Goldie is the real star of the campaign

Annabel Goldie was the seemingly safe pair of hands chosen by the Scottish Conservatives after the resignation of former leader David McLetchie. Ms Goldie was seen by many to be rather dull and uninspiring - and her leadership had a rocky start. A LibDem friend of mine in Scotland even told me that Goldie was our Ming Campbell!

However, now the campaign in Scotland is almost over many people think that the only person to have come out of this enhanced is the Tory Leader. She has shone on TV debates, won over the anti-Tory media and recieved plaudits for her "bread and butter" election pledges. The Scottish campaign seems to have been run very well this time and I hope the campaigners there feel this on the ground.

Whilst McConnell (Labour's First Minister) and SNP Chief Alex Salmond slug it out, and poor LibDem Thingy Nicol delves further into obscurity, Annabel Goldie has made a name for herself. The media say it, the pundits say it and I hope the voters do. Certainly my friends in Scotland are impressed with her - but are saying they are still undecided. I hope Goldie's honesty and integrity give them cause to vote Conservative on 3rd May.

UPDATE: A text puts me right. They are happy to vote Conservative on the top-up, but as the Conservatives apparently cannot win in their local constituency they are still looking for somebody to vote for! A hand slapping for me, there!

The SNP leopard can't change its spots

The greatest strenght, and greatest weakness, of the SNP is the central policy of independence. In years gone by the overwhelming majority of Scots who don't want to break way from the UK have moved away from the SNP because of that.

Now, with Labour in the political gutter, many left-leaning voters are looking for a new home. If you wanted an alternative reforming left wing government you would look to the SNP rather than Labour. But that whole independence thing still puts you off, doesn't it?

So that's why the SNP are promising a referendum (something they never did in 2003 - saying that a vote for the SNP was a vote for Independence!) and have moved the issue to the backburner. To gather up all those disgruntled ex-Labour voters who need a home.

But if you do put the destruction of our nation at the back of your mind, the SNP aren't so bad are they?

Well, if you do vote for the SNP don't be surprised if the kitten you thought you voted for turns out to be a leopard. And believe me, those spots don't change.

Alex Salmond has worked his whole political life for an Independent Scotland - it will pre-occupy every moment of his time as First Minister. He is single-minded - almost a one-policy man. From the moment his feets go under the desk, you know what he'll be plotting. And it ain't cutting crime or improving the NHS.

So before you think the SNP are a viable alternative for Scotland, think about what spots they might be hiding.

LibDems get nasty in Scottish poll campaign

If the reports from the BBC are correct then I think LibDem Leader Sir Ming Campbell will have made a mistake in targeting fellow party leaders in his party's bid not to come 4th in the Scottish elections on 3rd May.

Campbell's attack on Blair and Iraq is rather predictable and suggests that by dragging up this issue again his party has nothing new to say. Isn't this the same record they've been playing since 2003? Anyway, I suspect that not many people will notice this!

The main thrust of the attack was on SNP boss Alex Salmond. Now, no matter what you think of Salmond or his politics, you have to accept that he is widely admired in Scotland in the same bizarre way that Livingstone is in London. A bit of a loon but with his heart in the right place.

The LibDems have built their limited success on the basis of being the "nice party" - of avoiding such attacks and being relentlessly positive ... I know, I know, but this is their public perception not the reality that political campaigners know!

By letting Campbell savage Salmond in this way, I wonder if this take the shine off the LibDem gloss.

UPDATE: I notice also on the site a poll which shows more LibDem voters want Salmond as First Minister than their own well known leader, Mr Thingey.