LEADER OF THE OPPOSITION AND THE SCOTTISH MEDIA

That this House notes the remarks made by the Leader of the Opposition reported in the Observer newspaper of 8th December in which he denounces members of the Scottish media in abusive terms; believes that this objectionable remark is a classic example of shooting the messenger whilst ignoring the message; notes with interest the comments of the 'senior BBC jounalist' who, in response to the Right honourable Gentleman's remarks stated 'Blair must be a very sensitive soul. A man who wants to run the country should know that blaming the media is a very dangerous game'; observes that the expressed attitude and tone of the Right honourable Member for Sedgefield is increasingly reminiscent of that of remarks made by Baroness Thatcher when Prime Minister; notes that the responses of focus groups of Scottish floating voters, as described in a survey prepared for the Labour Party in September by System Three, reveal that the distaste once displayed towards Baroness Thatcher resembles the 'lack of appeal' to the Scottish electorate of the Right honourable Member for Sedgefield, described in the survey as 'a bit Toryish'; and notes that New Labour's attitude to Scotland is encapsulated in the observations of one respondent that, 'They don't really care. They're not really interested. That's right. That'll do. It's only Scotland.'.