Tuesday 26 August 2008

Are you a man of God, Mr Salmond?

It seems strange that despite his increasing popularity and his infinite praise for not only his party but himself, we know very little about our First Minister.

While we know that he likes curry, enjoys racing and playing golf, we are yet to find out what his substantial political opinions are. The USA (always good for examples on how NOT to run a country) has issues such as abortion, the death penalty and same sex marriage make up a crucial part of its political debate.

The politics of its society balances out with the sociology of its politics.

But anyway, Mr Salmond has kept his mouth very shut over these crucial issues. I pray that our political arena doesn't become about the above issues (but then again I would never have believed it would become just about independence). However, we know very little about a man who claims to understand us as Scots so much.

Tony Blair, David Cameron, along with half the Cabinet and Shadow Cabinet have been expected to answer to calls of if they've smoked marijuana, if they believe it's OK that some kids have two mummies or two daddies and have had to answer to calls for killers and if those who stole Maddie should be hanged.

But it is not only his views which have been unquestioned by the public- his policies have as well.

Following an FOI request, 5 out of 23 local authorities have made direct cuts to services dedicated to reducing suicide, despite the fact that 800 Scots took their own lives last year, and that that figure is on the increase.

From 2001-2007, investment into support services managed to steadily reduce the suicide rate year on year, in contrast to the SNP, who have cut funding for suicide prevention by a third to NHS Highland, who has one of the highest suicide rates in the UK.

Are you a man of God, Mr Salmond? Because this political game you're playing has a real effect on other people's lives.

I couldn't tell you one thing about the person 'Alex Salmond', but I think there are parts of him I am getting to know too well.

2 comments:

The Aberdonian said...

Not sure what you are talking about. What the the British as whole tend to despise are politicans ramming "morals" down their throats. It also can cause some political man traps

Remember John Major's "Back to Basics".

The best desciption of the life of Salmond is in Andrew Marr's 1992 tome "The Battle for Scotland". Marr then was predicting big things for Salmond even then and predicting he "would be around for a long time yet".

It is from this book that most of the private side and pre-politics side of Salmond is gleaned. Alan Taylor (who at one point was appointed Salmond's biographer before he quit the leadership in 2000) even quotes Marr.

Concerning religion, he used to sing in the church choir in Linlithgow. Apparently he was a boy soprano before his voice broke (hence the dodgy CD "Songs for Independence" at the beginning of the decade).

Salmond apparently used to have hung in his office at RBS a sign quoting Tom Nairn's declaration that independence would only happen "when the last kirk minister was strangled with the last copy of the Sunday Post".

This led to claims he was anti-clerical by opponents when this was revealed. However as Marr pointed out, Salmond was a kirk member and was "regular in the pews".

Salmond - enjoys football (Hearts supporter), eats curry, plays golf, bowls.

Married Edinburgh-born civil servant Moira whom he met when he was in the Civil Service. She is 17 years older than him and gave up her job upon marraige.

They have no children. They initially lived in Salmond's native Linlithgow till 1990 when they moved to Strichen in Banffshire.

Salmond during his first stint in the Scottish Parliament rented a home in Linlithgow.

His mother was a Tory and his father was a communist. His mother is dead and his father now supports the SNP. Both his parents were civil servants.

Salmond went to St Andrew's university. He joined the SNP after being taunted to do so by his then English girlfriend who was an official with the university's Labour club.

He was contemprorary of Michael Forsyth's at St Andrew's.

He graduated with degrees in History and Economics. He joined the Civil Service fisheries department before moving to RBS to work as an oil economist.

Matt's Mic said...

Come on Aberdonian!

I admire you're wikipedia-esque stance of having a go. Something which i have been forced to do as a member of the Labour Party in recent years...!

On this, however, i think I'm right. You haven't answered any of the questions I posed. Anyone can find out where he went to uni. I want to know him...

Where was he when people were out on the streets fighting for the minimum wage?!- I'm not saying he was for or against it, I'm just highlighting the fact that nobody knows.

Just read pver the bove response and it came over a little aggressive... Apologies... we're all friends here, right...?!

I just think that your post has highlighted what I was saying. Also, I would never want to shuv morals down people's throats. In fact, i think it's impossible to do anyway. Morality comes from within...