Click image to see a fuller sized version.
4 hours ago
Tuesday, 25 March 2008
Paul Hutcheon's fan
Some may remember this post recently referring to a fan Paul Hutcheon seems to have gained on his stories on the Sunday Herald website, well, check the below screen grab out for some of her thoughts on him. Also, check out the response!
Saturday, 22 March 2008
Latest MRUK Poll
Now, a wee disclaimer first. I'm not a fan of polls in general. They, by their very definition, giving national swings and cannot judge how a party does on a seat by seat basis. My favourite example, harking back to an earlier debate with my drinking buddy SNP tactical voter, was over the seat of Galloway and Upper Nithsdale in the lead up to the 2007 Election. Based on national polling Alex was, lets say, on a shoogly peg according to some and certainly according to pollsters. However, as we all know Alex Fergusson increased his majority from 99 to some 3000+.
Anyway, the findings are quite interesting but certainly, in my opinion, do not reflect on how things have been happening in Parliament. Let's take each party individually.
First of all, the Nats. By and large the Nats have been quite impressive and they've had to be due to minority government. The SNP, in this latest poll, find themselves up 6% on the Constituency vote and up a whopping 9% on the list vote - which is rather worrying considering how the party swept up on the list in many areas.
Now to Labour. I don't think too much needs to be said about them. They find themselves embroiled in donation controversy after controversy yet still find themselves on the same net result - they are 1% down in constituency vote but 1% up on regional vote.
It'd be tricky to find many political commentators who don't think the Conservatives have been impressive. Heck, my former University professor who is a solid nationalist has recently been waxing lyrical about the performance of the Scottish Conservatives but we find ourselves down 2% in the Constituency vote and down 1% in the regional vote.
As for the Lib Dems. I believe their stance on the budget was quite wrong, as was Labours but ultimately Nicol Stephen has been quite impressive recently and finds himself being considerably better than Wendy at FMQs despite the fact that Salmond gives him the roughest time. The polls are particularly bad news, however, for the Lib Dems. Down 4% on the constituency with no change on the regional.
If these opinion poll results happened across the board that would give a result of:
The SNP on 57 (up 10)
Labour on 42 (down 2)
Tories on 16 (down 1)
Lib Dems on 12 (down 4)
Others on 2 seats (down 1)
It's quite remarkable that despite all that Labour has done in the last few months it still only finds itself down 2 seats whilst we are down 1 seat despite the positive impact we have made in Parliament. Now, ultimately, I'm not losing much sleep over this poll as it was the same organisation that predicted Labour would win in May 2007 but still it's results are quite disappointing.
Still, the MRUK findings on the constitutional future don't make for great reading for Salmond and his colleagues:
Scotland's constitutional future:
Independence 23
More powers for devolved Holyrood 45
Status quo 22
Fewer powers for Holyrood 3
Abolish the Scottish Parliament 6
It's also not great reading for Wendy Alexander:
How is Wendy Alexander doing as leader of the Scottish Labour Party?
Very well 3
Fairly well 27
Fairly badly 32
Very badly 20
Don't know 18
The Sunday Times, which commissioned the poll from MRUK, also reported that 40% of people were less likely to vote Labour because of Wendy Alexander's campaign fund-raising irregularities/illegality.
Quarter of this sample think she should quit because of that whist another 15% think she should resign for other reasons altogether - be quite interesting to find out what those are.
With the poll being carried out for the Herald, you can read Herald Political Ed Douglas Fraser writing about it here and Iain McWhirter here.
Anyway, the findings are quite interesting but certainly, in my opinion, do not reflect on how things have been happening in Parliament. Let's take each party individually.
First of all, the Nats. By and large the Nats have been quite impressive and they've had to be due to minority government. The SNP, in this latest poll, find themselves up 6% on the Constituency vote and up a whopping 9% on the list vote - which is rather worrying considering how the party swept up on the list in many areas.
Now to Labour. I don't think too much needs to be said about them. They find themselves embroiled in donation controversy after controversy yet still find themselves on the same net result - they are 1% down in constituency vote but 1% up on regional vote.
