The Demise Of Scottish Labour?

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Above is a chart of all Labour’s seats in Scotland, by their majorities over the SNP.  The first thing you notice is how few traditional Labour V SNP marginals there are. Ochil and South Perthshire, with a Labour majority of 10% over the SNP, is the only seat that would be regarded as a realistic target under ordinary circumstances.

These are not ordinary circumstances.  The dotted line across the chart shows the Labour>SNP swing that has been suggested by the four Scottish opinion polls so far this year. As you can see it’s enough for the SNP to take the large majority of Labour’s Scottish seats.

Below is a graph showing the LibDem majorities over the SNP.

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Lord Ashcroft has published a poll which concentrates on Labour held seats in those areas that voted Yes in the referendum, plus two high profile LibDem seats - both of which show the SNP ahead, returning Alex Salmond to Westminster in Gordon and ousting Danny Alexander).

The full details of Lord Ashcroft’s poll is available here.

I’ve never taken polls too seriously, but Lord Ashcroft’s has to be one of the most detailed.  

How do Labour handle such news?  By resurrecting Gordon Brown!  No sniggering now, although I sniggered myself when I saw the headline ‘secret weapon’.

Scots can be fickle when deciding which party deserves their vote but I doubt if many - with the exception of the die hard Labourites - will listen to a word Mr Brown utters.  They will remember The Vow that wasn’t a vow at all within hours of the referendum result. Older voters will remember the complacency with which Labour has governed Scotland for 40 years.

Will May’s general election see the demise of Scottish Labour? I sincerely hope so.

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Murphy’s ‘New Laws'

Jim Murphy has been elected to hold the North Britain Labour Party’s poisoned chalice - the leader of the party in Scotland.

As you can see many of us thought Neil Findlay would perhaps achieve the dizzy heights but he didn’t disgrace himself with 35% of the vote. Jim Murphy received 56% with Sarah Boyack in third place with 9%.

Apart from his rather nasty remarks about Alex Salmond, Jim Murphy proposes to rewrite Scottish Labour’s Clause IV. I find myself swithering between amusement and pathos at the bullet points in the New Statesman. How sad that a party which ruled Scotland for decades has to incorporate into its constitution the fact that it’s a ‘patriotic party’.

I’m not sure if this is vacuous nonsense from Jim Murphy because some time ago I read that the Labour party in Scotland could not have a separate constitution from the main party  i.e. London based labour.

We shall see.  I doubt if he’ll appeal to the younger generation even with Kezia Dugdale as his deputy.

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Scottish Labour Leadership - The Candidates So Far

It appears most of the contenders I listed for the leadership of the Scottish branch of the Labour Party have decided not to touch the poisoned chalice.  However a couple of ‘brave’ souls have stepped out of the melee and announced their candidacy.

The first is Neil Findlay.  When I heard the name I thought “Who?”  Of course google, being a best friend, came to the rescue with an image of the said Neil Finday. I didn’t recognise him but it’s stated he is the current health spokesman in the Scottish Parliament.

Next to express their desire for promotion was Sarah Boyack. I did recognise her - she’s been around quite some time but has been more or less silent since she left the first Labour coalition cabinet.

The past few days the media has been buzzing with the news that ‘the big gun’ Jim Murphy has put forward his candidacy. Fear and scorn are a few of the emotions drifting around social networks.  Andrew has a legal slant on Mr Murphy’s expectations.  Whilst reading the comments I happened across this link.  Tommy Ball is a member of the SSP but he’s done his homework and his assessment of Mr Murphy won’t be pleasant breakfast reading for the Eastwood MP.

However, a week is a long time in politics.  Next week is sure to bring more interesting facts and opinions from and of the candidates.  I was tempted to say “I cannae wait,” but that would be a downright lie.  I can wait.  It’s somewhat satisfying to watch the slow destruction of Scottish Labour.  I doubt if any will be honourable enough to fall on their swords gracefully though.

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Labour In Scotland To Reinvent Itself - Again

Since last week Labour in Scotland has been without a leader.  Did you notice?  No?  Neither did I.

