Off Their Trolleys.

"THE FORMER Scottish Secretary Michael Forsyth made a scathing attack yesterday on the Calman Commission's investigation into extra powers for the Scottish Parliament, claiming that those pursuing the notion were “off their heads."

Mr Smith tends to agree, and who better to know when someone is "off their heads" than Lord Forsyth?

Faster Than ...

Mr Smith noticed an interesting intervention in the House of Lords on 2 July 2008 from Conservative peer Lord Forsyth of Drumlean during a debate on Transport at the 2012 Olympic Games, "My Lords, perhaps I misheard, but I think theMinister indicated that there would be a train every 15 seconds. Couldhe explain how people will be able to get on and off in that time?"

With that sort of razor sharp wit, how the evenings must speed past in the Forsyth household. Faster even than one of those Olympic trains. We think we know what he means.

Bedtime Stories.

Continuing the bedtime story theme, Mr Smith noted recent comments by Lord Forsyth of Drumlean in the House of Lords, "Perhaps the fairy story that we need to think about is Little Red Riding Hood and the question that we need to ask ourselves is who is in the bed. Is it grandma or something different? ..."

Mmmmm. Not often that their Lordships revert to their childhoods. Well they do actually, but not usually Lord Fosyth.

Fool's Gold.

From the 1st April 2008 Lords Hansard, "Lord Forsyth of Drumlean: My Lords, on the subject of fool’s gold, can the Minister tell us how much less the deficit would be had the then Chancellor not sold our gold reserves at the bottom of the market? Can he also explain how this country, uniquely, has allowed borrowing to increase during the good times while our competitor nations have used the good times to reduce borrowing and are therefore better placed to deal with the current economic turbulence?"

Any tenuous connection will do with 1st April, but a serious question nonetheless.

Peer-less.

Mr Smith reads the latest "expense" disclosures for some of the Scottish members of the House of Lords.

"LORD Foulkes, the bombastic Labour peer and MSP, has clocked up £62,509 in tax-free expenses as an "unpaid" member of the House of Lords. The former Scotland Office minister and government loyalist said most of his expenses were down to high travel costs. Although Lord Foulkes of Cumnock is now an MSP, the expenses for the House of Lords are until April 2007; a month before his election to the Scottish Parliament ... Lord Watson, since his early release from jail in May last year for arson, has managed to bill £31,932 in expenses. It is almost three years since the then Labour MSP set alight the curtains at a hotel in Edinburgh ... Since his release, he has voted in just 18 per cent of divisions - lower than average. Also billing a hefty sum in expenses was Lord Elder, formerly known as Murray Elder, former chief of staff to John Smith. He picked up £52,563 in expenses for his 128-day attendance. His voting record of 74 per cent, however, was much higher than most peers. The man in charge of probing the overspend on the new Scottish Parliament - Lord Fraser of Carmyllie - himself managed to spend £49,113. His office costs of £10,209 for 124 days exceeded the daily limit of £69. His fellow Tory peer, Lord Forsyth of Drumlean, attended for just 99 days and claimed £32,957 in expenses. He managed to speak in 53 debates, however, more than most peers. Lord Steel of Aikwood, the former presiding officer of the Scottish Parliament, has cost taxpayers £50,035."

And all tax-free. Good to have sight of the information for a change though.

Mercury rising.

Mr Smith wonders why former Conservative Member of Parliament now Lord Michael Forsyth of Drumlean seems to have developed an interest in all matters relating to the European Union, mercury barometers and thermometers. He has asked a couple of recent Questions in the House of Lords, including "Lord Forsyth of Drumlean: asked Her Majesty's Government: Whether Parliament will be given an opportunity to vote on the proposed European Union regulation banning the sale of new mercury barometer sand thermometers."

Mr Smith is glad that Lord Forsyth has highlighted the latest European onslaught on British sovereignty.

Hey Mickey.

Mr Smith notes that former Scottish Conservative Minister, now peer, Lord Michael Forsyth of Drumlean, has apparently backed plans by the SNP administration at Holyrood to hold a referendum on independence, not because he supports the idea of independence but because he feels that having one sooner rather than later will take the momentum out of the issue.

Now, its not for Mr Smith to question Lord Fosyth's political judgement which has been gleaned from serving in some of the top positions of Scottish government pre-devolution, but it says a great deal about Scotland's "new politics" that we have former arch opponents of devolution, now at least prepared to countenance the idea of a referendum of independence, even if it to bolster their own unionist position.