Sketch: Presidential pose given a boost by the ‘courtesy’ visit of a foreign high heid yin
PRESIDENT Salmond might have a certain ring to it for the SNP leader. He is not, after all, a man to shy away from the pomp and grandeur of his position.
And there are few politicians on these islands – as he insists on calling Britain – more adept at turning a damaging situation to his advantage.
So when coalition insiders made it clear that Thursday’s meeting with the Prime Minister was being undertaken as a “matter of courtesy”, Mr Salmond was quick to pounce.
“I thought it was an interesting view put forward,” he said yesterday.
“Courtesy visits are usually what prime ministers do with foreign heads of state. I don’t know if that’s what Downing Street meant to imply.”
In truth Mr Salmond and Scottish Secretary Michael Moore were more akin to two football managers after yesterday’s talks at St Andrews House, which coincidentally lasted about 90 minutes. They had both been watching the same game, but seemed to come up with wildly divergent views in their post-match analysis.
For Mr Salmond, the SNP’s preferred date of autumn 2014 was now pretty much settled, with no “real argument” remaining over the timing. For Mr Moore, it should be sooner, with no reason why it couldn’t be held a year earlier.
And while Mr Salmond believed that the role of elections watchdog the Electoral Commission had been resolved, Mr Moore insisted that more work was needed to ensure its role was carried out on a statutory footing.
Perhaps the biggest gulf between the two men was over who’s calling the shots. Mr Moore didn’t like being referred to as a monkey to David Cameron’s organ grinder in a later interview, and while Mr Salmond was more diplomatic, the message was the same.
“I think the Prime Minister makes the decisions,” he said. Mr Moore insisted: “The Prime Minister has been clear from day one that he asked me to bring forward the proposals on the referendum.”
The talks had been rescheduled after Mr Moore’s recent bout of chicken pox and this did prompt unkind jibes from assembled hacks yesterday about “germ warfare” and “headless chicken pox” as negotiations ran over by more than half an hour.
When they finally did break up, the First Minister emerged first, sporting a multi-saltire adorned tie and taking up a carefully choreographed spot in front of a saltire plasma screen. A cynic might have thought the Nationalists were trying to get a message across.
The tie may be changed for Thursday’s meeting with Prime Minister David Cameron in Edinburgh, when the whole circus surrounding the talks will be replayed. But unless there’s a shift in approach among the protagonists, there’s little likelihood of any breakthrough on the biggest decision to face Scots in 300 years.
And President Salmond? He’s already said he’ll let the monarch stay head of state.
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Comments
There are 14 comments to this article
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Abridged too Far
Wednesday, February 15, 2012 at 06:43 PMCameron is reluctant to negotiate with Europe, reluctant to negotiate with Argentina, and now has to drag his disinterested arse up to Edinburgh for negotiations he wants no part in. If he cannot find the energy to expose himself to negotiations on behalf of the majority who didn't vote for him, why does he have the gall to pick up a pay cheque........ By the way, very amusing article. Full of nonsensical unionist clap-trap, but amusing.
footdee
Wednesday, February 15, 2012 at 12:35 AMBiscuit McVittie writes------"childish flag fetish is just as sick as the use of the Union Flag "------------I know biscuit, just read about these stupid labour politicians.--------------------------------------------- "An upside-down Union Flag revived calls for MEPs to abandon their Strasbourg meetings and meet only in Brussels. Labour MEPs yesterday said it was just another reason to give up the so-called “travelling circus” which obliges MEPs to meet in Strasbourg and Brussels."
footdee
Wednesday, February 15, 2012 at 12:29 AMCameron is paying a courtesy visit because he wants the Scottish oil reserves to stay within the Sterling zone ,thats Alexs trumph card---------------The above article is like a childish tantrum
flyinngscott
Tuesday, February 14, 2012 at 06:30 PMWith the latest circulation figures showing a 12% drop in people daft enough to buy this "news"groups spewings, it is only a matter of months before they are forced to do a Rangers and call it a day. Sad to see historic imprints go to the wall, but the way things are, the adage 'no news is good news' seems apt.
Biscuit McVittie
Tuesday, February 14, 2012 at 05:19 PMWhen they finally did break up, the First Minister emerged first, sporting a multi-saltire adorned tie Will Cameron be wearing a Union Jack tie? No of course not. Salmond’s childish flag fetish is just as sick as the use of the Union Flag by the BNP. Only a fool would die for a flag.
KINGFISHER1
Tuesday, February 14, 2012 at 01:52 PMInteresting times, is I consider the accurate expression. Following on Mr Salmond's vist to the Former Middle Kingdom, he is presumably familiar with the expression. Mr Cameron pays a courtesy visit. Perhaps it does ACCURATELY reflect an ALREADY INDEPENDENT SCOTLAND. The right to self determination has already been expressed in the recent poll; a matter of which the UNITED NATIONS should perhaps HAVE TAKEN on board! The on going discussions, may therefore relate to an AMICABLE SEPARATION AGREEMENT, as opposed to a full blown DIVORCE. The matter isMANDATED and FAR MORE TECHNICAL than the two leading UK politicians appear to grasp. SILVERADO
zippitydoodaa
Tuesday, February 14, 2012 at 01:26 PMWhat a farcical newspaper.. We have a bingo at work to see how many times we can find SalmondSwinneySturgeon can be 'accused'.......................................................................................................... Apparently this is happening in a lot of offices around Scotland these days .................................................................................................... It's sad that the Scotsman is fast becoming a figure of ridicule..............................................................................................................
douglas-home rule
Tuesday, February 14, 2012 at 12:39 PMI looked for a bye-line on this rubbish. Perhaps its an East German "journalist " looking for a start. He will feel right at home with the Jocksman.
JPJ2
Tuesday, February 14, 2012 at 11:12 AMMacPravda MacPravda MacPravda---------------------------------oh how you deserve that name..........................................unionists with typewriters, and typing a stream of lies.
Broon Bairn
Tuesday, February 14, 2012 at 10:19 AMStandards are certainly slipping in the world of journalism today!
jamesdow
Tuesday, February 14, 2012 at 09:34 AMNo author cited for this piece ? No matter, it looks like an Uncle Tom Peterkin special - heavy on sarcasm and light on anything else.
Marga
Tuesday, February 14, 2012 at 08:54 AMI remember when the Sunday Post used to do this kind of article.
Sneeky
Tuesday, February 14, 2012 at 08:41 AMOK, OK... I know its hard for the Scotsman to get what with the RED MIST OF UNIONISM hanging over their eyes, but Salmond is saying we will keep the Queen as head of state. There will be NO Presidential position. IF Salmond is elected in an independent Scotland, he would be Prime Minister. _______ Now onto Salmonds little Jibe about visiting heads of state... This is of course a humorous way to highlight that he wants Scotland to be Independent, i.e. another country. _______ Now you wait to the LAST LINE to point out that your own article is purile nonsense!
gus1940
Tuesday, February 14, 2012 at 07:03 AMWhat a load of b-llocks. Newspaper? You must be joking.
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