tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22403989.post4759089596653133668..comments2024-01-18T10:54:54.459+00:00Comments on Iain Macwhirter Now and Then: The election - what the hell do we do now?iain macwhirterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14486911281896217461noreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22403989.post-8175191222221373582010-05-13T20:16:47.640+01:002010-05-13T20:16:47.640+01:00Well, now that all the dust has settled I am comng...Well, now that all the dust has settled I am comng to the view that Labour couldn't actually wait to get out of government quick enough.<br /><br />Have they been listening to Mervyn King?<br /><br />This is going to make interesting times ahead in terms of the 2011 election here. That will be against a backdrop of social and industrial strife such as we haven't seen since the days of Margaret Hilda.<br /><br />Who will the Scots vote for in response to that?Observerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08529106853098097239noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22403989.post-38429531412401106832010-05-10T13:38:15.794+01:002010-05-10T13:38:15.794+01:00Jo
can't see that. If Labour really wanted a ...Jo<br />can't see that. If Labour really wanted a short-lived Lib/tory win they would not be offering immediate legislation for electoral reform.<br /><br />If Labour hoped to win a new GE in the near future they would be in a far stronger position to do so after a period of Liblab pact rule where <br /><br />1. There would be a dignified leadeship change.<br /><br />2. Electoral Reform was in place (making a new Liblab coalition win virtually a certainty)<br /><br />3. Choice of timing to a degree.<br /><br />No, the blood spitting at the mention of the Scots Nats is purely down to Scottish Labour tribalism. Their entire strategy North of the Border is to oppose anything the SNP come up with, vilify, smear and just plain make up whatever rubbish they think they can get away with in order to attack the SNP.<br /><br />There is no plan B for Scottish Labour.<br /><br />And they have lovingly crafted a political supportive infrastructure in Scotland which basically encompasses everything which relies to a significant financial degree on governent patronage or licensing.<br /><br />A change to working with the SNP in Scotland is anahema to Labour but even if it were not, it would take years to unravel the anti-SNP machine.chicmachttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09718914477904048126noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22403989.post-85603494128243472352010-05-10T12:05:52.859+01:002010-05-10T12:05:52.859+01:00The reason why Labour are behaving like this is be...The reason why Labour are behaving like this is because they want the Tories to give it a go and fail in a very short time after which we will have another general election. (I'm not sure they would win that one either incidentally.)<br /><br />I don't envy Clegg his situation. He'll be damned in England if he backs Labour and damned in Scotland if he backs the Tories. His own Party are divided on the issue also. I'm not sure which way I would jump in his shoes unless it was to absolutely guarantee electoral reform. I'm not sure even Labour are offering that. (Checkout their manifesto on the subject.) The other thing they're worrying about is that an agreement with Labour will lead to England itself going for independence. But look on the bright side. It would save us having to keep begging for a referendum on Scottish Independence up here! <br /><br />Of course if the Tories are left to go it alone then we WILL have another election in the Autumn probably and what will happen then? I think the Tory vote really WILL come out and I think they will actually win outright. All chances of electoral reform will then be dead in the water. <br /><br />JoAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22403989.post-68760950880388892462010-05-10T10:00:41.206+01:002010-05-10T10:00:41.206+01:00With SNP support at Westminster attack dogs (sorry...With SNP support at Westminster attack dogs (sorry dogs) like Murphy will have to be kept on a very short leash (with muzzle).<br /><br />In Labour minds this would be very bad making a large SNP victory next year, possibly even a majority, likely.<br /><br />Personally I think the SNP will fair better with an unfettered Murphy. IMO Labour are misinterpreting Scottish Toryphobia for Murphy achievement.chicmachttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09718914477904048126noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22403989.post-7450495736412708832010-05-09T16:46:43.492+01:002010-05-09T16:46:43.492+01:00Iain, can you explain the extraordinary, mind-numb...Iain, can you explain the extraordinary, mind-numbingly idiotic hostility with which Labour have reacted to Alex Salmond's offer to save their necks and keep them in power? <br /><br />We know that Labour in Scotland and the SNP despise each other, but surely even the likes of Gray and Murphy aren't so stupid as to fail to realise what the parliamentary arithmetic is. Labour simply mathematically CANNOT form a majority without the SNP and Plaid. <br /><br />The support of the nationalists could bring about PR which could lock the Tories out of power practically forever, and deliver Labour a miraculous victory from the jaws of total destruction.<br /><br />What, too, of the Holyrood elections in 2011, when the Scottish people know that the SNP offered to save Scotland from the Tories, but Labour let them in? Do Murphy, Gray et al really have THAT much of a death wish?Unknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03370002433282741349noreply@blogger.com