Jim Murphy couldn’t win his joust with Bernard Ponsonby on Wednesday night, whatever winning means in a Scotland unmoored from so many political certainties. If he had tried, he would have risked looking desperate. Pathetically straining for a game-changer in the dying days of the election campaign. No, the only thing for it was toContinueContinue reading “If Jim Murphy fails it will be because Labour is beyond saving”
Monthly Archives: April 2015
Could SNP’s best poll also be its worst? (Hint: Probably not)
I for one welcome our new Nationalist overlords. The final STV poll of the general election campaign puts the SNP on 54% to Scottish Labour’s 20%. According to one projection, these results, should they play out on May 7, would see the Nationalists win every Scottish seat. Every last one. 59-0. No single party hasContinueContinue reading “Could SNP’s best poll also be its worst? (Hint: Probably not)”
Rejecting Labour is spurning an inheritance from our grandfathers
We all have an inheritance from our grandfathers. Some are tangible – a watch, a book, a rosary – while others are more ephemeral, like lessons learned, wisdom gifted, or fond recollections of family holidays. The stirring scent of aftershave or pipe tobacco, the taste of an old recipe, or the sound of a rust-bucketContinueContinue reading “Rejecting Labour is spurning an inheritance from our grandfathers”
On quislings, ‘non-Scots’ and Scottish nationalism
As campaign strategies go, it’s certainly a novel one. In Edinburgh South, which voted No in September’s referendum by 65% to 35%, SNP candidate Neil Hay has hit trouble. Under a pseudonymous account, “Paco McSheepie”, which he ran in 2012, he tweeted the term “quisling” with reference to unionists and lamented that “umpteen poor soulsContinueContinue reading “On quislings, ‘non-Scots’ and Scottish nationalism”
Mademoiselle Ecosse goes to Westminster
Mhairi Black is a nightmare to interview. We’re walking along the Paisley side street where her campaign hub is based on Friday afternoon. It’s an unusually warm and inviting day so how better to get a flavour of the electors’ attitude towards the SNP candidate for Paisley and Renfrewshire South than by hitting the streetsContinueContinue reading “Mademoiselle Ecosse goes to Westminster”
Rennie reminds us why, love them or hate them, we need Lib Dems
It’s not easy to go up against Bernard Ponsonby, STV’s wily and well-informed political editor. He is unrelenting, menacingly patient, with an acidulous wit, and more often than not knows more about your policies than you do. Now imagine you’re the leader of the Scottish Liberal Democrats, those breakers of pledges and screwers of students.ContinueContinue reading “Rennie reminds us why, love them or hate them, we need Lib Dems”
Nicola Sturgeon unveils her manifesto for England
Something extraordinary happened today. The leader of a political party pitched her election manifesto almost exclusively to people who don’t live here and can’t vote for her. Such is the intensity of Nicola Sturgeon’s campaign of love-bombing England that Scotland was almost a side note at the SNP manifesto launch on Monday. For the FirstContinueContinue reading “Nicola Sturgeon unveils her manifesto for England”
How Jim Murphy learned to stop worrying and love the Left
Scottish Labour leader Neil Findlay delivered an unapologetically left-wing speech at the launch of his party’s general election manifesto. The socialist firebrand roused the faithful with pungent class warfare rhetoric as he rolled off a roster of Old Labour policies. He promised to tax high earners and their mansions and spend the money on theContinueContinue reading “How Jim Murphy learned to stop worrying and love the Left”
David Coburn interview shows what Ukip is and what it is not
Ukip is not the party that “stands up for ordinary people”. It is not the party that “tells it like it is” or “hits the nail on the head” or “says what everyone else is thinking”. It doesn’t “speak truth to power” or take on the “PC mob”, the “human rights brigade”, or the “Eurocrats”.ContinueContinue reading “David Coburn interview shows what Ukip is and what it is not”
About that Scottish social democratic consensus…
Some truths are so appealing even facts can’t refute them. Received wisdom is particularly enervating in politics because it calcifies myth and frustrates free-ranging debate. We already have enough blind faith in Scottish affairs so a new poll on public attitudes towards welfare is to be welcomed for delivering a dose of reality. The YouGovContinueContinue reading “About that Scottish social democratic consensus…”
Stephen Daisley 