tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1638916042737526171.post2307036439308461924..comments2024-03-28T07:16:39.621+00:00Comments on Lallands Peat Worrier: Jim Murphy: strategist or opportunist?Lallands Peat Worrierhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18276270498204697708noreply@blogger.comBlogger11125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1638916042737526171.post-75661933235869728012015-01-09T09:14:23.766+00:002015-01-09T09:14:23.766+00:00The fact that Murphy has appointed John McTernan e...The fact that Murphy has appointed John McTernan erstwhile spin doctor for former Oz premier Julia Gillard as Labour branch office in Scotland's new spin doctor should be a clear message to the independence movement on what to expect from Murphy during his tenure as "leader".Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1638916042737526171.post-29568494696840452642015-01-08T16:46:32.065+00:002015-01-08T16:46:32.065+00:00The perils of serving as king over the water...The perils of serving as king over the water...Lallands Peat Worrierhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07238432265194046726noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1638916042737526171.post-69211564442373403882015-01-08T16:30:08.714+00:002015-01-08T16:30:08.714+00:00Open goal with no reply for Nicola every week. FMQ...Open goal with no reply for Nicola every week. FMQs onslaught about Jims Oil fund was brutalwaterhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03242753707412340371noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1638916042737526171.post-26926631610074801982015-01-07T20:22:09.884+00:002015-01-07T20:22:09.884+00:00His Westminster hopes for Labour leadership after...His Westminster hopes for Labour leadership after this week are mince & tatties<br /><br />His kingdom is now Scotland, an only job is slaying the SNPwaterhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03242753707412340371noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1638916042737526171.post-73211261647816578522015-01-07T19:54:33.351+00:002015-01-07T19:54:33.351+00:00White Labour man speak with forked tongue.White Labour man speak with forked tongue.bringitonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10712089398887269381noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1638916042737526171.post-76720003045217192712015-01-07T19:54:23.441+00:002015-01-07T19:54:23.441+00:00Looking at it from the perspective of what Jim Mur...Looking at it from the perspective of what Jim Murphy needs to do for the general election, I suspect there may be an element of strategy behind it. Not that the episode itself is strategic but it's an episode that assists in the bigger strategy of addressing the appeal of the SNP. What I think the mansion tax/nurses proposal helps with is three things:<br /><br />(1) challenges the idea that the SNP is now the only progressive party, the party of social democracy in Scotland, the party committed to the NHS etc.<br /><br />(2) emphasises the distinction between, and distinctiveness of, Labour in Scotland in relation to the UK party. And it asserts his own leadership role and his willingness to make distinctive policy for Scotland, even if that's against the wishes and interests of the party in England. That's a bold move that none of his predecessors have made.<br /><br />(3) emphasises something that the SNP cannot match - Labour can bring benefits to Scotland using policies that largely impact on the South of England because Scotland is part of the UK and because Scottish Labour is part of the UK Labour Party.<br /><br />These are three important but complex ideas that Murphy needs to communicate and convince people of in a very short time if he is to minimise the damage done by the SNP. I suspect because of that the actions with be brash, crass and opportunistic but I suspect there's a focus behind them.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1638916042737526171.post-31200585276138564622015-01-07T18:56:01.284+00:002015-01-07T18:56:01.284+00:00Labour will gladly lose the GE if it helps to keep...Labour will gladly lose the GE if it helps to keep hold of Scottish assets.<br />Folk really need to stop thinking of Labour and the Tories as two different parties. When you realise that there is only The Westminster Party, a lot of actions taken by their members start to make much more sense.Jutemanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11061671774494923407noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1638916042737526171.post-59889116295329597212015-01-07T18:26:01.656+00:002015-01-07T18:26:01.656+00:00I think you credit "John Murphy" with fa...I think you credit "John Murphy" with far too much intelligence. Given the backlash from the SE England media and voters on an issue that already was contentious, it looks to me that it was a case of the little finger on the left hand not telling the right hand what it was going to say.<br /><br />No matter how much "John" tries to claim the north British branch of UK Labour is separate from UK Labour, you cannot run a UK-wide general election campaign with differing policies in different areas of the UK. <br /><br />While the truth is likely that this is the UK-wide policy of using the mansion tax to increase health care funding as stated by Milipede previously, "John" has stupidly managed to twist it into a policy that takes money from those poor rich people in London and give it to those "junkie slackers" in Scotland who already benefit from absolutely free healthcare. The fact that this ignores the complexities of the Barnet formula and that health spending is the responsibility of the Scottish government I.e. Until at least 2016 the SNP, just reinforces the view that this was a badly misjudged pledge by the uni dropout "John" Murphy and not some clever, complex Machiavellian plot.Markieboyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02521470364731032175noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1638916042737526171.post-68817043186539840182015-01-07T18:25:45.145+00:002015-01-07T18:25:45.145+00:00This episode is just one set piece to camera, whic...This episode is just one set piece to camera, which we will no doubt be subjected to ad nauseam.<br />Prior to Xmas, Abbot appeared on Neil's political show, singing the Murphs praises. Abbots faux indignation looks good to Londoners, as she sets out her mayoral campaign. It's just a load of tired old b```rocks, which I hope enough can see through.Valerie Rooney (BeauBangles)https://www.blogger.com/profile/12527858541457093725noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1638916042737526171.post-64497989388665735852015-01-07T18:22:24.878+00:002015-01-07T18:22:24.878+00:00This comment has been removed by the author.Markieboyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02521470364731032175noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1638916042737526171.post-4196589875784723642015-01-07T18:13:01.675+00:002015-01-07T18:13:01.675+00:00I don't think there's any doubt at all tha...I don't think there's any doubt at all that it's just opportunism at work here. Looking at Murphy's career, I think you see a chancer flying by the seat of his pants, and the egg incident was a perfect example of that. He's bitten off more than he can chew now though. The luck will run out and he'll get found out pretty swiftly.Doug Danielhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15017218581660887134noreply@blogger.com