new laws.
5

Los Angeles,

19/04/2009 00:34:28

"Labour rivals hit out at 'work-shy' First Minister."

Zzzzz- what? Eh? Of course I was listening!

6

For Scotlands Future,

Vote For The SNP 19/04/2009 00:44:58
Another day - another Labour Party press release re-typed by the Scottish Press in the guise of news.
7

Marac,

Central Scotland 19/04/2009 00:46:02
Those Labour muppets really are scraping the bottom of the barrel if this is the best they can come up with?
8

,

19/04/2009 00:46:12
Comment Removed By Administrator
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9

,

19/04/2009 00:58:27
Comment Removed By Administrator
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10

Dave Gordon.,

www.oddpolitics.com 19/04/2009 00:59:48
"the SNP...claimed to be the hardest working administration at Holyrood since the beginning of devolution in 1999"

well, they would, wouldn't they?
11

im brian and so is my wife,

edinburgh 19/04/2009 01:00:57
well work shy is better than being paraded as lying scumbags,election fixing,greedy pigs in the trough etc
you can tell someone work shy to move it and they will,but what to do with crooks and vagabonds?
but no matter what the polls show,in scotland they will get some of the worst ones re-ellected,why? because some scots would vote fora donkey with a red rosette,even a slimy toad would get back in
voters should take the chance and dont make labour a modern day lazarus
12

Brianwci,

19/04/2009 01:13:14
The essence of a good attack is that there must be at least some truth in it that voters can see and agree with.

Salmond may be seen by the voters as many things but work shy is just too ridiculous to even contemplate.

The man never stops and neither does anyone else in that Government.

Mike Russell has been a major asset to the Cabinet and Alex Neil is already making himself known. Presumably Roseanne is working away on something as we speak.

Meanwhile London labour goes from bad to worse in the polls. this from the Labour Rose website:

Tories 19% ahead - thanks Damien and Derek

NorthernMonkey Sat Apr 18, 2009 at 09:10:09 PM GMT

BPIX poll for the Mail on Sunday:

Tories 45% (+4)
Labour 26% (-8)
LibDems ?

Sunday Telegraph poll:

Tories 43% (-1)
Labour 26% (-5)
LibDem 21% (+3)

13

,

19/04/2009 01:21:28
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14

Ewan Randall,

19/04/2009 01:36:54
Please can we have a recount?

No political party could be so poor as to only pass seven pieces of legislation in almost two years unless the legislation was very special could they?
15

Edward,

19/04/2009 01:57:02
What planet are these Labour muppets on
Sorry, but as far as Labour are concerned its good night vienna!
16

Castaway™ ,

19/04/2009 02:38:56
What did Jack McConnell see as his unique achievements during his 5 years as First Minister ?

The Fresh Talent initative and the reverse of Scotland's population decline
Banning smoking in enclosed public spaces in Scotland
Taking measures to reduce sectarianism
Continuing aid to Malawi
The Observer (Nov19 2006)::http://tinyurl.com/6o7ctj

And this took 5 years to achieve - Well Done Jack !!!
17

FerryPort,

19/04/2009 02:56:57
what was in the title of this article again?

Whoa!... steady

Work shy

Whit the ef is that in the same sentence when describing Alec Salmond?
18

,

19/04/2009 04:10:06
Comment Removed By Administrator
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19

donald,

glasgow 19/04/2009 06:50:48
It was HM Labour that opposed the rest of the legislation.
20

Stan Butler,

19/04/2009 07:09:09

Legislative assemblies (all of them) should be restricted in the amount of legislation they are allowed to enact.

There should be a strict quota on the number of acts passed each year and a limit to the length of each statute.

The 'never mind the quality feel the width' approach doesn't work.

We could also reduce the number of MSPs by at least a half. There are far too many of them with nothing to do other than look for things to do.
21

Marian,

19/04/2009 07:17:33
Another day and yet another smear from New Labour's press office. The vast majority of UK political correspondents and reporters are failing us because they don't really report anymore, they just repeat. Whether its a smear here or there, or just a press release that has been taken at face value without a critical eye added. Deadlines, copy, and filling column inches take precedent over seeking out the truth. The parliamentary system has been corrupted by the explicit and implicit deals done between the New Labour government and journalists over access to important stories. It's truly an appalling undemocratic state of affairs for the UK to be in.
22

,

19/04/2009 08:53:12
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23

The Tin Man,

19/04/2009 09:08:29
#23 donald

"I was HM Labour that opposed the rest of the legislation."

