We’d hoped to be bringing you in-depth analysis of the Scottish Labour manifesto by now, readers, but a couple of hours after their launch event there’s still no sign of it anywhere (we’ve checked their website, Facebook page and Twitter feed, all blank).
So we’re going to nip out to the shops for a bit. In the meantime, here’s some footage we recorded of the fantastic live stream of the launch the party put out.
We’re looking forward to the publication of the Scottish Labour manifesto for next month’s election, which is due to be published on Wednesday, just eight days before the vote. We confidently anticipate that it will definitively clear up a few issues we’re still not absolutely sure of the branch office’s position on.
Considering we’re only eleven days from a general election, there’s remarkably little politics coverage in the Sunday papers today. Most of what there is is in the Sunday Herald, which has a substantial (and quite entertaining) interview with Kezia Dugdale and another two pages devoted to what’s essentially spluttering attempted justification of its shambolic front-page lead from last week.
We’re not going to go into it in depth, as James Kelly on Scot Goes Pop! has already had a close look and made a pretty fair assessment. But for want of anything more interesting to talk about, and in the wake of some depressing Twitter conversations with people who apparently STILL don’t understand either the Holyrood electoral system or basic arithmetic, we’re going to have one more wade in the list-vote debate.
You might want to see if there’s football on or something.
But note how delicately that tweet is phrased. The clear implication – while not directly stated – is that only the Tories were responsible for the promises.
We’ve noted on numerous occasions previously that one of this site’s prime functions is merely to remember things – to serve as a repository of fact which can be referred to when politicians or the media try to mislead people about what happened in the past. It was a thought we were struck by again on reading The Times this morning.
Because as we beheld Kenny Farquharson’s account of the SNP’s manifesto launch, and how its emphasis on the word “RE-ELECT” was unfamiliar and “very different” to their last Holyrood manifesto launch, we were sure that wasn’t how we recalled it.
This site has never told readers how to vote in Scottish elections and never will, partly because its editor has no vote there and doesn’t have to live with the consequences whoever wins. (Something that ISN’T true about independence, in which case Wings would relocate to Scotland, which is why we freely express a firm view on that.)
It’s in that context that we make the following observations about next month’s vote.
The Sunday Herald, which enjoyed a major sales boost from being the first Scottish newspaper to officially back independence but has since seen its circulation increase partly eroded, has this morning chosen to throw a stick of dynamite onto the fire.
The paper’s front page today teases a double-page spread inside with the headline “SPECIAL REPORT: HOW INDEPENDENCE SUPPORTERS SHOULD USE THEIR SECOND VOTE”. And then things get a little strange.
100%Yes on Response Level Upgrade: “Lets be honest the SNP isn’t going to last as a political party, this is a fact. The party has…” Jun 12, 16:17
robertkknight on Wider Than A Mile: “I think you’ll find the Irish have done very well out of EU membership. As technically did Scotland, in particular…” Jun 12, 16:03
robertkknight on Response Level Upgrade: “If you need a crowdfunder for a Judicial Review sing out!” Jun 12, 15:59
Oneliner on Response Level Upgrade: “I wouldn’t get too excited – it looks like a Cheyne letter to me.” Jun 12, 15:52
Knuckle_Heid on Response Level Upgrade: “At least the Police have acknowledged it properly this time, that’s a small victory. Stu has basically done their work…” Jun 12, 15:32
Captain Caveman on Wider Than A Mile: “@Northy You appear to have missed off the “… lengthy meaningless waffle on WoS BTL rather than say, spending time…” Jun 12, 15:31
sarah on Response Level Upgrade: “Rev, whilst you have a KC at hand, could you ask him if anything can be done to remove an…” Jun 12, 15:19
Fearghas MacFhionnlaigh on Wider Than A Mile: “MICHAEL FORAN – Lecture 2: SINGLE-SEX SPACES www.youtube.com/watch?v=qO3sdGmeZtU « Michael Foran is Associate Professor of Law and a Fellow of…” Jun 12, 15:05
barelybare on Response Level Upgrade: “Very good. Don’t hold your breath waiting for similar from COPFS.” Jun 12, 15:04
Northcode on Wider Than A Mile: ““No wonder you spend your whole time posting…” This comment thread: Northcode – comments: 4 (inc this one) AI Dan…” Jun 12, 15:01
Sian Laidlaw on Response Level Upgrade: “This is the response you should have received for your first email Mr. Campbell. I am delighted Police Scotland have…” Jun 12, 14:59
holymacmoses on Response Level Upgrade: “It’s football time. Jo will be rooting for Ingland:-)” Jun 12, 14:36
Aidan on Wider Than A Mile: “But of course it wouldn’t be required by default, it would be a highly unusual and novel arrangement that would…” Jun 12, 14:05
MP on Response Level Upgrade: “I can’t help wondering if the SNP let on privately during the investigation that the ‘ring fenced’ money had been…” Jun 12, 14:04
James on Wider Than A Mile: “Poor Adrian. More to be pitied than scorned.” Jun 12, 13:57
cirsium on Response Level Upgrade: ““Economic Crime Investigations” – I like the sound of that especially when I remember that criminals like Al Capone were…” Jun 12, 13:56
Aidan on Wider Than A Mile: “I assume that was to facilitate the ToU and the creation of the ‘new’ GB parliament?” Jun 12, 13:55
lothianlad on Response Level Upgrade: “they are stalling for time STU! the tactic of distancing being used. However, for them unfortunately, your not giving up.” Jun 12, 13:53
xaracen on Wider Than A Mile: “Your “arithmetic” presumes a single majority vote, Aidan, for which there is no agreement in the Treaty, or elsewhere. That…” Jun 12, 13:48
Iain Ross on Response Level Upgrade: “The delay in replying may be because a certain Mr Swinney is currently in USA trying to keep in with…” Jun 12, 13:47
Mark Beggan on Response Level Upgrade: “What did the boys and girls and them and it and those and these and they spend their LGBT+ vouchers…” Jun 12, 13:29
Northcode on Wider Than A Mile: “There’s a lot of, frankly quite boring, talk of treaties and constitutional law and suchlike in this place. Of course,…” Jun 12, 13:28
Rev. Stuart Campbell on Wider Than A Mile: “I think it was extremely likely that the election was fiddled. We know that numerous rules were broken, all in…” Jun 12, 13:16
Jim Thomson on Response Level Upgrade: “I’m sure the boys, girls and thems in blue will be tripping over themselves to assist.” Jun 12, 13:09
Aidan on Wider Than A Mile: “You say that it couldn’t happen, but unequivocally it did. The post-1800 UK Parliament passed legislation covering Scotland which the…” Jun 12, 12:47
James Che on Wider Than A Mile: “Aiden, The parliament of Westminster the then acting monarch of England official dissolved the Scottish parliament in the 1700s Its…” Jun 12, 12:45
Mark Beggan on Wider Than A Mile: “The government is to introduce internet ban for under sixteens. May as well say goodbye to a few people on…” Jun 12, 12:37
James Che on Wider Than A Mile: “The evidence that the Westminster parliament was indeed the parliament of England was the Anglo/ Irish Agreement in 1800s and…” Jun 12, 12:35
Mark Beggan on Wider Than A Mile: “If you can’t beat them join them. Let’s talk about the past, let’s talk about Ireland! The Crumlin Road break…” Jun 12, 12:06
