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SNP and Lib Dems name their by-election candidates



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Published Date: 04 July 2008
By Russell Jackson
THE SNP and the Liberal Democrats last night announced their candidates ahead of the Glasgow East by-election.
The Nationalists selected councillor, John Mason, a choice which drew criticism from Labour. The Lib Dems had earlier named their candidate as Ian Robertson, a teacher.

The 24 July poll was triggered by the resignation on health grounds of the lo
ng-serving Labour MP David Marshall. The vote, which is crucial for his party, comes in the wake of bruising by-election defeats for Labour at Crewe and Henley.

Labour – which enjoyed a majority of 13,507 in Glasgow East in the 2005 general election – will announce its candidate today, as will Solidarity. The SNP would need a 21.9 per cent swing to win the seat from Labour.

Mr Mason is leader of the SNP group on Glasgow Council and represents the Baillieston ward in the Glasgow East constituency. He has represented the east end since winning a council by-election in 1998.

He said: "By voting for the SNP, the people of Glasgow East will elect an MP who will put Glasgow before Gordon Brown and speak up for the interests of people in this constituency."

But Labour claimed he was the party's fourth choice. A Scottish Labour spokesman said: "The SNP have chosen a candidate whose political priorities are clear. In his own words, he is in politics for one reason and that is to break up the UK."

Meanwhile, Mr Robertson, a maths teacher at Bellahouston Academy, said he would be a "strong local champion" on unemployment and crime issues.

He added: "Local people are feeling let down by Gordon Brown's Labour government."

The Scottish Socialist Party has selected Frances Curran, a former MSP, as its candidate for the by-election.

The Conservatives were first to select a candidate, naming Davena Rankin, a Glasgow-schooled trade union member.



The full article contains 319 words and appears in The Scotsman newspaper.
Page 1 of 1

 
1

Senga Jean,

04/07/2008 00:07:50
Well Labour critics I think the SNP made a good choice. What did that strange lady say? Ah. Yes. "Bring it on"
2

ThomasP,

04/07/2008 00:14:41
I hoped that out of the three candidates that this person would represent the SNP.

Lets win the seat!!!
3

Gregor Addison,

Glasgow 04/07/2008 00:16:46
Well I think it was nice of the SNP not to criticize the Labour candidate. If this article is correct, then the criticism only came one way. What a shame Labour are such bad sports. Now that they've had their little tantrum perhaps they can start telling us why on earth anyone in Scotland should believe that they are a party who care one iota for the poor. Since they have been in government poverty has got worse in the east end of Glasgow. Instead of putting money into urban regeneration, the Labour party's plan was to build unaffordable housing along the Clyde that the property owners can't get rid of. I can't help but think that it would have been better to put money into communities like Glasgow's east end.
4

danielrober,

04/07/2008 00:17:20
"Mr Robertson, a maths teacher at Bellahouston Academy"

Is this allowed? i thought only lawyers and freedom fighters could stand as MP's, at the moment not skilled mathematicians. It would be nice to have an MP who could concerse in Thermodynamics and with Social Awarness.

Its a dream i'll wake up tommorow and find out he's not a maths teacher and he's never heard of thermodynamics. Oh well.
5

McMadman,

http://scottishreferendum2008.blogspot.com 04/07/2008 00:18:57
"The SNP have chosen a candidate whose political priorities are clear. In his own words, he is in politics for one reason and that is to break up the UK."

No sh't, sherlock !
6

McMadman,

http://scottishreferendum2008.blogspot.com 04/07/2008 00:21:15
#3

Liebore's tantrum has gone on since, ooh, err, May 2007. It shows no sign of diminishing any time soon; in fact if anything, the squealing from the piggery known as John Smith House is getting ever more strident.

All those years of undue influence, scratch my back politics, snouts in troughs whipped away. HAHAHAHAHA.
7

Bird of Prey, Will watch what i say.,

04/07/2008 00:35:01
#6

You said it... what a rotten bunch of trolls labour are
8

Castaway,

04/07/2008 00:53:59
The odds for the Glasgow East seat as of 3 July 2008
Ladbrokes -to win.
SNP — 8/13
Labour — 6/5
Conservatives — 100/1
Liberal Democrats — 100/1
And Paddy Powers:-
SNP — 4/7
Labour — 5/4
Conservatives — 40/1
Lib Dem — 80/1
And William Hill:-
Labour — 8/11
SNP — evens
Conservatives — 50/1
Lib Dem — 50/1
July 3, 2008
9

A Better Way,

Edinburgh 04/07/2008 01:09:48
There is little doubt the London New Labour Party will resort to the dirty tricks campaign they employed down in England. They see the people of Glasgow as sheep to do their bidding yet again. An English Party cannot represent the People of Scotland, after the poverty they left after 300 years.