To be fair to Johann Lamont she accepted a poisoned chalice but it was her intense hatred of the SNP - visibly palpable at First Minister’s Questions - which didn’t permit her to be anything other than a Labour Westminster stooge.

She managed to finger her (dis)associates in London on her way out of the door but methinks her criticism will be a nine day wonder.

Who is left now?  Most of you will have read the Sunday papers by now so will be up to date with the suggested candidates.  I’ve placed a poll in the right hand column is case you wish to place your own bet. No prizes available but the satisfaction of knowing that whoever wins will continue to be under the Westminster cosh. I have not included Gordon Brown as he has apparently ruled himself out. A few speeches in the last days of the Referendum campaign has left him totally exhausted I’m informed.

It’s with some reluctance I made Sarwar the image on this post. My dislike of this career politician knows no bounds.  Since he became deputy to Johann Lamont three years ago I’ve had to restrain from throwing something at my television countless times.  Never have I heard such automated nonsense from a Scottish politician and that speaks volumes.  But the man will very possibly go farther.  He reiterates the same drivel day in day out in the media and some of it will be believed by his party faithful I suspect.

It would appear Labour in Scotland will have a new leader by the 13 December. Yesterday I read that each MP’s vote is worth 100 times that of a grass roots party member.  That’s about par for the level of democracy wielded by London Labour.

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Take Your Pick

A slightly different TYP this week. At this link you can listen to the experience of an American who wanted to help build a school in Hiati. The podcast is 22 minutes long but you can listen while you do your usual morning browsing.

Also, sent to me by Edward was the following taken from the Spectator blogs:

Thanks to David Maddox for this gem. During a debate on BBC Scotland last night, marking a decade of devolution, Iain Gray, leader of the Labour party at Holyrood, boasted of the parliament’s achievements:

Has it [the Scottish Parliament] made a difference?" he asked rhetorically. "Yes it has. When the Parliament started one in five children in this country lived in poverty. That’s now one in three. That’s significant progress."

God knows, mind you, how much more of this progress we can take.

Oh, Iain Gray was once a teacher. His subject? Mathematics, obviously…

To think this man was the leader of the Labour party in Scotland!

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Newsnight Scotland

Is it any wonder Scottish Labour is losing voters when Ian Davidson is the best they can provide as an MP?  The man is also the chair of the Westminster Scottish Affairs Committee and his behaviour is inappropriate for a person with such a position in politics.

Surely the BBC will formally request Davidson to back up his claims or make a public apology to Isabel Fraser. Does he call Newsnight 'newsnat'?

Note:  Andrew Tickell blogs as Lallands Peat Worrier.

Thanks to Moridura for posting the video so promptly.

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Is Scottish Labour Finally Wakening Up?

Tucked away on the economistjobs website is an advertisement entitled 'Head of Scotland Analysis and Stakeholder Engagement, HM Treasury, Edinburgh, Scotland'.

It seems London wants to open a branch of the Treasury in Edinburgh and needs an economist.  Strangely it is a fixed-term appointment only to December 2014.  The successful applicant will be responsible to Westminster ministers including the Secretary of State for Scotland.

I've yet to understand why this type of work can't be undertaken from London.  After all, juggling statistics to meet specific demands can be done from a desk anywhere, but perhaps the Treasury has someone in mind who deserves a break from the Westminster bubble.

This 'job for the girls or boys' apart, it was interesting to note the appearance of the Labour for Independence website last week.  At last someone within the red rose party has acknowledged the existence of Labour voters who support Scottish independence.

A few years ago when I did a wee bit canvassing in the Glasgow area, I came across quite a few Labour voters who sympathised with the SNP's desire for independence but felt a strong loyalty to Labour.  Allan Grogan's efforts to create a platform for like-minded colleagues is a welcome step forward in the independence debate.

However, whether he gains the attention and support of Johann Lamont and other senior party members is another matter.  I do hope he does, but fear they will shun his attempt to open a door for Labour-voting independence supporters, because it's common knowledge Scottish Labour is managed from London.

