Mandelson has been resurrected from the ( lucrative ) anonymity of the gravy - train in Europe. This is an act of desperation on Gordon Brown's part. Mandelson typifies the whole, 'New Labour', baloney. Spiteful, back - stabbing and totally insincere, Brown must be desperate, right enough. Actually, nothing is going to save either Gordon or his party. The rot set in years ago when we were all fooled by smiling Tony Blair and his henchmen, including Mandelson. A Beatles song, titled, 'Sexy Sadie', could have been written for Blair, indeed, ' you made a fool of everyone'. The disaster that is the slaughter in Iraq and the mire in Afghanistan are Blair's legacy and Browns handicap, It will cost the labour party dear.

In Scotland we look to change. Not in a xenophibic way but as citizens of a wider community. The oil in the North Sea could have been used to build a fund, as they have done in Norway. The truth is, we were told lies by Labour for years. Once they get to Westminster the 'comrades' quickly get their snouts in the trough and forget what it means to earn a living honestly. www.ploughmanpoemforscotland.co.uk

Thank God for poetry, a shining beacon in a world of half - truths, smoke and mirrors. As my old metalwork teacher was fond of saying, usually with a Capstan full strengh hanging from his lip, ' if it smells like', etc, how very true. Blog on!