20/12/2012 Newsnight Scotland

you come to a pawnbroker, they are Tonight on Newsnight Scotland, we

discuss name-calling and acrimony that increasingly seem to

characterise relationship in the Scottish Parliament. Something to

be worried about, or an inevitable consequence of the country's

future? And the names we call our children - we examine at the

pitfalls and talk to one man who says that the state of the

financial market helped determine what names children are given.

Good evening. There was no reason to suppose that the season of

goodwill would spread any cheer at First Minister's questions - the

last of 2012. And sure enough, it didn't. It was just like so many

other days in Parliament - tetchy, ill-tempered and full of insults.

That's not necessarily a bad thing in politics, but does it now go

deeper than that, as far as the SNP and Labour are concerned? Is the

independence debate making politics more tribal? Here's our political

Will come to the Garden Lobby of the Scottish Parliament, where

politicians come to mix. But there isn't much of a festive atmosphere

to help them get along. Sure, we have a tree, but there is barely a

bauble to be seen. Hardly a scrap of tinsel anywhere. And as for

mistletoe, who are you kidding? The Scottish Parliament hasn't seen

much love in 2012. This was just a flavour of today's proceedings.

ancient Maya civilisation predicted the end of the world for tomorrow.

She predicted every single week! the First Minister's case, may now

wish him as good a year next year as he has had this one. In the last

few months, MSPs have accused each other of lying, misleading and

worst of all for some, being a Tory. We seem to have reverted to normal

business. There was a hand of friendship tenuously extended when

our votes were required at the last parliament, and I just smile and

think after 2016, our votes may be required again. It seems from an

outsider's perspective as is the atmosphere in the chamber has

soured in recent months. It is pretty fruity. Sometimes it is very

strong. But after the chamber, we are often quite friendly. In a

workplace, you have differences of personality and opinion, but we get

on well behind the scenes. It is right that politicians are

passionate. But we shouldn't get too carried away. But the real Neil

is between the SNP and Labour. People who bring to parliament a

rancid atmosphere are going to turn off the general population, even

more than they are, from politics. Whatever position one takes in

politics, it is important we are able to communicate with the public.

We can do so through humour we can do it through good arguments. We

will absolutely not do so by simply insulting people in Parliament.

When we do that, we insult people outside Parliament. Over the last

six months, there have been a lot of questions that the SNP simply

cannot answer about the proposal for an independent Scotland, and it

has been our job on the Labour benches to ask those difficult

questions so that the people of Scotland know what the SNP are

offering, and it is for that reason or because we are posing difficult

questions, the atmosphere has become more tense. And with the

glittering prize of the independence referendum two years

away, some fear things will only get worse. You wouldn't expect this

Parliament to be all sweetness and light, for goodness sake. We are

beginning to haggle and battle for the soul of the nation. We are

either going to be independent or we are not. And there the people

who support independence, and I am one of them, the thought of not

being independent the day after that referendum and galvanises me

into some sort of action. In the same way, I am quite sure that

there are people who will wrap themselves in the Union Jack and

feel that they have to do this because they are trying to save

something they believe in. That shows in the parliament. I am being

asked to take sides in a war I don't want to be part of, because

all the people who will vote know that they are still Scots as well,

and they are still brothers and sisters on the other side of the

referendum, and we will have to work together again. Happy

Christmas and a good new year. But tonight, MSP departed for their

Christmas holidays with the presiding officer's good wishes

I'm joined now by Ewan Crawford who advised John Swinney when he was

leader of the SNP. And a safe 50 miles away in Edinburgh by Simon

Pia, who did something similar for Iain Gray when he was Labour leader.

Simon, do you get the impression that Johann Lamont and Alex Salmond

dislike each other, or is it all for show? To be quite honest, I

don't think Johann Lamont is overly impressed with Alex Salmond, and

that has been part of her strength of this year. Over impressed is

code for she doesn't like him? it is the season of goodwill, let's

be euphemistic about it. I think it is a bit rich that... Well, what

has happened this year is that the views have been coming from the SNP

quite a bit. Just stick to this point about whether they like each

other. We can go into the politics later on. Q think they genuinely

don't? I think that Johann Lamont probably thinks that Alex Salmond

is pompous and fantastic, but ask yourself. I don't think a lot of

people are overly impressed with him. I think his career peaked in

2011, but 2012 has been... Do you get the impression there is a

genuine? I think Simon likes Alex Salmond! I don't know. There seems

to have been, euphemisms or not, some real unpleasantness in the

chamber and indeed in the atmosphere between Labour and the

SNP, and we can't get away from this. I think there has been to

some extent some rolling back. You played some clips from First

Minister's Questions today, but there was a period when it was much

worse. That passes for humour these days in the Scottish Parliament,

what went on today. Why do you think, then, even if it is better

than it was three weeks ago, why is it worse than it was a year ago?

am not sure. If you work for the SNP or Labour, you were like a

football manager, and you don't see your own team committing fouls.

From my own point of view, I think some of the language used about

Alex Salmond and the SNP is extreme. The Labour Party put out a press

release saying that Alex Salmond lies instinctively. That is an

astonishing thing today, almost like he is genetically pre-

programmed to do it. When you get to that level, things have got out

of hand. Although that probably passes for humour, most of the

population would look at that today, and some of the jokes and think,

what on earth is going on? They would be completely bemused. And

they think that is the danger. you think things are getting worse,

Simon Pia? The ante is up as we get closer to the final straight on the

referendum. You go on about Alex Salmond, but what he did was fairly

serious. I think Holyrood was a bit softer at times, not as rigorous as

Westminster all other parliaments. He did mislead the public about

having legal advice. It is one thing to say that someone has

misled Parliament, but it is quite another thing to characterise

someone as an instinctive liar. Remember, Alex Salmond is one of

the biggest bruisers in politics, and I think for the SNP as well,

they have been good with their attack politics on Labour over the

last decade, so I don't think we should be too thin-skinned about it

now. The tide has turned a little, and politics is a rough old trade.

