06 September 2006

How to please nobody

It is obviously not 'make your mind up' time. The Herald reports:
"Scottish ministers are refusing to back Glasgow's bid to bring Britain's biggest casino to Clydeside, opting only to tell the panel that will decide on the hard-fought race that the executive will put up "no opposition". The neutral position was agreed by cabinet last month, as the best way to resolve strong differences between ministers on the issue.
It is scheduled to be announced next week by Nicol Stephen, the Enterprise Minister, risking a rift with the city leadership, and angering Glasgow MSPs. It has already increased coalition tensions, with Labour accusations that Mr Stephen's "foot-dragging" has itself hindered the bid."

And so the Executive will be criticised, both by Glasgow Council and the bid supporters and by those worried about the social impact of a dirty great casino. Even though I include myself in the latter category, there are times when making no decision is worse politics than jumping one way or the other. Support the casino or condemn it and at least some of the people will take your side; shilly-shally and nobody will.

1 comment:

Anonymous said...

Good article from the Jaggy Thistle on this