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Labour's by-election chief tells of 'mission impossible'

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Published Date: 31 May 2008
By Gerri Peev
LABOUR'S campaign manager for the disastrous Crewe and Nantwich by-election has admitted that it was "mission impossible from day one".
Steve McCabe, a government whip and Midlands MP, has revealed his real job was to keep Labour from sliding into third place behind the Liberal Democrats. The Conservatives won the seat with a 17 per cent swing, turning Labour's 7,000 majority into a Tory majority of nearly 8,000.

Mr McCabe insisted that Gordon Brown was not to blame for the campaign, in which the Tory candidate, Edward Timpson, was attacked as a "toff".

He said: "I went to Crewe and Nantwich out of loyalty to the PM and the Labour Party. I knew from day one that it was mission impossible."

The party had failed to win over younger voters, who he said were paying too much for fuel and food.

Chris Grayling, a shadow cabinet minister, said: "When the man they handpicked to run their by-election says they are no longer on the people's side, it's quite clear that this is a government that has run out of steam."





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  • Last Updated: 30 May 2008 11:11 PM
  • Source: The Scotsman
  • Location: Edinburgh
  • Related Topics: Labour Party
 
1

Jimmy the Pie,

31/05/2008 01:14:19
Dead in the water.

Some legacy Comrade Broon. You seem to have wiped out your beloved New Labour Sleaze Party in record time.

Well done from the people of Scotland.
2

Guga II,

Rockall 31/05/2008 05:46:04
It was "mission impossible". After all, who, in their right mind, would vote for the New Labour Sleaze and Corruption Party, given that they are trying to tax us all into the ground.

Moreover, the public don't have the opportunity to rip the taxpayer off with dodgy expenses claims.

3

Chalmers,

31/05/2008 07:52:55
Scottish sub-sample from yesterday’s YouGov/Daily Telegraph voting intention poll:

1. SNP 41% (+23%)
2. Lab 25% (-14%)
3. Con 19% (+3%)
4. LD 13% (-10%)

Giving the following seat distribution, according to Electoral Calculus:

1. SNP 43 seats (+37 seats)
2. Lab 7 seats (-34 seats)
3. LD 5 seats (-6 seats)
4. Con 4 seats (+3 seats)

http://www.yougov.com/archives/pdf/DT30052008results.pdf

http://www.electoralcalculus.co.uk/userpoll_scot.html

High profile Labour casualties to the SNP would include: Douglas Alexander, Des Browne, David Cairns, Alistair Darling and Michael Martin.
4

morris,

edinburgh 31/05/2008 09:03:09
2

I agree Guga.
Nantwich was mission impossible,but thats just one seat where people are free to make their protest known.Even a partial repeat at the General Election would mean Labour are not only a three legged horse,they may never run again!
The scenario described by Chalmers is arithmetically accurate and even allowing for the above,plus a margin of error and a small small sample it still spells BYE BYE LABOUR.Its finished and anybody advocating voting Labour or Lib Dem now needs their head examined!

At least the 19% Tory vote will achieve what they wanted,(a Tory government imposed by England upon Scotland).Remember Thatcher please numpties!
The Labour voters will merely connfirm what a bunch of cupid stunts they are.They cant see the wood for the trees,and will elect the opposite of what they want!NOW IF THAT IS NOT BARKING MAD THEN I ASK WHAT IS IT?
5

LEAL,

31/05/2008 09:15:04
How is the Labour party going to finance anymore campaigns when it is teetering on the brink of bankruptcy?
6

tartan army 2222,

31/05/2008 09:54:12
3 Chalmers

Got to remember it was a small Scottish sample (without going back to have a look I think it was around 200). However, even if these figures are close to being accurate Westminster have always said that if people in Scotland vote for a pro-independence party and the vote outweighs the pro-union vote then independence would be ours. Would we even need a referendum?
7

frank mcbride,

lusitania 31/05/2008 11:16:29
#6, tartan army.

Even if the SNP win 59/59 seats at the next Westminster Election, the Unionist Alliance will still try to thwart the repatriation of Scotland's sovreignty.

Historical evidence would support my contention.

"I am prepared to use any means to protect/preserve the Union." Cameron Brown.
8

BrianHill,

Edinburgh 31/05/2008 16:02:24
No 7 frank: you are of course right frank, but their are a couple of flies thwarting unionist desires.

One is the sovereignty of people over state. Not even the power of the mighty British Empire (what's left of it) can ignore the will of the people.

Second is Europe. There is no way that Europe would bless the UK government ignoring the will of the Scottish people as expressed in a referendum or election.

BTW thanks Chalmers No3 for those stats. I notice the Scottish press tended to keep quiet about those. Poor unionists must be tearing their hair out. Good stats for us to bookmark, useful for the fight ahead.
9

Euan404,

Edinburgh 02/06/2008 16:25:27
#6 "if people in Scotland vote for a pro-independence party and the vote outweighs the pro-union vote then independence would be ours"

The figures being quoted give the SNP 41% and the three pro-Union parties a combined figure of 57%... so that's independence off the menu again?

 

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