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The SNP bandwagon rolls on relentlessly sweeping all before it. Not only are the other parties failing to hold them to account, they would appear to be paralysed – caught in the headlights of the SNP juggernaut. However, the Scottish National Party received only 23% of the potential vote. The inevitable result of this is that many Scots feel that they no longer have a political party that represents their interests or reflects their beliefs.

Benefits of independence "overstated"

Churchill once remarked, "If you put two economists in a room, you get two opinions, unless one of them is Lord Keynes, in which case you get three opinions." It is a necessary caution to bear in mind when citing economists.

Nevertheless, a respected economic adviser to Alex Salmond, the First Minister, has said that Scotland would gain little by full independence. Professor John Kay offered some hope to the SNP though by stating that the prospect would "clearly be economically viable".

Grand gestures

All too often Scottish politics is dominated by grand rhetoric rather than practical ideas. At the present time, there is one simple fact that should govern our political language: the fact that our economy is near to bankruptcy and we need to rediscover our skills and talent for making money in the real world.

Beside this fact, all other schemes for reshaping government and all spending programmes fall into irrelevance. If we cannot pay our way there will not be much left to govern.

Read more... [Unfounded assumptions]

SNP win leaves the opposition in tatters

Alex Salmond With the Scottish Parliament elections over, it is time to reflect on the results of the election, how we got here and what happens next.

The scale of the SNP's victory - and Alex Salmond's victory in particular - cannot be overstated. Although the majority is small, it has been won against the three major UK parties in an electoral system that has an inherent bias against majority government.

Does Labour have any answer?

Holyrood Alex Salmond is once again the focus of a Scottish electoral campaign, even though he is quick to say this is not about personalities. Opinion polls are now suggesting that the SNP has opened up a significant lead in the Scottish Parliament election, and Salmond has very high approval ratings as First Minister.

A NEW opinion poll has suggested Alex Salmond will return as First Minister after the election.The Ipsos Mori survey last night gave the SNP an 11-point lead over Labour in the constituency vote and a ten-point lead in the list vote. That would give the party 20 more seats than Labour.

The spectre of extremism

A lone individual or a dangerous paramilitary group? The spectre of sectarian politics has reared its head in Scotland once more. Following on from the bullets posted to Celtic manager Neil Lennon, and the parcel bombs posted to Lennon and two others, we now have a report that a bullet was sent to Cardinal Keith O'Brien last year ahead of the Pope's visit. In that instance it was claimed to be from an organisation linked to the Ulster Volunteer Force.

While all mainstream political leaders will unite to condemn such events, it seems all to easy for extremists to hijack the political agenda. Violence by a minority at demonstrations easily tops a peaceful mass march in the news headlines, and a few individuals posting parcel bombs can grab the media spotlight for days.