tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1638916042737526171.post6496046718825572144..comments2024-03-28T07:16:39.621+00:00Comments on Lallands Peat Worrier: Keith Brown: "Stands Scotland where it did?"Lallands Peat Worrierhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18276270498204697708noreply@blogger.comBlogger11125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1638916042737526171.post-31718413920082279972014-10-21T20:27:39.167+01:002014-10-21T20:27:39.167+01:00The thing I notice in this article is that while t...The thing I notice in this article is that while the huge SNP and Green membership increase is commented on, there's nothing about the SSP which has done the same. It was the same in my first ever branch meeting never having been a member of any party before. It was noisy me that pointed this out.<br /><br />And yet the SSP were pro-indy and active in the referendum, and perhaps if they got their act together along with all the angry socialist splinters they could form a real alternative to Labour in Scotland, and perhaps even, next ref, come out for a YES.<br /><br />YES was all inclusive. It would be a real shame to lose that. It could also stop the SNP having to move too far to the left, a real problem that has already been identified for them. Apart from that as others have said, 3 excellent candidates.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1638916042737526171.post-9039693827651965682014-10-21T12:04:18.810+01:002014-10-21T12:04:18.810+01:00Keith Brown: "Stands Scotland where it did?&q...Keith Brown: "Stands Scotland where it did?"<br /><br />A good question, and a hard one to answer at any time. I dont have a Scottie in this fight of course, but I thought this an impressive piece from Mr Brown.<br /><br />Both the Tories and the Greens seem to appreciate that Scotland is not a whole and pitch their campaigns accordingly - the SNP and Labour seems to think there is a 'One Scotland' they can speak for - the reality is that the referendum has shown that is not the case. The SNP can make inroads into what we used to call the Labour heartlands but that will come at a cost in what i think we may soon be calling the former SNP heartlands. <br /><br /><br />Strange times - and we all of us need rational voices among those who would lead us. I look forward to the next two, Mr Brown's is most encouraging.<br />Edwin Moorehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05317173893948248954noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1638916042737526171.post-12328634010925975202014-10-21T01:16:02.787+01:002014-10-21T01:16:02.787+01:00Cheers LPW, I'm also undecided, so it's go...Cheers LPW, I'm also undecided, so it's good to have this article (and hopefully ones from the others) to help make up my mind.<br /><br />I've liked Keith ever since he declared he would be sleeping in the Transport Scotland control room until he'd sorted out the traffic chaos of 2010, and the deal he's gotten out of the ScotRail franchise seems pretty remarkable. It seems telling that the Transport portfolio hasn't had any major negative press since he took it over. And his media appearances during the referendum and since have shown him to be a good communicator - his destruction of James Kelly on Scotland Tonight recently was magnificent, and I was pleased he made it quite clear the Scottish Government is not a fan of the franchise system.<br /><br />It's a hard choice, because I like all three contenders. It's going to come down to who makes the best pitch, which is probably how it should be anyway. I like Keith's talk of mixing ambition with realism, and getting the activist base more involved, especially the talk of training and support for local activists (as long as the Play-Doh woman isn't involved...)<br /><br />Certainly open to the other two's pitches, though!Doug Danielhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15017218581660887134noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1638916042737526171.post-80839996471921607772014-10-21T01:13:26.649+01:002014-10-21T01:13:26.649+01:00I think it has to be the person's own words - ...I think it has to be the person's own words - if they talk and think in banal cliches so be it - isn't better to know that? <br /><br />Without being rude I do agree that there was rather a lot of 'motherhood and apple pie' waffle. Where is the political beef? Perhaps the role on offer (deputy leader) doesn't allow for much in the way of original thought? <br /><br />What does 'the best interests of Scotland' actually mean? How is it to be understood? For whom, for what, for why etc? <br /><br />All politics is about power and all power generates antagonisms (see Carl Schmitt). It really isn't an option to please all of the people all of the time - one cannot simultaneously optimize all possible parameter space and trade-offs are inevitable in any complex system. And political parameter space is very complex.<br /><br />What is someone against, what is someone for and how do they think they get from where we are to where we want to be?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1638916042737526171.post-30986294944549656862014-10-21T00:32:25.354+01:002014-10-21T00:32:25.354+01:00The problem with that argument is it means the SNP...The problem with that argument is it means the SNP should dump its central policy - independence. Or, at the very least, it should have dumped it years ago, meaning we'd not have just had a referendum on it. Should the public lead the politicians, or should the politicians lead the public? The immigration debate in England is a seemingly permanent case in point.<br /><br />There's a bit of give and take for sure, but if activists don't get to be involved in driving policy, then why should they go out in the rain chapping on doors to get people to vote for the party? There has to be an element of trust in the activist base, especially because they're the ones actually speaking to people. Activists are just as capable of being pragmatic as the leadership when required, as several points in the referendum debate showed.<br /><br />Imagine where Labour would be now if they did a bit more listening to their activists, instead of dictating policy from on high...Doug Danielhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15017218581660887134noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1638916042737526171.post-53789552304622376002014-10-21T00:15:45.175+01:002014-10-21T00:15:45.175+01:00I hope I'm not being rude, but maybe LPW can a...I hope I'm not being rude, but maybe LPW can assist some of these candidates with the prose. Or at least provide a list of banned cliches, starting with "governing with the best interests of Scotland at heart." And then there's "reach for the stars" - which doesn't even make sense as a metaphor.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1638916042737526171.post-91906412510554236932014-10-20T20:39:37.713+01:002014-10-20T20:39:37.713+01:00He's a competent minister but he doesn't c...He's a competent minister but he doesn't cut the mustard for deputy of the party at this critical juncture IMO.cynicalHighlanderhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06034325908473006163noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1638916042737526171.post-54189289146133140782014-10-20T17:54:21.309+01:002014-10-20T17:54:21.309+01:00The candidate that states they will abolish postal...The candidate that states they will abolish postal voting will get my vote.Jutemanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11061671774494923407noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1638916042737526171.post-32396094831432183552014-10-20T15:26:18.828+01:002014-10-20T15:26:18.828+01:00There's a 'law' of political parties (...There's a 'law' of political parties (I forget the name of this law) that the policy preferences of the leadership are closer to the mainstream than that of the activists.<br /><br />Since the SNP is the one mainstream pro-independence party in Scottish politics I would say it's a priority for it to be centrist (relative to Scottish opinion).<br /><br />So, having said that, I wonder - is there a potential danger in moving the SNP to a more activist-driven policy? Will it risk making the party less electable? We saw in the referendum that different groups in Scottish society are "differently noisy", and ultimately the side which had virtually zero activism (the 'silent majority') was the winning side.<br /><br />This suggests there is a risk in selecting policy based on the opinions of the loudest activists.commentorhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10321173541321374705noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1638916042737526171.post-61440889540339398282014-10-20T15:15:31.814+01:002014-10-20T15:15:31.814+01:00Thanks LPW I too am undecided who to vote for so t...Thanks LPW I too am undecided who to vote for so these posts are great.<br />Thanks Keith for all you have said and said very well. I do like your idea of involving all us ordinary folks who usually get forgotten about by the usual suspects AYEMhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05730515405538297057noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1638916042737526171.post-6381434445693777812014-10-20T15:14:21.003+01:002014-10-20T15:14:21.003+01:00Good, positive article - inevitably tinged with re...Good, positive article - inevitably tinged with regret and realism about the limitations of any likely devo deal. Smith may throw a few fishes our way, but the rod stays at Westminster.voiceofourownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09821703633244094283noreply@blogger.com