Wednesday 20 April 2011

Labour's Fantasy Figures



Last week Andy Kerr was interviewed on Newsnight Scotland about Labour's main policy of imprisoning anyone who is found to be carrying a knife. Needless to say other political parties disagree with the policy.

Nigel Hawks of Straight Statistics has completed an excellent analysis of the policy and he shows that Labour has plucked the costs out of thin air.

Please do read his article.  If Labour can make such gross errors in simple arithmetic what chaos will they bring to Scotland should they be returned as the biggest party?

 While polls may record the SNP currently leading in the campaign, I have my concerns about the postal voting sytem which appears to be quite haphazard.  That's where Labour make their gains.

13 comments:

Woodsy42 said...

Outside the home? That'll make it a bit difficult for campers, caravan owners and fishermen on holiday won't it.
(sorry should that be fisherperson?)

subrosa said...

That's what he says on the Newnicht video Woodsy. More than stupid of course.

JRB said...

“Carry A Knife - Go To Jail” - such would be Scottish Labour’s simple alteration to the Criminal Justice Bill. Anyone found carrying a knife outside the home would get a mandatory minimum sentence of six months.

But as Woodsy42 has pointed out there are those who innocently (and legitimately) carry and use a knife as a tool of their trade. No doubt that list of innocent users could be comprehensively extended to include many other trades, crafts and artisans.

Logic would dictate that it is surely not the carrying of an inanimate object that is an illegal act.
Surely the illegal act is to do or to cause harm to others by the inappropriate use of that object.

Yet again Scottish Labour is guilty of “Speaking first – Thinking later”

… but I’m not convinced they’ve started ‘Thinking’ yet.

Anonymous said...

They just invent figures. Someone down the pub after 5 pints says, 'it must cost a billion pounds', and the next day it's official figures.

I've often thought that a 5 year parliament under the idiot gray might finish of Labour in Scotland, but I fear it would finish off Scotland.

As for postal votes, I trust someone is watching that very carefully.

At least they don’t have a compliant SoS any more

Joe Public said...

A politician spouting off without considering the consequences. As usual.

What about tradesmen for whom a knife is a legitimate tool?

Heating engineers, carpet fitters etc have to travel from house to house.

subrosa said...

JRB, there are other dangerous items which can do as much, if not more damage than knives. Scissors, secateurs, wire cutters, screwdrivers to name just a few.

I'm not convinced they've started thinking either.

subrosa said...

I too fear they would finish us off Tris. Aye the postal voting hasn't been given much publicity as yet. Perhaps we should do posts about it.

subrosa said...

They're just showing how foolish they are Joe and the linked post shows how poor they are at calculations. Worrying.

cynicalHighlander said...

Steel combs or does that show my age.

Jo G said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Jo G said...

I wonder if anyone will ask Kerr if he still thinks calling for the closure of A&E facilities at Monklands and Ayr was a good idea.

subrosa said...

Steel combs here too CH so I must be showing mine.

subrosa said...

I think he was asked this question several times on Politics Now Jo and he never answered.

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