Frank Gilfeather: It’s thin on the ground for political titans in Scotland

Were there a Scotland’s Got Political Talent it’s likely it would be ditched after only a couple of programmes, maybe even one.

We’re a bit thin on the ground in the search for political titans north of the border.

In a couple of weeks, we’ll go to the polls as a United Kingdom to determine whether it is the Conservatives or Labour which will take the helm. The SNP and the Liberal Democrats might just as well take a holiday, as a vote for them will be meaningless in how the next government is run.

Then the disgruntled members of the electorate will settle quickly and accept their lot and return, in the main, to their apathy for politics.

Perhaps not since Alex Salmond emerged as a major force in Scottish politics, have we unearthed a powerful political figure in Scotland.

The talent we hoped Scottish devolution would deliver didn’t turn up and the costly parliament we have in Scotland has let us down.

Which is where Tony Blair and Donald Dewar, a hugely-likeable man who pushed more than anyone for a devolved parliament, got it wrong.

We should have heard alarm bells ringing when leading Scots MPs and ministers in Blair’s Cabinet, when asked whether they would try for a Holyrood seat, answered: “No thanks.”
Robin Cook, John Reid, Brian Wilson and many more talented MPs representing Scottish constituencies had bigger fish to fry.

Labour’s early complacency followed by the SNP’s inaction meant the electorate has been short-changed, opening the door – eventually – for the Tories to make a little headway but, more seriously, prompting voters to wonder why they bother turning up at the polls.

Conservatives not up to the job in Aberdeen?

The hoo-ha over the Aberdeen City Council coalition should bring the reminder that the current grouping has been in place for more than five years. The difference now is that Labour is by no means the senior partner yet ends up with the most important role – council leader – in the administration. So, as Tory supporters ask “how did that happen?” we must wonder if the newly-elected

Tory councillors simply didn’t feel confident enough to take on the top job.

Meeting Skippy reminded me of the past

It was a special moment when I met Skippy as we chewed over the times we worked with Taggart star Mark McManus.

The deceased Hamilton-born actor started off his career in the TV hit Skippy the Bush Kangaroo in Australia in the late 1960s, before becoming Taggart in the hugely-successful Scottish detective television series, two decades later.

McManus once regaled me with hilarious tales of his time on Skippy and, this week, in Perth, Western Australia, the kangaroo gave me his versions of events.