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SNP's Glasgow East victor arrives at Westminster

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Published Date: 30 July 2008
THE newly-elected Scottish National Party MP who plunged Gordon Brown into fresh turmoil last week arrived at the House of Commons for the first time today.
John Mason travelled to Westminster from his constituency of Glasgow East for a series of meetings with Parliamentary officials.

Mr Mason said he was unable to take his oath immediately due to the summer recess but wanted to take the first steps towards getting his office "up and running".

The SNP managed to overturn a 13,507 Labour majority on Thursday night to take the seat by a margin of 365 votes.

The dramatic loss of Labour's third safest seat in Scotland increased the pressure on the humiliated Prime Minister following the loss of Crewe and Nantwich, fifth place at Henley-on-Thames, and the party's drubbing in May's local government elections.

Speaking outside the Commons, Mr Mason said: "The people of Glasgow East put their faith in me.

"They had been without the representation they deserve for far too long and they want a change. I will not disappoint them.

"I am determined to be a high profile and high visibility MP, tackling the issues that matter to the people of my constituency."

He added: "We asked the people of Glasgow East to send a message on food and fuel prices to Gordon Brown and I will deliver that message.

"This huge swing to the SNP would leave one Labour MP in Scotland – it's time for Labour to listen."

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  • Last Updated: 30 July 2008 11:45 AM
  • Source: The Scotsman
  • Location: Edinburgh
  • Related Topics: Scottish National Party
 
1

Glasgow Jim,

Glasgow 30/07/2008 12:01:09
He'll do well not to get too comfy.
2

Jock Politicaljunkie,

Glasgow 30/07/2008 12:07:52


Well done John Mason for hitting the ground running. Show your constituents that they have made the right choise and that they would do well to re-elect you come the NuLabour Wake aka the General Election.

PS. Hope you've swept you office for bugs!

3

yolanda,

30/07/2008 12:15:11

Good luck to him! The voters of Glasgow East expect him to make some sort of a positive impact. I hope he doesn't let them down, as Labour have.
4

Nevsky,

Moscow 30/07/2008 12:22:17
1.

Same as most of the current Labour MPs.
5

Jorel,

scotland 30/07/2008 12:23:02
ha ha. he got in on an anti labour vote, he was by far the worst candidate, he ditters, changes policy by the second, seems really egotistical (suppose he will fit in then) and i really think he will struggle in office.

there a number of really strong and informed and representative indivudials across all the parties. this man will simply never be one.
Parties aside, hes revellingat the hands of th media byewlection circus, not any sort of merit or ability based attention.
6

Wisnaeme,

30/07/2008 13:08:33

Jorel. haven't you learnt lessons yet?

Underestimating the capabilities of the SNP has caused serious problems for their opposition and this amongst other opposition failings could prove to be fatal.

...and judging folk on mistaken perceptions or giving them less than due respect for their competence and integrity, can and will prove very costly to the unionistas indeed.

John Mason will have your respect, even if it reduces you to crawling in the gutter as yer man walks tall past you on his continuing mission of importance.

No person walks tall if they are subservient to other people, in an other place.

Would you not have a notion to walk tall then, Jorel?

Aye, that's the problem with unionistas, no apirations of self esteem of betterment for other folk.

No wonder a sick, weak, moribund and ,dare I say it, corrupt Westmidden union is declining into terminal illness.



7

ochone,

Sauchie, Clack's 30/07/2008 13:11:25
It's to be hoped that he remembered the string of garlic and the crucifix, lol.

BTW, it's good to see unionists continue with the same old bile, they still havn't learned and long may it continue.
8

Neil Waugh,

Old Strathcona 30/07/2008 13:13:19
In days of yore
From Scotland's shore
John the dautless hero came
And planted proud Scotia's flag
On England's sad sack domaim.

- with apologies to General Wolfe
9

Oldnat,

30/07/2008 13:17:36
#1 I doubt, if he wants to get comfy down there anyway, since all the SNP MPs want there to be no representation in London by any Scots MP.

#5 I don't know Mason at all, but a (non-SNP) friend of mine worked on a committee with him, and remarked that he was a highly perceptive interrogator of officialdom. Sounds a lot better than Marshall (no comment) or Curran (M), whose shrill hectoring may be fine for the Bingo Hall, but less useful in the peedie-Parliament at westminster.

10

westview,

ashore 30/07/2008 13:22:55
Good luck John Mason. While your there ask about why they shifted 6000 square miles of Scottish waters in the north sea into English control, in 1999, and can we have it back please to put our off shore wind farms on.
11

Jock Politicaljunkie,

Glasgow 30/07/2008 13:29:08

Jorel, at 12:23:02,

The worst candidate? - or just not the one you wanted you mean!