Good to see someone in Labour has wakened up to the opportunity of taking part in the debate and refusing to stick his head in the sand.  Good luck to him.

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Do You Know The Name Of Your Local Councillor?

Everyone in the UK must know by now that the election for the Mayor of London will take place on 5 May. Many people even know the names of the main candidates though they have little or no interest in London politics.

The London-centred media has ensured that each day exposure is given to the Boris/Ken circus and excitable political journalists pick over every word uttered by the candidates.

On 3 May there are local council elections in Scotland.  With the exception of a couple of television public service videos, there has been less than a tepid reaction from Scottish political commentators.  Part of the reason is our media is so fixated with the independence referendum - apart from the Scotsman which doesn't have its troubles to seek - they appear to have deleted the local elections from their schedules and that includes the BBC and ITV.  I suspect there will be a couple of highly scripted leaders' programmes on both channels nearer the date, but there will be little intelligent debate.

However, a couple SNP local manifestos have been launched with the focus on transport. I had to smile at Edinburgh's SNP promise to 'carry out vital roadworks at key points in the city to make it as attractive as possible to investors'. Would an accurate translation be 'we will tidy up when the trams eventually become operational?

What about Labour?  Hardly a whisper has been heard from Johann Lamont in recent weeks. Maybe she was writing her party's manifesto. Inspiring?  No.  Comparing Alex Salmond to Craig Whyte isn't a sensible move although Ms Lamont is very possibly aiming her comments towards the Glasgow electorate who have also been treated to the SNP manifesto by Nicola Sturgeon.

Johann Lamont's speech more or less admits defeat but is this a tactic? It worked for the Glenrothes by-election in 2008 when Ian Gray, (the ex-leader), admitted several times they expected to lose yet they won with a majority of 6,737, but will it work again?  I don't think the electorate will be fooled by the underdog approach, particularly when Glaswegians seem to be slowly realising how corrupt their council has been for decades.

Years ago, when I was actively involved in politics, local council elections were vibrant events in which communities participated. Now few people even know the name of their local councillor. Why have so many lost interest?

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Politics And Death

Labour and the Libdems managed to have their spring conferences on the same weekend. A feat of organisation some would say and others, the cynics amongst us, may think it was down to a lack of communication. I'd go with the latter because no political party wants to share publicity with another.

Nick Clegg and Michael Moore spoke to the faithful in Inverness but had little of interest to say. I have to be honest - the little I did see of the Libdem leadership was only more feeble requests for the referendum to be brought forward. Congratulations must go to Caron for her debut on the Sunday Politics. She stuck hard and fast to the party line and Willie Rennie should be grateful to have such support.

Dundee should have been full to the brim with Scottish Labour supporters this weekend but that wasn't the case. This past Saturday was no busier than any normal Saturday and few people seemed to realise the leaders of Labour and Scottish Labour were coming to town. Changed days. Only a couple of decades ago most Dundonians would have shown some interest in the visit of their then rulers.

Ed Milliband and Ms Lamont didn't have much to say for themselves either, other than the usual 'we need to win back the trust of the people' and 'separation is bad for the soul'. Johann Lamont reiterated her lies about the new Forth Bridge contracts and mentioned Labour were to set up their own wee anti-independence talking shop.

Both Labour and the Libdems repeatedly called for the referendum to be held 'sooner rather than later' but neither party can agree on who will lead the No campaign and what its key messages should be. One message from both conferences was that any agreement still looks a long way off.

The SNP didn't escape the Sundays either with the Scotsman revealing the (alleged) murky past of one of their MSPs.  Rightly, the SNP immediately suspended Bill Walker, while they investigate the matter more thoroughly. The Scotsman may have questions to answer too now that Lallands has uncovered this little piece of dusty legislation.

The weekend of politiking was overshadowed by the untimely death of QC Paul McBride who is thought to have died from natural causes in his sleep during a business trip to Lahore. His friend and fellow QC Derek Ogg described him as a 'star'. A fine tribute indeed.

