Comments for The Scottish Sketch http://scottishsketch.wordpress.com Political Commentary on and from Scotland Sun, 14 Dec 2008 02:03:27 +0000 http://wordpress.com/ hourly 1 Comment on Let’s Move The Conference Season to Somewhere Practical by truth teller http://scottishsketch.wordpress.com/2008/09/27/lets-move-the-conference-season-to-somewhere-practical/#comment-126 truth teller Sun, 14 Dec 2008 02:03:27 +0000 http://scottishsketch.wordpress.com/?p=73#comment-126 If the Scot's who support the Scottish Labour Party read this maybe the Labour Conferences post 2010 could be held in Scotland. http://www.scottish-labour-party.co.uk If the Scot’s who support the Scottish Labour Party read this maybe the Labour Conferences post 2010 could be held in Scotland. http://www.scottish-labour-party.co.uk

]]> Comment on Policy #1: Don’t Vote For The Other Lot by Ewan Spence http://scottishsketch.wordpress.com/2008/09/24/policy-1-dont-vote-for-the-other-lot/#comment-119 Ewan Spence Thu, 25 Sep 2008 14:20:07 +0000 http://scottishsketch.wordpress.com/?p=65#comment-119 Thanks Tom, that'll teach me to do anything serious at 3am in the morning. Thanks Tom, that’ll teach me to do anything serious at 3am in the morning.

]]> Comment on Policy #1: Don’t Vote For The Other Lot by Tom Harris http://scottishsketch.wordpress.com/2008/09/24/policy-1-dont-vote-for-the-other-lot/#comment-118 Tom Harris Thu, 25 Sep 2008 07:42:16 +0000 http://scottishsketch.wordpress.com/?p=65#comment-118 Er, it's Tom Harris, not Tom Morris Er, it’s Tom Harris, not Tom Morris

]]> Comment on Who’s Next In The Labour Resignation Game? by Scottish Roundup - Scottish Roundup http://scottishsketch.wordpress.com/2008/09/16/whos-next-in-the-labour-resignation-game/#comment-115 Scottish Roundup - Scottish Roundup Mon, 22 Sep 2008 01:14:51 +0000 http://scottishsketch.wordpress.com/?p=58#comment-115 [...] at the Scotland Office; Richard Thompson has his resignation letter in full. Ewan Spence wonders if Caroline Flint will be next to resign. Bellegrove Belle is disappointed, while Anseo thinks Eric Joyce will be the [...] [...] at the Scotland Office; Richard Thompson has his resignation letter in full. Ewan Spence wonders if Caroline Flint will be next to resign. Bellegrove Belle is disappointed, while Anseo thinks Eric Joyce will be the [...]

]]> Comment on Who’s Next In The Labour Resignation Game? by UK Voter http://scottishsketch.wordpress.com/2008/09/16/whos-next-in-the-labour-resignation-game/#comment-109 UK Voter Wed, 17 Sep 2008 03:20:47 +0000 http://scottishsketch.wordpress.com/?p=58#comment-109 Why can' they simply put us out of our misery and all resign together? Why can’ they simply put us out of our misery and all resign together?

]]> Comment on Could a Glenrothes By-Election Skirmish Threaten Brown? by Truthteller http://scottishsketch.wordpress.com/2008/06/06/could-a-glenrothes-by-election-skirmish-threaten-brown/#comment-104 Truthteller Fri, 15 Aug 2008 10:25:17 +0000 http://scottishsketch.wordpress.com/?p=35#comment-104 The problem that Gordon Brown has is that the people of Scotland have had enough of Westminster's lies and deception. For years the SNP have been fighting to promote the injustices inflicted upon the Scottish People by oil profiteering, Westminster Loyal politicians. Instead of helping the Scottish People the Unionist Labour and Conservative and Liberal Democrat politicians have lied and deceived the Scottish People about the Vast Oil Wealth. 32 million a day over a population of 5 million is a lot of money to send to London. Why not read the secret report Westminster does not want you to read. Available at http://www.oilofscotland.org The problem that Gordon Brown has is that the people of Scotland have had enough of Westminster’s lies and deception. For years the SNP have been fighting to promote the injustices inflicted upon the Scottish People by oil profiteering, Westminster Loyal politicians. Instead of helping the Scottish People the Unionist Labour and Conservative and Liberal Democrat politicians have lied and deceived the Scottish People about the Vast Oil Wealth. 32 million a day over a population of 5 million is a lot of money to send to London.