The only Party that is fully qualified to represent the People of Scotland is the SNP. They speak for all the people who have been left to rot by politicians who only wish to get their Snouts in the London Trough. My god the retiring MP is only getting out before his crime of claiming 220,000 quid so he could pay our money to his family. He then goes on to claim a further 72,000 for housing and then nearly another 80,000 plus salary. And the cream on the cake is he can spend 24,000 quid in John Lewis buying Plasma tv's and the rest on furnishings. Lets not forget his great pension of nearly 1 million quid.

This LONDON NEW LABOUR HINGER ON WILL WALK AWAY WITH 1.4 million, plus god know what in brown envelopes.

Its Time to Vote The Scottish Way. Vote for the Voice of Scotland, the SNP
10

Bird of Prey, Will watch what i say.,

04/07/2008 01:34:44
#8

Interesting post but i would rather see some local opinion polls for Glasgow east over the next few weeks then i might take a flutter me butter..uh huh!!!
11

Bird of Prey, Will watch what i say.,

04/07/2008 01:35:21
#9

Well said.
12

Traquir , Alba,

04/07/2008 03:50:11
"David Cairns, the Scotland Office Minister, said: "If a by-election is not called now, the earliest possible date would be late October."

see - tinyurl.com/6979x3

Angus Robertson SNP MP
"The 1975 Recess Election Act allows for parliamentary by-elections to take place when Parliament is not in session,"

see - tinyurl.com/5wclvt

Oops, Labour caught out to be liars yet again :)


"The deadline for getting a postal vote is
5.00 pm on Wednesday, 9th July 2008"

"The issuing of postal ballot papers will commence on or after 14 July 2008"

see - tinyurl.com/63djyo

Glasgow Trades holidays are the week of the election
19th to 25th July. So basically to have a chance
to vote anybody that is going on holiday needs
to fill in the postal ballot and hopefully
receive the postal ballot form before they
head off on holiday. I wonder what the chance are
that they will get posted out after the 14th
July and won't arrive in mailboxes until people
have left for vacation the 18th July ?


From the Guardian

"Polling day has been deliberately placed during the summer holidays - Scottish schools have already broken up. It is also midway through the Glasgow fair holiday, when the city traditionally empties and the more politically volatile C2 demographic - backbone of many a byelection swing - are safely away on vacation."

"Today, humiliatingly, Labour's view is that the fewer people who vote, the better. Glasgow East - like Brown's premiership - is now entirely about survival."

see - tinyurl.com/66cr87

Clearly this is democracy British style - apparently
there is only a level playing field if
you are wearing a Unionist strip.
One silver lining though the SNP win in Glasgow East
will be even sweeter when it wins against
this type of underhand abuse.

Saor Alba

P.S. Not that easy to find but the postal ballot
application form is at http://tinyurl.com/59spkb

PLEASE PLEASE pass this around so the people of
Glasgow East at least h
13

Traquir , Alba,

04/07/2008 03:50:44


cont.

P.S. Not that easy to find but the postal ballot
application form is at http://tinyurl.com/59spkb

PLEASE PLEASE pass this around so the people of
Glasgow East at least have the chance to vote.
14

John S,

04/07/2008 05:39:34
David Marshall could have resigned on or before the 25 June 2008 to allow this by-election to be held on the 17th July, before the start of the Glasgow Fair and before the UK Parliament summer recess which starts on 22 July.
Two by-elections held on 15 July 2004, recess 22 July.
One by-election held on 14 July 2005, recess 21 July.
Two by-elections held on 19 July 2007, recess 26 July.
One by-election to be held on 24 July 2008, recess 22 July.
Spot the odd one out ?
Answer: Five by-elections held in July before the Parliament summer recess until now, so the odd one out is the by-election to be held on 24 July 2008.
15

Colin Wilson,

Aberdeen 04/07/2008 06:25:17
A Scottish Labour spokesman said: "The SNP have chosen a candidate whose political priorities are clear. In his own words, he is in politics for one reason and that is to break up the UK."

To paraphrase Basil Fawlty: "Why don't you go on Mastermind??? A Scottish Labour spokesman — specialist subject, The Bleedin' Obvious."
16

steve 1511,

aberdeen 04/07/2008 06:43:10
the east end of glasgow reflects fifty years of labours failure in scotland,does the labour party believe that the voters are going to vote for the same again,poverty,deprivation,ill health,unemployement,crime,that is what labour has brought the voters of the east end,and brown is to afraid to visit the area to face what labour policies have brought the people
17

Jimmy the Pie,

04/07/2008 06:51:12
These are the Scottish MPs who voted to keep the trough filled up and their places at the trough booked!!

Remember their names.

Working class heroes???

