First of all the issue was the similarities between Labour and the Tories, as for the SNP support, of course they are going to have right wing minded supporters, just as they have left wing and all points in between support. The difference is the SNP is the only party who can deliver their goal of an independent Scotland. Once that has been achieved they will most probably go back to their opposite ends of the political spectrum, perhaps start new Left and right wing parties, that will put the country and her people first. As for the FM going round Gulf states looking for investment, he wouldn't be doing his job if he didn't visit other countries, but i suppose it's ok for the UK's PM to visit Gulf states of differing levels of democracy and human rights to get the petrol fuelled money. Finally, as for your Scotsman article of three years ago, Alex Salmond Didn't say he didn't mind Thatcher's economics, he said "Scotland didn't mind Thatcher's economic's".