The I Word

The more kitchen-savvy amongst us will know what the best way to cook pasta is.

You don't turn the heat up to maximum power straight away as this will be too much too soon. The water will splash everywhere, the pasta will get soggy losing its texture and you'll have to start again from scratch once you've sorted out the sorry mess.

No, the best way to cook pasta is to let the heat build up over a longer period of time, start off with cool waters and then slowly but surely ensure the temperature rises to a nice simmer and then you'll get the best results. You can toss the stuff against the wall safe in the knowledge that it'll stick because it's been well and truly cooked through.


Well, it's not too hard to see that Alex Salmond is employing the same pasta method in his plans for 'cooking' Westminster. This week he has raised the temperature another notch with his foreign policy statements including "Scotland is restless for change and keen to expand its influence and to reach out beyond our shores" amongst other stirring, though fairly meaningless, comments.


They say that a watched pot never boils. That may well be a good thing for the SNP with all eyes on their leader Alex Salmond. I'm sure he would take a hot simmer rather than a boiling, bubbling mess at this stage of his time as First Minister.


But how long before he can throw Westminster to the wall in the hope that it sticks is anyone's guess.....