What the Papers Say

Some stories you might have missed in the last few days ... with brief comments

'Poll tax' warning over SNP plan (BBC) Scottish plans for a local income tax could lead to the sort of unrest Scotland experienced with the poll tax, a law expert has warned ... "'Eck! 'Eck! 'Eck! Oot, oot, oot!"

Swinney bids to quell independence fears of Scotland's financial sector (Scotsman) John Swinney yesterday revealed that an independent Scotland could retain a UK-wide system of regulation for the financial services ... makes you wonder how far the word independence can be stretched.

Swinney admits SNP funding reform relies on PFI financing (Herald) John Swinney yesterday conceded that his plans to reform funding of schools, hospitals, roads and the new Forth bridge are part of the same financing system that has been extensively criticised by the SNP for years ... and the smoke clears revealing a cracked mirror.

Students angry over immediate payment of £2000 graduate endowment (Times) At least Labour allowed people to wait until they could afford to pay.

Alexander calls SNP funding plan ‘financially illiterate’ (Herald) Wendy Alexander yesterday attacked as "legally incompetent and financially illiterate" the SNP's plan for raising private finance to fund public projects ... she'll probably be accused of picking on easy targets.

Health Test Rap For SNP (Sunday Mail) The SNP government has been accused of breaking its promise of free health MOTs for adults over 40 ... all this stuff about broken promises is getting really boring because there are so many of them.

Lochhead’s fish quotas proposals raise storm among political parties (Press and Journal) Liberal Democrat MSP My Grumbles urged the SNP administration to “focus on supporting the fishing industry rather than picking a fight with the UK Government" ... just goes to show how unrealistic the Liberal Democrats can be. And no mention of quotas for salmond or sturgeon.

SNP Are Leaving Old Folk In Cold (Daily Record) Future applicants for the programme will be subject to "prioritization" ... will they use a points system - multiply age by latitude and divide by body temperature?

Goldie: No regrets over backing SNP (Scotsman) Just so long as she refrains from Edith Piaf impersonations.

Wrong MSPs elected in poll fiasco (Scotsman) "Some MSPs may have no right to sit at Holyrood" ... and that could mean some have no right to be in government.

Kenny Macaskill has announced plans for minimum per unit alcohol prices. He seems to have a real bee in his bonnet about drink. Is he still trying to expunge old blots on his copybook?