INTERESTING FISSURES

...are appearing in the devolution settlement as the crazy season on immigration continues unabated. Now that Union Jack McConnell’s ‘New Talent ‘ initiative was slapped down, it appears the compromise is that migrants to the UK will be given ‘extra points’ to settle North of the Border due to our well publicised skills shortage. But are we now being the beneficiaries of New Labours fear of Middle England?

Next it turns out that a rise has been recorded in the number of students from south of the border applying to universities in Scotland. Applications from England rose by 17% between January 2005 and the previous year, up 23,600 to 27,700.

Lifelong Learning Minister - and one of the biggest wallys around - Jim Wallace said that this would not result in Scottish students missing out. As say at the St Andrew’s Debating Society “Aye right”.