Why not read the secret report Westminster does not want you to read. Available at http://www.oilofscotland.org

]]> Comment on “You’ve Got The Wrong MPs” Fiasco of 2007 Scottish Election Continues by sypeInten http://scottishsketch.wordpress.com/2008/05/18/youve-got-the-wrong-mps-fiasco-of-2007-scottish-election-continues/#comment-103 sypeInten Sun, 03 Aug 2008 07:09:02 +0000 http://scottishsketch.wordpress.com/?p=26#comment-103 It's amazing It’s amazing

]]> Comment on 42 Days… No… No… No… by Anseo http://scottishsketch.wordpress.com/2008/06/10/42-days-no-no-no/#comment-100 Anseo Thu, 12 Jun 2008 10:20:43 +0000 http://scottishsketch.wordpress.com/?p=37#comment-100 And why did Mark Lazarowicz (my MP [for now...]) vote for this menasure? "I was given assurances that they do not expect the powers to be used." If they won`t be used...why do you need them...and why would you possibly vote for them. I`m disguted with him over this. And why did Mark Lazarowicz (my MP [for now...]) vote for this menasure?

“I was given assurances that they do not expect the powers to be used.”

If they won`t be used…why do you need them…and why would you possibly vote for them.

I`m disguted with him over this.

]]> Comment on Look out, Gordon, there’s an Elephant in the room by Anseo http://scottishsketch.wordpress.com/2008/05/22/look-out-gordon-there%e2%80%99s-an-elephant-in-the-room/#comment-55 Anseo Thu, 22 May 2008 15:58:56 +0000 http://scottishsketch.wordpress.com/?p=28#comment-55 Alex Ferguson may well have led his team to victory, Alex Fergusson on the other hand was probably had his feet up at home ahead of another FMQs where is woiuld be needed to say words to the effect of 'wheest' for a prolonged period of time. Alex Ferguson may well have led his team to victory, Alex Fergusson on the other hand was probably had his feet up at home ahead of another FMQs where is woiuld be needed to say words to the effect of ‘wheest’ for a prolonged period of time.

]]> Comment on Labour’s Premature Ejec-elections by missing links « an insatiable yucca http://scottishsketch.wordpress.com/2008/05/22/labours-premature-ejec-elections/#comment-54 missing links « an insatiable yucca Thu, 22 May 2008 12:05:33 +0000 http://scottishsketch.wordpress.com/?p=29#comment-54 [...] I had missed this further twist in the Scottish independence referendum saga (hatip: Scottish Sketch). So Wendy stole Gordon’s idea, then. Thereby compromising the idea - and their relationship [...] [...] I had missed this further twist in the Scottish independence referendum saga (hatip: Scottish Sketch). So Wendy stole Gordon’s idea, then. Thereby compromising the idea – and their relationship [...]

]]> Comment on “You’ve Got The Wrong MPs” Fiasco of 2007 Scottish Election Continues by SFC1K http://scottishsketch.wordpress.com/2008/05/18/youve-got-the-wrong-mps-fiasco-of-2007-scottish-election-continues/#comment-39 SFC1K Tue, 20 May 2008 08:58:22 +0000 http://scottishsketch.wordpress.com/?p=26#comment-39 The whole things beggars belief - I mean those top up seats: did it not occur to anyone that the SNP having apparently not got any votes at all was a bit unlikely? I wonder what government we actually voted for? So much for people getting the government they deserve... The whole things beggars belief – I mean those top up seats: did it not occur to anyone that the SNP having apparently not got any votes at all was a bit unlikely?

I wonder what government we actually voted for? So much for people getting the government they deserve…

]]> Comment on Scottish Conservative MPs After the Next Election by Ewan Spence http://scottishsketch.wordpress.com/2008/05/12/scottish-conservative-mps-after-the-next-election/#comment-32 Ewan Spence Mon, 19 May 2008 18:35:21 +0000 http://scottishsketch.wordpress.com/?p=12#comment-32 Stuart, Thanks for your thoughts. I'll happily hold my head up and say that I;ve no idea just how much the suport for Lab and Lib-Dem has fallen. Certainly the 2007 Scottish Election is an indicator, but at the same time I'm still not convinced that the Scottish Conservatives will pick up the votes, I think they'll be spread out around all the parties. A lot depends if any Scottish paper actually gets seriously behind the Tories, and what BBC Scotland will hand the SNP in terms of coverage. Yes, there'll be more Blue in Scotland after the votes. How much is probably the more interesting question. Even more fascinating, if you see a collapse of the Lib Dems in Scotland, and a loss of the UK vote, then they could drop to 25-35 seats. If the SNP pick up 20 (Salmond's guess) then have an SNP-DUP-Plyd-Tory coalition in Westminster... the fun will never end! Stuart,

Thanks for your thoughts. I’ll happily hold my head up and say that I;ve no idea just how much the suport for Lab and Lib-Dem has fallen. Certainly the 2007 Scottish Election is an indicator, but at the same time I’m still not convinced that the Scottish Conservatives will pick up the votes, I think they’ll be spread out around all the parties. A lot depends if any Scottish paper actually gets seriously behind the Tories, and what BBC Scotland will hand the SNP in terms of coverage.