As Mason has risen at Glasgow City Council to lead the SNP council group and has built the largest majority of ANY councillor - how can you allege that he is so poor??

If you read my post at #2 above you will see that I praise him for hitting the ground running and encourage him to show his constituents what he can do. I don't know Mason nor am I claiming any genius status for him. I have praised what has been reported and encourage the rest - it's called balance.

Are you worried, perhaps, that he will prove just as effective at westminster as he has done at Glasgow City Council and be re-elected?

One thing reported by the press about the campaign he ran in Glasgow East does stick in the mind. He was accompanied by Alex Salmond to a Bingo Hall to do some campaigning. Salmond went in first and got a huge cheer from the crowd - Mason then went in and got a even bigger cheer! That's when I knew that the SNP were going to take the seat.

It will be a big ask for him to hold this seat come 2010 and he may not do so. (see, balance, you should try it sometime) But one thing is clear - it'll be another close call! And how many other Seats WILL fall?

12

Brian Hill,

30/07/2008 13:50:44
Jock Politicaljunkie, people on the doorsteps of Glasgow East were most impressed by news of John's vote at last years Council Elections....I used it constantly.

Good to see John down there getting his office ready despite parliament not being in session. No languishing on faraway beaches for him.

I'm sure we will hear of his exploits in and for Glasgow East before too long. Well done John.

No doubt he will just hearthe phrase...'Yer jist daen this tae win votes'.....

SHOCK HORROR: Candidate works his socks off in his constituency just to get re-elected....the swine.
13

Miss H,

30/07/2008 13:55:44
5 You sound like Grizelda. But she can spell.
14

roughrider,

Glasgow 30/07/2008 14:02:41
5 Jorel.
Take yer head out of the sand,LOSER.
15

Resolutions,

30/07/2008 14:09:01
#5 Obviously the idea of an MP working for the constituency is an alien concept to you. I trust that Glasgow East will find the meaning of this.

Do you live in the constituency? Did you vote? Did you receive the literature? Dd you meet/speak to any of the candidates?

Would be interesting to know what you based your ill-informed judgement on!
16

Arrow,

edinburgh 30/07/2008 14:18:25
it seems that #5 only wanted to retain the status quo with a MP who was so inept (corrupt) that his consituence offce was not even in the constituency. his party colleague who wanted the seat said she lived in Glasgow East but she "misspoke" i.e .lied, when it was revealed she lived in a leafy suburb of Glasgow. she admitted that although a member of the same party and the local MSP, she had not been to the consituency office! it is clear as stated by #14 that Jorel has his/her head in the sand and it thus exposing his/her thinking parts. i think that Labour have to accept that they are not the "natural party of government in Scotland" any longer. when you consider that in Wales Labour and Plaid are in a coalition why can the labour members who want to put Scotland first (and not the unionist wing of labour)and those of the SNP who desire the same Scotland First agenda, not get together? or is it too attractive and financially rewarding for Labour members to get a Westminster seat and sod the interests of the Scottish people.
17

SeriouslyAmused,

Balloch 30/07/2008 14:26:42
Your last line hits the nail on the head, Arrow. Labour MPs are terrified of losing their jobs and salaries - in general they care nothing for Scotland or the people in relation to their greatest care - for themselves and careers.
18

Geoff,

sa 30/07/2008 15:54:37
Kinda ironic really isnt it-the Nationalist pictured outside the icon that he and his Party dont really want anything to do with!
19

connaughtboy,

stonehaven 30/07/2008 16:19:56
#11 Jock

I don't think it will be a big ask for him to hold onto the seat in 2010.

The mere fact that he is establishing his constituency office in a place accessible to his constituents sets him apart from Marshall. Mason will continue to differentiate himself, positively, by actually working for the people. He will increase his majority at the next General Election
20

Neil Waugh,

Old Strathcona 30/07/2008 17:17:49
Mason will absolutely kick @ss in the general now that Fortress Glasgow has been breached. And SNP will end up holding the balance of power in the Engish parliament. Similar to the way the separatist Bloc Quebecois rules in the Canadian parliament.
Just think of the possibilities.
21

,

30/07/2008 18:26:10
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22

Daveunderwater,

30/07/2008 18:41:18
John Mason definately NOT a YES man

Yes Prime Minister, my constituents won't mind

Yes Prime Minister, they ALWAYS vote Labour

How times have changed!

