tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19208183.post4314302545572144764..comments2023-10-22T14:14:16.419+01:00Comments on J. Arthur MacNumpty: Glasgow North East: The aftermathWillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10978812670312106107noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19208183.post-42953413237940616292009-11-20T03:13:43.191+00:002009-11-20T03:13:43.191+00:00Let me strongly suggest reading WarDog's blog ...Let me strongly suggest reading WarDog's blog post on this subject.<br /><br />He asks the salient questions: WHY did no one mention that the Socialist LABOUR party got 4,000 votes in 2005 (when Martin rather than Labour was on the ballot).<br /><br />Why did the Labour vote apparently go down in 2005 and, funnily enough, if you add those votes in to Martin's suddenly, it didn't. But if those votes were miscast by confused voters, that means that Labour's percentage SLIPPED by between 7 and 8 percent in this by-election.<br /><br />Think that over a bit. And if you think he is wrong the votes are very easy to check.<br /><br />I DO wonder why not a SINGLE news analyst mentioned the Socialist Labour Party losing some 4,000 votes from the last election--about 99% of their vote in fact.<br /><br />Wouldn't you think that would be worth mentioning and discussing?<br /><br />Wardog tends to be, shall we say, a bit crude at times but he's often worth reading.J. R. Tomlinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01109874615059334200noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19208183.post-37881084225491175482009-11-18T12:25:12.172+00:002009-11-18T12:25:12.172+00:00I need to accept and support your point that the r...I need to accept and support your point that the reality about local elections is that they are just that - local elections. Therefore local issues come first. <br /><br />I did think at the start that the Party script handed to Labour candidate Willie Bain was flawed. On an early BBC Radio Scotland interview the interviewer repeatedly tripped him up on why was he going on and on about matters such as local transport and crime that were devolved matters (and did this mean that the sitting Labour MSPs for Glasgow were not up to the job?).<br /><br />I couldn't figure out why the SNP and others did not get onto this big time. This failure allowed playing the local issues, as you say, to work for Labour. The nauseating amorality of Labour was demonstrated immediately post-result when Bain at once reverted to the Mandelson/Murphy script part 2, that this was a UK relevant result and a ‘vote for Gordon Brown’ etc.<br /><br />A nauseating amorality that was also reflected in Jim Murphy’s just unacceptable and wilful ignoring of the true issue in this by-election result – the fact that the vast majority of the electorate (and potential electorate) just are not interested in supporting democracy through voting for any candidate on offer. <br />A worrying enough number of electors did, however, turn to the BNP – part of the fall-out from elements of an angry working class that finally gets it, and does not want to go on voting for a Labour Party of Michael Martin et al?<br /><br />As for the SNP candidate; I really did not like the way the party behaved at the outset and I’m certain that they missed out (pushed aside?) at least one potential real ‘local’ contender. I have to say that whilst trying to avoid the pit of personality politics, I just could never see myself as either voting or actively supporting the eventual SNP candidate – again part of that worrying socially conservative cum religious strand in the SNP (as you have pointed out before, not unique to the SNP among Scottish parties). <br /><br />On another tactical matter, just how did the SNP Administration get the GARL timing so badly, badly, wrong? And John Swinney needs to beware with his put downs of ‘well if Labour want GARL they must say what else is to be cancelled’. Maybe this was a play on the-then upcoming revelations about the Commonwealth Games funding shortfall - but it is starting to be read by some in the Central West belt as a dog-whistle to SNP heartlands elsewhere, and one that could represent the proverbial rubbing salt in a wound.Ted Harveynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19208183.post-7619525777836907972009-11-18T07:23:11.731+00:002009-11-18T07:23:11.731+00:00How embarrassing for Purcell, "You're rip...How embarrassing for Purcell, "You're ripping us off, but how about you save us--again."<br /><br />All in all, a pretty good analysis. <br /><br />I think you are SPOT ON that the SNP needs to be relentlessly positive and sell what the SNP CAN do. Being negative won't get them anywhere because it won't promise change. As you point out, people ALREADY know that things are bad.<br /><br />The only place I disagree is that I think the SNP should be putting more emphasis on getting a majority in Holyrood. Once they have that (and the latest Herald poll showed a decent SNP increase there although little joy for a GE) it really changes everything.J. R. Tomlinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01109874615059334200noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19208183.post-86206992859146735022009-11-16T19:37:53.983+00:002009-11-16T19:37:53.983+00:00No wonder Purcell suddenly went quiet after initia...No wonder Purcell suddenly went quiet after initiating the "SNP ripping off Glasgow" campaign.<br />Obviously his argument was null and void when he learned that Glasgow needed another £81 million for the Commonwealth Games and there was only one saviour!Andrewhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15350267503307455359noreply@blogger.com