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Is that Frankie Howerd in the middle in the shiny mac.

Ashcroft's post referendum poll http://lordashcroftpolls.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/09/Lord-Ashcroft-Polls-Referendum-day-poll-summary-1409191.pdf

Labour in Scotland has been dying since 1997 - possibly even earlier - it's just that it hadn't been diagnosed but that's when the disease took hold. Holding Holyrood in complete contempt and treating it as a second best, sending all their "talent" to Westminster. A steady decline in party membership over the years, being completely complacent about Westminster seats and their huge majorities. Policy shifting consistently towards the right to focus on winning marginals in "Middle England" and slowly alienating their traditional core support. None of this has happened overnight. Labour's attitude in Scotland over the last 20 years or so can best be described as hubris.

Labour has been dying in Scotland since 1997.

They threw everything at the referendum, what can they do now?

This link has more detail. http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Opinion_polling_in_the_Scottish_Parliament_election,_2011 The SNP did show a lead in ONE poll on 14 February and it wasn't until the end of March that the SNP started to consistently poll higher than Labour but as has been stated, these are very different times.

Don't think that's true. I'm sure I saw a graphic a couple of weeks ago which showed that it was the same time before the 2011 HR election that the SNP drew level with Labour. I'm sure Peter Murrell tweeted it.This gap isn't closing, if anything it's getting wider. Got it. http://twitter.com/PeterMurrell/status/568165401856753664

It'll be either Gordon's agent flying a kite, trying to get an improved deal at Celtic, or Celtic trying to drum up some interest to cash in. Alternatively it'll be a journo just making it up to file some copy.

Are you seriously suggesting that Bannan could shift Mirallas or Barkley at Everton, Ireland or N'Zonzi at Stoke or Sessegnon or even Morrison at the Albion? As for Bolton being the same as around 10 or so clubs in the EPL, have you looked at their record in the last couple of years of so? As I said, I think Lennon will do well there but they've been a basket case since they were relegated.

It isn't because of his size that people haven't played him in the middle, it's because he's not good enough at the highest level. If he has been brilliant for Bolton, that will be down to him playing at a lower level. It's not rocket science.

Depends on your definition of top class I suppose. If, for arguments sake, you look at players who could play for top teams in the top leagues in Europe, then I'd say unfortunately none of them are. Pre illness, when he was at his best, then you could make a case for Darren Fletcher but not any more. We've a fair chunk of players who are capable of - and are - playing in the top leagues, primarily the EPL, but none are playing for the top clubs. Of current players, Steven Naismith is probably the one playing consistently well at the highest level. Personally, I'd cut my losses with Bannan and give his place in the squad to someone like Ryan Gauld who is younger and has the potential to be a much much better player.

You've got it one, his big problem is a lack of consistency. He has a couple of good games, hints at what he could be, then has a real run of stinkers. I don't think though that the changes in management are the problem though. If you look at it, when he moves clubs or they change the manager, he generally gets a chance of a few games then gets dropped, either to the bench or completely. But a lot of managers have taken a look at him and gone "Nah, not really". Maybe Bolton could be a good move for him long term. I fancy Lennon to do well there and might have them challenging for a play off spot next season. I don't see him going back to Palace. I suspect Pardew will want to get his own players in in the summer. I'd say though that - at 25 - this could be a really crucial time for Bannan, if it doesn't work out for him at Bolton, it's hard to see where it will happen.

None of which are at the top level. He's a bottom half of the championship player at best.

More like he's found his level.

What will SLab have to say now that "Helen" has told Jim to shut up about the football?

This really is the complete silly season. Was this in the Record by any chance.

It will be interesting to see how this plays out politically. I think its fairly safe to say that Scotland in particular and the UK in general is a much different place since 2008 when this was first proposed. Here's what the then Secretary State for Scotland had to say at the time. Concerns have been raised that a combined British team could affect the status of individual nations within football's governing body Fifa. Murphy said it was for football people to decide but the SFA said it still saw the idea as a threat. The Scottish secretary said he had been seeking assurances over the possibility of a GB international team taking part in the 2012 London Olympics. "I met Jerome Valcke, the general secretary of Fifa, yesterday and told him about my concerns and the concerns that many Scots have," said Murphy. "He confirmed that Fifa, of course who regulate football, that the executive will agree that this one-off under-23 tournament could take place and it will not jeopardise the status of any of the home nations and I think that's very welcome news." http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/league_of_wales/7725010.stm

Was he charged with rape or underage? If it's rape then I can understand why the CCTV may have been used to imply some form of consent. Not saying I agree with that necessarily but that's how rape trials are conducted. Ched Evans springs to mind, or more accurately his mate who was acquitted.

That's the panel for Thursday, just picked that up from Twitter. Thought Val McDermid did really well during the referendum.

I remember WGS and Jesper Olsen - who were teammates at Man Utd at the time - squaring up in Mexico as you can imagine with that pair it was pretty tame though. Billy Bremner tells a story about playing for Leeds against Man Utd and he had a 50/50 with Denis Law, he thought he would hold back as Denis was his big mate and Law completely did him and turned round and said "my mates are in red today".

Panel is Humza Yousaf, Deputy Dugdale, Ruth Davidson, Val McDermid, Toby Young and Fanny Alexander.

To be fair, Vogts capped so many players that the law of averages meant there would be a few crocks in there.

He's had a season ticket at West Ham for years so I think he knows what he's talking about.

According to James Kelly, Labour have been polling in East Renfrewshire, obviously to test the water. I don't think he really has any choice but to stand. He's obviously not been able to "convince" one of the constituency MSPs to stand aside and force a by-election to get him into Holyrood. If he takes a "year out" then he'd have a year of being accused of being a feartie, especially if Labour lose the seat. Only option he really has is to stand and hope he wins.

He upsets people who need to be upset, its a public service.