It'd be tricky to find many political commentators who don't think the Conservatives have been impressive. Heck, my former University professor who is a solid nationalist has recently been waxing lyrical about the performance of the Scottish Conservatives but we find ourselves down 2% in the Constituency vote and down 1% in the regional vote.
As for the Lib Dems. I believe their stance on the budget was quite wrong, as was Labours but ultimately Nicol Stephen has been quite impressive recently and finds himself being considerably better than Wendy at FMQs despite the fact that Salmond gives him the roughest time. The polls are particularly bad news, however, for the Lib Dems. Down 4% on the constituency with no change on the regional.
If these opinion poll results happened across the board that would give a result of:
The SNP on 57 (up 10)
Labour on 42 (down 2)
Tories on 16 (down 1)
Lib Dems on 12 (down 4)
Others on 2 seats (down 1)
It's quite remarkable that despite all that Labour has done in the last few months it still only finds itself down 2 seats whilst we are down 1 seat despite the positive impact we have made in Parliament. Now, ultimately, I'm not losing much sleep over this poll as it was the same organisation that predicted Labour would win in May 2007 but still it's results are quite disappointing.
Still, the MRUK findings on the constitutional future don't make for great reading for Salmond and his colleagues:
Scotland's constitutional future:
Independence 23
More powers for devolved Holyrood 45
Status quo 22
Fewer powers for Holyrood 3
Abolish the Scottish Parliament 6
It's also not great reading for Wendy Alexander:
How is Wendy Alexander doing as leader of the Scottish Labour Party?
Very well 3
Fairly well 27
Fairly badly 32
Very badly 20
Don't know 18
The Sunday Times, which commissioned the poll from MRUK, also reported that 40% of people were less likely to vote Labour because of Wendy Alexander's campaign fund-raising irregularities/illegality.
Quarter of this sample think she should quit because of that whist another 15% think she should resign for other reasons altogether - be quite interesting to find out what those are.
With the poll being carried out for the Herald, you can read Herald Political Ed Douglas Fraser writing about it here and Iain McWhirter here.
Tuesday, 18 March 2008
A Nat Tory coalition…..at Westminster?!
No no, I’ve not lost my mind I’ve merely had a wee look at this website here. I haven’t read Iain Dale’s cracking blog for quite some time but stumbled across this post this morning in which Iain talks of the chances of a Tory/Nat coalition at Westminster.
There’s a wee piece in today’s Scottish Daily Express, which unfortunately is not online, in which the Nats fancy there chances of picking up an amazing 27 seats – primarily from, in their words, the beleaguered Labour Party. Now, I’ve only met Angus Robertson once or twice (he does still say hello when he passes me) and I have to say that he is quite an impressive figure. I do however doubt the number he predicts. The Electoral Calculus site predicts the SNP will win ten seats which is impressive enough and a jump of four from their current base.
Scotland wide the Electoral Calculus site predicts the following:
Conservative 2 (+1)
Labour 40 (-1)
Lib Dem 7 (-4)
SNP 10 (+4)
Of course there are issues that would have to be resolved if the Nats and Tories were to form a coalition – issues I think everyone knows – but as Iain Dale points out the Nats do not see the Tories as “the devil incarnate” anymore. The Sunday Times poll, which the Express picks up on, shows the SNP 7 points ahead of Labour and 19 points up on their 2005 election performance. Many in Labour must increasingly be becoming aware of the fact that their days in Government are numbered…
There’s a wee piece in today’s Scottish Daily Express, which unfortunately is not online, in which the Nats fancy there chances of picking up an amazing 27 seats – primarily from, in their words, the beleaguered Labour Party. Now, I’ve only met Angus Robertson once or twice (he does still say hello when he passes me) and I have to say that he is quite an impressive figure. I do however doubt the number he predicts. The Electoral Calculus site predicts the SNP will win ten seats which is impressive enough and a jump of four from their current base.
