Sketch: Lamont’s microphone mishap speaks volumes for the future

THE first great confrontation between Alex Salmond and his opposite number on the Labour benches since the outbreak of referendum frenzy hardly got off to the most auspicious start.

After standing up to speak, Johann Lamont’s lips appeared to be moving but nothing could be heard. This was not the fireworks that we were expecting with Scotland’s destiny in the balance. It took an intervention from Tricia Marwick to sort things out. “Your card’s not in,” the Presiding Officer said helpfully, referring to the “idiot proof” electronic cards that MSPs have to insert into their microphones to switch them on.

“Well, you can say it is a well-oiled machine,” remarked a now audible Ms Lamont after fixing the problem. But it was not clear whether she was referring to her microphone or the arguments that she was about to rehearse, which have already become familiar at this time of great constitutional uncertainty. She opened by referring to Mr Salmond’s post-election statement that he did not have a “monopoly of wisdom” – the phrase which vanquished opposition parties now drag up in order to persuade themselves that they are still relevant. Then “humbly” offering her own wisdom, she told Mr Salmond he had to come to a consensus with the other parties on the independence poll.

Mr Salmond gave the impression of adopting a conciliatory tone by replying that Ms Lamont would probably “pleasantly surprised” by his plans for a referendum. This did not placate Ms Lamont who said that as opposition leader she should not be surprised by his plans because she should have been involved in them from the start. The problem, Ms Lamont said, was that Mr Salmond did not know how to build a consensus.

The consensus from those looking on was that – despite the build up – this had been a pretty mundane exchange. Probably a relief given the accusations of political racism and anti-Scottishness that had been bandied around the chamber earlier in the day.