1965 -  2012

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Glasgow Labour Is Not Unbeatable

A storm in a teacup was evident in Glasgow yesterday - albeit was a mighty large teacup in the shape of Glasgow City Chambers.

Prior to the council meeting, in which the labour-run council intended to pass its annual budget, the west of Scotland political watchers and others further afield were aware all was not well within the clique of Glasgow Labour who have run the council for most of my lifetime. Rumours that the budget would fail flooded the social networks.

Recently Glasgow Labour decided some of their serving councillors weren't suitable for the job and without the approval of the respective electorate, deselected several of them. Just that that -  'Yer oot so git yer hat' kind of behaviour. After such treatment, although most resigned from the Labour party, a few still stuck with their executioners yesterday and voted for the Labour budget. Sometimes I have difficulty understanding human nature.

Watching the Labour leader of the council, Gordon Matheson, as he was interviewed after the debate was eye-opening. His relief was evident as he screeched, 'I'm thrilled.' No dignity, no understanding that the London-led deselection process will do devastating harm to his party in the forthcoming council elections in May; just delight that his job was safe for the moment.

There is the possibility that the SNP will gain hold of Glasgow council in May and the disarray within the Labour ranks will be of great assistance. Long may they stick their heads in the sand and ignore the good people of Glasgow, because it's the people who live in the city who matter - not the politicians who run the council. They're elected to serve the people and they have let them down for decades.

If the SNP can show Glaswegians that they can run their city as efficiently as they're governing the country, they will win.  That can't be such a difficult task after Labour's woeful public performance yesterday.

Update:  I'm told by Aiden Skinner on Twitter that only 5 of the 20 deselected Labour candidates have resigned or have been deselected from the party. I reiterate, why would any self-respecting individual stay with Labour in these circumstances?

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Team Lamont

The new leader of Scottish Labour (yes I know there's no such party but I'm using artistic licence), has declared her front bench.

Let's look at Team Lamont versus the Scottish government (in italics).

Leader:  Johann Lamont vs Alex Salmond

Deputy Leader:  Anas Sarwar vs Nicola Sturgeon

Shadow Secretary of State for Scotland: Margaret Curran vs herself

Finance, Employment and Sustainable Growth:  Ken MacIntosh vs John Swinney

Health, Wellbeing and Cities Strategy:  Jackie Baillie vs Nicola Sturgeon

Education and Lifelong Learning:  Hugh Henry vs Mike Russell

Culture, External Affairs and Commonwealth Games: Patricia Ferguson vs Fiona Hyslop

Infrastructure and Capital Investment:  Richard Baker vs Alex Neil

Justice: Lewis Macdonald vs Kenny MacAskill

Local Government and Planning: Sarah Boyack vs Derek McKay

Rural Affairs and the Environment:  Claire Baker vs Richard Lockhead

The Labour shadow cabinet should hold no fears for the SNP government, although Lewis Macdonald may prove to be strong opposition for Kenny MacAskill and Sarah Boyack for Derek McKay. The Cultural, External Affairs and Commonwealth Games remit may provide some personality-clash styled entertainment with two strong-willed women involved.

I had hoped Johann Lamont would have promoted some of the newer MSPs in her party, but she's decided to stick to the old guard.  Disappointing.

Oh, in case someone wonders why the Labour's new deputy party leader (above) doesn't hold a prominent role - it's because he's an MP and not a member of the Scottish Government.  Mr Sarwar has been called 'the brightest of the bright young things' by Tom Peterkin of the Scotsman. Mr Sarwar isn't a 'weel kent' face here in the east so I know little about his talents, but he managed to dislodge Ian Davidson for which we must be grateful.

However, his appointment shows that Labour will continue to have unbreakable ties with their London colleagues.

Little seems to have changed.

