'The SNP is on course to become the largest party in Scotland in the next general election, taking almost half the seats if the European result was repeated' he writes. His qualifying last words are the crux for me because I know the voting at any general election differs greatly from European elections. Many people vote at general elections out of belief in a particular candidate rather than a party but the opposite happens at European elections. Also, for some reason, I feel that some vote at Euro elections in a more light-hearted manner than they would for a general election. Is it because Europe seems distant or perhaps less important than Westminster? I don't know.
What I do know is that the SNP did well last Thursday and should be congratulated, but they cannot transfer the Euro vote to a general election and take the result seriously. There is a year until the general election because Gordon Brown will hold out until the last minute and David Cameron isn't making much impression throughout the UK. Labour, although their leader is disliked by the majority of the electorate, may become the worse of two evils in the eyes of many unionists and, if Jeff's assessment is accurate, could surprise many.
The Euro results did reassure me that many in Scotland are happy with the SNP government and that bodes well for the Scottish Parliament elections in 2011. If they can get SFT up and running that would make a great difference and by then the education initiatives introduced during the past two years ought to be showing results.
So let's caw canny and keep a level heid. Maddox's headline "SNP set to defeat Scottish Labour at next poll' may sound admirable, but polls are only teasers and those who fight for independence know to take them with a pinch of salt.
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