FMQs: Whingeing from the sidelines

Many grassroots SNP supporters are vehemently opposed to fracking

The phrase of the day was "whingeing from the sidelines". Nicola Sturgeon deployed it not once, not twice, but thrice in combatting her rivals.

Of course, words and phrases can sometimes mean different things to different people. "Whingeing", for example, might be seen by others as persistent, valid criticism.

And "from the sidelines", seen from a sklenting standpoint, might instead mean "on the opposition benches".

It is, I suppose, about perspective, about persuading voters to see things your way. It is about narrative.

Labour's Kezia Dugdale wanted to tell us a story. It was a tale of a naughty FM who was being less than straight with the voters.

Effortless bound

She began by saying that Ms Sturgeon had broken a promise to scrap the council tax. Labour, by contrast, would do so. How? Replacing it with what? Ms Dugdale has yet to say.

Then an abrupt segue, so swift that less alert observers were disorientated. She switched from the council tax to fracking in one effortless bound.

Ms Sturgeon marked World Book Day at Holyrood by unveiling a new reading initiative after being joined by P7 pupils from Brunstane Primary School dressed as their favourite book characters

Now, had it been a bedside story, the eager, youthful listener might have reasonably interjected at that point with a plaintive query. What was that? Do you have to read this story? I prefer Treasure Island or Harry Potter.

But Ms Dugdale had a point to pursue. Which was that the FM could not be trusted over council tax - and thus could not be trusted to pre-empt fracking.

The FM picked her way through the single transferable question. On council tax, she said her plan would make the levy fairer and more progressive.

Those in the biggest houses would pay more, with exemptions. Three out of four would pay not a penny more. Those on low incomes with offspring would pay less.

Freeze on fracking

And on fracking? She described Labour's position as "desperate" - but became increasingly exasperated herself as the point was pursued.

There is a moratorium in place. A moratorium, note, not a permanent ban. It is a freeze on fracking, as the Energy Minister Fergus Ewing helpfully explained earlier, pending scientific and other studies and consultation. It would be, he said, an evidence based initiative.

But, faced with Labour's seemingly strengthened support for a ban, Ms Sturgeon sounded decidedly hostile to unconventional oil and gas exploration - while adhering to the policy of a moratorium. Her words spoke of freeze, her tone spoke of ban.

There was, she said, a moratorium. That meant no fracking in Scotland while that moratorium operated. "It ain't allowed to happen", she declared.

with hunger, poverty, war and natural disasters.

The five party leaders also helped to launch SCIAF's Wee Box appeal, which aims to raise funds to help families living with hunger, poverty, war and natural disasters

The timetable, apparently, is: scientific and other studies by midsummer 2016, consultation up to spring 2017, Ministerial decision summer 2017.

As to the other leaders, Willie Rennie of the Liberal Democrats contrasted the £100m promised for education from a council tax rise next year on the most expensive properties with the SG's refusal to sanction a tax rise for the same purpose this year.

Ms Sturgeon noted that there was new money this year to address the educational attainment gap. Mr Rennie's tax plan would penalise low earners.

Ultimate insult

For the Conservatives, Ruth Davidson warned that jobs would go in Scotland if the Trident nuclear deterrent were to be scrapped. In pursuit of this case, she cited the GMB union, not one of her customary sources.

Ms Sturgeon said that the billions to be "wasted" on Trident could generate productive investment while Faslane could be a conventional naval base.

Then, from Ms Davidson, the ultimate insult. (Once again, consider standpoint, think perspective.) She depicted the First Minister "linking arms with Jeremy Corbyn" at an anti-Trident rally in London.

Not so, apparently. The First Minister told MSPs: "He refused to turn up until I had left."