Yes, there’ll be more Blue in Scotland after the votes. How much is probably the more interesting question. Even more fascinating, if you see a collapse of the Lib Dems in Scotland, and a loss of the UK vote, then they could drop to 25-35 seats. If the SNP pick up 20 (Salmond’s guess) then have an SNP-DUP-Plyd-Tory coalition in Westminster… the fun will never end!

]]> Comment on Scottish Conservative MPs After the Next Election by Stuart Dickson http://scottishsketch.wordpress.com/2008/05/12/scottish-conservative-mps-after-the-next-election/#comment-31 Stuart Dickson Mon, 19 May 2008 17:42:37 +0000 http://scottishsketch.wordpress.com/?p=12#comment-31 Ewan, I think that you make some good assessments, however I do think that you seriously underestimate the extent to which the ground has shifted away from Labour and the Lib Dems in Scottish politics. Here's a few of my guesstimates (all wildly wrong on the night, I am sure... ): Argyll and Bute - 3-way marginal - Con, LD, SNP - anyone's guess!! Aberdeen North - SNP squeak it Aberdeen South - 4-way marginal - one of the tightest fights in the country - anyone's guess!!!! (Begg should just hold on) Ayr, Carrick and Cumnock - 3-way marginal - Con, Lab, SNP - anyone's guess!! Ayrshire Central - 3-way marginal - Con, Lab, SNP - anyone's guess!! Ayrshire North and Arran - 3-way marginal - Con, Lab, SNP - anyone's guess!! Berwickshire, Roxburgh and Selkirk - Blue gain Cumbernauld, Kilsyth and Kirkintilloch East - Lab/SNP marginal - anyone's guess!! Dumfries and Galloway - I agree with you Dunbartonshire East - narrow LD hold Dunbartonshire West - Lab/SNP marginal - anyone's guess!! Dundee West - SNP gain Dunfermline and West Fife - only chance of a Labour gain in the whole country! (fascinating contest) East Lothian - 3-way marginal - Con, Lab, SNP - anyone's guess!! Edinburgh East - narrow SNP gain (largely thanks to a quality candidate in George Kerevan) Edinburgh North and Leith - 4-way marginal - one of the tightest fights in the country - anyone's guess!!!! Edinburgh South - Con gain, LD 2nd Edinburgh South West (Darling) - 3-way marginal - Con, Lab, SNP - anyone's guess!! Glasgow Central - narrow Labour hold Glasgow North - Lab/SNP marginal - SNP squeak it Glasgow North East - Lab/SNP marginal - anyone's guess!! Glasgow South - narrow Labour hold Glenrothes - Lab/SNP marginal - anyone's guess!! Gordon 3-way marginal - Con, LD, SNP - anyone's guess!! East Kilbride, Strathaven and Lesmahagow - Lab/SNP marginal - anyone's guess!! Falkirk - Lab/SNP marginal - anyone's guess!! Inverness, Nairn, Badenoch and Strathspey - LD should just about hold on Inverclyde - Lab/SNP marginal - anyone's guess!! Kilmarnock and Loudoun (Des Browne) - SNP gain Lanark and Hamilton East - Lab/SNP marginal - anyone's guess!! Linlithgow and East Falkirk - Lab/SNP marginal - anyone's guess!! Livingston - Lab/SNP marginal - anyone's guess!! Midlothian - Lab/SNP marginal - anyone's guess!! Ochil and South Perthshire - SNP gain Paisley and Renfrewshire North - Lab/SNP marginal - anyone's guess!! Perth and North Perthshire - SNP hold Renfrewshire East - 2-way marginal - Con squeak it Stirling - 3-way marginal - Con, Lab, SNP - anyone's guess!! Ewan, I think that you make some good assessments, however I do think that you seriously underestimate the extent to which the ground has shifted away from Labour and the Lib Dems in Scottish politics. Here’s a few of my guesstimates (all wildly wrong on the night, I am sure… ):