Gordon Banks (Ochil & Perthshire South),
Tom Clarke (Coatbridge),
Michael Connarty (Linlithgow & Falkirk East),
Ian Davidson (Glasgow South West),
Brian Donohoe (Ayrshire Central),
Jimmy Hood (Lanark & Hamilton East),
Adam Ingram (East Kilbride, Strathaven & Lesmahagow),
Eric Joyce (Falkirk),
Tommy McAvoy (Rutherglen & Hamilton West),
James McGovern (Dundee West),
Ann e McGuire (Stirling),
Rosemary McKenna (Cumbernauld, Kilsyth & Kirkintilloch East),
John Robertson (Glasgow North West),
Jimmy Sheridan (Paisley & Renfrewshire North),
Gavin Strang (Edinburgh East),

See if you can guess which party they represent????
18

Jimmy the Pie,

04/07/2008 06:59:24
I missed a name earlier.

David Hamilton (Midlothian),
19

Skyrat,

Edinburgh 04/07/2008 07:44:06
It'll be the Magnificant Seven of SNP MPs at Westminster on 25 July. I hope Labour get their backside handed to them.
20

Jimmy the Pie,

04/07/2008 08:01:44
Here's another name I missed

Sandra Osborne (Ayr, Carrick & Cumnock),
21

donald,

glasgow 04/07/2008 09:16:10
SNP and Lib Dems name their by-election candidates.

Liebour still back stabbing theirs.
22

donald,

glasgow 04/07/2008 09:23:12
"But Labour claimed he was the party's fourth choice. A Scottish Labour spokesman said: "The SNP have chosen a candidate whose political priorities are clear. In his own words, he is in politics for one reason and that is to break up the UK."

A good principled reason for voting SNP.

Will Liebour be repeating that in the Celtic pubs. Will they bring on the Celtic Board Loyalists and Royalists to parade the Liebour Party's Butcher's Apron and about their anti civil rights record in Ireland under John Reid and the rest of the Labour Imperialsts?
23

Wee Fifer,

Edinburgh 04/07/2008 09:35:55
Well, since that confusion among the voters is now cleared up, they will know who to vote for - the SNP. Does this mean that Labour have already decided on a negative campaign against the SNP, like last May? Is there a member of the SNP who is not driven by a desire to see an independent Scotland? They must live in a bubble (Labour), because no-one I talk to is scared of independence. They should fight their campaign on the issue of what they have done for the people they claim to represent and represent so badly.
I'd love to see Labour explain where the union dividend for the East End ended up? Did these citizens get their dividend in the post? No, they were abandoned by Labour, and the people there know that. The attack on the candidate in order to tie it to a negative campaign theme is simply a measure of their panic.
24

Huntly loon,

Aberdeenshire 04/07/2008 09:37:38
I think Labour had hoped the SNP would parachute in a candidate from outwith Glasgow, but have selected John Mason, the leader of the SNP group on GLasgow Council and who has been a councillor since 1998 when they had to get elected by FPTP. I checked out who he was on the internet and find he is a councillor for Baillieston in the Glasgow East constituency. He lives in the constituency and will certainly know of the local's concerns, and will not need to be briefed about the area.

Labour were planning to fight the by-election on local issues because national issues would not be much help. By picking a popular local councillor and not selecting a carreerist politician, the SNP have surely spiked Labour's guns here. I think the SNP must be in with a good shout on this one and this election is now very much the SNP's to lose.
25

Number 6,

Germany 04/07/2008 09:40:21
Of course Brown refuses to show his ugly face in labours fifedom , officialy "One of the most deprived areas in "EUROPE ". Glasgow east, after decades of uninterupted labour "Control" is a damming indictment of the party as a whole.

Labour of course can only lie their way around this , claiming the PM does not visit by-elections. The SNP must make sure the voters in this hell hole realise that is just more cowardly arrogant lies that they are expected to accept without question. Brown was , of course, all over the recent by-elections in Englandshire. Taking the Scots for granted like this,
expecting them to turn out sheep like, despite the dreadful condition labour have allowed them to find themselves in, must result in their defeat, or at the very least their obscene majority must be slashed.

The sitting MP is not stepping down for health reasons, but of course, only the Englandshire media are making it clear he's under investigation for expense fraud. Its another shameful episode from the Scottish press but I doubt it will save this bunch of useless leeches this time.
26

Publius,

Girvan 04/07/2008 09:52:31
A full time councillor and a teacher. Typical Scottish politicians. Why can't the parties choose candidates who have proven they can generate wealth?
27

Jock MacTamson 2,

Highlands 04/07/2008 09:57:42
Does this mean that it has now finally see the end to "Bring it on" and move into the next phase "Its On"

This by election will be a fantastic way to see how Scotland has changed if at all.

If Glasgows East End votes for the SNP then it is "not just on" I would be confident "it is OVER!"

Even a large swing reducing the majority would be a disaster.

