Tag: uk-politics

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Party first and constituents second (if at all)

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Anonymous Any Labour MP who thinks that they can just abstain in the vote on cutting the winter fuel payment in the HOC are then, as a constituency MP, making a conscious decision to not support the pensioners in their respective constituencies but instead they have decided to not vote against the party. Party first and constituents second (if at all). They think in not voting with the party but instead in them abstaining that then somehow makes them appear better and so, they may assume, lets them off the hook with the constituents in their areas who are effected by this if it passes in the HOC. It does not. It shows them as spineless , without principles and those who are more driven by a desire to progress their own political careers than … Continue reading Party first and constituents second (if at all)

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Do statements by leading Labour politicians in Scotland require Talking down Wales?

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By stewartb The Herald had this headline on 19 July 2024: ‘Scots ‘failed’ by a lack of planning for a pandemic by SNP or Tories.’ Within the article there is this: See https://www.pressreader.com/uk/the-herald-1130/20240719/281672555180089 . Before commenting further, note the sleekit attempt at casting doubt on ‘transparency’ and ‘honesty’. It’s as if Wales was NOT also judged to be just as ill-prepared by the Covid-19 Inquiry: it’s as if the Labour spokesperson in Scotland has erased the fact of her party being in government in Wales throughout the period of devolution; it’s as if Labour in Scotland really do hold firm … Continue reading Do statements by leading Labour politicians in Scotland require Talking down Wales?

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It may seem like we in North Britain live in a backwater but Starmer has jumped on the ideas of Mariana Mazzucato

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By stewartb It may be hard for many – perhaps the majority(?) – of folk in Scotland who are not glued to the weekly goings on in politics and the constant implementation of economic, social and environmental policies by the Scottish Government to resist the feeling that Scotland is crap. So often that’s the message relentlessly pushed. And on days like today in Westminster with the ‘King’s Speech’, it may seem like we in North Britain live in a backwater. It takes determination and effort to fill the ‘positivity void’ created and sustained by the BBC and most of the … Continue reading It may seem like we in North Britain live in a backwater but Starmer has jumped on the ideas of Mariana Mazzucato

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As political leaders in Wales and NI join Labour’s Chancellor in condemning 14 years of Tory damage, BBC Scotland reveals Labour’s plan to persuade voters here to blame the Scottish Government instead.

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By stewartb It’s been instructive to compare and contrast the reporting of the Labour PM’s initial visits to Edinburgh, Belfast and Cardiff. Northern Ireland The BBC News website (July 8) on its NI page has this headline: ‘What does the Labour government mean for NI?’ The BBC’s NI economics and business editor provides context: ‘The single most important influence on Stormont’s budget is the spending policy of the Westminster government. Most of what Stormont spends is the ‘block grant’ which comes from Westminster.’ (my emphasis) And adds: ‘For years the Stormont parties have complained about the negative impacts of “Tory … Continue reading As political leaders in Wales and NI join Labour’s Chancellor in condemning 14 years of Tory damage, BBC Scotland reveals Labour’s plan to persuade voters here to blame the Scottish Government instead.

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Voters in Wales are less than convinced about Labour’s track record

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By stewartb The BBC News website’s Wales section today has this headline: ‘Low Welsh voter turnout appalling, says Kinnock’. It reports that: ‘In Wales, only 56% of voters filled out their ballot papers, compared to 60% across the UK, and 67% in Wales last time out in 2019.’ (In Scotland the overall turnout was 59%, down 8.4% from 2019.) And: ‘Despite winning the majority of seats, Labour’s vote share in Wales actually dropped, down from 40% to 37%.’ ‘… every Welsh constituency saw a decline compared to the previous election.’ So the impact on the 2024 GE of Labour having a long record in government in Cardiff whether on … Continue reading Voters in Wales are less than convinced about Labour’s track record

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The outcome and impact of this dependency [on UK decision-making] will be little different no matter how well the SNP does

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By stewartb There is more at stake than ‘just’ the number of pro-Independence MPs elected in Scotland, important as that is! The IFS report referenced below also makes for depressing reading, not least because in brings home (yet again) just how dependent on England’s political choices we are. And in the immediate future, the outcome and impact of this dependency – including on devolved matters – will be little different no matter how well the SNP does in the upcoming general election. That is a seriously limiting, constraining democracy! Source: Institute for Fiscal Studies (28 June, 2024) How would the parties’ tax … Continue reading The outcome and impact of this dependency [on UK decision-making] will be little different no matter how well the SNP does

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Ipsos SUB-POLL today cautiously suggests major swing back to SNP as John settles in

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Many thanks to https://x.com/SNPwindaes for alerting me to this. It’s only a telephone sub-poll of 203 Scots weighted down to 176 but, today on the day, Ipsos, the most trusted pollster because they’re based in Paris and have no dog in this fight, has: All: 90% to 100% certain to vote: I know. Recent polls are up and down but one or two full polls especially the usually unfriendly Savanta, have signs of an SNP recovery, as the the most popular party leader and his Tartan Army loyalist, Toblerone-loving, Westminster leader do well in TV interviews. Source: https://www.ipsos.com/en-uk/labour-holds-18-point-lead-over-conservatives-final-ipsos-election-poll https://www.thenational.scot/news/24426651.new-general-election-poll-puts-snp-ahead-labour/ Continue reading Ipsos SUB-POLL today cautiously suggests major swing back to SNP as John settles in

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Robbo’s TWENTY + reasons why Scots should vote for the SNP

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Apologies to Robbo for above uncertainty in image selection By Robbo All sourced from TuS: 1) Best NHS by country mile with more GP’s, Dr’s, Nurses, Dentists (95% Scots registerd with NHS Dentist), Police officers per head than rUK. 2) Social housing 6 times higher than rUK and 50% higher than Labour. 3) Child Payments that are protecting 100k Scots kids from poverty not available in rUK. 4) On average lowest Council tax than rUK. 5) GDP 30% higher in Scot than rUKI 6) Deadly Measles infections seven times more likely in rUK thanks to higher immunisation in Scotland. 7) … Continue reading Robbo’s TWENTY + reasons why Scots should vote for the SNP

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Labour’s GB Energy has been a bit of a shapeshifter

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By stewartb It’s not often that I’m inclined to write anything positive about a BBC Scotland journalist’s contribution. But here goes! The BBC’s ‘Business and Economy Editor, Scotland’, Douglas Fraser had an article (24 June) in the Scotland Business section of the BBC News website under this headline: ‘What would ‘GB Energy’ mean for Scotland’s green economy?’ (See https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cyxxxljq070o ) (Never unalloyed reaction to BBC Scotland tho’! Curiously, this article which attempts a critical appraisal did NOT appear in the Scotland Politics section despite this being six lines in: ‘Labour makes a big play of setting up GB Energy.’) – (my emphasis). We … Continue reading Labour’s GB Energy has been a bit of a shapeshifter

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Major fixes are required for a failing UK state but the two main parties are in denial for partisan electoral reasons

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From stewartb There have been some escoriating assessments of the Tory and Labour manifestos for the upcoming General Election. They include the one below from the establishment-revered Institute for Fiscal Studies (IFS). When reading the extracts, written from a London/England-centric UK perspective, reflect on just how ‘distant’ – how lacking in effective agency — Scotland’s electorate and government are in all of this! The IFS is essentially arguing that major fixes are required for a failing UK state but that the two main parties are in denial for partisan electoral reasons. Within this Union, Scotland’s ability to influence the nature … Continue reading Major fixes are required for a failing UK state but the two main parties are in denial for partisan electoral reasons