Energy
The Scottish Government has expended a lot of energy in the last two years advancing the case for Scottish independence. Hundreds (nay thousands) of hours of civil servants time has been spent on numerous policy papers to make the case (and millions of pounds of UK taxpayers money) - but to date the Scottish public remain unconvinced - as poll after poll continues to show.The time, energy and taxpayers cash has been spent in vein.For all the Salmond bluster and less than subtle threats to opposition parties about opposing the will of the Scottish people - a few things to remember:Scots oppose independence 2-1.The SNP's position is a minority o

Cybernat chickens come home to roost
No doubt Alex Salmond is a tad miffed that the St Andrew's day launch of his independence referendum has been overshadowed by the exposure of one of his party's cybernat brigade in today's News of the World.If SNP high command are furious, they only have themselves to blame. Salmond and his inner circle have for a very long time singularly failed to condemn the anonymous nationalist 'bovver boys' who use the internet and media websites to condemn anyone and everyone who do not share their singular view of the world.The Grumpy SD has and will continue to criticise the SNP and their political goals - but like most thinking Scots I accept they represent a shade of Scott

Question to the First Minister
If as the First Minister tells all ad nauseum that he and his party/government are so popular - how come support for independence is going backwards - (and even if you follow the Angus Robertson argument that support goes up and down depending on poll question)- why has it not made headway since the SNP formed their minority administration?Me thinks that as I said earlier this year, the recession and the collapse of Scotland's major banking institutions and knock-on effects on confidence - have done for Mr Salmond's independence dream.The SNP's failure to keep their promises in government and their obsession with a referendum and the independence haven't helped and

More bad news for Mr Salmond.
The Scottish people give independence the thumbs down - againAnother day, another poll that confirms that independence is only wanted by obsessive nationalists and not the vast majority of Scots.The Daily Telegraph reports - http://www.telegraph.co.uk/comment/telegraph-view/6638471/Alex-Salmonds-S

At the forefront of the fight against hospital infections
"Presiding Officer, let me turn now to the important issue of patient safety.Let me firstly assure the public that NHS Scotland is safe by international standards.But there is no room for complacency. I want NHS Scotland to be a world leader in patient safety.The Scottish Patient Safet