Eddie Barnes: Al-Megrahi and Glasgow North-East
In my column in the Scotsman this morning, I look at how the release of the Lockerbie bomber is going to play out electorally ahead of the Holyrood vote. I forgot to mention the small matter of the Glasgow North-East by election, to be held in November, as well.
According to gleeful Labour canvassers on the streets, Kenny MacAskill's decision to release Mr Al-Megrahi is going down like the proverbial lead balloon - adding to the theory that while the decision will go down well in Glasgow's West End and Edinburgh's Morningside, it won't get quite such a tolerant response in Shettleston and Wester Hailes.
Then last night, the SNP apropos nothing released a statement from their Glasgow North-East candidate David Kerr.
Declares Kerr: "When I first heard of Kenny MacAskill's decision last week, I confess I was sceptical, and my initial thought was that he could perhaps be released into the care of a hospice in Scotland."
"However, like everyone else, I have now had the opportunity to hear the arguments. I watched the Justice Secretary's parliamentary statement on Monday very carefully, and it is obvious that this option would have been totally impractical on the basis of the unacceptable level of security required. In light of all the information and arguments that have come forward, it is now quite clear to me, and I believe a growing number of people in Scotland - of all parties and none - that the Justice Secretary took the right decision, and above all he took it for the right reasons."
What an odd statement. Why bother admitting that you initially disagreed with the idea? Why?
Let's imagine a scene from the Glasgow doorsteps.
Knock on the door. "Good morning. My name is David Kerr. I'm the SNP candidate. Can I count on your vote?"
"Whit? SNP? You tell that ****in' Kenny MacAskill and that ****in' Alex Salmond I'd vote fae ma' dug before I'd vote fae you ***tards. Letting oot criminals! Have ye' lost your mind?"
Kerr shuffles feet, looks over shoulder. "Well of course, between the two of us. I had my doubts as well. In fact, if you read my statement......"
According to gleeful Labour canvassers on the streets, Kenny MacAskill's decision to release Mr Al-Megrahi is going down like the proverbial lead balloon - adding to the theory that while the decision will go down well in Glasgow's West End and Edinburgh's Morningside, it won't get quite such a tolerant response in Shettleston and Wester Hailes.
Then last night, the SNP apropos nothing released a statement from their Glasgow North-East candidate David Kerr.
Declares Kerr: "When I first heard of Kenny MacAskill's decision last week, I confess I was sceptical, and my initial thought was that he could perhaps be released into the care of a hospice in Scotland."
"However, like everyone else, I have now had the opportunity to hear the arguments. I watched the Justice Secretary's parliamentary statement on Monday very carefully, and it is obvious that this option would have been totally impractical on the basis of the unacceptable level of security required. In light of all the information and arguments that have come forward, it is now quite clear to me, and I believe a growing number of people in Scotland - of all parties and none - that the Justice Secretary took the right decision, and above all he took it for the right reasons."
What an odd statement. Why bother admitting that you initially disagreed with the idea? Why?
Let's imagine a scene from the Glasgow doorsteps.
Knock on the door. "Good morning. My name is David Kerr. I'm the SNP candidate. Can I count on your vote?"
"Whit? SNP? You tell that ****in' Kenny MacAskill and that ****in' Alex Salmond I'd vote fae ma' dug before I'd vote fae you ***tards. Letting oot criminals! Have ye' lost your mind?"
Kerr shuffles feet, looks over shoulder. "Well of course, between the two of us. I had my doubts as well. In fact, if you read my statement......"
Labels: Al Megrahi, Eddie Barnes, Glasgow North East
posted by Administrator at
10:51
8 Comments:
I have been canvassing in the NE too and not one voter has raised it.
Labour are making this up.
If they thought people really felt this way they would be pressing for a no confidence vote in Kenny MacAskill instead of backing off.
Strange.
I was canvassing in working class areas last night and found widespread support for Kenny MacAskil across the political divide.
Lockerbie will be an experience the SNP will never forget, but the by-election will still be a huge success for them: what have Labour contributed to the debate about Megrahi? Silence from Gordon Brown. Flip-flopping from Iain Gray. Malcolm Chisholm even gave MacAskill his full support in the wide glare of the Parliaemnt chamber on Monday. Coming along Duke Street a couple of weeks ago the SNP posters were already up in folks windows ... don't think Mr Kerr has a lot to worry about on the Lockerbie front somehow ...
Mr Barnes
It looks like that in your haste to spin yet another Labour press release, you forgot about the support of the churches in Scotland for the decision that Mr MacAskill has taken.
While no one will vote any particular way because of a church endorsement, I believe this constituency has a large Roman Catholic population, where Bishop Contis words will carry a lot of weight.
This won't make any difference to the outcome of the by-election. Or the GE. Eddie seems to have stranded himself on Fantasy Island.
How embarassing that a political editor would lent any credence to the theory that the better-off are more compassionate than those living in poverty. How disgracefully patronising is that?
Can you give it a bit more publicity and make it front page head-lines on the Scotsman and Scotland on Sunday.
Should read "lend any credence"
Why has my post been removed ?
Bet it was Maddox, he just loves me, mmmm mmmm x
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