Scotland wide the Electoral Calculus site predicts the following:
Conservative 2 (+1)
Labour 40 (-1)
Lib Dem 7 (-4)
SNP 10 (+4)
Of course there are issues that would have to be resolved if the Nats and Tories were to form a coalition – issues I think everyone knows – but as Iain Dale points out the Nats do not see the Tories as “the devil incarnate” anymore. The Sunday Times poll, which the Express picks up on, shows the SNP 7 points ahead of Labour and 19 points up on their 2005 election performance. Many in Labour must increasingly be becoming aware of the fact that their days in Government are numbered…
Thursday, 13 March 2008
FMQ's
Thought for something completely different I'd post about FMQ's. I felt today was Wendy's strongest thus far, felt Annabel nailed Salmond on the issue of local income tax - as did David McLetchie at the end of FMQs - and I felt Nicol was good and straight to the point. This was definitely the worst performance thus far from the First Minister as he failed to answer a single question.
Tuesday, 4 March 2008
I love snippets from hacks
We saw last week at First Ministers questions Wendy Alexander quoting her new press guy, Simon Pia, in his criticism of Alex Salmond from when he was a diarist. Aside from the comments that were attributed to him in reference to his new boss Wendy I thought little of it, I mean why not quote your brand new first choice spin doctor eh? Well…this is where it gets interesting.
I got a wee tip off from a very good source this morning of a wee tale from someone previously in Labour. It seems that Simon Pia wasn’t in fact first choice for the gig of Wendy’s press guru, heck he wasn’t even second choice as that former business editor of a national newspaper wouldn’t touch the job with a bargepole. The man Wendy likes to quote willy-nilly, despite his previous criticisms of her, grupenfhurer anyone?, was in fact third choice.
Shows how much of a struggle it is Wendy to hire staff.
I got a wee tip off from a very good source this morning of a wee tale from someone previously in Labour. It seems that Simon Pia wasn’t in fact first choice for the gig of Wendy’s press guru, heck he wasn’t even second choice as that former business editor of a national newspaper wouldn’t touch the job with a bargepole. The man Wendy likes to quote willy-nilly, despite his previous criticisms of her, grupenfhurer anyone?, was in fact third choice.
Shows how much of a struggle it is Wendy to hire staff.
I disagree with Ewan Aitken
I just stumbled across a post written by Edinburgh Councillor Ewan Aitken referring to Princes Street, in fact this link highlights a couple of stories. I can see the ultimately Ewan Aitken is making his comments regarding Princes Street due to a belief that it can be improved and it would be petty for me to remind him that if he believes this he had the chance to do something when his party formed the Council administration in Edinburgh, or in the 8 years the Labour party was in Government in Scotland or since 1997 when his party came to power at Westminister but I won't point these things out. I disagree with the plans to attract more bars and bistros to Princes Street as that would, in my humble opinion, turn Princes Street into something similar to George Street and Rose Street.
One reason that bars/bistros and other eateries do so well on these two streets is that custom is brought in via the shops on Princes Street. Not that I am a big shopper but when I do partake in the purchase of goods from a Princes Street stores I often feel like rewarding myself by supping a pint of Edinburgh's finest IPA in one of the very nice bars on Rose Street and occasionally eating in the very very fine Mexican at the Lothian Road end of Princes Street. Take this anecdote for example. When my parents come up to visit me my Mother likes to visit the shops while my old man and I go for a pint and I am sure that it’s not an isolated case.
Yes I agree Princes Street can be made even better, but I don’t believe turning it into a haven of Bistros and bars is the answer. Back to the drawing board for Mr Aitken and his colleagues.
One reason that bars/bistros and other eateries do so well on these two streets is that custom is brought in via the shops on Princes Street. Not that I am a big shopper but when I do partake in the purchase of goods from a Princes Street stores I often feel like rewarding myself by supping a pint of Edinburgh's finest IPA in one of the very nice bars on Rose Street and occasionally eating in the very very fine Mexican at the Lothian Road end of Princes Street. Take this anecdote for example. When my parents come up to visit me my Mother likes to visit the shops while my old man and I go for a pint and I am sure that it’s not an isolated case.
Yes I agree Princes Street can be made even better, but I don’t believe turning it into a haven of Bistros and bars is the answer. Back to the drawing board for Mr Aitken and his colleagues.