This campaign will be a dirty one no doubt.
28

Wee Fifer,

Edinburgh 04/07/2008 10:03:22
27 Publius:
Teachers do indeed generate wealth. Businesses need workers, employees, and in order for them to generate wealth and be as productive as possible they need to be as educated as possible. Teaching is an essential wealth generating economic activity. The economy doesn't operate in a vacuum, and you don't have to be a businessman to have the right to represent other citizens in the political community.
Sounds like a good SNP candidate, good stuff.
29

Yeah1,

04/07/2008 10:09:22
#12 Traquir:

"The 1975 Recess Election Act allows for parliamentary by-elections to take place when Parliament is not in session,
Oops, Labour caught out to be liars yet again"

No Traquir. You are correct to say that the Recess Election Act allows by-elections to take place when parliament isn't in session but what you have failed to mention, or don't realise, is that this can only happen if the sitting MP has either died, or become disqualified or bankrupt.

In this case the sitting MP has simply resigned and so the Recess Election Act can't be applied. Could you perhaps apologise for your incorrect assumption?
30

Publius,

Girvan 04/07/2008 10:11:29
29 Wee Fifer

It's the LibDem who's the teacher. The SNP candidate has done nothing except be a councillor for many years.

But there's already a small army of teachers and councillors in Parliament. That's what Labour and the LibDems are all about. And look at the mess they've made at Holyrood as well as Westminster.
31

Wee Fifer,

Edinburgh 04/07/2008 10:19:16
31 Publius
Thanks, well anyway, still allright for a teacher to be a representative though and the other points about business stand. Not sure I like too many representatives being around who have only done politics and nothing else, but that applies to all parties.
32

MisterN,

Edinburgh 04/07/2008 11:02:03
31

The SNP have also named their candidate as the Baillieston councillor John Mason. He has served on Glasgow City Council since 1998 and is the Glasgow SNP’s longest serving councillor. He also happens to be the most popular councillor in Glasgow - having the highest personal vote of any councillor in Glasgow, and the 4th highest vote in Scotland!

When he was first elected in 1998 he achieved a swing of 17.45% from Labour to the SNP. Can he manage to pull off a 22% swing?

Since Baillieston is a large part of the Glasgow East constituency this should be a shrewd move, capitalising on his local support. John lives in the East End and has done for the last 18 years.

Local and popular seems the ideal choice to me.
Bit different to the credentials of a Labour or Tory party candidate who,s criteria must include complete and total obediance to London.
33

M.Corleone,

2nd Vatican State.........Coatbridge 04/07/2008 11:14:28
Shrewd choice by the SNP, local guy with local knowledge and local credibility with a good track record.
This is what Labour used to be about many years ago; responding to local concerns, but those days are long gone.
I hope he get's in; give us a combination of SNP supporters coupled with the protest vote to provide a 25 per cent swing.
That would send a clear message to big Broon that he couldn't ignore.
34

aljok.23,

the world 04/07/2008 11:40:25
England for the English!
35

danielrober,

04/07/2008 11:40:49
# 26 Number 6,Germany

IF Glasgow is one of the most deprived areas in Europe, why can't we increase industrial subsidies without getting into trouble with EU rules.

Is it

a, the EU are rotters?
or
b, some people are exagerating statistics, for political purposes?

P.S did you get a bet down on AM? I lost £10, but still a loved the show.
36

danielrober,

04/07/2008 11:41:53
# 35 aljok.23,the world

Rock all for the Dolphins. I say freedom, its my fish eeeekkkk.
37

Grahamski,

04/07/2008 11:44:08
12
Angus Robertson SNP MP
"The 1975 Recess Election Act allows for parliamentary by-elections to take place when Parliament is not in session,"

see - tinyurl.com/5wclvt

Oops, Labour caught out to be liars yet again :)'


Nicola Sturgeon tried to peddle this lie on TV last night too before she was corrected by David Cairns MP. Are the SNP liars or just ignorant?
Any time you want to correct yoursef, Traquir.......
38

Grahamski,

04/07/2008 11:48:20
34
A shrewd choice indeed. Good to see the SNP candidate has a firm grasp of what is important to the people of Glasgow. From the Evening Times of June 2006:

GLASGOW'S most senior SNP councillor has launched an attack on a Glasgow school - for hanging England flags during the World Cup.

Councillor John Mason told Hillhead High headteacher Ken Cunningham he had had a complaint about an "excessive" number of England flags at the school.

Pathetic racist buffoon.

39

Publius,

Girvan 04/07/2008 11:58:48
#39 Grahamski

You write "GLASGOW'S most senior SNP councillor has launched an attack on a Glasgow school - for hanging England flags during the World Cup. Councillor John Mason told Hillhead High headteacher Ken Cunningham he had had a complaint about an "excessive" number of England flags at the school".

Yep, that's the SNP. They pose as civic nationalists but underneath they are atavistic Anglophobes. Most of us get a strong dose of Anglophobia when we are children, but manage to grow out of it. SNP politicians have never grown out of it. The worst kind are those who say "I've got English relations/friends but..." or We want to be best pals with the English but..."

