According to Mr Salmond it is quite OK for transgressions like the Minister for Transports one to be dealt with legally................

and the public will forget it about it within two weeks, so it is of no matter when it comes to his job as an MSP.

And just to add -it is not a 'common mistake'. I have driven for 52 years and not once made a mistake about my insurance, even during my divorce. I know for a fact I would be in court tomorrow if I did.

Poverty?

Wales, the worst ranked of the UK countries, probably has the poorest wards in the UK

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-37341095

"UK one of the most unequal countries, says Oxfam"

"Its analysis found that about 634,000 Britons were worth 20 times as much as the poorest 13 million people."

It's a mistake to conflate a fall in ranking with one of performance. If results have dropped the that's a concern. On the other hand whilst no longer being in the top ten dents pride it's not as bad.

To be perfectly honest I don't see how our version of "poverty" would affect it , we had poor people many years before and better results how does poverty effect what you learn at school as in math , reading and writing etc ? it will affect what you wear, what extra activities you can take part in but the basic learning is within the school itself

This report is from 2007 in NI

https://www.jrf.org.uk/report/impact...erience-school

I watched an item on BBC News 24 yesterday, and it showed that one reason Singapore does so well is because parents buy private tuition.

In the link I provided in a previous post, the writer speculated on the type of claims that would made for the success of the top performing countries, for The Netherlands it was giving teachers autonomy that was seen to be key. Whereas with Singapore it was central control.

In Scotland, it is the LAs that are responsible. I recall extra money being provided for smaller classroom sizes at primary schools, it was agreed with COSLA and the teaching unions, but some local authorities argued having larger classroom with two teachers was just as effective.

I also read this..

http://www.itv.com/news/border/2016-...ld-be-ashamed/

"In their statement the Educational Institute of Scotland (EIS), the country's largest teaching union, urged commentators to exercise caution in their analysis of today’s results.

Past experience has shown that the results of this major international programme have often been misrepresented by those seeking to make political capital out of talking down education, the EIS claimed."

You can't spend one referendum campaign banging on about the need for taking back control, and how politicians based hundreds of miles away don't have our best interests at heart without some of your supporters believing you.



This is hugely embarrassing, and would be for any politician, but for the Transport Minister, more-so. However, it seems that his mistake was an over-sight. Presumably the police have been able to check that he does have insurance for his own car, and there is some evidence he's not been driving this friend's car for the last couple of months.

Not that it's an excuse for being in this situation, and he deserves whatever punishment the police and/or DVLA see fit. However, I don't think it's a sackable offence. On the other hand, it might shorten his spell in his current position. If he can't get the train situation under control, or there are any other incidents, it might hasten his way out.

How many weapons related crimes occur in Aberdeen each year? How many at schools? It has some of the lowest crime rates in the UK. The Bailey Gwyne case was a genuine one off, you'd be hard pressed to find a similar incident at a NE school in the past 30 years. You cannot blame the local council that's just preposterous.

I think this has something to do with the upcoming SG/SNP narrative against councils that are not members of COSLA, expect plenty more of these ludicrous links in the coming months. The SG/SNP failure to engage with the councils not involved with COSLA is no ones fault but their own and I have a funny feeling it will come to bite them at the polls, hence the early start to the smears against those councils.

I'm sure he is highly embarrassed about it and coming so soon after the continuing trains debacle I think he will have to weather the storm a wee bit more.

I don't think it's a sackable offence but if he continues to have these little episodes I think he will be on his way out, it's how politics works.

Some SNP supporters can't accept the blame where it lies.

What Party has been in charge of the slide in education standards in the last decade?

That's where most of the blame lies.

Thats ashame I wonder what the reason behind it is? Saying that I was more surprised that link in full from Aberdeen-Penzance is about 12 hours!

If I am being honest - I wouldn't be surprised that border control happened the minue you stepped in England if Scotland had/goes independent - that in my own mind is the dumbest thing to do (but of course I remember the answer I got that was as someone who was wanting independence voting "yes" was it would be as it is ... how could it? I ain't going down that route but I know for my own self thinking passport or ID would be needed even if I was popping down south compared to going to Aberdeen, Glasgow)

It shows how far we have fallen when most blithely accept public figures breaking the law as the norm.

It heard on the news that they were both in the car and each taking turns to drive.

If you got "pulled" for a traffic offence - would you expect to be canned from you job?

Every MSP with a traffic offence would need to resign.

He should be sacked for being an incompetent excuse for a human being and transport minister, he should not be sacked though for being an uninsured driver though, loss of license, hefty fine and utter humiliation is the least he deserves.

If someone in a wheelchair was trying to hitch a lift I bet he would leave them standing like Scotrail?abellio does with disabled passengers at platforms.

Not every MSP is Transport Minister though. If you can't expect him to sort his own car insurance how can you expect him to organise the nation's transport infrastructure. Btw car insurance renews automatically unless you choose not to. So just how long has he been without insurance...?

He is insured to drive his own car..

I suppose that all depended on what it was. I always believe that the Law treats traffic offences too lightly at times.

Drivers without insurance cost the rest of us. Then there's the laws the police don't enforce or even bother trying to.

If driving was you living and you committed an offence that warranted a ban, then yes you would expect to lose your job.

Still, in this case he's just been stupid and readily admitted it but the thing is, he's a Minister in Government and so it's also embarrassing to the Government, coupled with the other transport issues lately then I would say if there were any more incidents then he might resign.

What a strange world we live in in post indy politics where the SNP refuse a Referendum

http://www.thenational.scot/news/149...2/?ref=mr&lp=1

I suppose the truth is that Sturgeon knows her political career is over if there was another Indyref without the support of those voting in it.

Another no vote would be extremely risky before Brexit and after Brexit Scotlands interests might just be fulfilled. The Scottish elite are kind of backing themselves into a smaller corner every day on this single issue politics they have been playing since June.

Who are the Scottish elite?

It is the FM's choice when to call a referendum. Quite right to dismiss the arrogance of May dictating a timetable. The PM should be busy concentrating on her Red, White and Blue (don't have a clue) Brexit negotiations.

I imagine they would be counterparts to the UK elite. Politicians and the like who have never actually done anything like working for a real living while acting like they have and pretending to be the voice of the people.

Actually, it's the people of Scotland's choice to call a referendum. The same people of Scotland who recently rejected independence. The UK Government would be quite right in refusing another referendum to us unless there was a clear indication we actually wanted one. After all, the evidence they have to go on is one Indyref and polls which show no real change in the desire for independence.

Honestly, if you were the UK Government why would you accept the will of a minority?

It's like the Scottish Government letting Kezia Dugdale decide policy.

Waffle.

The party the FM represents won an election. The election decided on by the Scottish people.

It is the FM, and the Government she leads, choice when to put the legislation before Parliament.