Glasgow NE: would you fuck right off?
Over the last two years, this blog has been exceptionally critical of the Tories, Liberal Democrats and SNP whenever any of those parties won a by-election. The reason being, that whenever such a shocking event happened, each side waxed lyrical about how it was ready for government and how ‘the people’ favoured them. Because it’s unheard of for the opposition to win the odd by-election against an incumbent government.
So imagine my chagrin when it was Labour’s turn:
“This by-election has been about many things, but, most of all, it has been about jobs and the economy.
“People have had their say. They have backed Gordon Brown in his efforts to secure our economic recovery, they have sent a resounding ‘No’ to Alex Salmond and his treatment of our great city and a resounding ‘No’ to David Cameron.”
Thus spake Willie Bain. Is it possible for these people to retain any sense of perspective? Or be remotely humble? The victory obviously has nothing to do with the previous SNP candidate being forced out of the race by allegations in the Sunday Herald as recently as July. Or that Labour have held the seat for decades. Or that they were defending a ten thousand majority. No, the fightback truly has begun!
It was definitely a show of support for one of the most unpopular leaders in the democratic world. Absolutely. I wish they’d all just bugger off.
Good point. Mind you the result must have been gutting for the Lib Dems… SIXTH!
The Scots are very loyal and very sensible, although the 33% turnout is probably the real story.
Completely agree. It would be a disaster were the Labour leadership to take this as evidence that everything’s just fine the way it is. I’ve blogged about it myself.
Listening to labour mouth off the Tories might as well go home, the fourth term has been won, of course it is possible if only 33% of the nation bothers voting and they are all labour.