The Sunday Edition

Did anyone hear a starting pistol? This week feels like the start of a long race (or possibly races).

ALEX Salmond launched the Scottish Government's (draft) Independence Referendum Bill, starting a race that so far he's the only one running in. Two years after the SNP government was elected, Alex Salmond believes now is the time to get his hallmark policy through. This in spite of the fact that Labour, the LibDems and the Tories are all opposed to the referendum and will vote it down at the first opportunity. Hilarious observation of the week goes to Rab McNeil at the Caledonian Mercury:

"The Government is pushing for a referendum it would lose, and the opposition is running scared of a plebiscite it would win. You do the maths. I’m totally fogged. Maybe the opposition fears airing any arguments about independence at all. But, given the current state of the Scottish press (almost entirely unionist), the debate would consist of one party being given a megaphone while the other was gagged. What have they to lose? I don’t get it."

Well said. In any event, the opposition won't get a chance to vote on the bill till after the general election. Which is all part of Salmond's strategy. Whatever the result, it's likely the ball game will all change come the general election.

CHANGE was what David Cameron was all about today when the Conservatives launched their election themes. One of which is "change politics", this following on from his policy of changing the Conservative Party. According to The Times, he still has some work to do on the first part of this change, too few minority candidates are likely to win at the election. Undoubtedly, much progress has been made, the parliamentary party will better represent the people of the UK. Worryingly, especially for the party in Scotland, is that the top political hero of the candidates surveyed was Margaret Thatcher, not the most popular politician in Scotland.

BUT the parties will be hoping the electorate keep their eyes on the future and not the past. Not least the Chancellor who led us into one of Britain's worst recession, Gordon Brown. He announced his parties election themes last Saturday: under the slogan "Future fair for all". His speech was impressive but had the feel of one which was intended to scare voters into voting for Labour as the "safe" party, rather than inspiring the electorate.

Looks like the next few months are going to be interesting...