Well Willie Bain has been elected as MP, which is a fantastic result, especially the size of his victory. Reassured as well that the BNP were pushed back to 4th, albeit it only just. Still, a worrying situation and the parties must not be complacent.
Planning to be back to blogging now, so will put up my thoughts about the results when I'm less tired.
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All Change at the Telegraph
1 hour ago
1 comments:
Oh Wardog, I have missed the optimism that you bring to the table.
It is a shame that because the people of Glasgow NE don't jump onto the good ship Nationalism we must be suffering from poverty of ambition. It's another example of the mindset SNP voters=clever, other voters=stupid which is starting to become a bit wearing.
Glasgow NE suffers some terrible social problems, its true, but there are also massive changes taking place which local people are able to appreciate. Maybe, just maybe, the ringing endorsement of the Labour candidate wasn't "an affront to those that have fought and died" but a conscious choice on their behalf.
You talk about the turnout which was low, and is a worry for all parties. To put it in context however, the turn out for the 07Scottish Parliamentary elections in Springburn constituency (which covers much of the same area) was 37.5% - sadly this is an area where the disconnect from the voting process is deep rooted.
Candidate choice makes a huge difference to any campaign and William Bain was key to this. For all the sneering comments from the SNP he is a local person who lives in the constituency and who genuinely believes in the people here. That stands in strong contrast to the attitude peddled in the media, and regurgitated by you in your comments, that everyone in this area is a hopeless case. The SNP candidate seems a nice enough guy but lacked any sort of vision or empathy - is it a coincidence that the two lowest turnouts in Scottish by-election history have him present as a candidate both times? (I should clarify that of course it is just a coincidence, but I'm sure it's not a stat he likes having on his CV!).
The election was a huge success for Labour but to be honest the significance probably stops there. It doesn't signify the end of the SNP - you guys were never popular here anyway. It doesn't signify the resurgence of the Labour Party, although it certainly doesn't help.
But to dismiss the electorate of the area because they dared to not vote for your party merely reinforces the arrogance which the SNP leadership have worked so hard to try and eliminate.
[On a side note, good to be back blogging! Will head over to the Voices website, my apologies for my absence.]
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