A TALE OF TWO LEADERS

It was the worst of leaders; it was the best of leaders.

SO THIS HAPPENED...ELECTION REFLECTIONS III

By Panda Paws

Scotland now has more nuclear submarines than unionist MPs and one of them is anti-Trident! I doubt many of us predicted that the SNP would win 56 seats. I literally cheered as some of the results came in. No louder cheer than when Kirsten Oswald defeated Jim Murphy.  A constituency that as recently as 1997 was solid Tory and had one of the highest No votes in 2014 now has a SNP MP. In 2010, the SNP got circa 4000 votes, in 2015 over 23,000, the majority of them coming from former Labour votes (and the lower number of Tory votes indicated tactical voting from them as I expected). The Tories madams of the Mearns are having a fit of the vapours.

Of course this SNP dominance is a reflection of the unfairness of FPTP; the same unfairness that allowed Labour to dominate Scotland’s political landscape for decades. Only now will it be seen a problem and parties that were lukewarm on PR voting previously will be taking a second look no doubt!

The SNPout lot are proclaiming the delivery of a majority Tory government as a success for them. (Is it bad of me to be amused that Effie Dean’s MP is now (apparently) Alex Salmond?) The SNP will be powerless they say sniggering to themselves; too myopic to see that nothing says useless, dysfunctional union more than the democratic will of Scotland being completely irrelevant. Perhaps I’m naïve but I believed the SNP when they said they wanted to lock the Tories out of Downing St, but there is no getting away from the fact that a majority Tory government is the last thing an ailing union needed and a great boost for the independence cause. The 2015 general election wasn’t a mandate for independence but 5 years of right wing policies and a likely EU referendum might well be.

But what of the here and now? As one of the 1% - the bottom 1% that is, the next few years will be tough. Less than 24 hours into government and the Tories were talking about slashing Access to Work, the scheme that helps disabled people enter and remain in the workplace. And repealing fox hunting legislation – apparently that’s a priority in the list of the UK’s problems. So that’s the weak and vulnerable in their sights. No-one under 50 is likely to remember what full fat Toryism is like. So let me give you an idea - you should be grateful they aren’t legalising the hunting of the unemployed!

The best we can hope for is that the SNP show Labour what an opposition looks like. And it isn’t being slightly less toxic than the Tories. I’m pleased that the 6 have become 56. The dog’s abuse thrown in the 6’s direction would have tried the patience of a saint. At least now they will have allies around them.

But what of Labour?

At the time of writing Jim Murphy aims to remain as leader of Labour in Scotland. However some trade unions are already calling for him to go, his erstwhile opponent Neil Findlay has resigned the shadow cabinet and there are mutterings behind the scenes. And indeed in front of them. Iain, “the doing”, Davidson interviewed on BBC on election night fully booted the boot in Murphy making it clear he wanted him gone.

“The man who's led us to the biggest ever disaster." Ian Davidson on Jim Murphy ex MP.

And that, my friend, is what bayoneting the wounded looks like!

The Chinese had it right; we are cursed to live in interesting times. 
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Thanks Panda Paws for this superb post. Much appreciated too!!!

Can I also recommend Bruce's post reflecting on the election, and that of Andrew Page, who looks, as ever, very honestly, at the Liberals' plight.
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You might like to take part in the poll about Jim's future, if you haven't already got voting fatigue!
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