So refreshing
23

Grahamski,

Falkirk 30/07/2008 19:13:06
I hope Mr Mason enjoys his wee adventure. Since he campaigned and won on the premise of a protest vote I wouldn't bet on him holding the seat at the general election.
I see the SNP supporters are still delusionally claiming that Glasgow East was a vote FOR them when the rest of the solar system knows full well it as a vote AGAINST Labour.
Ho hum, the higher they fly the further they'll plummet......
24

Huntly loon,

Aberdeenshire 30/07/2008 19:32:57
I think it is a bit of wishful thinking by Labour supporters to think that Glasgow East will revert to Labour at a general election.

While true 'protest vote' candidates are often rejected next time round there are many MPs who were elected in a by-election who build up support during their incumbancy and retain their seats. It depends a lot on the general fate of the party which lost at the subsequent election.

Sometimes sea changes occur in constituencies and areas when previously unassailable parties fall and new ones emerge. There was a time when the Northeast was rock-solid Tory with the Liberals an outside challenger. The SNP sneaked in in the 70s and despite a flirtation back to the Tories in Thatcher's time has become pretty much an SNP powerbase. The Tories are now not regarded as serious challengers.

Glasgow East could well stick with Mason. After all he had been returned 4 times for the Glasgow council and was at the last election the coucillor with the mostt first preference votes.
25

,

30/07/2008 19:48:31
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26

Miss H,

30/07/2008 20:04:57
25 It won't go back to Labour. People who say that are thinking about Govan in 1992. Well it's changed days now. The SNP is stronger organisationally than Labour now. They have more members and more money. Labour are in no shape to even hold on to what they have never mind take seats back off the SNP.
27

Suomi,

SaloFinland 30/07/2008 20:24:29
I hope that John Mason holds Glasgow East at the next election but that is not the real issue.The question is that since the SNP's ability to compete in Labour Heartlands(as demonstrated in the elections for the Scottish Parliament) has been confirmed,how many less safe Labour seats will fall at the next Westminster election?

The next general election will see Labour with its back to the wall in England and Scotland.The Labour organisatrion in Glasgow East is collapsing.They will not get the help that they got in the by election and John Mason was a highly populat councillor in his ward that comprises a third of his parliamentary constituency.There are alöso other SNP councillors and four Regional SNP,MSP's active in that area.The world is chanmged since the dayr of Winnie,Margo and JIm Sillers-I think people have rising aspirations and they know with an SNP government in Edinburgh,tat an SNP vote,is not a wasted vote.This is especially true as we see increasingly that English voters are moving to the Consertvatives.
28

,

30/07/2008 20:55:32
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29

Richardinho,

30/07/2008 21:09:10
There's some really spiteful and negative comments about the new Glasgow East Mp above. What exactly have the umpteen labour incumbents done for Glasgow East in the decades they've had in power? Nothing apparently apart from feather their own nests and fail to stop the constituency having a lower life expectancy than Nigeria! John Mason is a competent professional and will be an excellent MP I believe.
30

Banana Heid,

Ayrshire 30/07/2008 21:12:31
When Victor walked into Westminster was Jack far behind him? Where was Winston and Hareed? They could easily run the countries better than the current bunch of loons...
31

Daveunderwater,

30/07/2008 21:21:25
#30

He will be asking Brown to reduce some of the 75% duty on fuel, most of the oil companies profits come from upstream business not at the forecourt pumps.

See BP profits news this week,

32

Daveunderwater,

30/07/2008 21:24:55
Labour and Conservatives will be finished in Scotland after the next general election

Sorry to state the obvious, but there we go, I said it.
33

Nevsky,

Moscow 30/07/2008 22:01:49
30:

You 'Brain damage' are a real nutter and an ill-informed one at that.

Go look up fuel tax regualtor and see what the SNP have tried to do at Westminster.

Absolute bonehead!
34

Nevsky,

Moscow 30/07/2008 22:03:34
30:

And why don't YOU ask Gordon Brown where Scotland's windfall oil tax money is? Norway has over £200 billion in reserve and Scotland for 30 years of oil production has £0.
35

Nevsky,

Moscow 30/07/2008 22:06:12
25: Grahamski:

"Glasgow spells the end of 300-year union"

Think you better read the Times and of all people Simon Jenkins (his headline above) as he seems to have a better understanding and more realistic appraisal of the subject than most Scottish Unionists.
36

Nevsky,

Moscow 30/07/2008 22:13:36
Another quote from a realistic unionist!


Telling the Scots they cannot “afford” independence is daft. Freedom runs stronger than money. Besides, dependence on “Britain” has not made Scottish business more efficient, any more than the National Health Service has stopped the Scots being the unhealthiest nation in Europe. On any showing, independence would be painful, but the lesson of such partitions elsewhere is that eventually they can be an elixir for small new states.