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Scottish Labour

Labour's leadership elections are complex and the one for the leader of the Scottish branch has been particularly lengthy with subdued interest from the MSM and little from many bloggers.  On Saturday Scottish Labour held a special conference in Glasgow, where their retiring leader Iain Gray was most ungracious about the SNP and candidates for the leadership and deputy leadership participated in a hustings

They also unanimously agree to support the public sector strikes which are planned for 30 November; perhaps in an attempt to show some form of detachment from their UK Labour leader who was booed at last month's TUC conference in London for saying an earlier one day strike, on the same issue, had been a 'mistake'. It was a different message regarding minimum alcohol pricing.  All three leadership candidates said they would oppose the Bill but acknowledged, owing to the government's majority, there was nothing they could do.

The leadership candidates also appeared on yesterday's Politics Show but there was no mention of this.  'The Labour Party has called on the Scottish Government to publish legal advice on Scotland's status in the EU should it become independent'.

If Labour are not prepared to accept the Scottish Government's explanation, then surely they can make their own enquiries through the EU legal department. The article doesn't explain why the Scottish Government refused the FOI from the Labour MEP Catherine Stihler and Ms Stihler hasn't made the reason given public. One word of caution for the SNP in this matter.  They must be very clear and honest with the electorate regards an independent Scotland's membership of the EU. Nothing less will do.

To show my impartiality, I've placed another poll on the right hand side where votes for the leadership of Scottish Labour can be recorded.

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The Battle For Glasgow

The Labour party's review of their Scottish branch has been made public with its staunchest supporter, the Daily Record, calling it the 'biggest shake-up in a century'.

As with any shake-up though, once the agitation stops, the elements will return to their natural position.  The Murphy/Boyack review contains little substance but it does alter the administration of the party in Scotland with the intention of giving more powers to the new leader, changing their constituency network and, according to the Record, 'a move to cut ties with the UK party'.

If the idea is to break away from the UK party - although the review does not propose a separate federal party in Scotland - surely Labour in England, Wales and N Ireland need to be renamed.  Of course that won't happen because Labour in Scotland will continue to be an integral part of UK Labour.  It's inconceivable that London Labour will cast off Scotland because without its support from north of the border the party would be unelectable in Westminster. Rather amusingly, the proposed changes have to be approved by the UK party at their conference in Liverpool in a few weeks time. Will Ed Miliband sign his own death warrant? Of course not.

Labour's reason for tinkering with their Scottish branch's constitution is not for the sake of Scots, but a desperate attempt to hold onto their fiefdom - Glasgow.  Without their 50 year stranglehold on Glaswegian politics they would become as insignificant as the Tories and the Libdems.  Give Murdo Fraser his due, he sees the Tories problem as one involving the whole of Scotland, whereas Jim Murphy and Sarah Boyack have concentrated only on the west.

I've no experience of west coast politics and rely upon other sources for information, but 'dirty tricks' and 'murky dealings' within the City Chambers (pictured) are often mentioned.

 The battle between Labour and the SNP for Glasgow will be arduous and it won't be easy for the SNP to break Labour's monopoly, particularly when they have a prominent member such as Ari Mack publicly accusing his fellow local party members of 'paranoia, conspiracy theories, mental illness and downright stupidity'. The use of such language is unforgivable and Mr Mack should be shown a red card.

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Labour's Latest Leader Of Their MSPs?

Since Labour's humiliating defeat in May in Scotland and Iain Gray's announcement that he will be standing down 'later in the year' the grapevine has been hard at work with the MSM attempting to forecast who will be the new leader of Labour's MSPs.

For some weeks now the Scottish press have been hinting an MP could take the position as it's not necessary for a leader to be a member of the Scottish Parliament. Alex Salmond, when elected leader of the SNP - second time around - stayed as an MP until the next Scottish parliament elections and his decision caused few, if any, problems within his party.  Of course he ran for the leadership on a joint ticket with Nicola Sturgeon who then had the opportunity to show her skills and effectiveness as a senior politician. She was first-class in that role and continues to be so as Alex Salmond's deputy.

Yesterday the Herald stated Jim Murphy had been approached by his fellow Labour MPs to become Labour's leader in Scotland and in due course stand for Holyrood. There could be slightly more than a grain of truth in this because Labour in Scotland are in dire need of a high-profiled leader and they have nobody within their MSP ranks.