40

Talorthane,

04/07/2008 12:06:37
39 Grahamski

"Councillor John Mason told Hillhead High headteacher Ken Cunningham he had had a complaint about an "excessive" number of England flags at the school.

Pathetic racist buffoon."

Cllr John Mason told the headteacher that he had RECEIVED a complaint; i.e. the complaint came from someone other than Cllr Mason.

And though the complaint was not from me, I happen to agree.

The school is a local authority buidling; their property and their responsibility.

That local authority is a Scottish local authority.

The only flags it should be allowed to fly are the Saltire or (unfortunately for now) the Union Jack, in my opinion. Though, I would restrict it to the Saltire myself.

However, there is no justification for a local authority building to fly any other flag, without the council of that authority making the decision.


41

Grahamski,

Falkirk 04/07/2008 12:06:51
40
Exactly. Nicola Sturgeon had the gall took look outaged at the suggestion that the SNP were anti-English on Question Time last night. Has she failed to notice the nauseating anti-English sentiments in Scottish nationalism or was she simply lying?
42

M.Corleone,

2nd Vatican State....... Coatbridge 04/07/2008 12:10:51
#39.... Remember this is the press report you are reading G, and anyway, the people have voted for him as councillor so we'll see at the polls...

#40....Hey Pube, ... I do have friends who are English, living here for 30 years and voting SNP for over 25...strange one that eh ? Whatever is the world coming to...people voting to suit themselves ..... We will be asking for free choice next !!
43

subrosa,

04/07/2008 12:17:36
# 39

Racist? Auch yer daft. You don't know the definition of racist yet? Pathetic really. Even I would make a remark if I saw a load of English flags flying in a Scottish school and I'm no racist.

Another piece of rubbish journalism from the labour press.
44

Talorthane,

04/07/2008 12:23:09
#42 Grahamski & #40 Publius

Can you give us any examples of Nicola Sturgeon or even Alex Salmond expressing anti-English sentiments?
45

Publius,

Girvan 04/07/2008 12:27:00
#43 M.Corleone

Fortunately the ballot is still secret (more or less) so you cannot know how your English friends vote. They probably say they vote SNP because they want a quiet life without never-ending irritation from nationalist acquaintances.
46

Talorthane,

04/07/2008 12:28:48
43 M.Corleone,2nd Vatican State....... Coatbridge

"#39.... Remember this is the press report you are reading G, and anyway, the people have voted for him as councillor so we'll see at the polls..."

Not only did the people vote for him, but he received more votes than any other councillor (of any party) in Glasgow.
47

Publius,

Girvan 04/07/2008 12:30:14
#45 Talorthane

Alex Salmond says he wants to be best of pals with the English. If he was the best of pals with the English, he wouldn't need to say it!

48

Talorthane,

04/07/2008 12:32:21
#46 Publius

"Fortunately the ballot is still secret (more or less) so you cannot know how your English friends vote. hey probably say they vote SNP because they want a quiet life without never-ending irritation from nationalist acquaintances"

And you cannot know that they are not telling the truth.

The allege that these people (who you do not know) are telling lies (when you have no grounds to believe so), in order to preserve your position, is particularly desperate stuff.
49

Talorthane,

04/07/2008 12:38:09
#48 Publius

"#45 Talorthane

Alex Salmond says he wants to be best of pals with the English. If he was the best of pals with the English, he wouldn't need to say it!"

He doesn't need to say it. He chooses to say it because political opponents accuse him of being anti-English when they have no grounds for making these allegations.


Oh, and by the way.

You said at #27:

"Why can't the parties choose candidates who have proven they can generate wealth?"


and at #31:

"The SNP candidate has done nothing except be a councillor for many years."


Actually, the SNP candidate is a councillor and an accountant.
50

Talorthane,

04/07/2008 12:49:11
#40 Publius

"The worst kind are those who say "I've got English relations/friends but..." or We want to be best pals with the English but..."

No, the worst are those who maliciously accuse others of prejudice or racism when none exists.
51

Publius,

Girvan 04/07/2008 12:51:21
#49 Talorthane

It's pretty well known that people do lie about how they vote or how they intend to vote. About a quarter of voters even lie to their spouses/partners. Opinion pollsters try to factor in a figure for 'shyness' when they poll people of voting intentions. At the moment IpsosMori adds about 5 per cent to the Labour figure because they think that some Labour voters are 'shy' about revealing they intend to vote Labour even to IpsosMori's telephone pollsters.

English people resident in Scotland are certain to encounter a significant minority of Scots who will needle them about their Englishness. Saying they vote SNP is probably a good way of shutting their tormentors up.

