Murphy and Milliband

Just back from a Q&A session for party members with Jim Murphy and David Milliband. Once again, i was struck with how impressiv Jim Murphy is: one audience member asked a fierce question about morals, abortion, euthanasia and stem cell research; Milliband grimaced and avoided answering it - Murphy took it on directly, politely and with due regard for the opinions of the questioner.
Milliband was much better than last time I heard him (at a Fabians event in Manchester). His speech was dull, but when he got around to answering questions, his detailed knowledge of his brief and his coherent philosophy marked him out as something special.
He has, however, begun to affect some Blair-like vocal tics and mannerisms and his answer on expenses ("it's a bit of a mess") was not wholly reassuring.
The bizarre thing was that the whole event took place almost in denial of the current furores about e-mails and expenses, as though a parallel universe exists where Labour still have the capacity to win the next election.......

Nedgate

The really depressing thing about Barry Ferguson and Alan McGregor and their drinking antics is the way that it remains accepted in Scotland that you can be a top sportsman and still get pished every night.
There are only two really world class Scottish sportspeople - Andy Murray in a genuine world sport and Chris Hoy in a more specialist sport.
I can't imagine either of them going on the lash while in competition - that's why they are among the best (or the best) at what they do. And why our footballers will continue to be second-rate.