The SNP have and seriously confronted the issues, as has been

exposed, they didn't seek advice over the EU, the currency issue,

all of these things coming up, and they just don't like it. Their

opposition's job is to hold them to account. But I'm just curious. Do

you think there is a particular something between the SNP and

Labour? It is almost like each side feels that as a matter of principle,

the other side is wrong. I would be interested if you compared, for

example, Tory and Labour opposition over George Osborne's austerity

programme, it doesn't seem to engender the same level of

This is a 25 year tribal warfare we are speaking about. The big thing

for the SNP was the eating of that Labour vote of Scotland, and they

have done it successfully. Nadel will naturally react. But they have

staged a guerrilla war against Labour. Labour are indebted to it

is a matter of principle. Labour as the bigger party betrayed

Scotland? And the SNP are embittered are charlatans because

they are nationalists? It is quite interesting. Yesterday, Ed Miliband

said to David Cameron that nothing is believed, but when that is said

inquiry rude, it is different. I could get involved with side --

Simon but I don't think that has much a point to it. In an

independent Scotland, the they would be happy to see Labour in

power. They might welcome that about what people think. That is

the difference between the two parties. The SNP would love to see

the Labour party flourish, but the Labour Party is oppressive against

the SNP. And Simon Wright to speak this, but there is clearly an

opportunity in the Independent's campaign to have a go at the SNP.

That clearly is motivating a large part of what is going on at the

moment. What about modern a drummer -- Margo MacDonald's.? I would say

Joe and Lamont has raised a good point. How do we pay for our

services? We are consumed by the independence debate. It is a

passionate debate. There is more passion on the nationalist side,

because if you are - rest, you have more drive. Nicholas Sturgeon tried

to get the totalitarian versus the exodus -- axis centralism. That is

the weakness. Other naturalists -- In the spirit of Christmas, when

the next question is counter- intuitive. Each of you can say why

the other lot has done better than you in some respects this year.

Where do you think the SNP have done better than Labour this year?

A I think Nicola Sturgeon has performed very well this year.

They've got off to a good start at the Edinburgh agreement, but I

think Nicola Sturgeon has distinguished herself as the next

leader. I have said before but the yes campaign would be a in a better

position with Nicola leading-edge. You have totally thrown any! He was

generous! Be anything you should say is that they may have made the

SNP's job a little easier. I could make something up, but that would

not be right, would it? I think that shows the difference between

us extra we can be magnanimous! would never dream of scoring

knockabout points either! Thank you very much indeed. Well, the 100

most popular names for baby boys and girls born in Scotland this

year were released today. 298 boys were called Alexander. We couldn't

find any wee girls named Johann - with an H. But why do names become

popular and then fall out of favour? Believe it or not, some

research suggests that the names we give our kids is linked to the

state of the financial markets. Around 60,000 babies were born in

Scotland this year. Everyone unique. The most popular names have hardly

In fact, there were almost 7,400 different first names. Amongst the

biggest movers were Amelia and Tyler. Riley has come straight in

at No. 3. We have seen the Amelia, the top name in England, up 20

places to No. 9. What we don't know yet is how many babies were given

yet is how many babies were given really unusual names. Names that

Trudy stand out for the crowd. In 2011, there were quite a few. Yes,

The names people give their children to reflect their values,

and the expectations frock their child. If you have rather

traditional values, York son might become a lawyer, and your daughter

might become a nurse, you are more likely to give your children

Here's a thought. There is an idea going round that more unusual names

might be more popular in times of might be more popular in times of

plenty. Take a look at this graph. The white line shows how the

American stock market performs. The pink and blue lines show the number

of babies with unusual names. The of babies with unusual names. The

similarity may be no distance. saw a really caught relationship.

Do parents choose more unusual Shows an evolutionary survival

tactic. The tactic is to blend in never heard in times of fear.

everyone seems to quite make that leap. Deciding what to call your

baby is one of the biggest decisions any parent will ever take,

and an unusual name is certainly a risk. Get it badly wrong and it

could embarrass your child went there are older, or worse, lead to

The writer Katie Grant joins us now. We have barely stopped laughing

after that American academic! Here are three lines that look vaguely

similar! What parent, when they having a child, I wonder if it is a

bowl or a bear market? There was some schlock evolutionary science

in there! When you choose the name of your child, you do not think

about anything apart from what you actually like, but what I do think

is up some of these unusual, party games, you do not think about their

career, but what would it sound in three old people's home? To mind

you saying your children's mints? Clemens time and Cosmo! -- Clement

sign! It is not quite John, Jack or Mary. One is named after a 12

century saint. There is a church in Oxford put one of my relatives is

named after. I have a -- I have an uncle called Peregrine. That does

not just mean names like John and Susan, Cosmo is quite the usual

named. It depends on who you are. My name was unusual for the names

in London. It does depend on your family background. But I suppose,

unwanted call my son Valentine, but my husband said he would his boss

Demi! What about the less bonkers.? -- point? What about Korea's? You

probably get advocates about -- who have unusual names. It tells you

something about the parent's aspirations. I don't he tells you

about the parents' aspirations. It tells you something about the

parents' idea of romance. Adding he can give your children peculiar

names, because it has a lovely thing to do. You do not think about

teasing or anything like that. The charge can always change its name.

I think we were leader there! A quick look at the front pages.

First Withey Scotsman. It leads on the pre-trial of this man. On the

right, it says about creative Scotland and the second boss

quitting. The Guardian, Ministry pays out millions to torture