In your #43 you reveal your own (sub-conscious Anglophobia) by saying you have English friends who have lived in Scotland for 30 years! How long does an English people have to live in Scotland before you will regard them as Scots?
52

neoublie,

glasgow 04/07/2008 13:03:03
#43

Academic research shows that English people living in Scotland are about half as likely to vote SNP than the population as a whole so the CHANCES are that they are not telling the truth. And they aren't stupid - you can bet that an independent Scotland would do everything it could to define itself against England and Britain/Britishness.
53

McMadman,

http://scottishreferendum2008.blogspot.com 04/07/2008 13:04:07

"English people resident in Scotland are certain to encounter a significant minority of Scots who will needle them about their Englishness."

Baws. A minority, maybe, not a "significant" minority, and not disproportionate to the same sort of thing happening in england in respect of scots being subsidy junkies, too many in the cabinet, etc & so on. I know, I lived there.
54

Talorthane,

04/07/2008 13:06:13
#55 Publius

#43 is not mine.

I am not Anglophobic.

Once again, you have wrongly alleged prejudice.


On your first point, it may be that SOME people may not reveal who they have voted for, and SOME may even say they voted for a party that they did not vote for.

But you are quite wrong to say that "They PROBABLY say they vote SNP because...."

You have no way of knowing.
55

McMadman,

http://scottishreferendum2008.blogspot.com 04/07/2008 13:06:18
#56

"you can bet that an independent Scotland would do everything it could to define itself against England and Britain/Britishness."

Rubbish. Pointless nonsensical scaremongering.

It's about self determination not racism. "One Scotland many cultures." THe Snp are on record as welcoming immigration.
56

Talorthane,

04/07/2008 13:18:42
#56 Neouble

"Academic research shows that English people living in Scotland are about half as likely to vote SNP than the population as a whole so the CHANCES are that they are not telling the truth."

The chances are that you don't quite understand what these academics are saying.

If the research is accurate that "English people living in Scotland are about half as likely to vote SNP than the population as a whole"

Then for every 2% of the general population that votes for the SNP, 1% of English voters in Scotland will vote SNP.

If, at present, 33% of Scottish voters favour the SNP, then 16.5% of English people in Scotland also vote for the SNP.

If there are, according to estimates, as many 10% of the Scottish population are actually English, then of the 2,000,000 who voted at the last election; 200,000 are English, and 33,000 of them voted for the SNP.


Why are you so sure that these particular English people are lying?
57

Miss H,

04/07/2008 13:27:44
labour claimed the SNP candidate was the party's fourth choice.

So this is how this by-election is going to go. Labour just making things up out of thin air!
58

Miss H,

04/07/2008 13:30:49
56 But academic research shows that people from ethnic minorities are more likely to vote SNP than the population as a whole.

Presumably the ethnic minorities do not include English people?

59

Miss H,

04/07/2008 14:42:28
60 It's also interesting to look at some of the constituencies with the highest concentrations of English people. The Western Isles. Argyll and Bute. Moray.

What do they have in common?
60

Talorthane,

04/07/2008 15:04:15
#63 Miss H

"It's also interesting to look at some of the constituencies with the highest concentrations of English people. The Western Isles. Argyll and Bute. Moray.

What do they have in common?"

Apart from all being reknowned for their beauty. Such beauty that would inspire people to move there. And then for those people to become proud to live there and want to protect it.

Oh yes, these areas all vote SNP.

;)
61

Miss H,

04/07/2008 15:15:54
have just seen today's Daily record which is getting stuck into the SNP candidate John Mason - who they accuse of being a diehard separatist, a committed Christian and a Clyde supporter!

Not sure which they think is worse.

What they forgot to mention is that John got the highest personal vote of any councillor in Glasgow - and his new ward makes up almost a third of the seat.

But he is a Clyde supporter. That's a fair cop.
62

G,

dundy 04/07/2008 15:52:36
According to all the SNPites on this MB, the labour candidate could be Genghis Khan for all the chance he's got....well we'll see.....
It is entertaining seeing all the SNPites highlight every case of sleaze or suspected sleaze or made-up sleaze that the labourites have been involved in ..however remembr you have to be in power to get involved in sleaze..the SNP's day will come....
63

Yeah1,

04/07/2008 16:28:22
#66

"remember you have to be in power to get involved in sleaze..the SNP's day will come...."

Quite right, all parties are the same once they have been in power for a few years.

When labour came to power in 1997, after several years of tory sleaze, they were squeaky clean. Now after a decade in power they are mired in allegations of sleaze. The SNP will be the same - if they remain in power a few years down the line we will be getting articles on SNP politicians involved in money scandals etc.
64

Talorthane,

04/07/2008 17:05:09
#66 G, dundy

Being in oppostion didn't seem to stop Wendy Alexander from getting herself into trouble...

Or Charlie Gordon...

Or any of the rest of Team Alexander who were all involved in the solicitation of donations just under the £1,000 limit for declaration...

Or David McLetchie with the taxis...

Or Tommy Sheridan, for that matter.


The point is you don't need to be in the party of power to become involved in sleaze or corruption, you just have to have personal privelege.

