LAST week Scottish Labour MP Katrina Murray embarrassed herself (or possibly not, as that would imply self-awareness) by making statements in Parliament about the NHS that showed her complete lack of understanding of how Scotland actually works fiscally.
However, in Hilary Benn’s case it seems more like deliberate obfuscation.
When questioned about funding for the Northern Ireland Casement Park project, Benn carefully constructed a slop bowl of mind mush, mixing general funding with specific project funding.
Unlike Murray, the new Labour MP for Cumbernauld and Kirkintilloch – who clearly cannot grasp how to button a jacket, never mind grasp funding formulas – Benn is an old hand and knew exactly what he was doing when he wove his fiscal fabrication.
Amanda Baker
Edinburgh
Why are you making commenting on The National only available to subscribers?
We know there are thousands of National readers who want to debate, argue and go back and forth in the comments section of our stories. We’ve got the most informed readers in Scotland, asking each other the big questions about the future of our country.
Unfortunately, though, these important debates are being spoiled by a vocal minority of trolls who aren’t really interested in the issues, try to derail the conversations, register under fake names, and post vile abuse.
So that’s why we’ve decided to make the ability to comment only available to our paying subscribers. That way, all the trolls who post abuse on our website will have to pay if they want to join the debate – and risk a permanent ban from the account that they subscribe with.
The conversation will go back to what it should be about – people who care passionately about the issues, but disagree constructively on what we should do about them. Let’s get that debate started!
Callum Baird, Editor of The National
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here