What 'legislation'? You need legislation to oppose, before anyone can oppose it.
24

EU Exile,

19/04/2009 09:09:48
In the meantime, from 16th July 2008 to 20th February 2009 the EU has passed 817 laws which will impact on the UK (that means you too Scotland).

I guess this puts the toy assembly in Embra into perspective and highlights who is really calling the shots; an unelected foreign power.
25

Ubi,

Edinburgh 19/04/2009 09:12:49
Are we short of laws, then?
26

TWC,

exlabour 19/04/2009 09:13:02
27 The Tin Man

You need an opposition before you can oppose. We had 8 years of Labour, all froth and bubble.
They don't have a single policy for Scotland, They are finished and the big steak pire will get back in with a huge majority and you'll get all the legislation you could wish for.

Labour need to come forward with real policies but Brown won't let them....that's the real problem for the opposition.
27

Road to the isles,

19/04/2009 09:15:24
Scrape, scrape, scrape...

C'mon boys, we're well at the bottom now!!
28

Mr. Lachie Todd,

Edinburgh 19/04/2009 09:20:21
'Small government' must be exasperating for the politically extravagant Labour Party Parliamentary Group at the Scottish Parliament!

It is interesting to note that the minority Nationalist
Government is restraining itself from publishing a splurge of unnecessary Bills like the last Labour/Lib-Dem coalitions.

What is really concerning the Scottish Opposition parties are the tight financial controls the Nationalist administration is maintaining whilst in Government, and which may well produce some unexpected vote-winning surprises come the next Scottish Parliament Elections?
29

,

19/04/2009 09:34:27
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30

SouthernSkye,

19/04/2009 10:22:11
Is that the yard-stick that NL use to judge "work"? In that case NL have been the most hard-working Govt ever by introducing vast swathes of legislation....99.9% of it complete rubbish and with the majority of the public against it. The "Tax Handbook" used by HMR&C has increased from a single volume to three volumes under NL.
What utter utter trash NL speak!
31

Astonished,

19/04/2009 10:25:26



Labour : no lie too small.

32

The Master,

19/04/2009 10:45:31
Can anyone remind me of the Nats' new slogan? You know, the one that's replaced that one they nicked off Obama.

I've heard or read the new slogan about half a dozen times now but I still can't recall it, perhaps because it's so widely inappropriate and doesn't immediately bringing to mind the "doings" of the Nats at Holyrood.

Notwithstanding all this, the Master has come up with his own slogan for the Nats: "promises kept". I doubt they'll adopt it, for one reason or a good many others, but there you are (or aren't, as the case may or may not be!)
33

Los Angeles,

19/04/2009 10:49:47
Can anyone remind me of the Nats' new slogan? (The Mister)

"Haters of Scotland Live in Snorseville"

34

Los Angeles,

19/04/2009 10:53:18

First: Legislative assemblies (all of them) should be restricted in the amount of legislation they are allowed to enact. (Mincing Butler)

Second: We would ban democratic rights and install General Franco's Spain, but without the garlic.



35

The Master,

19/04/2009 10:54:37
#37 Los Angeles: a couple of questions, old chap.

Which one of us is intent on turning Scotland into an economic basket case, all because he harks to the call of "songs and heroes?"

Which one of us votes for the anti Scottish SNP, intent, as it is, on foisting upon Scotland the pure folly that is separation on the back on an incomprehensible *rigged* "consultative" referendum question?

Now remind me which one of us is a "hater of Scotland" again.
36

bill-alba,

fife 19/04/2009 11:03:13
#39 pure drivel and misdirection by our vichy scot/treacherous british.. so remind me who is the hater of scotland have a look at yourself and go home to think again.
37

smokey joe 1,

Glasgow 19/04/2009 11:34:19
zzzzzzz another piece of utter drivel from the Slab
mob of sleaze balls.
38

European Scot,

19/04/2009 11:57:46
39 The Master

" Which one of us votes for the anti Scottish SNP, intent, as it is, on foisting upon Scotland the pure folly that is separation on the back on an incomprehensible *rigged* "consultative" referendum question?"

