tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19208183.post1860262589480581112..comments2023-10-22T14:14:16.419+01:00Comments on J. Arthur MacNumpty: Back from Aviemore: ReflectionsWillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10978812670312106107noreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19208183.post-21723835258011424902007-11-02T16:36:00.000+00:002007-11-02T16:36:00.000+00:00"I used to lambast the LibDems for appearing to be..."I used to lambast the LibDems for appearing to be in Government and in Opposition at the same time. I shouldn't have done"<BR/><BR/>Very graciously conceded.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19208183.post-7228334553486527632007-11-01T22:36:00.000+00:002007-11-01T22:36:00.000+00:00Ted - I think such tensions are inevitable: human ...Ted - I think such tensions are inevitable: human nature is going to kick in sooner or later, and obviously local Councils are never going to sing from entirely the same hymnsheet as Holyrood. What is needed is for all sides to keep their feet on the ground, and the signs from Aviemore were, in my view, encouraging.<BR/><BR/>Mountjoy - it would be nice if we got a big Scottish poll commissioned right now, with the fieldwork done ASAP. Then we'd know what people were thinking. The most recent one to be published was carried out a month ago.<BR/><BR/>BB - nice to meet you too, but be warned, I will get you singing next year! I don't buy the 'not brave enough' line as you put in a good performance as a Conference speaker, so by contrast, a singsong in the bar shouldn't be too tough! :-)Willhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10978812670312106107noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19208183.post-47485477651334465632007-11-01T11:19:00.000+00:002007-11-01T11:19:00.000+00:00Nice to meet you at conference. Well done on the k...Nice to meet you at conference. Well done on the karaoke too, I'm not brave enough to do that!BellgroveBellehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02011429534354744636noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19208183.post-5932157864300167192007-10-30T12:43:00.000+00:002007-10-30T12:43:00.000+00:00Very good poll bounce for the SNP post conference....Very good poll bounce for the SNP post conference. <BR/><BR/>ComRes poll for Independent: Scotland breakdown:<BR/><BR/>Con 17%<BR/>Lab 24%<BR/>Other 44%<BR/>(most of which will be SNP)Mountjoyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17385482147330173836noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19208183.post-82319305316522551052007-10-30T12:24:00.000+00:002007-10-30T12:24:00.000+00:00Good on you to encourage your people to think pro-...Good on you to encourage your people to think pro-actively now about the changes that come about when coming into power. <BR/><BR/>Better this than leave it for the inevitable pressures and tensions to break out into turf wars and schisms (a bit like in the tradition of the Scottish Labour Party?)<BR/><BR/>I see early signs of such tensions. For example the rumoured intention of the Scottish Government to return community regeneration to local councils will be an absolute and utter disaster - just ask anyone involved in community regeneration, other that is than councillors and their officials. It's just not in the blood of local councils to hand over or genuinly share power at the community level.<BR/><BR/>In general I think there is a great naiveté on the part of the SNP about the capacity and motivations of local councils. <BR/><BR/>The Administration needs to quickly do some hard thinking about how it will get around the 'usual suspects' (i.e. local authority officials, well funded 'intermediaries' like the SCVO and the Chartered Institute of Housing) and meaningfully engage with the real representatives and activists in the community and voluntary sectors.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com