I agree talent is thin on the ground in the Labour front benches. Douglas Alexander is not in the cabinet despite being a solid performer. That said after he lost his Paisley seat to Mhairi Black he didn't offer his undoubted talents to Holyrood - where they were needed. He bunked off to spend time with names he could later drop in newspaper articles(David Petrius) before suddenly taking an interest in Edinburgh East- an area of Scotland he did not grow up in or ever live in. But Kenny McAskill was an easy kill.
Jonathon Ashworth lost his seat. Jess Philips is a busted flush after the grooming gangs, and big Ange terrifies people. That said there must be some talent on the back benches.
But the main problem this government has is Starmer- he is like jobsworth clerk in a midlands town hall circa 1955- the sort of character in British Gaumont or Gainsborough Pictures drama who represents everything the rebellious son/daughter/frustrated wife want to flee from.
Bit too much speculation in this piece Iain. I believe next years Holyrood election will be the most unpredictable and open to last minute swings there has ever been due to the lack of loyalty in any of the parties you have discussed well in previous articles. The death of tribal politics is a mostly good thing. It's only negative is if people vote for a party based in how the wind is blowing on day of next year's election.
Agree that this is the probably the most difficult to predict Holyrood election ever. Amongst the major uncertainties - in no particular order:-
- Can Sarwar convince voters that he is not responsible for UK Labour’s poor performance?
- How much of the current Reform vote is protest that will “come back home” in an important election?
- Will there be significant unionist tactical voting in the FPTP ballot?
- Will the results fall so that excess seats under FPTP can be effectively diluted by the regional list or will there (like 2011) be insufficient list seats in many regions?
If Labour claw back some Reform voters, and the numbers at seat and list fall their way, Sarwar could still be FM.
Yes I agree good summary, also worth adding. Who will Reform vote affect most and how will this change marginalised results. No one knows especially pollsters.
A sound synopsis of where we are, Iain, sadly. I’ve never been a Labour supporter, but I was prepared to give them a chance after 14 years of Tory muck-ups. What a disappointment, north and south of the border. Sarwar’s whipping his MSPs to allow men to say they’re women, then changing his mind about it, and Starmer’s numerous u-turns have shown just what a useless bunch they are.
On the plus side, a 31% SNP vote share convinces no one that independence is a possibility, but I’m not sure the country can stand another five years of their mismanagement. Cry my beloved country, cry.
I agree talent is thin on the ground in the Labour front benches. Douglas Alexander is not in the cabinet despite being a solid performer. That said after he lost his Paisley seat to Mhairi Black he didn't offer his undoubted talents to Holyrood - where they were needed. He bunked off to spend time with names he could later drop in newspaper articles(David Petrius) before suddenly taking an interest in Edinburgh East- an area of Scotland he did not grow up in or ever live in. But Kenny McAskill was an easy kill.
Jonathon Ashworth lost his seat. Jess Philips is a busted flush after the grooming gangs, and big Ange terrifies people. That said there must be some talent on the back benches.
But the main problem this government has is Starmer- he is like jobsworth clerk in a midlands town hall circa 1955- the sort of character in British Gaumont or Gainsborough Pictures drama who represents everything the rebellious son/daughter/frustrated wife want to flee from.
"John Swinney, who has steadied the ship by sinking it more slowly."
How beautifully put Mr Macwhirter
Bit too much speculation in this piece Iain. I believe next years Holyrood election will be the most unpredictable and open to last minute swings there has ever been due to the lack of loyalty in any of the parties you have discussed well in previous articles. The death of tribal politics is a mostly good thing. It's only negative is if people vote for a party based in how the wind is blowing on day of next year's election.
Agree that this is the probably the most difficult to predict Holyrood election ever. Amongst the major uncertainties - in no particular order:-
- Can Sarwar convince voters that he is not responsible for UK Labour’s poor performance?
- How much of the current Reform vote is protest that will “come back home” in an important election?
- Will there be significant unionist tactical voting in the FPTP ballot?
- Will the results fall so that excess seats under FPTP can be effectively diluted by the regional list or will there (like 2011) be insufficient list seats in many regions?
If Labour claw back some Reform voters, and the numbers at seat and list fall their way, Sarwar could still be FM.
Yes I agree good summary, also worth adding. Who will Reform vote affect most and how will this change marginalised results. No one knows especially pollsters.
A sound synopsis of where we are, Iain, sadly. I’ve never been a Labour supporter, but I was prepared to give them a chance after 14 years of Tory muck-ups. What a disappointment, north and south of the border. Sarwar’s whipping his MSPs to allow men to say they’re women, then changing his mind about it, and Starmer’s numerous u-turns have shown just what a useless bunch they are.
On the plus side, a 31% SNP vote share convinces no one that independence is a possibility, but I’m not sure the country can stand another five years of their mismanagement. Cry my beloved country, cry.