You do like your word separation don't you.
Most of the democratic World tends to use the word 'independence.'
You are a Unionist, and therefore against the independence of Scotland.
So, assuming it to be your country, being against the independence of your own country puts you in a minority position, in global terms.
It must be very lonely out there 'separated' from most of the free World's opinion.

As for your comment about the SNP, take a closer look at the not so good ship, the 'SS New Labour's' rigging, which has now been exposed by the fierce storms currently lashing it.
Ballot box interference, smearing e-mails, ballot documents and registers disappearing, manipulation using the Press, dodgy dossiers, lies, spinning and levels of propaganda that Goebbels would have been proud of.
Take a look at the real rigging, before it comes crashing down on your head.
39

W U Merchant,

Aberdeen 19/04/2009 12:31:57
A Tory/BNP/SNP alliance beckons.
40

TWC,

exLabour 19/04/2009 12:37:14
43 W U Merchant,

More Labour spin, scarily the BNP reference isn't even working in England.

All this sleaze and corruption is the symptom of a Government in it's terminal moments.
41

Tartan Viking,

19/04/2009 13:34:46
The Lie-bour party have a cheek. Theu spend tnhier entire time fiddling their expenses and telling lies.
42

Tartan Viking,

19/04/2009 13:35:06
They spend their
43

Tartan Viking,

19/04/2009 13:38:04
This newspaper should stop printing stories of Labour propaganda against the SNP. People are sick and tired of Labour sleaze and corruption and have stopped reading this cr*p.
44

Auld Twa,

Edinburgh 19/04/2009 14:04:03
When was a problem last solved by passing a law against it ?
New Labour passed thousands of laws in past decade to the point where it is almost impossible for you not to be in breach of one of them at any given time.
45

hoblar,

19/04/2009 14:27:48
Yes, the Scottish Government are way behind Labour at Westminster-------NO gung ho usage of our taxes, NO scandal a week, NO controversial misuse of public funds under the guise of 'expenses', NO houses for 'yer ma' to stay in while living elsewhere paid from the public purse, NO sleaze ridden staff looking desperately to lie about their opponents and use of innuendo.

Yes, the Scottish Government really are not making the efforts to ruin the office of government like Labour!
46

Florence,

Edinburgh 19/04/2009 14:34:21
22 - ALASDAIR MAC: Huge article in the Mail on Sunday on Speaker Martin's motor expenses. Has claimed thousands in mileage although he has a chauffeur -driven limo. So have Ian Davidson and others with constituencies of only 3-5 sq. miles. That's only a sample of a myriad of sleazy articles in the M.o.S. The mire grown ever deeper but the S on S and The Scotsman fail to see it or, rather, choose not to remove their blinkers.
47

Florence,

Edinburgh 19/04/2009 14:42:29
39 THE MASTER: The whole of Britain is an economic basket case which cannot be laid at the door of the SNP. Problem is, all Scots, their children and grandchildren will be paying for Brown's profligacy and ineptitude for generations to come. Saviour of the world? I don't think so.
48

Salthorse,

CD's Hoose 19/04/2009 15:32:25
Hmmmmmmmm, workshy Labour sending out another Labour missive to be replicated by the Hootsman on Funday. This excuse for a paper lacks journalism, SNP worked through Easter and have forgone many holidays for the betterment of Scotland, an honourable thing no less.

Labour - oh we brought in a smoking ban - we'll take the credit for that despite it being proposed by an SNP MSP. Labour = no policies = tax you = spend it on the workshy = so the Political workshy can continue the fabrication of reality that would make our forefathers beat you through shame........the only way I can hud ma heid up abroad is because I know the SNP are working for me and my future and the mess Lab/Lib coaliton have left us in needs to be sorted before oor policies can take hud.

It's not difficult, let us move forward.