Argyll and Bute – 3-way marginal – Con, LD, SNP – anyone’s guess!!
Aberdeen North – SNP squeak it
Aberdeen South – 4-way marginal – one of the tightest fights in the country – anyone’s guess!!!! (Begg should just hold on)
Ayr, Carrick and Cumnock – 3-way marginal – Con, Lab, SNP – anyone’s guess!!
Ayrshire Central – 3-way marginal – Con, Lab, SNP – anyone’s guess!!
Ayrshire North and Arran – 3-way marginal – Con, Lab, SNP – anyone’s guess!!
Berwickshire, Roxburgh and Selkirk – Blue gain
Cumbernauld, Kilsyth and Kirkintilloch East – Lab/SNP marginal – anyone’s guess!!
Dumfries and Galloway – I agree with you
Dunbartonshire East – narrow LD hold
Dunbartonshire West – Lab/SNP marginal – anyone’s guess!!
Dundee West – SNP gain
Dunfermline and West Fife – only chance of a Labour gain in the whole country! (fascinating contest)
East Lothian – 3-way marginal – Con, Lab, SNP – anyone’s guess!!
Edinburgh East – narrow SNP gain (largely thanks to a quality candidate in George Kerevan)
Edinburgh North and Leith – 4-way marginal – one of the tightest fights in the country – anyone’s guess!!!!
Edinburgh South – Con gain, LD 2nd
Edinburgh South West (Darling) – 3-way marginal – Con, Lab, SNP – anyone’s guess!!
Glasgow Central – narrow Labour hold
Glasgow North – Lab/SNP marginal – SNP squeak it
Glasgow North East – Lab/SNP marginal – anyone’s guess!!
Glasgow South – narrow Labour hold
Glenrothes – Lab/SNP marginal – anyone’s guess!!
Gordon 3-way marginal – Con, LD, SNP – anyone’s guess!!
East Kilbride, Strathaven and Lesmahagow – Lab/SNP marginal – anyone’s guess!!
Falkirk – Lab/SNP marginal – anyone’s guess!!
Inverness, Nairn, Badenoch and Strathspey – LD should just about hold on
Inverclyde – Lab/SNP marginal – anyone’s guess!!
Kilmarnock and Loudoun (Des Browne) – SNP gain
Lanark and Hamilton East – Lab/SNP marginal – anyone’s guess!!
Linlithgow and East Falkirk – Lab/SNP marginal – anyone’s guess!!
Livingston – Lab/SNP marginal – anyone’s guess!!
Midlothian – Lab/SNP marginal – anyone’s guess!!
Ochil and South Perthshire – SNP gain
Paisley and Renfrewshire North – Lab/SNP marginal – anyone’s guess!!
Perth and North Perthshire – SNP hold
Renfrewshire East – 2-way marginal – Con squeak it
Stirling – 3-way marginal – Con, Lab, SNP – anyone’s guess!!

]]> Comment on What If Gordon Brown Is Telling The Truth? by Anseo http://scottishsketch.wordpress.com/2008/05/15/what-if-gordon-brown-is-telling-the-truth/#comment-17 Anseo Thu, 15 May 2008 11:20:26 +0000 http://scottishsketch.wordpress.com/?p=21#comment-17 Brown's actiosn from his last budget scrapping the 10p rate to the present day seem to have simply been a man ignoring the consequences of trying to pull a fluffy bunny out of a hat (standard rate of 20p) before becoming PM. Its been a downward slide for him ever since. I also can`t help but feel he's taking the piss when he tries to claim all the credit for the economy being ok-ish for a few years but as soon as there is a bump in the economic road then its all down to the bogeyman of the 'credit crunch'. Brown’s actiosn from his last budget scrapping the 10p rate to the present day seem to have simply been a man ignoring the consequences of trying to pull a fluffy bunny out of a hat (standard rate of 20p) before becoming PM.

Its been a downward slide for him ever since.

I also can`t help but feel he’s taking the piss when he tries to claim all the credit for the economy being ok-ish for a few years but as soon as there is a bump in the economic road then its all down to the bogeyman of the ‘credit crunch’.

]]> Comment on Scottish Conservative MPs After the Next Election by Tom Robinson http://scottishsketch.wordpress.com/2008/05/12/scottish-conservative-mps-after-the-next-election/#comment-15 Tom Robinson Tue, 13 May 2008 13:25:38 +0000 http://scottishsketch.wordpress.com/?p=12#comment-15 I remain to be convinced that the SNP are not serious runners even for Westminster in Stirling given their stunning Holyrood victory (I know the seats are not identical). This seat is not simply a Labour/Tory marginal I remain to be convinced that the SNP are not serious runners even for Westminster in Stirling given their stunning Holyrood victory (I know the seats are not identical).

This seat is not simply a Labour/Tory marginal

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