TRANSCRIPT of part of Morning Extra, broadcast on BBC Radio Scotland this morning:

GARY ROBERTSON (for it is he): And now we have Alex on the line. Are you there, Alex?

ALEX: Yes, Gary.

GARY: And where are you calling from this morning, Alex?

ALEX: Banff. Er, I mean, Gordon – no, Buchan. Edinburgh.

GARY: Okay… so what do you want to say to us, Alex?

ALEX: I just wanted to clarify that I think Margaret Thatcher is evil incarnate, whatever others are saying I said. I mean, just because you say something, doesn’t mean you mean it, does it?

GARY: Okay, uhm…

ALEX: I mean, the poll tax? How could anyone think that Scotland didn’t mind that? (laughs nervously). And her industrial policy! Bathgate no more, Linwood no more, Methyl no more, Lochaber no more…

GARY: Alex, if I could just stop you there, you’re just singing a Proclaimers song now…

ALEX: I would walk 500 miles-

GARY: I’m going to have to cut you off there, Alex

ALEX: No! Wait! If I can just reiterate: although I said that Scotland didn’t mind Thatcherism, I just meant it didn’t mind her economic policies – it was the consequences of her economic policies they didn’t like.

GARY: But how can you separate the two? Policies have consequences.

ALEX: Yes! Exactly! Love the policy – hate the result, that’s my motto. FREEDOM! Oh, sorry…(Whispering) Oh, Margaret, how I miss you. Come back to us…

GARY: Well, that’s clarified things for all of us. Thank you Alex. And next on the line we have Nicola from Baillieston.

NICOLA: Govan.

GARY: Sorry.