David Maddox: It's a local by-election for local people
The atmosphere of Glasgow North East in recent days has been something akin to the League of Gentlemen's mythical town of Royston Vasey.The press releases from Labour and the SNP could almost have been written by Tubbs and her husband (and brother) Edward (pictured) from "the local shop".
People who don't approve of outsiders who don't understand their local ways, telling incomers "there's nothing for you here."
You can almost hear the incessant question "Are you local?" echoing around Springburn.
First we had Labour's Willie Bain banging on about being the "only local candidate". Then the SNP's David Kerr pretended to have been born there after pretending in the 2000 Falkirk West by-election that he was born in Cumbernauld.
His boss - Alex Salmond - compounded the problem by saying there were no maternity hospitals in Glasgow North East in 1973, when in fact there were two.
Then the whole thing came to an excruciating climax when in revenge, the SNP today put out a press release complaining that Mr Bain who lives in Springburn was claiming to be "local" in other parts of the constituency.
The whole episode is painfully embarrassing and parochial.
Why should anybody care?
Here's a thing - what about electing somebody with some ability?
Labels: Being local, by-election, David Maddox, Glasgow North East, League of Gentlemen
posted by Administrator at
18:30
6 Comments:
David
The contest will have to be run in another six months, so I guess the 'ability' part can be assessed more candidly then.
For now it's all about the media circus, spin and counter-spin. What a bore. The people of Glasgow NE have enough to contend with without this lot parading the streets.
Well said Mr Maddox.
For once.
Thoroughly seconded all the way through.
ok... so the top candidates are invited this is an interesting statement to make? So not the candidates who are polling in top then? so no John Smeaton, no Greens none of that? just the usual Labour/Tory bickering with the SNP thrown in just because this is Scotland? give more candidates a voice! this is a democratic country after all, or at least we purport to be one!
sorry i think i posted the previous in the wrong place! BUT on the topic of smear campaigns and who was born where, its painful because it really it detracts from the questions that should be being asked: what are your local policies and why should the people of Glasgow North East vote for you? simple end of politician should = policies not spin/deception lies and all the other negative things i could put after that!!!
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