Jim Murphy's comment shows he may well be giving the proposal consideration:

“I have set my sights on trying to be a Cabinet minister in the next Labour Government and that’s all I am focused on.”

As shadow Defence Secretary at Westminster he's more or less invisible and he doesn't appear comfortable in the role.

Would he take up the baton which includes a rather large drop in salary? He has four years until his party has any chance of being re-elected at Westminster and five years to wait for the next Scottish parliamentary elections if he chooses to change course and become an MSP.  There are other ways such as by-elections but these may be few and far between.

Apart from Scottish Labour's need to totally restructure there's another problem facing Labour if Jim Murphy, or any MP for that matter, choses to lead by proxy.  Who would be his deputy? Labour has little talent on its benches at Holyrood and if the MSPs were to be led by an absent leader, the deputy would require to be a strong, effective voice.

If I recall correctly, last week at FMQs Alex Salmond paid tribute to Iain Gray as leader of Holyrood's MSPs.  Iain Gray responded by saying (I'm paraphrasing): "I haven't gone yet."  Would he be the man Labour would choose to keep Jim Murphy's seat warm?  Allan Massie certainly thinks Iain Gray deserves another chance at the leadership and not as anyone's deputy.

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Scottish Unionist Parties Fragment

'She's the Tory it's ok to like' I was told today and I couldn't disagree.  Annabel Goldie, after insisting on Friday she would continue as leader of the Scottish Conservatives, became the third casualty of last Thursday's election today when she announced she was standing down in the autumn.

The three unionist parties have crumbled leaving Alex Salmond's SNP to cope with unknown and inexperienced new party leaders.

Ms Goldie was well liked by the public, but the same public wouldn't consider a return to a 1950s Scotland, when the Tories ran Scotland. Some say she should have held on to see how the ground lay, but after consultation with her party today, she U-turned.  Was she shoved or was she pushed?  We'll never know.

Alex Salmond paid tribute to Ms Goldie:

First Minister Alex Salmond paid tribute to Annabel Goldie, saying he held her in the "very highest personal regard".

He added: "Annabel acquitted herself very well in the recent election, and although her party lost ground I believe they would have lost more had she not been leader.

"I will miss Annabel's distinctive style at First Minister's Questions in particular. I am sure that Annabel still has a significant contribution to make as a distinguished parliamentarian, and she carries my very best wishes for the future."

Murdo Fraser, the current deputy leader, has emerged as the early favourite to succeed her but I don't think Mr Fraser has the skills required to tackle Alex Salmond. My criticism is based upon hearing him talk many times on local affairs - he's one of my list MSPs - when he's been average but hasn't set the heather on fire.  However, there's a few months until autumn and by then the A list Tories at Westminster will have had time to confer.

Therein lies the problem of all Scottish unionist parties; the electorate know their paymasters are London based and therefore allegiances are to the south rather than Scotland.  Also the Scots are becoming aware the unionist parties' Westminster counterparts scorn the Scottish Parliament and the SNP capitalised on this last week. Nobody likes to be labelled second-rate.

London Labour aren't happy with their Scottish branch. Their solution lies here.  Sorry for not forewarning you and you've spilt your morning coffee.

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Labour Labours On In Scotland

The following is an email I received from one of my readers.  He's not the first to complain about the nonsensical policies Labour promise in their manifesto and I suspect this form of electoral material is partly to blame for turning people to the much more realistic SNP. Last week many journalists in the Scottish MSM gave advice to Labour on improving their campaign strategy.


My advice is they should have another relaunch on Monday.
  
Just got a pile of waste paper in the mail box. And Labour's attempt to con me has quotes from Iain Gray, who is seemingly claiming to be Scottish Labour Leader. Now if I understand it right, there is no Scottish Labour party to lead, he is only Labour leader in Holyrood, a different thing altogether.

However, I digress.

The quotes:  "...Now the Tories are back, we need a strong Government in Scotland fighting for working people . My first priority is to make sure you and your family aren't left to pay the price of Tory cuts". Iain Gray. Scottish Labour's leader.


