Glasgow East - a (very good) sign of the things to come

Posted on July 31st, 2008 by bryan.
Categories: General.

I’m fed up reading that the SNP’s victory in Glasgow East was a response either to: (1) voters’ disaffection with the Labour Party, both in Government at Westminster and in the Scottish Parliament; and / or (2) increasing support for the Tories.

Anyone who knows anything about Scottish politics will understand that (2) is absurd - the Tories have had little influence in Scotland since 1997, most especially in Glasgow East!

There is more basis for (1), with the Labour Party north and south of the border having a torrid 12 months under Gordon Brown and Wendy Alexander. However, Scotland is traditionally a Labour heartland, so that alone cannot justify a 23% swing against the Westminster Government.

What the politicians and media seem to forget is that the political scene in Scotland has changed. Whereas once it was a fiefdom taken for granted by the Scottish Labour Party, it has for the past year enjoyed an SNP administration working in the best interests of Scotland and its people. Labour, on the other hand, has lost yet another leader!

The top four parties have all held the reigns of power in Scotland since the mid-90s: the Tories and Labour in London; and Labour / Lib Dems and the SNP in Edinburgh. But the Glasgow East result indicates that its Alex Salmond and his team who have earned the trust and support of the people of Scotland.

The reason for this? The SNP is the only mainstream party campaigning actively for an independent Scotland and the right of all Scottish people to self-determination. I can’t think of a greater cause.

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