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The weekly debacle that has become FMQs is a matter of grave concern. There have been high-level meetings with the new Presiding Officer to see what can be done. There are mumblings from MSPs that Alex Fergusson has fundamentally failed in his job, that he allows the First Minister to make mini-political speeches and lets him off with not answering the questions but Fergusson is no George Reid and it is hard walking in the footprints of a legend. The new PO is ploughing his own furrow and has a different style. The critics may be muttering about his abilities but even if he has not effectively taken control of the Chamber during a weekly Q&A, he has certainly taken control of the misgivings. It is at Fergusson’s instigation that he has met with party bosses to try and break the impasse in proceedings. And there are a variety of solutions that could be accommodated under the existing standing orders. They just need to be considered. And considered is something Fergusson is. he is a polite man – aren’t all old Etonians – he has a certain manner and he is superb at representing the Parliament in any situation but FMQs can not continue to be a public battleground where party political point scoring becomes more important than scrutinising the Government and he must be seen to be taking a grip of that. Granted, Fergusson is dealing with a different political landscape; an SNP minority government, an opposition that still doesn’t know its place, led by a leader that is still finding her way and backed by a handful of loyal lemmings on the front benches and a battalion of embittered, unbelievers on the back. The bawling from Labour continues unabated. They shake their heads like nodding dogs in apparent disbelief whenever the FM speaks and then clap, smile and cheer when the Conservative leader makes a salient point. have they had political amnesia? The Conservatives are the natural enemy of Labour, not the party to offer light relief to your own pitiful attempts to knock the FM off his perch. Salmond is experienced enough to know that attack is the lowest form of defence and as he listens to the constant and, frankly, discourteous, badgering and caterwauling, he must feel very confident of his own strengths. They, meanwhile, are trying to protect their leader but if Wendy was brilliant in that weekly joustabout, she could withstand the regular beatings and prevent a lot of collateral damage to her, her party and their grasp on reality but instead, she is weak, sullen and ill-informed and backed up by a baying band of pugilists in the shape of Jackie Baillie, Duncan MacNeil and George Foulkes. It’s nothing short of a disgrace that parliamentarians haven’t learnt a few simple lessons in how to conduct themselves in public. Labour complains that the FM doesn’t answer the question but perhaps they need to consider more carefully the questions they are asking. Yes, FMQs is a little bit of theatre but it is also a showcase of what we have to offer in terms of leaders and potential leaders. Alex Salmond is more box office than his combatants. he was considered one of the top five questioners in the house of Commons alongside Tam Dalyell and officials will tell you that when Tam rose to his feet, the game was a bogey. his most famously crafted question was, ‘Why?’. Wendy Alexander should listen and learn and would do well to remember that she doesn’t actually have to
ask anything at FMQs. Imagine that. how smart would Alex look then?

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