Why do we need the cuts? Because of labour stupidity.

Also, "Scottish Labour will not introduce tuition fees... will guarantee apprenticeships for qualified youngsters. Within 100 days, labour in government will be creating 10,000 jobs for unemployed youngsters".

All this to re-elect one Dr Richard Simpson for Labour.  I'd be more likely to vote for Homer Simpson and that wouldn't happen either. 

I dont know what the writer of the pamphlet was smoking when he wrote it, but if the dreams are that good, where can we get some ?

I was tempted to go into battle with an email for a few seconds, then thought what's the point, it's like trying to teach a pig to sing; it just wastes your time and annoys the pig.


This morning sees the Scotland on Sunday come out in support of Alex Salmond and the SNP.  Who says a leopard never changes its spots?

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Holed Below The Waterline

It was trailed as 'a major change in strategy' when the beleaguered leader of Labour in Scotland relaunched his party's election campaign by preaching to the converted - his own supporters.  Iain Gray's problem is his party has no strategy to change.

Until now Labour has focused on 'Tory cuts' until last week when they suddenly realised they were receiving little enthusiasm from the voters who know the current state of the economy is due to UK Labour's mishandling over the past 10 years.

So yesterday Iain Gray decided to try another tack: 'Alex Salmond's only plan is a plan for separation'.  Oh dearie me, it's becoming embarrassing to listen to his interviews, but all is not lost.  The heavyweights are visiting Scotland this week in the form of Milliband and Balls who will be accompanied by the destroyer of the UK economy, Gordon Brown.

The very thought of the three Mouseketeers on the ill-fated Labour campaign trail will have the SNP riveted with fear nae doot.  Unfortunately for Labour, yesterday's performance was less like a relaunch and more like a distress signal.

If enthusiasm, commitment and dedication were to be counted on 5 May, then the SNP will win hands down.  My only concern is the postal voting 'system'.  All I can hope is that the SNP's scrutiny is par excellence.

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Let Battle Commence

After Tuesday's fond farewells at the end of the third session of the Scottish Parliament, the Holyrood election campaign began with a whimper rather than a bang, although admittedly it was overshadowed by the UK government's budget yesterday.

We have been subjected to unofficial campaigning, by all parties, for months and I wonder if there will be any surprises when they launch their manifestos.  Will Labour continue to steal SNP policies or will they manage to construct some of their own?

Will Annabel's campaign chatterings continue to echo her pre-campaign mantra: 'Without the Conservatives policies that put 1000 extra police on the streets and gave the council tax freeze would not have been passed'.  I should think every man, woman and child in Scotland knows that by now, but will they be impressed enough to vote Tory?

The Libdems didn't have a good day yesterday when around 2000 students gathered at Holyrood to urge politicians to rule out fees, protect college places and improve student support.  They were addressed by politicians from all the parties except the Conservatives, but LibDem spokeswoman Margaret Smith struggled to be heard over loud jeering.

It's long been said politics and religion shouldn't mix but that hasn't deterred the Moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland, the Right Rev. John Christie and Cardinal Keith O'Brien of the Roman Catholic Church, from launching a rather smart new website Churches Vote, aimed at bringing denominations together.  It is encouraging churches to organise local hustings - a good idea, although some may say hustings are old-fashioned.

There are 41 days until election day: Alex Salmond remains as First Minister until then.  Plenty time for a few surprises.

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Labour Attempts to Plug Into the Future

I trust you've remembered the Westminster government's New Year present to us all - a £5,000 electric car grant - all part of the process of meeting carbon targets.  Surely you haven't forgotten such benevolence from the Coalition.

Motorists will have a choice of just one subsidised car to buy outright this year - the Mitsubishi e-MiEV - but should have a choice of nine or ten fully electric and plug-in hybrids by 2010.  The AA's president said a car such as the Leaf (pictured) would cost 3p per mile to charge and run, compared to around 14p per mile for a similiar-sized petrol or diesel vehicle.  They also pay no road tax, have cheaper insurance premiums, are exempt from London's Congestion Charge and can be charged for free at some public car parks.

