Where is the Grin Control on Nicola Sturgeon?

Yes I'll admit it and go and collect my anorak now, I was there to the bitter end last night. That was when Newsnight Scotland finally deemed it time to show highlights of the campaign to round off conference and take the camera of Nicola's increasingly smug "I know something you don't" face. All through the coverage all the politicians in the studio Nicola, Douglas 'I'll defend my sister' Alexander, Murdo Fraser and Jo Swinson were checking for updates on their Blackberries. At times in wide shots we saw Nicola, Douglas and Jo actually looking at theirs. They were seemingly better informed than the reporter at the count on many occasions judging by their facial expressions and comments to questioning. Nicola smile grew in smugness to almost John Mason-esque proportions (you had to see the literature) as the night progressed.

I'll also admit I wasn't there at the start as me and some work colleagues were entertaining one of our South african colleagues to a meal down at Khubla Khan's in Leith. Although on my way home I checked into facebook to find that my one time near a TV camera all campaign had managed to make the national Newsnight coverage of the campaign. That's the last four Westminster Election nights in Scotland I've been spoted on telly, should I run and hide now.

However, the man who a few hours later entered the count to a guard of honour of Nat supporters, I thought I did spot ASWAS in the line, then entered the hall almost Rocky-esque hands raised aloft. Back in the Studio Nicola was trying her best to keep stoom after all the result had yet to be made official.

I think this is a great result to run this close as it appears to be from where we started. John Mason has run a good campaign etc.

But you could tell she was secretly waiting to have the part alluded to by a text messenger who later encouraged them to chill, kick back have a beer and cigarette. She quickly regained her sence that she was Health Minister when caught laughing a bit much though.

However, the dreaded r-word as it was referred to was mentioned by the BBC just as the candidates and agents were being called to the returning officers desk. This soon became not a euphermism but the actually word recount as while watching pictures of Margaret Curran, who couldn't really hide in bright red, an announcement on the stage used the word in full for the first time, quickly followed by about 7 uses in the studio in the next minute. Now Nicola said in good football speak:

"If you'd offered us to be in recount territority at the start we'd have been happy. But we'd have been expecting us to call it from behind."

Oh how the grin grew and grew. But we still had to wait for the official confirmation that Frances Curran pile of 555 votes didn't contain 366 of Margaret's in error. Nicola had by now returned to "siesmic" talk the word long banned by SNP after Alex promised a quake hitting Glasgow East before Labour chose Curran, M.

So Gordon had responsibilty for the Dunfermline and West Fife Campiagn and lost that, he was Prime Minister for the Glasgow East Campaign and lost that. I can still the looks of anguish on the Labour members at the Livingston as they entered the hall at the start of that by election, but that has been the only Westminster by election north of the border this Parliament that they have ended up leaving with even a smile of relief.

Labour are in turmoil and facing a crisis from whoever is best placed to dislodge them, the Nats last night, the Tories in Crewe of the Lib Dems in Dunfermline, it looking a lot like the lead up to 1997. Gordon can not be sleeping well in the few small hours his pencils in for such activities.

Labour Can't Help Lying Over War

Yeah Guido has exposed Margaret Curran's war veteran for what she is. Far from being 93 and a veteran of the 7th Armoured Division, the Desert Rats, (of whom my late great uncle was padre) he appears to be 67 and a Labour party activist.

Now every party is liable to pack party activists into crowd scenes behind the candidate, as these people are most likely to agree to appear in that way. Although I have once seen the Tory agent posing as a normal member of the public. However, for the sake of the regiment to which I have family connections I glad this latest Labour deception has been exposed for what it is, a desperate attempt by someone who as the area's MSP should have some knowledge of the local community appearing to be a bigger part of that community than they truly are.

So either she can't remember who John Hipson and whov George McGuiness are or has managed to find not one but two 93 year old veterans of the 7th Armoured then she really must know Glasgow East like the back of her hand. Somehow I don't think that the latter is the case.

Labour's Referendum Stance Blowing in the Breeze

I'm at loss just where Labour stand over the whole issue of where Labour stand on the matter of a referendum over independence for Scotland. Ever since Wendy Alexander's "bring it on" televised statement there has been some uncertainty.

First the party in Scotland backing her, only for the Prime Minister to basically leave her in the cold. Which saw the MSPs use more guarded language, to the extent that they u-turned. Then we have most of the favourites for the leadership of the party in Scotland denying they will follow that course.

Well on newsnight on Monday night David Cairns and Alex Salmond went through the Paxman mean, lean grilling machine with Cairns telling Paxo that their Westminster candidate in Glasgow East, Margaret Curran was not in favour of a referendum. However, yesterday at her official launch she said she was not frightened of the verdict of the Scottish people.

Apparently there is also some worry in the Labour camp that the Scottish Socialists have selected Frances Curran as their candidate saying there will be voter confusion. Frances will appear just above Margaret on the ballot paper. Sadly if there is going to be confusion to the electorate some of that may be down to Labour education and adult literacy programmes not having the impact in Glasgow East as are applauded in other parts of the country.

Mind you Margaret also tried to lay claim to the idea of a televised debate by issuing a challenge to John Mason anytime, anyplace. Only problem is I heard this being discussed as a possibility over 48 hours before she was even a selected candidate, being organised not by the Labour party but by the TV people themselves.

Obviously Margaret is trying too hard at playing catch up after her lost weekend.