Alex Salmond Sets Out His Plans To Holyrood Today

Alex Salmond is expected today to lay out his plans for a minimum price for spirits, wines, beers and ciders. He has the support of doctors,police chiefs and those groups that deal with alcohol addiction. It is one of a dozen bills due to be presented before the Holyrood Parliament this afternoon by the Scottish First Minister. Including setting up a single police service for Scotland.

New Opinion Poll On Scottish Independence

The latest TNS-BMRB poll, published today by The Herald, shows those who would vote Yes for independence ahead by 39% to 38% who would vote No. With 23% saying they are unsure both sides can claim everything is to play for in any upcoming Independence Referendum.

New IPSOS/MORI Opinion Poll Shows SNP Miles Ahead In Scotland

Holyrood constituency: CON 13%, LAB 28%, LDEM 7%, SNP 49%
Westminster: CON 15%, LAB 33%, LDEM 6%, SNP 42%

Is Murdo Fraser The Last Leader of The Scottish Tories?

Murdo Fraser plans to disband the Scottish Conservative Party should he become its leader next month.And to set up a new right wing party to replace it.The former Tory Scottish Secretary, Sir Malcolm Rifkind, described Mr Fraser's plans as "healthy" and "refreshing" and said his ideas should be given "serious consideration".
He said: "What is very, very healthy is that Murdo Fraser is not just raising this after he has been elected. He is saying if you want me as your leader this is the kind of way in which I wish to lead the centre-right cause in Scotland.
"He is saying this is not about one individual, this is an opportunity for the people who are Conservatives in Scotland to decide what is the future of the union and of centre-right politics.
"He is offering a very refreshing new start."
A separate party for a separate country is the conclusion that some will draw. Michael Forsyth, who served as Scottish Secretary from 1995 to 1997, argued: "I think the strategy is one of appeasement of the nationalists and I think it is one that will fail. Any policy which appeases nationalists is damaging to the union by definition."

John Cleese claims London is "no longer an English city"

The Comedian John Cleese claims London is no longer a English City. He made the comments during an Australian TV interview with ABC's Chris Uhlmann for the 7.30 show. "That's how they got the Olympics, they said 'we're the most cosmopolitan city on Earth'. But it doesn't feel English.

"I had a Californian friend come over two months ago, walk down the King's Road and said to me, 'Well, where are all the English people?'

"I love having different cultures around but when the parent culture kind of dissipates you are left thinking, 'well, what's going on?'" Mr Cleese is a well known supporter of the Liberal Democrats in Britain and has even made party political broadcasts for them in the past. He also claims he could not afford to live in England due to high taxes.

Paddy Power New Odds On The Next Irish President

Michael D Higgins 8/13
Gay Mitchell 11/4
Mary Davis 10/1
Sean Gallagher 10/1
Martin McGuinness 25/1
Eamon O'Cuiv 25/1
Martin McAleese 33/1
Dana/Rosemary Scallon 40/1

The Republican Party In Arizona's Idea Of A Raffle Prize

In January this year Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords survived a attack from a man armed with a similar type of weapon. Six other people were not so lucky. Including a federal Judge John Rolls. Yet the Republican Party in Congresswoman Giffords district consider this gun a worthy prize in a raffle. Yes for $10 you can purchase a ticket in this prize draw. The GOP in Giffords' home district is "showing a shocking lack of judgment and sensitivity," Jeff Rogers, chairman of the Pima County Democratic Party, said Thursday. "The wounds are still healing (from the shooting), and this is like pulling a scab off a wound."