Good Luck Gordon

Gordon Strachan has been appointed as the new Scotland manager. The former Manchester United player should do a good job as he has the passion to lead the Tartan Army. As a manager Gordon took Glasgow Celtic to three SPL title wins. So good luck Gordon.

Prodiban Rioting Continues

The Prodiban flag protests continue on the streets of Belfast and elsewhere. The politicians on the Unionist side call for it to end but to no avail. More than 40 days of attacks on the police the Alliance Party and death threats to SDLP and Sinn Fein politicians. Yet the morons carry on there pointless protest. The sooner this mayhem ends the better for everyone.

SNP Speak Out On Syria

The Scottish National Party (SNP) has pressed the UK Government on what next steps might be pursued in relation to Syria given concerns about military intervention. In a House of Commons question to Foreign Secretary William Hague the Westminster SNP Leader and Foreign Affairs spokesman Angus Robertson MP said: “The Foreign Secretary has highlighted the need for flexibility to consider taking additional steps to try to save lives if there is no progress in the near future. Given the concerns about military intervention what might those additional steps be?” In his answer the Foreign Secretary declined to provide substantive detail but suggested that certain supplies to opposition forces, such as helmets and body-armour currently covered by an arms restrictions might be looked at. Speaking after the House of Commons statement on Syria, Angus Robertson MP said: “The suffering of the people of Syria is appalling. The death, injury and destruction is totally unacceptable and the humanitarian situation is catastrophic. It is particularly worrying that because of the security situation the United Nations and Red Crescent are now unable to supply essential foods to nearly 2.5 million people. “I understand why European countries are seeking flexibility in the next steps to save lives, but given concerns about military intervention it would be helpful for the UK to signal what those steps might be if the violence continues.''

Housing Executive Is Abolished By DUP Minister

The Housing Executive in the North is to be abolished by the DUP Minister Nelson McCausland. The Executive which has existed for over years has 90,000 properties and employs more than 3,000 people. The SDLP's Foyle MLA, Mark H Durkan, criticised the minister for the way he made the announcement. "The demolition of the Housing Executive, which is the symbol of the one great progressive move in dealing with the north's pitiful legacy of political housing, is bad enough," he said. "To use welfare reform as the smokescreen for hacking away at this body was a sign of the minister's dual wedding to both a vicious Tory cuts agenda and a determination to re-politicising housing allocations. "But for the minister to announce it without the chance for MLAs to properly interrogate the decision is an act of rank cowardice.".

SDLP MLA Gets Sent A Bullet In The Post

The SDLP MLA for Mid-Ulster Patsy McGlone has been sent a bullet in the post. Mr McGlone said: "This is obviously not something that is a pleasant experience, for me or my family, however, those who sent it will not put me off doing my job, that is representing the people of Mid Ulster. "I would like to pay tribute to the staff at the Post Office and the PSNI (Police Service of Northern Ireland) for their professionalism and vigilance in dealing with this matter."

SNP In The Lead Again In Latest Scottish Opinion Polls

Analysis of the most recent Scottish voting intentions from the latest samples by UK polling companies shows the SNP hold a lead with 36% of Westminster voting intentions and a 3% lead over Labour. The analysis of the latest samples – amounting to a combined sample of 582 – from six major polling companies over the past 20 days shows the following average result with changes from the 2010 Westminster election: SNP: 36% (+16%) Labour: 33% (-9%) Tory: 17% (n/c) LibDem: 7% (-12%) Commenting on the analysis, SNP Business Convener Derek Mackay MSP, said: “The result we achieved in the 2011 Scottish Parliament election was outstanding, as people across Scotland put their trust in the team, record and vision of the SNP Government. And 2012 has been another year of progress for the SNP and for Scotland. “This latest poll of polls show that the progress is continuing and the SNP continue to lead the way for Scotland into 2013. “The latest polling on independence also shows that the referendum is there to be won - backing for an independent Scotland is strong, and ahead on certain scenarios - and we believe that this support will grow through 2013 as the debate moved from process to substance."

Fiscal Cliff Deal Done

So the United States Of America have struck a deal to avert economic disaster. The deal was done between Vice President Joe Biden and the Republicans in the US Senate. So a crisis has avoided until the next time.