Saor Alba

SH
49

Freddie and Bruno,

Paisley 19/04/2009 17:00:08
Funny how the Labour party and their sad mouthpieces are blind to their own sad hypocricy. How can they slag off Alex Salmond or MSP's in general when we have Scottish MP's being paid to do absolutely nothing at Westminster. Why are these MP's making huge claims for expenses when they do nothing. Time to get rid of the real 'workshy' politicians in this country, the Scottish MP's. We don't need three parliaments to run Scotland - Time for Westminster to go!
www.paisleyexpressions.blogspot.com
50

hoblar,

19/04/2009 17:56:56
The Labour MP's in Westminster are there for the UK interests of the New labour party, and not there to represent the Scottish interest.

has anybody ever watched the utter chimp party that is Scottish Questions in westminster?

That demonstrates very clearly that these 0P's are NOT there to represent the Scottish interest; watch it and weep!

The (anti) Scottish office is just as big a burden to Scotland politically and financially and should be scrapped as soon as possible.
51

Eve,

Scotland 19/04/2009 18:03:36
'work-shy'!!!
Michael McMahon is obviously no inclided with socialist view on a labeling!!

Labour party!! Where have all the socialist gone????
52

The Tin Man,

19/04/2009 18:05:35
Strangely, the latest exec's greatest, and most far-reaching, achievement, the council tax freeze, was arrived at without being put before a party conference, without being included in any manifesto commitment, without being discussed with the electorate, or Holyrood, and without a parliamentary vote.

Who needs legisliation?
53

hoblar,

19/04/2009 19:05:53
And everybody has benefitted.

Not every GOVERNMENT decision (as opposed to your cringing term 'executive') needs the permission of you, or indeed even a manifesto to be actioned.

For example, I can't recall New Labour telling us all in their '97 manifesto that they were going to invade third world countries causing death on an enormous scale (more than half a million people at least!) or that they would ruin the UK economy, or that they would use sleaze tactics (like the predecessors) or put us all into Billions upon Billions of debt, or that they would make the dreaded tories look like a beacon of political light......

I mean all this disastrous government to our detriment wasn't discussed in ANY New labour "manifesto", discussed with the" electorate", but they have delivered it anyway.

Their sole achievement is not only to make the politics of union look like a pile of outdated dirty political maneouvres against decency, but also they have allowed new labour to become the type of political party that nobody would support.

Except you and your ilk, but they aren't counted, believe me.

54

Hugh Roscombe,

19/04/2009 19:31:05
What a complete load of bawbags. Labour in meltdown and we have this p¡sh. Begone Hootsman (labour press release)- begone!

























































Have you gone yet?
55

Observer,,

Glasgow 19/04/2009 19:46:40
Hugh. It is a sign of desperation and therefore not worth doing the spacey thing. It's more a cause for celebration.
56

yoric,

19/04/2009 21:00:48
I am no supporter of the Scottish Parliament or its members, most of them would struggle to hold a seat on an English Local Authority, but this Michael Mc Mahon's comments just sum up the mentality of New Labour.
The Labour Westminster Government has passed 1000 laws in 10 years, thats 1 every 3 days, the Parliament Act used twice in 10 years, it's only ever been used 3 times in total ever.
The Home Office have put through 2 major bills in 10 years, previous to this the Home Office only put through 1 piece of legislation in 100 years.
New Labour is legislation mad, you may have noticed, somebody should tell Mr Mahon that it isn't the amount of legislation that you put through, but the quality.
There is more to Government than passing bills.
57

Dave From Barra,

Western Isles 19/04/2009 21:10:14
"Labour rivals hit out at 'work-shy' First Minister"

Oh f_kc off lie-bore.
58

,

19/04/2009 21:31:02
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Reason:
59

hoblar,

19/04/2009 22:32:24
`'I am no supporter of the Scottish Parliament or its members, most of them would struggle to hold a seat on an English Local Authority....`'

The implication being that the Westminster Parliament has pure and utter quality oozing from the pores of what is daily being perceived as the sweaty armpit of political governance?

I am sure the English local authorities are about as good as their Westminster bosses mate, or conceivably even worse, so don't kid yourself.
60

Name,

Location 20/04/2009 01:07:37
Alex "man boobs" Salmond has his supporters out today I see.

 

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