So far, not many allegations have been found around the SNP, despite the best efforts of the Labour party and the Lib Dems to politically manipulate the cross-party committee processes during the Trump investigation.

That party political manipulation has been quickly forgotten in Labour's recent wailings over Wendy Alexander's resignation.
65

Grahamski,

Falkirk 04/07/2008 17:29:51
52
You claimed:
'I saw you the other day ridiculing Scots as people dress in skirts, making a mockery of one of the definitive cultural symbols of Scotland.'
I didn't ridicule the Scots. I ridiculed the SNP core support and described them as swivel-eyed teuchters with an inferiority complex and crypto-fascist nutters with a penchant for wearing skirts.
So no mockery of the Scots, plenty for the nats. Hope that clears up your misundesrtanding..
66

pehman,

sussex 04/07/2008 17:35:37

OK, so who will say it first, slab or slib

Who will be the first candidate to go on record as for or against a referendum ?

Or will the new slib leader do it to isolate slab
67

pehman,

sussex 04/07/2008 17:35:37

OK, so who will say it first, slab or slib

Who will be the first candidate to go on record as for or against a referendum ?

Or will the new slib leader do it to isolate slab
68

Publius,

Girvan 04/07/2008 18:12:43
#67 Yeah1

"When labour came to power in 1997, after several years of tory sleaze, they were squeaky clean."

No they weren't. Labour in Sotland has never been squeaky clean. An army of toon cooncillors has always used patronage and contracts to their own advantage. I remember growing up in Dundee in the 60s/70s. Labour cooncillors were up to their necks in graft. The late John Smith represented a constituency in which Labour party corruption followed sectarian lines with the Catholics trying to put all public expenditure in their areas and vice versa while all lined their pockets. John Smith used to visit the place like an 18th century aristocrat with a scented handkerchief to his nose.
When Labour came to power in 1997 and then created Holyrood it let this lot loose on the state. They have looted the state and taxpayers ever since.
Like many other people I voted SNP last year to be rid of them...but I am now feeling that I helped to let loose a dangerous animal which may destroy us all.
69

European Scot,

04/07/2008 18:13:21
70 Grahamski

" I ridiculed the SNP core support and described them as swivel-eyed teuchters with an inferiority complex and crypto-fascist nutters with a penchant for wearing skirts."

With such expertise in describing a high proportion of your fellow Scots.
What descriptive thoughts would move within you, as you stand in front of a mirror ?
Not that I'm trying to put you off your evening meal.
70

McMadman,

http://scottishreferendum2008.blogspot.com 04/07/2008 18:17:41
Grahamski

Don't forget your other slagging of the nats.

"Good to see the natz keep up their campaign to drag Scottish politics into the gutter. They seem incapable of making a political point without personal attack."

"swivel-eyed teuchters with an inferiority complex and crypto-fascist nutters with a penchant for wearing skirts."

"Sounds suspiciously like the kind of thinly-veiled racism the natz specialise in. For shame."

"See nationalists, see infantile conspiraccy theories...."

"Sounds like you've been rehearsing your routines at the Inverstoorie branch of the Alba Popular Front again, Leal."

"Any idea why no sensible person engages with the infantile nonsense peddled by most natz?"

________________________________________________________

HAHAHAHAHA - you do all the time, d'ckhead ! By your own definition this makes you lacking in sense !

____________________________________________________

"In the meantime I'll leave you to your schoolboy conspiracy theories and amateur-hour economics. I'm really not at all interested in the quite frankly outlandish views held by the SNP."

"Natz drivel? What about the Liebour Party, is that acceptable?

When the natz give up the infantile Liebour Party schtick, I'll give up the Scottish Nazi Party schtick, fair dos?"

"However, don't let the facts get in the way of your delusional rants, eh?"

"I know you natz like to imagine everybody against you is English, but this is ridiculous!"


Hmmmmmm. Long on invective, short on evidencing why the glorious union is so worth keeping, bit light on policy too.
71

McMadman,

http://scottishreferendum2008.blogspot.com 04/07/2008 18:22:05
Grahamski

Let's not forget the other classics:

__________________________________________________________________

"There is something deeply offensive about the natz instinct for personal attack."

___________________________________________________________

See post #75 and the remainder of this. Pot, kettle, black. Here we go again:


"You're mistaken again. They restrict comments to stop the natz launch personal attacks on the Herald employees. The Herald has a duty of care to their staff. Allowing anonymous yahoos to post attacks on your staff is not the sign of a good employer..."

"I can post on the Herald any time I want. I choose not to because the Herald boards are infested with psycho natz. Boring."

_____________________________________________________________

Just like you say happens on these boards, but it doesn't stop you now does it ?

_______________________________________________________________


"I mean really, what an insult, I'm more Scottish than you! Life is never dull in the adolescent world of nat politics."

"You asked what Scotland had gained from being part of the UK. Go and read a history book."

