Jim makes me feel so special. Please don't be jealous, but I saw the new Labour Party Election Broadcast this afternoon, hours before the rest of you did, and it was all because Jim wanted me to. He sent me a personal email to explain why I'd been singled out for such an honour. It was a moment of beauty that I'll cherish in my heart forever.
Now, look. I'm not going to suddenly start disliking Martin Freeman just because he's taken a side in a Scottish political battle that he probably has little interest in or understanding of, but suffice to say that the argument that was (presumably) scripted for him was utterly vacuous. One thing that did interest me, though, was that there was no mention of the SNP at all, even in the clumsily tacked-on concluding bit that specifically referenced Scotland. Perhaps Labour are starting to realise their strategic mistake in talking up the "SNP threat", but I'm afraid it's a bit late now to try to get everyone to forget that the SNP exists.
It's also intriguing that David Tennant agreed to do the voiceover, because he was presumably asked to do exactly that sort of thing for the No campaign and refused. From which I deduce that he's loyal to Labour, but not so slavishly loyal that he'll help them out even when they're in a toxic alliance with the Tories - which is a selectiveness that I can respect.
All the same, David - "only Labour is strong enough" to get the Tories out? Who says that any single party needs to be strong enough? Why do Labour have to separate themselves off, and make themselves smaller in an interdependent world? Let's renew our McDougall vows, and say it loud and proud - after the election, Labour and the SNP will be #bettertogether in a progressive anti-Tory pact.
Latest YouGov CON 35 LAB 35 LD 8 UKIP 12 GRN 5 = 95.
ReplyDeleteSNP 45, Lab 25, Con 18 in the Scottish sub-sample.
Deletehttp://d25d2506sfb94s.cloudfront.net/cumulus_uploads/document/jyu3ywice5/YG-Archive-Pol-Sun-results-300315.pdf
That's two 45s in a row. Starting to look like the run of lower SNP scores early last week was due to sampling variation, rather than anything more substantial.
I wonder if it wasn't something to do with the mega poll. Maybe targeting a smaller section of the panel having just requested from a large section and/or lack of response due to people having just completed the mega poll?
DeleteThe odd ones completely fell out of line of standard correlations between 2010 transfers and SNP etc.
James what reasons did lovely Jim give for this special treatment seeing as you are one of those cybernats?
ReplyDeleteI've somehow ended up on a Labour mailing list. I'm fairly sure I never actually signed up for it - not knowingly, anyway.
DeleteSomewhere out there is an MSP for Rutherglen wondering where his mailings are.
DeleteI get them addressed Dear Bugger. I haven't reported them as I like their humour and idiocy.
DeleteLook James, I don't think you fully understand what our Jim is saying and his argument about the largest party.
ReplyDeleteIt's pretty clear. Many people in Scotland used to vote Labour. Labour stopped listening, but now they are. And I have to be clear on this point regarding the largest party, historically, ignoring any instance to the contrary and that the rules haven't changed since...oh quick Look over there! A squirrel!
Unfortunately I have now run out of time- but I hope I have made it all clear.
PS Patriotic Football, Patriotic Irn Bru, Patriotic Tartan.
Patriotic red squirrel mind. Proud Scot.
DeleteSlept in a drawer.
DeleteI heard Malcolm Bruce saying that the SNP wanted to rock the establishment and disrupt Westminster. That will be a bad thing Malcolm then!
ReplyDeleteExcept it was people like yourself the plumby voiced Scots that we want to rock Malcolm. You have had a cushy position for too long. Your upper middle class ideas have done nothing for Scotland. You are damn right that 50% of Scotland wants to end your type from ruling our land. You represent the middle classes and the elite. The commoners are ignored by your Tory loving party.
We want to shake the Etonian ruling classes to their very core.
Is it me, or is something really wrong with the TNS tables:
ReplyDeletehttp://www.tns-bmrb.co.uk/news/tns-poll-all-to-play-for-but-trust-in-politics-down-since-wilson-era
SNP on 4.0% of the UK total. Yet on 2% in Scotland with Lab and Con on 35% and 34% respectively. Highest SNP vote is 7% in the NW of England, closely followed by Wales and the West. The Tory SE / E Shires double the SNP vote on 4% locally.
Ok, tables further on are a bit better. Prior to turnout weighting 40% SNP / 14% Con / 11% Lab.
DeleteExcluding DK/WNV/Not saying:
54% SNP
19% Con
15% Lab
5% Green
4% Lib
1% UKIP
1% BNP
TNS have admitted that the tables they initially posted were nonsense and have taken them down, but they are also saying that the headline (GB) figures are correct.
DeleteSlighty O/T James, but have you stopped doing Poll of Polls?
ReplyDeleteI saw the Labour ads last night on youtube,linked from facebook,and does them no credit to hand out two messages to different parts of the UK. I think both will do the rounds and get talked about,and have wee bits added on.
ReplyDeleteA Scottish poll from ComRes is on its way, albeit it seems to be restricted to Labour seats. Kevin Pringle has retweeted, so it must be reasonably OK.
ReplyDelete