Tales from the Scottish by-election
William Hague may be one of the sharpest MPs at Westminster - possibly THE sharpest -but even he can make the occasional gaffe.
Today he was in a supermarket with the Conservative Scottish leader Annabel Goldie, who admitted yesterday she was a tad "overweight".
"I don't know anything about potatoes," said Mr Hague in front of the vegetable stall, as he turned to Ms Goldie and added: "You're the expert on potatoes - obviously."
SNP BY-ELECTIONS
The SNP, rather like the Liberal Democrats, have an image of being great by-election victors. True, they have won some famous contests over the years - such as Hamilton in 1967, and Govan in 1973 and again in 1988.
The records show, however, that in more than 70 by-elections contested in Scotland since 1945, the Scottish nationalists have won just five.
I'm Michael Crick, and I'm Newsnight's political editor. My guiding rule is that in any story there's usually something the politicians would prefer the world not to know. My job is to find that out. Follow me on
Comment number 1.
At 18th Jul 2008, Barbazenzero wrote:Neither Goldie nor Hague will have much influence with the voters, and my own suspicion is they're just trying to save their deposit to avoid losing face, while secretly wishing the SNP well - this time only.
The LibDem campaign seems much the same, with nothing from them on their devolution plans aimed at snatching votes from the SNP.
Re the above concerning the SNP is true as far as it goes, but their key selling point is that the SNP Scottish government is both fresh and popular while the Labour UK government shows every sign of being "doomed" and "demob happy" at the same time.
Some meaty gossip re the Curran (M) and Mason campaigns would provide us with more to chew on.
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Comment number 2.
At 18th Jul 2008, Alex Bisset wrote:Is this a true reflection of the view from London about the Glasgow East By-Election?
Thouroughly underwhelming stuff!!
I wonder if the comments above would be so "in-depth" if the By-Election were in the so-called Home Counties??????
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Comment number 3.
At 18th Jul 2008, oldnat wrote:So the main story in Glasgow East is about an English Tory MP?
Nice to see that the ³ÉÈËÂÛ̳ devotes such great resources and research to an election, with the potential for political significance even in remote parts of the UK like London.
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Comment number 4.
At 18th Jul 2008, Brian Tomkinson wrote:Another woefully irrelevant posting from Newsnight's political editor. How does Mr Crick keep his job?
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Comment number 5.
At 18th Jul 2008, midnightPantsman wrote:Spelman story has gone very quiet !
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Comment number 6.
At 18th Jul 2008, Barbazenzero wrote:Re #3 oldnat
Trying to be fair, as always, I see.
Maybe Paxman is needed "at the coalface"? I can appreciate that asking straight questions and demanding straight answers from Maggie is a pretty daunting prospect and not one I'd willingly take on myself.
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Comment number 7.
At 18th Jul 2008, oldnat wrote:#4 britom
Fie, for shame! When did patronising the natives ever threaten the job of a London-based journalist?
#6 Brownedov
My middle name is "fair". I always liked Tony Benn's hanging the map of the UK in his office upside down to remind him that SE England was not the centre of the universe.
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Comment number 8.
At 18th Jul 2008, oldnat wrote:I see Michie has made some kind of statement, along the lines of "Independence would be great, but it's not politically or economically possible".
I don't think Labour or SNP will want to use his brilliant political analysis.
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Comment number 9.
At 18th Jul 2008, barriesingleton wrote:UPSIDE-DOWN WORLD OF TONY BENN
Oldnat #7. Not only that - he has a picture of Hilary hanging upside-down to remind him which end he is talking from.
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Comment number 10.
At 18th Jul 2008, oldnat wrote:#9 barriesingleton
Not sure what point you're making. Do you think that the SE of England is the centre of the universe, or simply that Benn had a number of loony ideas (in which case I agree).
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