It just gets worse and worse for Labour

Today, faced with someone who had the audacity to ask him a question he didn't like, Gordon Brown did what any grown up would do and STOMPED OFF. I hear he had to stomp right back again because the next journalist was waiting for an interview. Meanwhile elsewhere in the Land of Hope and Glory Peter Mandelsohn apparently brushed off the news that The Sun had dropped its Labour support by apparently referring to Sun readers as LOSERS! Very naughty but not at all surprising to me. Another Labour politician who shall remain nameless referred to some of his constituents last week as NUTTERS. I won't name him but it's on the Official Report of the last Public Audit Committee so it's in the public domain. Again, very naughty, not very nice. However their honesty is improving because Mr Mandelson himself said today that after the election he can see himself working equally well for a Conservative Government as for a Labour Government. Like I said, it gets worse and worse ...

Gordon Ramsay - what a bully

I've been watching Hell's Kitchen for the first time. And I just can't look. That man is a nasty piece of work. It stars Gordon Ramsay - much admired for his fiery no nonsense attitude and that's fine but it's not "no nonsense" it's just nasty bully boy stuff. Workplace bullying can be crucifying for people who have to live with it. It's often quite subtle but not with this guy.

He wasn't happy with one of the chefs so he told him to "f*** off, just get outta here, go on get out, f*** off" and off the poor guy went, completely humiliated in front of everyone.

The next guy to displease him was told to "get in there now" and shoved into a cupboard where he was joined by Ramsay who spat in his face that he was "a dirty pig".

Nasty horrible bully boy tactics that would and should get someone sacked. Why on earth do we create a celebrity out of guys like this? How can we tell kids or anyone for that matter that bullying is wrong when this guy's paid millions for doing just that? It's obscene. HE is obscene. WE are obscene to accept someone like this being held up as some kind of a hero.

My honest politician of the week ...

... is Ed Milliband, the Labour MP and Energy Secretary, who this week admitted, nay openly declared that there was little difference between the Labour Party and the Conservative Party. It was unequivocal. His words were as follows:

"On certain areas, there are no differences between us ... people don't like (politicians) pretending there are big differences when there aren't."

I suspect it was said to try and grab some of the thousands of votes that seem to be moving down South from Labour to Tory. Won't go down particularly well in Scotland and definitely not in Glasgow where some (not many) people have clung onto the hope that the similarities are more superficial than fundamental. Good of Mr Milliband, tipped to lead the Labour Party one day, to clarify the position for us.

I'm looking for a Parliamentary Researcher

As far as I know I have no budget for external recruitment advertising so I've put the word out in other ways. However I didn't mention it here on my blog that's so well read by both of you! So, if you're interested in working for me at the parliament in Edinburgh as a researcher or if you know anyone who is, take a look at the job ad and get your application in by this Thursday. I've had a lot of interest and applications are already in double figures. However I want to ensure I've done everything I can to get the best person for the job. I'm determined our office will make a difference to the people we represent and to the parliament. And I will definitely give full consideration to every single application I receive.

Purcell not V Good at all!

If it weren't for the fact that Stephen Purcell is in charge of the biggest council in Scotland and the city that I represent and live in, I'd be laughing at the events of last week. When he was stomping about moaning that The first Minister Alex Salmond told him to grow up, perhaps he should really just reflect on that piece of advice. I understand that people have political ambitions and most politicians love getting press coverage but I think we each have a responsibility to keep the egos in check and keep reminding ourselves what we are trying to achieve.

The headlines I'm referring to came about after a meeting Stephen Purcell had with Alex Salmond and Nicola Sturgeon - I think it was simply a Commonwealth Games progress meeting. Purcell brought up the refurbishment of Dalmarnock Station where the Games will be held and he wanted the FM to guarantee the £2.3million loan from the EU required to overhaul it. As I understand it, he was given a "steer" that the SNP Government were "very committed" to it but told that "due processes" had to be followed before any confirmation could be given.What that means is there are certain procedures that have to be followed in all things but particularly when you're running a country.

As it happens, the following day, it was confirmed that the loan would be underwritten. Confirmed through the proper channels. Saying "c'mon gonnae just tell me, I'll no' tell anybody" is really not that attitude you're looking for from the Leader of Glasgow City Council. Running to the press afterwards saying "that big boy told me to grow up" is even less impressive.

And what did it achieve really? It didn't influence the outcome one iota. All it did was get headlines for Mr Purcell who, as we all know, is dying to replace Iain Gray as Labour's leader in Scotland. Sadly this time, his headlines just made him look like a diddy - and one who needs to grow up fast.

Visit to my old drama school

I invited myself along to the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama when I heard that Michael Russell, the Minister for Culture amongst other things was going to be visiting today. It's my old drama school but it's so much more than that these days. It's such an exciting job being an MSP. Yet again I found myself having to fight the urge to get completely carried away (so unlike me, I know!) and book myself an audition when I heard that they're going to have a musical theatre course - but couldn't help myself from thinking that the hills are alive with the sound of music / as long as he needs me / you must be mistaken, it couldn't have been, you couldn't have seen him yesterday. Sorry, as you can see my "not getting carried away" didn't work too well. Anyway was a great visit. We're pictured here with John Wallace, the Principal at the RSAMD and Prof Maggie Kinloch, Director of Drama.

Facebook therapy

Facebook is very 'helpful' in that it tells you what your friends think of you - so it says. Every so often it sends you an email letting you know where you are in the rankings. Today, I got this.

#4 most useful (lost 2 places)
#5 most outgoing (gained 1 place)
#6 most talkative (gained 1 place)
#10 best mannered (lost 4 places)
#11 hardest worker (lost 9 places)

So I'm becoming useless, rude, lazy (after the week I've just had!!) and more talkative. However none of that has affected my confidence as it tells me I'm more outgoing than normal. Will nothing dent this girl's confidence?! And who on earth is voting in this? I've never been asked!