By Russell Bruce

There’s that old joke that if you ask 10 economists a question you will get 11 answers. If one thing is certain the numbers and opinions being bandied about by economists, think tanks and Uncle Tom Cobley and all is set to rise exponentially as the Independence Referendum gathers pace.

In the latest edition of the National Institute Economic Review there is an interesting article by Dr Angus Armstrong.

By a Newsnet reporter

According to a report in the Daily Telegraph, senior Westminster civil servants are under instructions to freeze out their Scottish counterparts when they attend official meetings.

The order for Westminster civil servants to refrain from discussing the future of Scotland with senior Scottish civil servants is thought to have come directly from David Cameron's office.

By Kenneth Roy

Suddenly, there is hope for us all. In one of the many disobliging 'profiles' of Billy Connolly following his walk-out in Scarborough and Blackpool, he is described as a man in late middle age. Mr Connolly is 69. If this now qualifies as late middle age, I'm going with the theory that the district nurse and Saga Tours won't be troubling us until we have safely negotiated our 75th birthday and that a mid-life crisis is possible at 72. How exciting.

Actuarially, however, most people in Glasgow will miss their mid-life crisis because most people in Glasgow will be dead by 72. The few survivors will be left to pay for the Commonwealth Games until the moderately old age of 130.

By G.A.Ponsonby
 
Unionist politicians and their allies in the media have today mounted a concerted campaign against First Minister Alex Salmond following a row over the BBC’s refusal to allow the SNP leader to appear on a rugby programme.
 
The attacks on Mr Salmond are based on comments he made where he compared the BBC’s London based political adviser Ric Bailey to a ‘Gauleiter’, a term used to describe someone who behaves in a petty and authoritarian manner.

By Kenneth Roy
 
What is the quality possessed by Michelle Mone that has made her a successful businesswoman? Could it be bottled for more general consumption? She is glamorous, pushy, articulate and often quite annoying – but the brand works. I would have her cloned.

A thousand Michelles, with their entrepreneurial ability, would stir our post-industrial wasteland from its torpor. They would ignite the young to follow her example and shake the old men of the Rotary Club out of their complacency ...

By a Newsnet reporter

It was revealed last night that the Westminster Foreign Office believes that the rump-UK could veto Scottish membership of the EU.  In a leaked memo, the Foreign Office raises the possibility that a vengeful David Cameron could prevent Scotland taking up EU membership as a means of scaring Scots into line prior to the independence referendum.

By Gerry Hassan, The Scotsman, February 4th 2012

Human beings have a need to associate, to feel they belong and to be part of wider groupings.

We all recognise this, but we also know some of the limits: the power and negativity of being in a gang, tribe or group, of including and excluding.

In my life many things have defined how I see myself and how I interpret the world: various values, philosophies, labels and outlooks, from politics to culture to of course, football.

By Dave Taylor

A new poll [1] gave voters the choice between “Support independence” : “Devolve financial powers but not defence and foreign policy” and “Keep things as they are”.

37%, of those who had an opinion, support independence; 33% chose the status quo; while “Devo Max” is being squeezed and is down to only 30% as a first preference.

By Stuart McHardy

Scotland has a reputation around the world.  Generally we are known for our hospitality, humanity and culture. But we are also known as the Sick Man of Europe because of the extent of medical problems like MS, diabetes and even rickets.

by Paul Kavanagh

The greatest recruiting sergeant for the cause of Scottish independence has again laid into the debate, in a move which looks likely to provoke yet another surge in SNP membership applications and drive undecideds and supporters of fiscal autonomy into the independence camp. 

David 'Respect Agenda' Cameron morphed into Little Britain's Carol "computer says no" Beer and announced last weekend that if you want more powers for the Scottish Parliament within the UK, you can forget it.  Scottish democracy is incompatible with the Union, it does not compute.  So now Scots know, Davie says: "You'll have had your Union."