Saturday, 1 March 2008
Some Lib Demmery
Been a quiet week for me blogging wise but I thought I'd get back into it by blogging about my favourite political party's conference, yup the first conference of the year, the Lib Dem spring conference is taking place as I write this piece.
I have to admit, I'm no fan of political conferences nor am I a fan of the Lib Dems so there's every chance this post could become quite scathing. I notice my blogging colleague Calum Cashley has already written on the conference here and here. Much coverage has been given to the conference by the BEEB, presumaby only because they are there - unlike most of Scotland's political journalists.
I genuinely cannot think of anything more boring that a Lib Dem conference presumably the reason why so few hacks are actually there, well, either that or due to the fact it doesn't really matter what the fourth party in Scottish Politics has to say.
The BBC website even has a quiz on the Lib Dems, I only got five out of ten in the quiz meaning I don't know much about the Lib Dems or don't care, probably the latter. I see Chris Clegg, or is it Nick Clegg...who cares, has stated that the Scottish Lib Dems can have different policies from the UK party. I always though the Lib Dems, as political chameleons, just made up policy on the hoof depending entirely on where they were campaigning, did I get that wrong? Also, Clegg sets an aim for the party to double its MSPs in the next six years. I really hope not.
My favourite Clegg quote you ask, well, it'll be this one: (The Tories) "now hang around at the feet of (first minister) Alex Salmond in the desperate hope of scraps from his table".
You may ask why this quote amuses me so much, well, it's all in relation to motion one, as on their agenda which you can get here, should you want it:
Motion 1 welcomes the role of Lib Dem MSPs in supporting the SNP to remove the Graduate Endowment and witters on about further spending commitments that the Scottish Government should make on education. Why didn't the Lib Dems implement those changes during their eight years in charge?
I do love how the Fib Dumbs are taking credit for the abolition of the Graduate Endowment. They implimented it and now want credit for getting rid of it. Blimey, the brass neck of the Liberals at times.
I like how Brian Taylor conducted an interview with Nicol Stephenson in which one contributor asked Nicol why the Lib Dems are so rubbish. May be worth watching that interview just to see that, it can be viewed by clicking Q&A with Nicol Stephen here....actually, just tried to watch the interview, it's really not worth bothering about.
I have to admit, I'm no fan of political conferences nor am I a fan of the Lib Dems so there's every chance this post could become quite scathing. I notice my blogging colleague Calum Cashley has already written on the conference here and here. Much coverage has been given to the conference by the BEEB, presumaby only because they are there - unlike most of Scotland's political journalists.
I genuinely cannot think of anything more boring that a Lib Dem conference presumably the reason why so few hacks are actually there, well, either that or due to the fact it doesn't really matter what the fourth party in Scottish Politics has to say.
The BBC website even has a quiz on the Lib Dems, I only got five out of ten in the quiz meaning I don't know much about the Lib Dems or don't care, probably the latter. I see Chris Clegg, or is it Nick Clegg...who cares, has stated that the Scottish Lib Dems can have different policies from the UK party. I always though the Lib Dems, as political chameleons, just made up policy on the hoof depending entirely on where they were campaigning, did I get that wrong? Also, Clegg sets an aim for the party to double its MSPs in the next six years. I really hope not.
My favourite Clegg quote you ask, well, it'll be this one: (The Tories) "now hang around at the feet of (first minister) Alex Salmond in the desperate hope of scraps from his table".
You may ask why this quote amuses me so much, well, it's all in relation to motion one, as on their agenda which you can get here, should you want it:
Motion 1 welcomes the role of Lib Dem MSPs in supporting the SNP to remove the Graduate Endowment and witters on about further spending commitments that the Scottish Government should make on education. Why didn't the Lib Dems implement those changes during their eight years in charge?
I do love how the Fib Dumbs are taking credit for the abolition of the Graduate Endowment. They implimented it and now want credit for getting rid of it. Blimey, the brass neck of the Liberals at times.
I like how Brian Taylor conducted an interview with Nicol Stephenson in which one contributor asked Nicol why the Lib Dems are so rubbish. May be worth watching that interview just to see that, it can be viewed by clicking Q&A with Nicol Stephen here....actually, just tried to watch the interview, it's really not worth bothering about.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