37

Sanny,

30/07/2008 22:34:22
Perhaps we should collect and collate all the comments by the various anti- SNP posters against John Mason and other SNP MWP’s. Then feed them back to them at the appropriate time. They may even be embarrassed into voting for independence.

This is perhaps an opportune moment to remind (although it may be news for some) Scottish Labour supporters that when Maxton, Shinwell et al set up the Labour party in Scotland (Glasgow)as a true Socialist Movement, that “Home Rule” for Scotland was a founding principle policy. It was the Welsh leader of the Labour Party, Kinnock, who dropped this policy circa 1955. Further as the SNP is well to the left of New Labour, which is now verging on the right of the Tory’s, the SNP may just provide a more acceptable home for those who still believe in true Scottish Socialism.
38

Grahamski,

Falkirk 30/07/2008 23:10:44
39
MWP? What on earth is a MWP?
39

Grahamski,

Falkirk 30/07/2008 23:12:10
37
I haven't read any News Internatinal titles since Wapping. I don't intend to start now.
40

,

30/07/2008 23:13:39
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41

Grahamski,

Falkirk 30/07/2008 23:15:45
42
Sunday Times and The Observer was a great way to spend Sunday mornings....now it's just the Observer - Sunday Telegraph just too beyond the pale....
42

Grahamski,

Falkirk 30/07/2008 23:18:10
....and the Scottish titles just a bit too parochial, although I still buy them....
43

Marky Bhoy,

Fife 30/07/2008 23:46:10

If Curran had won she said her work would have started the next day

Aye probably right looking at a John Lewis brouchure whilst drooling over her expenses form
44

John S,

31/07/2008 16:07:22
At least John Mason (MP) won't be treated as badly as Winnie Ewing was by most if not all of the Scottish (Labour) MP's at Westminster(1967).

She (Winnie Ewing) encountered many unpleasant manifestations of this fear as soon as she arrived at the Palace of Westminster. "I was treated abominably, and, yes, I am angry about it, even now, 40 years on," she says. After Glasgow University she eased into the roles of wife, mother and lawyer. She was unprepared for the bile she encountered in London.

As the lone SNP member in the Commons - at best an intimidating place for an inexperienced politician - she found herself without friends, without party colleagues, without any supporting structures. She was completely alone. She was hundreds of miles from her husband and her children in an excessively macho and very hostile environment. "I was treated as the enemy, I was shunned and despised. It's a peculiar experience to suddenly find yourself hated. At times I did feel terribly lonely, close to despair."

She says she was treated with inexcusable boorishness and contempt by many Labour MPs: "These people were dross. I would look at the ranks of them in the chamber and think, 'My God, these people are representing Scotland, my country, heaven help us.'"

There were so many decent, hard-working Labour supporters. Yet the people they elected were often third-raters. It was as if the few, the elite in the party, wanted rubbish around them, so that they could control things. I was offended that so many decent folk in Scotland were working so hard to return such people to parliament.

She remembers with particular gratitude the kindness and courtesy she received from a few exceptional Labour MPs, notably Emrys Hughes and Michael Foot
"One or two senior people in the Labour Party, like Willie Ross, were also very unpleasant. But Harold Wilson was kind to me, and so was the speaker, Horace King."
She has a special word of warmth about the Tory leader Ted Heath.He was
45

John S,

31/07/2008 16:08:12
She has a special word of warmth about the Tory leader Ted Heath.He was always very helpful, and he gave me useful tips about how the Commons worked. Ted was a true gentleman. - http://tinyurl.com/6xqxy9
46

Rob me blind,

Peterhead 02/08/2008 09:28:14
How much did it cost us the tax payers to get this 'smug git' his seat has anyone worked out how much it cost for Salmond to spend so much time on the streets supporting this man. The cost of the Police protection and other background costs to the tax payers. If Salmond is so sure of his and his party’s popularity why wont he give up his seat in London and devote all his time to being ’First Minister’.
47

Dr. James Wilkie,

Vienna 07/08/2008 10:51:19
#10. The alleged transfer of 6,000 square miles of oil, gas and fish resources was panic move by Tony Blair and Donald Dewar after the Council of Europe forced the Labour government to carry through the devolution project against its wishes. The line of the marine border was projected from the administrative border at Lamberton, to the north of Berwick.

This, however, is untenable, since the constitutional border between Scotland and England, fixed by international treaty, remains the mouth of the River Tweed. You can read a short summary of the border position within the following article:

http://www.realmofscotland.com/independence/


 

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