Edinburgh Business Labour Forum
European Craigmillar
- A EURO-ZONE is already operating in Scotland, the Edinburgh Business Labour Forum found out at its debate over whether the British euro is dead or merely comatose. As David Martin, MEP, and Nigel Smith, of the "No to the Euro" campaign, pored over the problem, Paul Nolan informed everybody that the euro was alive and well and licking, if not kicking, in Craigmillar. Recently returned from exporting Irn-Bru chews to Poland, he was handing over some loose change to Shannon, his eight-year-old granddaughter. As he was about to explain what the coins were, Shannon chirped:
- "Oh great, euros."
- "How do you know about euros?"
- "The ice-cream van takes them," Shannon grinned. "One of them buys you a euro -cone." And with that she was out the door.[1]
Whispers from the hotel...
- A FUNNY thing happened on the way to the Edinburgh Business Labour Forum lunch. Wallace Mercer was there, holding forth on road tolls. Labour is indeed a broad church when we espy the bold Wallace in its ranks. Not so much New Labour as Nouveau Labour. ut as a broad church, it was almost like hearing a Mass in Latin when they announced their February forum: "The Winter of Discontent", with speaker Bill Spiers. Does Bob Thomson, a union man at the helm of EBLF, know something Tony Blair doesn't?[2]
- WHEN Mike Watson addressed the Edinburgh Business Labour Forum at the Roxburghe Hotel the other day he knew he was halfway there already in winning over the hearts, if not their minds. Wallace of Midlothian, Mr Mercer himself was beaming at him among the guests. But whether the Culture and Tourism minister won over Wallace's mind is unlikely as the Tories approached Wallace in days of yore regards standing as their parliamentary candidate in Edinburgh Central. It never came to pass but momentarily put the wind up Alistair Darling. Meanwhile Watson wistfully paid homage to Old Labour . "If I can't say Avanti Popolo at least I can say Avanti Turismo."[3]
- EDINBURGH Business Labour Forum are twittering over two "coups" for their monthly lunchtime talker series. Virtually the Parly's biggest guns. Minister for Education, Europe and External Affairs Jack McConnell will address the troops on April 20 at the Roxburghe Hotel, his topic Classrooms, Partnerships and the Knowledge Economy (we'll need something to wash that lot down). And the First Minister himself, Henry McLeish, is the speaker on June 1 at the Macdonald Holyrood Hotel. Henry's subject: The Scottish Parliament Two Years On. That'll be over before they've finished their soup.[4]
People
- Robbie MacDuff, lobbyist
Notes
- ↑ The Scotsman April 6, 2004, Tuesday SIMON PIA'S DIARY: THE EURO IS LICKING GOOD BYLINE: Simon Pia SECTION: Pg. 18
- ↑ The Scotsman November 19, 2002, Tuesday SIMON PIA'S DIARY: OH, REALLY, MR STEVENSON? BYLINE: Simon Pia SECTION: Pg. 14
- ↑ The Scotsman February 16, 2002, Saturday DIARY: PURDIE'S LAW RULES AT HEARTS BYLINE: Alasdair Monteith SECTION: Pg. 8
- ↑ Evening News (Edinburgh) April 12, 2001, Thursday GIBSON: A BRIEF ENCOUNTER WITH JIMMY NAIL BYLINE: By John Gibson SECTION: Pg. 29