Some Scottish councils have purchased electric cars for their staff by way of a £105,000 low carbon vehicle support grant from the Scottish government.

These cars currently cost over £30,000 - minus the £5000 grant - and only the reasonably wealthy would be in a position to give them consideration. Even the best reviews emphasise they are only for city driving as they require frequent recharging.  The Institute of Engineering and Technology magazine claims it could take a day to recharge with a domestic electric socket and they could be restricted to less than 100 miles while batteries would only last two years.

But, if you do fancy one of these new-fangled modes of transport, although you're worried about recharging facilities, all in not lost.  Chugging into the picture is Labour's Iain Gray with a manifesto pledge of 10,000 new charging points for your new toy.  Who could ask for more?  Possibly the current owners of the few cars on Scottish roads because there are just 10 sites with public charging points for electric vehicles in Scotland.

Friends of the Earth are over the moon at Mr Gray's policy.  Says Beth Stratford:

“A less obvious benefit is that electric vehicles can help smooth out the peaks and troughs in demand for electricity.

“If demand is high then the charging process could be deferred for several hours, and with expected improvements in battery technology, it will be possible for energy to be drawn from the batteries to help cope with temporary shortages of generation.”

Ah, I see the purpose of these cars now.  Their use will be controlled by power suppliers. Why didn't I see that coming?

Mr Gray's policy will be seen by most as supporting electricity suppliers rather than making life easier for the general public.  If the best Labour can do is copy SNP policy and build power points for cars, which will only be owned by the better off, they won't win support from floating voters.

Between the despicable manipulations of Eric Joyce and Iain Gray's latest major Labour policy I've no idea why anyone with an iota of sense votes for them.

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Labour's Definition of Equality

The Falkirk MP Eric Joyce considers he's saved one of Scotland's hotel chains from doom and disaster.

According to Eric Joyce, (I'm not providing a link to his blog), he discovered the BNP had made arrangements to launch their Scottish campaign at the Inchrya Grange Hotel, Falkirk (a MacDonald chain) last Saturday. Eric Joyce didn't approve of the event happening in his constituency so, on Friday, very publicly, he set about ensuring the event didn't take place. He admits to contacting the hotel manager who, to give him credit, refused to discuss the hotel's bookings diary with him - possibly because it was none of the MP's business. Undeterred, Eric Joyce then set about a Twitter campaign against the hotel, asking his Twitter followers to email or tweet the hotel 'to express your concern and to request that MacDonald Hotels refuse bookings from the British National Party'.  Some did send threatening emails and tweets.

Under this pressure the hotel capitulated and cancelled the event with only 24 hours notice: Eric Joyce, of course, was delighted.

As far as I believe the BNP is a legal political party. I understand they booked and paid for the function under the name 'BNP Scotland', although Eric Joyce says there is a well-known investment house (Paribas) with the same acronym in his constituency; thereby implying the hotel didn't realise the manner of the function.

I have no time for the BNP but they are as entitled to campaign as any other legitimate political party.  Eric Joyce's actions are completely undemocratic and should be condemned as sinister and bullying.  He underestimates the ability of the Scots to judge the BNP for themselves and by taking this action he has, quite possibly, encouraged some to look more closely at the BNP and its policies.  The consequences could result in an increase in BNP votes here in Scotland - the very outcome Eric Joyce said he wanted to quench.

Another aspect of this story is the action of the hotel.  Can you imagine booking a function with the MacDonald Hotel chain when they are content to cancel it with 24 hours notice because the local MP doesn't agree with it?  The chain describe itself as independent, yet there's nothing independent about allowing your MP to influence your business and pandering to his undemocratic, discriminatory requests.

Eric Joyce hasn't had his troubles to seek in his years as an MP.  Last year he was convicted of drink-driving and was the most expensive MP in Westminster in 2010 with his £200,986 expenses bill.

If a Labour MP is ruthless enough to disregard equality and discrimination legislation so publicly, how does the party operate out of the public gaze?  Something to ponder.

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