"I can't say I'm particularly interested in your revision of history or the whole infantile disorder of nationalism.

It's all conspiracies and secrets"

"The Herald and The Scotsman don't have to 'pose' as a free press. They are a free press. You can accuse these grand old papers of many things, being guilty of pushing political propaganda isn't one of them.
More infantile paranoia , I'm afraid...."

"Like the people of Shettleston I'm not obsessed with the constitutional arrangements of the UK or Brigadoon-esque Scottish history.

Why would I waste my time with ludicrous nationalist assumptions? Boring."

______________________________________________________

Enough said. You are, sir, a world class prize utter f@@@@@@@@@nnie. As your own quotes show.


72

McMadman,

http://scottishreferendum2008.blogspot.com 04/07/2008 18:25:24
And it is only polite of me to acknowledge the sterling work put in by "

"HEN BROON 5,ALBA being held back by the UK"

Who kindly collated the comments of the grahamski originally at the start of July, as reproduced in posts #75 and #76. Well done Sir.
73

Truely English,

04/07/2008 18:42:20
59
Why are the Scots so if at ease with how English and deeply Angliscised they are. Most coutries would be proud of this fact.

The Scots have been Angliscised for close on 1000 years and until a few years ago were proud of this fact. They set up public schools to ensure this became a reality so that they could play their full part in the Empire at every level.

Learn to love and live being British for that is what the Scots are now.
74

McMadman,

http://scottishreferendum2008.blogspot.com 04/07/2008 18:45:28
FFS please no one bother to respond. This person is so clearly delusional that their post simply deserves no comment.
75

Grahamski,

Falkirk 04/07/2008 18:54:14
74
I wasn't describing a high proportion of my fellow Scots, I was describing the core support of nationalism.
76

McMadman,

http://scottishreferendum2008.blogspot.com 04/07/2008 18:55:33
#81

Doesn't stop you being a prize hypocrite though, see #75 & #76. Hardly an advert for rational unionism are you ?
77

Grahamski,

Falkirk 04/07/2008 18:55:49
77
Yes, please do thank Henry. He's such a naughty boy..delusionally racist too but let's not let that get in the way, eh?
78

Truely English,

04/07/2008 18:56:22
80
How is it the Scots don't recognise that they speak English every day of life making part of the English language and cultural community.
79

McMadman,

http://scottishreferendum2008.blogspot.com 04/07/2008 18:57:24
#83

I have not personally seen any racist comments from Henry as you describe Hen Broon. If there were any I would join you in condemming them.

However, he has done us a service in exposing your hypocracy.
80

McMadman,

http://scottishreferendum2008.blogspot.com 04/07/2008 18:57:46
#84
81

Grahamski,

Falkirk 04/07/2008 18:59:14
82
I wouldn't describe myself as a unionist. The constitutional make-up of the UK doesn't obsess me. I am wary of any single-issue fanatic, whether it's about ecology, animal rights or nationalism.
82

McMadman,

http://scottishreferendum2008.blogspot.com 04/07/2008 18:59:23
#84
83

Grahamski,

Falkirk 04/07/2008 19:01:09
85
My hypocrisy? What is hypocritical about my post?
84

McMadman,

http://scottishreferendum2008.blogspot.com 04/07/2008 19:01:20
#87

You are a prize hypocrite and no advert for ANY form of political party be this unionism or anything else.

You attach the nats for being all kind of monsters whilst deprecating them in such delusionally ranting terms as to make only yourself, rather than them as your intended target, seem like a delusional, ranting chube.
85

McMadman,

http://scottishreferendum2008.blogspot.com 04/07/2008 19:01:41
#84
86

McMadman,

http://scottishreferendum2008.blogspot.com 04/07/2008 19:03:02
#89

See posts #75 and #76 for confirmation of my #90. Hoist by your own petard springs to mind.
87

Truely English,

04/07/2008 19:03:14
85
It is good to see that McMadman agrees with everything.
88

Grahamski,

Falkirk 04/07/2008 19:03:18
90
Do you know what the word hypocrite means? Tell me again how I am a hypocrite?
89

McMadman,

http://scottishreferendum2008.blogspot.com 04/07/2008 19:03:23
#84
90

McMadman,

http://scottishreferendum2008.blogspot.com 04/07/2008 19:05:06
# 87 Grahamski,

"I wouldn't describe myself as a unionist."

What would you describe yourself as then ?
91

McMadman,

http://scottishreferendum2008.blogspot.com 04/07/2008 19:05:21
#94
92

McMadman,

http://scottishreferendum2008.blogspot.com 04/07/2008 19:05:51
#97

? Explain ?
93

McMadman,

http://scottishreferendum2008.blogspot.com 04/07/2008 19:06:54
#95

See #90.

You attach the nats for being all kind of monsters whilst deprecating them in such delusionally ranting terms as to make only yourself, rather than them as your intended target, seem like a delusional, ranting chube.