T Time.

Straight from the school of "we think we know what he meant" ...

"ALEX Salmond has claimed Scots "didn't mind" Margaret Thatcher's notorious 1980s economic policies. The First Minister also praised the Tories for being "constructive" in the Scottish parliament in an outspoken interview with a right-wing pundit. The SNP leader told Iain Dale that Scots only rejected Thatcher's social policies - but not her economic policies that devastated industries and put millions on the dole. He said in an interview with Total Politics, out today, that the Nats have become more business-friendly. And he added: "The SNP have a strong social conscience, which is very Scottish in itself. One of the reasons Scotland didn't take to Lady Thatcher was because of that. We didn't mind the economic side so much. But we didn't like the social side at all."

Er ... actually Alex ... we did mind her economic policies. The fact he had to call a radio phone in programme to "clarify" his comments illustrates just how big a gaffe the FM had actually made.

Mr Smith thinks the SNP leadership aren't looking as Teflon coated as they once did and Mr Salmond will be buying Mrs T antique silver tea sets next ... just like Labour PM Gordon Brown did.